Have you ever been somewhere and thought, “Wait… am I still in the United States?”
That was Alaska for me.
I had the opportunity to experience Alaska as a land trip instead of the traditional cruise vacation. I went into the trip excited to explore the nooks and crannies of the 49th state. What I didn’t expect was just how completely different it would feel.
I began my adventure in Anchorage, where I visited the Anchorage Museum and got a fascinating look at the culture, history and people who make Alaska what it is. We also visited the Alaska Zoo, which does something I absolutely love: helping rehabilitate injured and orphaned animals.
“Alaska isn’t just a destination you check off your list. It’s a place you experience.”
Riding the Alaska Railroad to Talkeetna
On day three, I hopped aboard the Alaska Railroad’s GoldStar Service and headed toward Talkeetna. This is where Alaska really started showing off.
Enjoying a bite to eat while watching the breathtaking scenery pass by was an experience in itself. Mountains, water, wilderness. Everything seemed bigger, quieter and more majestic than anything I was used to seeing. My destination was a training facility for Iditarod sled dogs, where I actually got to participate in exercising the dogs through mushing.
Let me tell you, these four-legged athletes were READY TO GO. There is something incredible about standing among these powerful, energetic dogs and realizing you’re getting a glimpse into a tradition that is such an important part of Alaska’s identity.
Glaciers, Wildlife and One Unforgettable Moment
Day four brought even more adventure. I traveled to Whittier for a glacier excursion, and this is where I had one of those “Is this REALLY happening?” vacation moments that I can still picture as clearly as if it happened yesterday.
We were out on the water near a fish cannery where some leftover fish were being discarded into the water. The wildlife knew exactly what was happening.
Otters and seals were feeding on the fish while seagulls swooped down to grab whatever they could. As I watched all of this unfold, I looked to my right.
There was a family of bears catching their own dinner in a tributary leading into the water. Bears. Seals. Otters. Seagulls. All doing their thing right in front of us.
It was this incredible, completely natural circle of life unfolding before my eyes, and I remember thinking, How lucky am I to be standing here watching this?
Alaska Is Something You Have to Experience
At every turn, Alaska left me amazed.
It wasn’t just beautiful. It was wild. It was enormous. And it was completely different from what I had pictured. Standing among the mountains, glaciers, wildlife and seemingly endless stretches of wilderness, I honestly felt as though I had been transported to another part of the world. Except I hadn’t even left the United States.
That’s the thing about Alaska that I don’t think you truly understand until you’ve been there.
You can look at pictures. You can watch videos. You can read about the glaciers, wildlife and mountains. But then you arrive and realize the pictures don’t really do it justice.
Alaska isn’t just a destination you check off your list. It’s a place you experience.
Sometimes the vacation you’re looking for isn’t the one with white sand and tropical cocktails. Sometimes it’s the one that makes you say, “WOW. I NEED to go there.”
If my Alaska adventure just made you say that… well, now you know who to call.