Guest Post by Lia Heath
During COVID in September 2020, Lia and her family spent one month traveling around Alaska. The kids logged onto Zoom in the morning for school, and then they spent the rest of the day exploring the vast and spectacular wilderness of Alaska.
Q&A GUEST POST with Lia Heath: Alaska 🐋
Q: Why should people travel to Alaska? What’s the best time of year to visit?
A: In a sense, Alaska is an idea as much as it is a place—one that embodies a spirit of freedom and exploration, with the opportunity for personal discovery along the way. It is one of the last great wildernesses on Earth that holds half of America’s national park lands, including 17 national parks and 16 national wildlife refuges. The summer means extra long days and warm temperatures to explore the vast landscape and unmatched beauty to its fullest, though the rough winter feels like a dare to those that are willing to test their limits.
Q: Best airport to fly in/out of in Alaska?
A: Alaska is huge! It is 1/5th the size of the lower states, so it’s a bit like deciding the best airport to fly into to see the southwest of the United States. It completely depends what you want to see! We flew into Anchorage which was a great starting point for Denali National Park and Kenai Fjords National Park.
Q: Do people need to rent a car? Is there Uber in Alaska? Train travel?
A: There are incredible travel options on cruises to see glaciers and port cities, and on trains to explore the inland of Alaska. However, for more of a DIY experience it is best to rent a car. A 4WD vehicle is ideal, even in the summer months since some of the areas worth visiting are on unmaintained roads. Uber is surely available in cities like Anchorage and Fairbanks, but much of the joy of Alaska is found remotely, so having a way to meander is worthwhile.
Q: Where should people stay? Recommendations on any specific cool lodges, hotels, cabins? Or, best to rent places via Airbnb?
A: Again, there are many ways to explore Alaska from luxury cruises to tent camping and even backpacking in the bush. Being a family of 4 with grade-school kids, we found smaller lodges and Airbnb’s to be the best fit. Our all-time favorite place during our trip was Pepper Creek Cabin, an Airbnb off the coast of Seward that can only be accessed by boat or helicopter. We were there with just a lantern during an incredible rainstorm, it was an experience that won’t be forgotten!
The minimal cabins at Hatcher Pass Lodge are on my bucket list for next time!
Q: Must-visit areas/regions/towns in Alaska? Why?
A: The drive from Anchorage over Hatcher Pass to Denali captured my heart immediately. Viewing the peak of Denali can be elusive due to inclement cloud coverage, but even if you don’t see the peak, the area is spectacular and worth the time to hike around. I also found Kenai Fjords National Park to be overwhelmingly beautiful. We took a glacier tour out of Seward into the fjords. Venturing north of Fairbanks is a great way to get a glimpse of the northern lights, and the night tours from Chena Hot Springs are a great way to access them. I found the Kennicott mine and Kennicott glacier in Glenallan to be gorgeous. And a charter fishing trip out of Homer is a fantastic (and fruitful!) experience. Alaska is so big that even though we were there for a month we hardly scratched the surface. The Katmai Peninsula is next on my bucket list to see the bears eating fish from the rivers!
Q: What are some must-do activities while in Alaska?
A: Hiking is an absolute must. There are accessible trails from the park visitor centers that can be done in an hour or less. Or, there are plenty of day hikes that will bring you from colorful foliage to epic glaciers and back. The wildlife viewing is extreme. I took a solo hike from Seward on the epic Harding Icefield trail and ran into 5 bears: 3 black bears and 2 grizzlies, which is quite the experience when you are on your own, miles from civilization. I’ve learned that wearing bells on your pack gives you a lot of peace of mind! Glaciers are a must-see, and I think a fishing excursion is a great experience even if you are a complete novice. We spent a day at sea outside of Homer and came home with Alaskan halibut and sea bass to last us months.
Q: Best spots for observing wildlife?
A: Anywhere and everywhere! The wildlife is abundant and spectacular. I always find it more breathtaking and humbling to find wildlife on my own rather than on a tour. If you venture out in Alaska you will find it without a doubt. On hikes we came across moose, bears, marmot, deer, birds and much more. At sea we found sea lions, seals, endless fish, orcas, puffins and bald eagles.
Q: Best places to eat and drink in Alaska?
A: Well… we were there during the height of Covid so unfortunately I don’t have a lot to report on eating out. However, I didn’t get the vibe that Alaska is all about the restaurant scene. At one small motel, the free breakfast was a paper bag with an apple, a little carton of milk and a twinkie! That being said, we found that the meals at some of the smaller lodges we stayed at were perfect and made from fresh local ingredients. The best meal we had was at McKinley Creekside Cabins & Cafe where they have a delicious on-site restaurant and cafe with a constantly changing menu.
Q: Key travel tips for Alaska with your family?
A: As far as what to pack, Alaska is about practicality (and sometimes survival), so it is not a fashion moment. In the entire month I spent there I used one pair of awesome hiking shoes (by On). I can’t say enough about wool. Good wool socks from Isis and a light wool baselayer top from Kari Traa were literally the keys to my comfort and I wore them for days on end. A light packable day pack (mine was from Cotopaxi) is a must-have too. We did not bring a classic camera and relied on our iphones and I can’t believe what great photos we have. My other advice would be not to over-plan and allow for adventure. Alaska is adventure. Make sure you have a car and a place to stay. Other than that, let yourself be swept up in the moment, allow for the weather to dictate your days, and be ready to go and live it. It won’t be a spa experience, but I bet you’ll feel better and more alive than any massage could provide. 💫
