ALASKA
Where One Adventure Leads To Another Adventure
Please refer to the bottom of this page for the cost of three people.
May 26 - June 6, 2021
Have you put Alaska on your bucket list yet? If not, do so now! Every year I do a long weekend trip for my birthday, and it HAS to be somewhere located domestically. After 2020’s travel restrictions and bans, I decided to extend my birthday trip this year to 12 long days to make up for last year’s missed birthday trip. After months of planning (and I mean deep planning) and two long flights later, I was in Alaska, somewhere I never thought I would make it.
We landed in Anchorage, AK at 11:30 pm. Even at midnight, the airport and car rental place were swarming with people. Once we got our car we headed straight to the hotel to get some rest before a long venture ahead. (During this time, car rental places in Alaska were no longer renting out cars due to the lack of vehicles available and prices were through the roof. We did book months in advance with no issues).
The first step to make the trip official was to take a photo by the Greetings Tour mural (<— Click the link for more locations),
Click the buttons below to take you to that section.
Day 1 in Alaska
- Williams Reindeer Farm
- Matanuska Glacier
After taking the official “Greetings from Alaska” photo it was time for breakfast. We were told we HAD to try Snow City Cafe in downtown Anchorage. Even at 7:00 AM, the wait was over 30 minutes.
There is a fantastic balloon mural on the far side of the building and places to eat outside when it is warm. Inside, the decoration is slightly cheesy with bright colors and your basic café setup. The menu was pretty extensive; we ordered the Kodiak Benedict and the mushroom omelet. The Kodiak Benedict was full of fresh crab and was delicious, as well as their fruit smoothies. This was one of many breakfast places in downtown Anchorage.
To get the day going, we traveled an hour north to the town of Butte to check out a reindeer farm. The real reason I wanted to go was to kiss a moose. Yes, you read that correctly. Rocky the moose was friendly and loved snack kisses. Other than rocky, there were so many reindeer and their babies to feed and pet. During our visit, the reindeer were growing their velvet on their antlers. It looked soft, but we were told not to touch it because it is painful to them. Side note: Did you know that reindeer and caribou are the same things?
The reindeer farm is set up by tour only. The tours are done by young adults who really knew what they were talking about and kept you entertained with dad jokes. In the beginning, there is a quick ten-minute sit-down introduction to the farm and the rules and proper cleaning of hands before touching the animals. The tour was an hour-long, but they let us stay longer to pet the more domestic animals (Rabbits, horses, dogs).
Before leaving for our next destination, we needed some caffeine to keep us going. We drove through Palmer and stopped at Perkup Espresso. Not only do they serve many different coffee concoctions, but they serve Redbull concoctions, making it easy for Stephen to get his caffeine fix, too, since he doesn't like coffee. Perkup Espresso has many locations, and they have over 200 flavors to mix into your Redbull. We ordered a pineapple and Guava Redbull and a strawberry chai coffee…. mmm so good, and the girls inside were so helpful. A big recommendation to stop here if you find yourself in Alaska needing a buzz.
Road side views on the Alaska Highway 1.
Matanuska Glacier seen off of Alaska Highway 1. This view is a little less than 2.5 hours from Anchorage.
On our first full day in Alaska, we did one of the most extraordinary things, unexpectedly. We hiked six miles into a glacier. When we showed up, we expected to hike only three miles but were asked if we would like to jump in on the longer hike to fill up the tour; we said absolutely that we would love to. If you can physically do a six-mile hike, I highly recommend doing the longer hike into the glacier. We were able to see caves, glacial pools, and amazing views of the giant glacier walls up close.
The Matanuska Glacier is 27 miles long and 4 miles wide; we saw a tiny portion of what exists. This is also one of the only glaciers that are accessible by car in the U.S. At the time, they were only providing tours through Glacier Tours on the Matanuska Glacier. Our tour guide, Nick was fantastic; he didn’t have any specific spot in mind and took us all over to see the variety of sculptures made by the glacier, giving everyone an unexpected adventure. This activity must be on your “to-do” list since it is one of the most Alaskan things you can do while in Alaska.
Nick the tour guide recommended a little restaurant named Turkey Red in the heart of Palmer, Ak, and off we went. We weren’t expecting an Italian restaurant that was notably great. But, Wowza, the food was exactly what we needed, and the portions were so big we had leftovers for later. Turkey Red also serves an Alaskan traditional drink; birch water, made from birch sap straight from the tree.
