| When I return from a trip, I like to have a one-liner I can use to describe the journey. It needs to be something snappy that appeals to everyone…an all-occasion quip. Most people don’t really want a play-by-play, just the highlights. For Alaska, it was easy. “We saw five grizzlies.” That type of statement fits the bill exactly. If my listener is still interested, I can also mention we saw orca whales, belugas, caribou, moose and puffins and topping the list, we saw a complete view of Mt. McKinley. The mountain makes its own weather and is known to prefer a mantle of clouds, thus a full view can be rare. To hear the booming sound, like a cannon shot and see a glacier calf is a show-stopper. While the terms “incredible” and ‘unbelievable” race through your head, the words are completely inadequate to express the spectacle. You can see it happen on TV a dozen times, but it can’t begin to match the real thing. Alaska is a perennial favorite with travelers and with good reason. No other U.S. state can claim such scenery and wildlife. This was my second excursion to Alaska and I hope to go at least once more. My friend’s 65-year old mother won a half a million dollars in our state lottery and her one wish—to see Alaska. She did and she loved it. From Minneapolis to Anchorage, I was seated behind a row of six young men from North Carolina. They were heading for a two week hunting trip in Alaska. No fluffy bathrobes or cable TV for these tough guys, it was to be primitive camping. They would stay in the true wilderness, a place where no roads exist and no humans dwell. Their luggage allowance was limited but it did include space for “Oodles of Noodles” so they said. A small plane from Anchorage would deliver them to their final destination. I’m still wondering how those fellows got along on their adventure of a lifetime. I had mixed feelings knowing a portion of the people on the airplane were visiting the great white north in hopes of seeing wildlife alive and the other group was eager to kill them. It seems a paradox, but Alaska herself is a paradox. When purchased from Russia, Alaska was jokingly called Seward’s Icebox and Andrew Johnson’s Polar Bear Garden since many in the U.S. could see nothing of value up there. Mr. Seward and Mr. Johnson deserve kudos for their foresight. During my earlier trip to Alaska, I stayed primarily on Kenai Peninsula but this second trip was scheduled to go further north, all the way to Denali. We reached Denali National Park via the McKinley Explorer train from Anchorage. I can get giddy as a 7-year old when trains are mentioned. We were up early to board and our ride was long enough to include a hot breakfast and lunch. This train claims the most windows of any rail car ever built. Seasonal workers, energetic college students in this case, staffed the train. Soon their summer adventure would be over. Termination dust, as it’s called, in the form of snow in the mountains, signaled the end of another Alaska tourist season. I wish I’d known of such summer jobs when I was in college. The little village near the Denali park entrance all but dries up after the tourist season in Alaska. You could say it only exists for the benefit of the tourists who begin showing up in mid-May and arrive in big numbers until late September. A convenient shuttle service operates around the village, and mine had a lanky college guy at the wheel. He was the talkative sort and reported he would soon head back to Washington State for his classes. I rode as far as the Visitors Center to explore their exhibits and watch the movie. I enjoyed the film so much I watched it twice. Denali National Park has limited access for private vehicles, so check before assuming anything. Bus tours seem to be the primary option for getting deep within the park. Unlike other national parks, I could see few if any signs of human habitation in Denali, such as filling stations or restaurants. From Denali we headed south again breaking the journey with an overnight stop in the small town of Talkeetna. It’s hard to surpass the Kenai Fords National Park for wildlife and glacier viewing. A six-hour boat excursion out of Seward is a hands-down, must-do trip. At our first sighting of orca whales the boat tilted as everyone raced to the starboard side. You may want to bring motion sickness meds, since you can encounter wave action on this vessel, but you will be amply rewarded. I hoped for puffins and my wish was granted. We saw dozens of them. What’s not to like about these odd-beaked cuties? They may fly poorly, but underwater they are the picture of grace. Puffins take “adorable” to a whole new level. Check out the experts, Gray Line of Alaska for all types of Alaska touring. They understand the complexity and the unique aspects to travel within the state. My tour was a one-week escorted trip, but you can opt to rent a car and follow a similar itinerary. It begins and ends in Anchorage. Mix and match their day-trips, multi-day trips and cruises for your own perfect Alaska adventure. For more information click visit Gray Line of Alaska
Back to TheTraveler.
|
