An Interior Tour of Alaska: Trip Review, Part 2
Greetings, Wanderers!
We’re back talking about Alaska today! In May, I returned home after a whirlwind tour of interior Alaska, from Anchorage to Fairbanks. You can find part one HERE. I've been asked several times how it was, and I just can’t narrow down where to start and stop. Much like in person, I find the idea of recapping my trip too much for one email, so behold part two! Today, I wanted to share highlights of my trip that focus on Alaska’s wildlife and sealife, small towns, and National Parks.
Highlights from My Alaskan Adventure Part Two
Wildlife & Sealife
Here is where I tell you to do both a cruise and a land tour. At sea, you’ll have greater chances of seeing whales, otters, seals, puffins, and more. On land, you’ll find bears, moose, wolves, and Dall sheep. This isn’t to say you won’t have a chance to see each on one or the other, but you’ll have an enhanced experience by doing both.
On my trip, I visited the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center in Girdwood and the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward. Each is a must for animal lovers! One thing that I absolutely loved is the genuine interest and focus on animal care at both. The SeaLife Center has an incredible founding story, stemming from the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill in 1989, which ultimately led to its funding. This isn’t SeaWorld or some show for tourists. Whether you visit or not, they continue to lead research and development to protect the climate and animals.
Small Towns
Another focus of our interior tour was the quaint small towns of Alaska. I loved visiting places like Talkeetna and Seward. Talkeetna is about a 2.5-hour drive north of Anchorage and makes for a great stop when heading to Fairbanks. Here, you’ll find the beautiful Talkeetna River that overlooks the Alaskan Mountain Range. The street is lined with cute local shops and fun eateries. You’ll want to stop at Mountain High Pizza Pie before floating down the river on a guided tour. This was hands down one of the most scenic places we enjoyed in Alaska. We also had the pleasure of an evening in Seward. This town is becoming a base for some cruise lines and is home to the SeaLife Center and Kenai Fjords. Each town in Alaska has “The Bar” to go to, and The Yukon is it for Seward.
National Parks
Alaska is home to eight of the USA’s 62 National Parks. Some, like Glacier Bay, are popular sites for cruises, while Wrangell-St. Elias holds the title of the largest with an amazing 8 million acres. During my time in Alaska, I was able to visit Kenai Fjords and Denali National Park.
In Kenai, we enjoyed taking a day cruise where we spotted humpbacks, orcas, otters, seals, bears, sheep, puffins, and so much more. We then stopped for lunch on Fox Island and continued touring the great fjords.
In Denali, we were treated to views of the mountain on our drive up. Now, this might not sound like much, but I discovered that it's estimated only 30% of visitors actually see the mountain. Why? Denali is big enough to create its own weather, so even when you think it's clear, you may never see it. Once at the park, we took a guided tour with a certified driver-naturalist. This is how most visitors experience the park. Midway through our tour, we were able to stretch our legs and explore, then enjoyed a short history and Q&A session with natives.
I said it last time, but I will say it again: There are many options available when planning an Alaskan adventure, which can be overwhelming if you’ve tried to book online. With land tours, you can go straight to Denali National Park for a quick two-day jaunt or explore more adventurous destinations like Seward and Talkeetna mentioned above. Expect the full Alaska experience to take about two weeks when including a cruise and land tour.
I’m here to help you select the best options for YOU.
Click HERE to start designing your 2025 Alaskan adventure!
Wine, Dine, and Wander
-Hannah