Our first Airbnb, The Johnson House Cabin, was spot on to staying in an Alaskan cabin. There was no running water, an outhouse (that came with a giant window with a view of Knik Glacier), and views of the Knik Glacier. We stayed only one night, but it was so relaxing, and the hosts were fantastic.
A few adventures we wanted to do but did not have time for:
- Thunderbird Falls
- Dinner at Bella Vista Italian
Day 2 in Alaska
- Knik Glacier Helicopter Tour
- Hatcher Pass Cabins
When we opened our eyes on the second day of our trip, it was pouring down rain, and we only had a few hours until we were supposed to be taking off in a helicopter. We were very concerned but waited it out anyway.
Stephen booked the glacier helicopter tour for my birthday through AK Glacier Tours. This was the most anticipated adventure of the whole trip. We skipped breakfast and headed six miles from our Airbnb to the lodge where you take off.
Expect a lot of pictures from this adventure. It was a jaw-dropper.
Once we reached the lodge, we had to sign waivers for our safety and go through a short safety briefing. Once that was completed, we headed out and got ready to take off. The terminus of the Knik Glacier is only about a ten-minute ride from the take-off point. The rain was starting to slow down, and by the time we reached the glacier, the rain had stopped, but the clouds were still heavy and low.
The picture above ^ shows the Knik Glacier. The black line down the middle of the glacier is where two glaciers met coming through the valley. The black is from sediment pulled off of the mountainside.
We first flew by where Knik Glacier and Colony Glacier meet, small waterfalls flowing off the cliff sides, and finally, we made our way to the first landing spot. It was a little scary trying to land; the pilot Stephen had to make a few attempts to get us flat. However, once we were able to open the door, we slid our crampons on and we could walk where we wanted. This experience was much different than hiking a glacier the day prior.
When stepping off the helicopter, the first thing I did was reached down and sipped a handful of crystal clear glacier water streaming past me. After taking a sip, I realized just how cold it was on the glacier and quickly took my pictures so I could return to the helicopter. The pilot gave us about 30 minutes at the first location before taking off to our second stop.
The pools of blue water on the glacier are some of the brightest natural waters I have ever seen. Some pools can go down 200 feet, similar to the one we are pictures by above ^.
At our second stop high atop Grasshopper Mountain, we were shown a view from above the glacier. To see the entirety of the glacier really put in perspective how small we are compared to it. The Knik glacier runs over 25 miles long and 5 miles wide. It is one of the most common glaciers to take a tour to by helicopter in the Anchorage area.
As the wind started to pick up, our pilot mentioned he heard of a new spot and wanted to stop to see if it was worth checking out. It did not disappoint. A large cave that had a river flowing into it and caving blue walls of the glacier were surrounded by dark grey slag made for a stunning view. It might look small in the photos, but the walls of the side of the cliff went 150 feet or more into the air; I would have looked like an ant standing next to it.
Once we took off from the last stop, we were shown a gorge where the glacier river had cut out, as well as the blue waters of the Knik River. The flight was called the Grand Knik Tour and lasted two hours. There are various tours at different prices, but doing the more expensive one gave you multiple stops and a longer duration, which I really enjoyed and would pay for repeatedly. This is one of those tours you can take annually or even monthly and never see the same thing twice since the Knik Glacier moves at an estimated 100 feet a year.
I had put Sofia’s Café on my list way before we arrived in Alaska as an excellent place to eat since it was a basic sandwich place, and Stephen loves sandwiches. Oh Boy, these sandwiches were mouthwatering good. The tomato soup was just as good, I don’t even like tomato soup, and I needed more. They make their own french bread that we had ordered with oil before our sandwiches, and it just melted in your mouth. The café was very homey feeling and the people all seemed to know one another.
A pick-me-up was much needed before heading into the mountains, so we stopped at Perk-up Espresso. I ordered a neon Pomegranate Mango Redbull smoothie. Unfortunately, the food coloring flavor overpowered the drink, and I was unable to drink it. It looked cool but tasted very metallic.
A short drive from Palmer, we arrived at the iconic Hatcher Pass Lodges in the Talkeetna Mountains. Sadly when we went up into the mountains to see these cute cabins, we were met with wet snow. Most photos of these cabins are of the three shown above, but there are actually many more and a larger cabin clubhouse. We met an older man cleaning the cabins, and he gave us some history on the cabins. The cabins were built in the '60s by Karl "Hap" Wurlitzer for backcountry skiers during the snowy months. The single unit was the first cabin that was lived in full time by Wurlitzer. Seeing the cabins and taking photos is entirely free.
