When you think about the trip of a lifetime, what does it include? Adventure, scenery, wildlife, culture, cuisine. What about a destination that has it all. I give you Alaska.
I was lucky enough to venture there thanks to Adventure World, Visit Anchorage and Visit Alaska. And yes, it ticked every box.
I have a great passion for the outdoors so first thing on my to-do list was the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail in Anchorage.
The air was crisp and I was in awe of my surroundings with Cook Inlet on one side and a mix of forest and luxurious homes on the other. The trail is 18km long and is quite suitable to cycle. Walking, I did seven kilometres before turning around. The next day I ventured back out for a six kilometre run. Spectacular.
I was pleasantly surprised to find Anchorage a walkable city and also with some amazing restaurants like Tequila 61 Degrees and 49th State Brewing Co. I recommend making reservations due to their popularity and the magnificent food.
Before venturing too far into an Alaskan trip, book in with Alaska Photo Treks. Whether you’re into photography or not, this is my number one must book tour. You don’t need a fancy camera or if you need help using your camera or have an iPhone, the guides can show you all the tips to capturing the best shots.
Not only will you learn about photography, but you will be taken to the most beautiful locations around Anchorage and given great insights into the region with great enthusiasm from the guides – you could feel the passion they had for where they live.
From Anchorage we headed to Seward, a place where oceans, glaciers and mountains all meet. It is located on the Kenai Peninsula and is the gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park, which you must experience from the water.
Although it was less than favourable weather (wet and choppy) for our cruise, there is no other way to capture the scenery and wildlife. Yes, I did feel bit queasy towards the end, however this was trumped by seeing sealions and a Humpback whale, all thanks to the 360-degree views on the Major Marine Tours vessel.
Before leaving Seward a visit to the Alaska SeaLife Center is a must. The facility concentrates on marine research, education and wildlife response. A surprise highlight for me was the puffins: such vibrant birds and super cute.
Heading back into the South-Central region, our next stop was the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Centre where once again the focus is education, research and quality animal care for those who would not survive in the wild.
Our guide was exceptional at informing us about all the animals, including some fun little stories about many of the different personalities, especially the black and brown bears.
A meeting with Twix the porcupine at lunchtime meant we were able to give him a yummy meal of carrots. Another feel-good moment for the group was helping to build a barrier fence around the bison habitat.
To top off the day we were treated to an evening at the Alyeska Nordic Spa in Girdwood. This was right up my alley and I enjoyed the process of cold plunge, spa, sauna and steam, all the while being surrounded by forest and the Chugach mountains.
I slept like a hibernating bear that night in a warm, cozy room in the resort, which totally represented my ideal notion of a snowy mountain hotel, including plaid decor and moose head over the fireplace.
Heading back to Anchorage we had the honour of visiting the Native Heritage Center, a cultural haven rich in Alaska’s 11 major cultural groups.
The centre features six authentic, life-sized native dwellings situated around Lake Tiulana. Inside each dwelling we heard stories of traditional life and the differences between each of Alaska’s many areas.
We were privileged to hear about the family history of our guide and his wife, who were both from different ancestry and way of life.
The Center also exhibits beautiful crafts made by Native Alaskans; I would recommend supporting them by purchasing your gifts/souvenirs from this location.
A great way to delve into a different culture is through the local cuisine and participating in a cooking class. The Dirty Apron is the perfect facility to accomplish this.
The space is set up for group classes and private events, with an attached shop stocked with every cooking supply you would ever need. Of course, on our menu was fresh Alaskan salmon and scallops. Two words to describe this experience…fun & yum!
Now, you can’t head to Alaska without experiencing the next three bucket list items: a helicopter flight, dogsledding and walking on a glacier.
This was my first experience in a helicopter and a magical one at that. Gliding beside mountains covered in snow and skimming over glaciers, there was just so much beauty to take in.
We made two stops in the helicopter with the first being the high altitude training camp for the Iditarod sled dogs. This is their summer camp and tourists help with their training.
Not only do visitor funds help pay for the food the dogs need but also helps keep them fit by having a sled around a track. Before leaving a cuddle with the dogs is an absolute necessity.
The second stop was a glacier landing but no need for concerns of falling though the ice, though, as the ice here is about 100 metres thick. And if you think you’ve tasted the freshest water before, think again. Gathering water straight from the depths of the glacier will have you second guessing what actually is in your hometown tap water.
So how did Adventure World provide the perfect ending to the trip? Sitting around a fire pit at Alaska Glacier Lodge, overlooking the valley with mountains around us. Pure bliss!