Another great option one more minute down the road is Independence Pass. It is a large decommissioned mine with many old buildings you can tour on your own. It cost only $5 to park for the day and is open from June to Labor Day. We were there the day before it opened, so we did not get to take a tour.
We headed back into Anchorage to pick up Stephens dad from the airport. For dinner, we heard many sources say that we had to try Moose’s Tooth Pub & Pizza. Moose’s Tooth is a highly talked about restaurant in Alaska, so of course, we had to go. We ordered the chicken, bacon, and ranch pizza, and it was very dry, so dry we only ate half of it and left the rest. We also ordered desserts which were also lackluster on the pallet. We didn’t feel the need to return, but we all said that we would stick with a basic cheese and pepperoni pizza if we did. Take my word for it, do not order something more unusual than your typical pizza. Along with the pizza, we did have a few beers.
I booked a room at the Residence Inn Marriott downtown Anchorage for the night. It was located five minutes from the pizzeria and made for a quick night.
A few adventures we wanted to do but did not have time for:
- Reed Lakes Hike
- Independence Pass
Day 3 in Alaska
- Homer, AK
As I have mentioned earlier, driving can take hours to get to your next destination. Homer is four hours from Anchorage and there is plenty of scenery to see along the way. One-stop I insist on making is Kenai Lake off the Sterling Highway. Kenai Lake is known as one of the blues lakes to see in the Kenai Fjords. To reach the lake, there is a roadside pull-off and a trail that leads to the lake that is short but very steep and slippery. This lake took my breath away with how beautiful it was, even on a cloudy day.
We were hesitant to make the long drive to Homer because we were unsure if it was worth it and didn’t want to waste the time we could have spent elsewhere. However, I am glad we did; it was one of those beach towns that gave you Alaskan feels. Homer would be a great location to camp beachside with a bonfire and relax.
A small portion of Kenai Lake off the Sterling Highway.
On the way to Homer, we passed through Soldotna. This was the only small town we passed through, so we decided to stop for lunch at Odie’s. Alaskans know how to make great sandwiches because yet again, this sandwich was fantastic and full of fresh goodness. I ordered a half sandwich and a soup; the sandwich portion was huge and filling by itself.
After passing through Soldotna, there are pull-offs that you can walk along the beach and stretch your legs, including Clam Gulch and Deep Creek. I was hoping to stop, but the rain would not let up, and we continued driving.
Pulling into the area of Homer, you start to wonder why you decided to make the four-hour trip. You realize the real reason when you drive through town, turn the bend, and see Homer Spit, a 4.5-mile-long slice of land strung out into the Kachemak Bay. The Spit is loaded with boardwalks full of candy shops, art galleries, restaurants, and many different trinket shops. It gives you that rustic fish town feeling that is bustling with locals and tourists alike.
Homer is known as the Halibut fishing capital of the world, so I highly recommend booking a fishing charter to get that Alaskan experience. We were short on time and did not book a charter when we were there and the seas were high. You can catch more than just Halibut, but they have seasons in which you can only catch certain fish.
The most visited place in Homer Spit is the Salty Dawg Saloon. After passing through a small doorway, you will be greeted by a shrine of dollar bills that cover the walls and ceiling. Our stop in the bar was quick since I did not have my ID on me, and they kicked us out. The Salty Dawg was initially built as a cabin in 1897 and became a variety of stores before becoming a saloon.
For dinner, I really had my heart set on Little Mermaid, and I knew that I had to call way ahead to make a reservation, well, I didn’t call ahead, and we were unable to get a table. After talking to a local about our situation, they mentioned that Captain Patties was also owned by the same owners of the Little Mermaid and had a similar menu. We ordered two plates of the fish sampler and crab legs, and for dessert, we got a variety of options because they all sounded so good. Everything tasted fantastic and we were just as happy eating at Captain Patties.
After dinner, we took a walk to burn off some calories from dinner. The bay is so quiet in the evening and stunningly beautiful with a backdrop of Kachemak State Park mountains.
On our way to our Airbnb for the evening, we spotted two moose alongside the road. Moose are ubiquitous in Alaska and do not seem to be startled by people; just always keep a reasonable distance between them. Our Airbnb: Sunnyside Hideaway was tucked into the mountainside and was located in the host’s basement. The place was immaculate, and the host stocked snacks and drinks for us.
Before leaving Homer and heading to Seward, we stopped by the Spit to get low tide pictures. It was amazing how far the water goes out.
A few adventures we wanted to do but did not have time for:
- See the Eagles (we looked and did not find any on Bishops Beach)
- Clam Gulch and Deep Creek
- Salty Girl Giftshop
- Little Mermaid (Make reservations well in advance)
Day 4 & 5 in Alaska
- Kenai Fjords National Park
- Exit Glacier
Seward is full of life, human and sea life. The Kenai Fjords hosts so many activities that it would take weeks to complete them all. On our list were some of the most common activities that didn’t break the bank. Two days were not enough to get a good feel of what the Seward is all about.
The water in the harbor is so blue it is hard to believe what you are seeing. Walking through the docks, you can get a great view of the boardwalk against the mountains. While at the boardwalk make sure to stop in the T-shirt shops, you will find the best variety here.
We walked around town in and out of shops and stopped for lunch at Lone Chicharron. Their halibut tacos were fantastic and mouth-watering. After lunch, we drove down to Lowell Point, where we intended to hike, but the rain would not let up. The point is very relaxing and has a stunning view of Resurrection Bay.
After walking around downtown and checking out the small area of Seward, we checked in to our Airbnb, Renfros Lakeside Retreat. One of the coolest cabins with a view of Gatorade blue Kenai Lake. The host of the Airbnb provided a large clean space that came with kayaks and paddle boats that you could take on the lake. We checked in and then headed back to town to find a place for dinner, little did we know that everything closed early, and the only place open was Klondike Pizza.
In the morning, we boarded the Kenai Fjords National Park Tour boat to sail into the seas. The tour took us through Resurrection Bay to Holgate Glacier and back. On the way, we saw Humpback Whales, Orcas, Seals, and a few glaciers off in the distance. The ride was very rocky since it was raining and many people were getting sick. The tour was six hours long (there are different lengths of tours) and they fed us lunch just after boarding the boat. I would only do this tour on a nice day.
Aialik Glacier and Resurrection Bay
A seal sitting on an iceberg by Holgate Glacier
Once we departed the boat we were hungry and had an early dinner at Seward Brewing Co. The beer was okay and the food was decent. The view of the mountains and the dessert made it all that much better. For a brewery in an Alaskan fishing town, the prices were not high.
On the way back to the cabin, we stopped at Exit Glacier. The glacier is free to visit and is a short two miles from the parking lot. You can view the glacier from the top, or you can walk up to its terminus and view it from the bottom. On the top, there are markers of different years where the glacier once sat. Above ^, you can see how far the glacier has receded since 2010.
The hike back from Exit Glacier
A few adventures we wanted to do but did not have time for:
- Hike Lowel Point
- Mount Marathon
- Kayak Kenai Lake
- Eat at the Highliner, Zudys, Sweet Darlings, Gold Rush Bistro, The Cookery, Chinooks, Rays
Day 6 in Alaska
- Girdwood
On day six, we had an early start with breakfast at Mermaid Grotto. The food was not good, and the coffee was cold, but it was the only place open before 11 am. We didn’t spend much time in Seward before leaving for Girdwood. We heard so many cool things about Girdwood that made us want to stay the night, but when we came in on Tuesday, everything was closed, and it was a ghost town.
Our Airbnb, Amys Place, was another cute cabin with a fire pit and a chairlift swing in the backyard. It was tucked back into the trees and was within walking distance of a brewery. She also left bikes for a stroll to the town. One night fee in the artist’s oasis was one of the highest of the trip, but we were able to do laundry (allowing us to pack lighter).
I was really sad to find out that the infamous Winner Creek hand tram in Girdwood was closed indefinitely. We still made the short hike to the hand tram to see it, but the rain was coming in, and we didn’t stay long. There are two ways to view the hand tram, and we took the lesser scenic route of the two. In recent years, the hand tram closed due to deaths and accidents; it was a basket that you would pull yourself by hand over the river by cables.
Come lunchtime, we had minimal options on the Tuesday we were in town. We found this small sandwich shop that, again, made some ridiculously good sandwiches and soup. The Bake Shop bakes their own loaves of bread and desserts to sell to their customers; pick up a loaf if you are ever in town or have a meal. Once we filled up on carbs, we headed to the brewery, Girdwood Brewing, in town for a quick drink while we waited until check-in time for the Airbnb. The inside of the brewery smelled terrible, but the beer made up for it. The selection covered all types of beer for any beer lover.
We checked in and relaxed for a while before exploring Virgin Creek Water Falls. Seeing this waterfall in person was jaw-dropping. The area is covered in a think dewy moss that was a variety of greens and matched well with the blue waters from the waterfall. It was defiantly a sight to see. The walk is under a quarter-mile, and it is easy.
We stopped at Coast pizza located at the entrance of Girdwood on the way back to the cabin and ordered small pizzas and a salad. It was cheaper to order a whole pizza than just a slice of pizza.
A few adventures we wanted to do but did not have time for:
- Hike the Trail of Blue Ice
- Gold Panning at Crow Creek Mining
- Eat at the Double Musky Inn
- Take the Alyeska Aerial Tram to the top of the mountain
Day 7 in Alaska
- Talkeetna
With a lack of things to do in Girdwood, we got up early and headed to Talkeetna. On the way, we planned a few stops to break up the time. We first stopped for more Perk-up Espresso drinks, and then we tried to see Goosecreek Towers but found out that the road was closed for good.
After three hours of driving, we found ourselves in the cutest of towns. Talkeetna is a tiny town with very eclectic shops and small restaurants. Everything is within walking distance from one another, and the downtown area is within walking distance of all of the homes and cabins. If you don't want to walk, it is a very bike-friendly area.
Right before driving into town, we passed the lake where all of the floatplanes take off for tours of Denali.
This small lake had stunning views and a hobbit home.
Talkeetna is a very relaxed town that seems so peaceful. However, with the many restaurants in town, you still want to ensure you get to dinner early as there can be a wait for a table at dinner time. We ate at the Denali Brewpub in the heart of everything. Denali Brewpub has a wide selection of beer and a fantastic variety of delicious food. I was really impressed with their curry meal, and Stephen loved their reindeer meatloaf.
After dinner, we checked into our Airbnb: 2nd St Retreat. The place was brand new and spotlessly clean; I could have lived there. Once we felt relaxed, Stephen and I walked back into town to check out the many shops and small buildings. The most famous building is Nagley’s Store, right in the middle of Talkeetna. The small store carries a little bit of everything, and in the back of the store, you can find a small bar with two tables and a few bar seats. Next to Nagley’s Store is a small single person ran ice cream shop named Shirley’s Ice Cream. There were many flavors to choose from, but I had to try the fireweed flavor along with some creamy sherbert.
Cute shops and the one and only coffee shop, Conscious Coffee, that was open for breakfast. We each ordered a version of their crepes and a regular coffee. This coffee shop is run by all women and they sure know how to hustle.
A few adventures we wanted to do but did not have time for:
- Eat at Waffle Pops, Spinach Bread, Poke Bowls from the Enchanted Bowl, or tacos from Tako.
- Walk the Riverfront Park
- Take a floatplane tour around Denali
Day 8, 9, & 10 in Alaska
- Denali National Park
Denali National Park is a little over four hours north of Anchorage on a mostly secluded freeway. You can start seeing Mt Denali from over 80 miles away (you can see it from Anchorage if the skies are clear). Even from Talkeetna, there is a lack of places to stop along the way. The first view of Denali is at the South View Point along AK 3. If you are not paying attention, you will miss it. It is said that Mt Denali (Mount McKinley) is only viewable 30% of the time, and the other 70% of the time, the summit is poking through the clouds.
On the first day we stopped at the Denali South Viewpoint where we were able to see all 20,310 feet of it.
Denali or aka Mount McKinley is the tallest peak in all of North America.
When we entered through the gates at Denali NP, the first thing we did was headed straight to see the sled dogs. It is free to walk through and tour where they stay during the summer. They were so cute, and you could pet some of them. During the summer the gates are only open from 10 am-4 pm.
Denali National Park is open from mid-May to mid-September, depending on the weather. In the off-season, the park is open but not accessible. However, if you want to drive the lone road through the park, you will have to win the lottery that happens once a year or only drive 15 miles until you have to turn around. If you are not so lucky to win the lottery, there is always the tour bus that will take you 63 (more or less, depending on the tour) miles deep into the park.
If you plan to hike, there are plenty of trails to follow into the backcountry; just watch for bears. If you cant find a trail, make your own, that is okay in Denali NP. In Alaska, you can practically pitch a tent anywhere; the NPS has a few campgrounds within the gates if that is more your style. We opted to stay in a cabin on the grounds of a sled dog team 20 minutes north of the park entrance.
After a quick hike and introduction to Denali National Park, it was time to eat. Karsten’s was an excellent choice for an early dinner; we got to eat dinner and watch a live band play on the patio. The three dip trio was out of this world good, and the entrees were not too far behind on the flavor train.
We checked in to our cabin at Earthsong Lodge early to relax before heading to 49th State Brewery; this would be our number one stop in all of Alaska for food and drinks.
The following morning we boarded our bus that would take us on the adventure through the national park for the next six hours. At first, we regretted our decision, as it was really dull for the first 20 or so miles, but after that, we started seeing so many animals. The first was a grizzly bear walking right by our bus.
Make sure to pack a lunch or at least snacks and water. They do not feed you and they do not stop for food. There is a Subway in town but they did not open early enough to grab and go.
There were animals left and right for the majority of the trip. The six hours went by quickly. Pictured above is a herd of elk grazing.
We surprisingly saw eight different grizzly bears in the park. Two of which had a cub with them. Cubs will stay with their mothers (sow) until they are two to three years old. The National Parks System has on record a bear that was 35 years old, making it the oldest bear in Denali.
On the day we took the bus tour there was an immense amount of fog and I found it fascinating. Here are a few pictures unedited. Expect everything to be brown in June, summers in Denali are very short.
A few notes about Denali National Park:
- The trees are so skinny because they grow so little each year due to the thin soil from old glaciers.
- A caribou is just a wild reindeer, and there are about 2000 in the range of Denali NP.
- Dall Sheep hang out with the same gender and live to only be no older than 13 years. There are 1500 in the Denali NP range.
- Did you know? Horns do not fall off, but antlers do. I guess I never thought about it.
- There are only about 100 wolves in all 6 million acres of Denali NP.
- Denali means ‘big one, tall one’ in Native American.
We only saw a few moose nibbling alongside the road. Moose like to eat willow shrubs, so you can find them out in the open eating all day.
After a long day in the park and being stuck on a bus, we met up with some friends that drove down from Fairbanks at 49th state brewing. I highly recommend the POG sour and every item on the menu to eat.
At 49th State Brewery, you will find the bus from ‘Into the Wild’ the movie. You can walk inside and take as many pictures as you want. The original bus is in a museum in Fairbanks. The brewery has a large outdoor space with campfires, seats, games, and a stage so you can enjoy yourself for hours.
Denali North View. Make sure to read the signs posted at the pull-offs, they provide a lot of cool information and history.
A few adventures we wanted to do but did not have time for:
- East Fork Chulitna Wayside Igloo
- Broad Pass
- Make lunch for the bus tour
- Eat at Prospectors Pizza
On our last full day in Alaska, we stopped at Eklutna Lake, a hidden gem along AK 3. The water was insanely blue, and with a storm rolling in, the trees were a stunning bright green against the blue water and a backdrop of mountains.
For our last night, we ate at the Anchorage location of 49th State Brewing and were not let down. This was the third time we had been there, that’s how much we recommend this place.
Alaska was great, but we felt very rushed since many tourist spots are far from one another. If we had to do it again (and we don’t, at least for a loooonng time), we would take our time and only pack in a few things to see and do. Getting great photos of Alaska takes time because the weather is so moody.
Thank you for checking out my post on Alaska. I hope you found something of interest or useful. Please use the comment section for more ideas, but please don’t be rude. As always, travel on and don’t get eaten by a grizzly bear.
Things to know if you plan to travel to Alaska:
The midnight sun is at its longest time during June, the darkest it ever got was what the sun looks like at 6:00 pm on an average night. This happens during the summer and during the winter it is mostly dark.
Rental cars were impossible to get months in advance. We luckily booked ours six months out.
Expect to drive hours between each location.
The food options are limited in the winter months as many restaurants close. In the summer you can find a variety of options. Also, know that the food will be more expensive and groceries are almost double than what they are in the lower 48.
A lot of the homes have 20+ cars on their land, most of them are dead. You will also see many abandoned cards and campers alongside the freeway.
There are many tiny espresso shops EVERYWHERE. Skip Starbucks and try them. They have over 200 flavors and they also have Redbull drinks they concoct for those who don’t like coffee. The girls who run the shops are very helpful at picking what you like.
Camping is free in most places and you can set up a camping spot anywhere.
Stop at the grocery store for snacks. Many places close early and in some areas, there is a lack of food options.
Check out my packing list below: