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Claudia Henderson
Best Places To Visit In Alaska
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Claudia Henderson

Keller , TX Travel Agent

Claudia Henderson

Keller , TX Travel Agent
Mystic Wind Travel LLC , an independent agent with Cruises & Tours, Unlimited, a Travel Leaders Network Affiliate Agency
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COUNTRIES VISITED:Alaska
PLACES VISITED:Anchorage, Chugach Range, Denali National Park, Fairbanks, Glacier Bay, Juneau
SUGGESTED DURATION:15 Days
15 Days in Alaska: Discover the Last Frontier Alaska is a state of unparalleled beauty and adventure. On this 15-day trip, you will explore some of the best places to visit in Alaska, from the urban charm of Anchorage to the natural wonders of Glacier Bay National Park. You will see wildlife, glaciers, mountains, and more as you travel by land and sea. Whether you are looking for culture, history, nature, or thrill, this itinerary has something for everyone. This is your chance to experience the last frontier in all its glory.
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DAY1
Anchorage
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Arrive in Anchorage. Explore the city.
Arrive in Anchorage. Explore the city and its attractions, such as the Anchorage Museum and the Alaska Native Heritage Center. The museum is a Smithsonian Affiliate and celebrates Alaska Native cultures through presenting voices, stories and cultural heritage pieces from the Smithsonian Institution. The Alaska Native Heritage Center is an educational and cultural institution for all Alaskans, located in Anchorage, Alaska. The center opened in 1999.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Humpy's Great Alaskan Alehouse 610 W 6th Ave, A
You can start your day off at Anchorage’s most trendy spot by having breakfast at the Snow City Cafe
Moose’s Tooth Pub and Pizzeria a Portland-inspired combination of beer & pizza
DAY2
Chugach Range
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Chugach State Park is a day-trekker’s paradise
Chugach State Park is a day-trekker’s paradise, with more than 280 miles of maintained trails for hiking and biking embarking from more than a dozen major trailheads spread from one side of Anchorage to the other. Another 110 miles of routes open in winter to skiing, snow machining, and fat tire biking when there’s sufficient snowfall. Add in the 28 miles of paddling in Eagle River Valley, plus the boating potential of eight-mile-long Eklutna Lake, and you’ve got just about every kind of outdoor travel mode covered. You’ll find dozens of two-to-five mile excursions suitable for families or visitors out for a low-key encounter with wild Alaska. For those seeking more challenge, the park features many popular trails, some forming loops, that will take most of the day to complete. There are also several epic, multi-day treks that traverse wilderness valleys and mountain ridges, and require expert backcountry skills.
HIGHLIGHTS:
In August and September, the park explodes with a crop of blueberries
Anglers can find Dolly Varden and rainbow trout in Eklutna and Rabbit lakes
salmon in Indian, Bird and Penguin creeks along Turnagain Arm close from the Seward Highway.
Glen Alps trailhead and overlook on the Anchorage Hillside
Eagle River Nature Center to visit the natural history center
Eklutna Lake for hiking, camping, biking,
Drive the Turnagain Arm south of Anchorage to access wildlife viewing areas
DAY3
Anchorage
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Head to the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail.
The Tony Knowles Coastal Trail is a one of the most beautiful coastal trails in the nation; the trail gently winds along the coast eleven miles from downtown to the chalet at Kincaid Park and is by far Anchorage's most popular trail. Leave the bustling city behind, and explore a local treasure that tells a long tale of natural and human history. Skirt the fault line of the '64 quake, stroll through scented forests, look for moose, and take in sweeping vis tas where you can spot beluga whales and North America's highest peak, Mount McKinley also known as Denali all in a single view. Access to the trail is available at the extreme northeast end of West 2nd Ave. near the railroad depot, at the extreme southwest end at Kincaid Chalet, and several points in between.
HIGHLIGHTS:
open skies of Point Woronzof.
The Anchorage Light Speed Planet Walk, which is a scale model of our solar system designed by Eli M
DAY4
Fairbanks
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Gold Mining Town
Fairbanks is a city in Alaska known for its natural beauty and unique experiences. Fairbanks is renowned for the northern lights, also known as the aurora borealis, the midnight sun, and sunsets and sunrises that last forever. Fairbanks is the Golden Heart of Alaska. Founded as a gold mining town, Fairbanks today serves as a hub of the oil industry and is also one of the main gateways for tourists visiting Alaska. Many of Alaska’s natural wonders are located near Fairbanks, and the city itself has a large number of attractions for every type of tourist. Its Gold Rush heritage offers a taste of frontier living. Fairbanks is one of Alaska’s best year-round destinations and visitors will find plenty to do whether they come for the long, warm summer days or to watch spectacular northern lights coloring the night sky during Aurora Season1. The summer sun shines up to 24 hours a day during the Midnight Sun Season from April 22 to August 20.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Visit the University of Alaska Museum of the North
Take a flightseeing tour to see the Arctic Circle.
Plan on going on a hike, floating down the Chena River
Watch the Midnight Sun from mid-May through mid-July
From mid-August through mid-April, Fairbanks is one of the best places to view the northern lights
Golden Heart Plaza was built as a public space for people
Pioneer Park is a 44-acre Historical Theme Park
DAY5
Denali National Park
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Explore nature and observe wildlife at Denali National Park
Mt. Denali, formerly Mt. McKinley, is North America's highest mountain, and is contained within Denali National Park in Alaska. The Alaska Range also includes countless other spectacular mountains and many large glaciers. Denali's more than 6 million acres also encompass a complete sub-arctic eco-system with large mammals such as grizzly bears, wolves, Dall sheep, and moose. Today the park accommodates a wide variety of visitor use including wildlife viewing, mountaineering, cycling, and even dog sledding! (Denali National Park and Preserve is actually the only national park with a working dog sled kennel.) It continues to provide a laboratory for research in the natural sciences.
HIGHLIGHTS:
While in Denali National Park & Preserve, please practice the seven principles of Leave No Trace.
North America’s highest point watches over its country
DAY6
Fairbanks
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Explore the city of Fairbanks in 2 days
Day 1: Exploring Fairbanks Your first day in Fairbanks is all about exploring the town and staying local. Start your morning downtown at The Crepery for a casual and delicious breakfast1. Choose between sweet or savory crepes, and then take a minute after your meal to snap a photo of the iconic Fairbanks mural right outside. From there, take the short walk down to the Chena River. There is a flat walking path that runs alongside with lots of informational signs to read and learn about the history of this remote city. Day 2: South side of town For day 2, it is recommended to explore the south side of town. Start the day off with Museum of the North, then wind down and take it easy by the time you get to Fairbanks Children’s Museum. All together, your day would be filled with about 6 hours of non-stop fun.
HIGHLIGHTS:
The Crepery for a casual delicious breakfast. Choose between sweet or savory crepes
The Fairbanks mural is right outside The Crepery what an oportunity for a photoshoot
Take the short walk down to the Chena River.
DAY7
Fairbanks
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Explore the city of Fairbanks in 3 days
This is just one possible itinerary for visiting Fairbanks in 3 days. There are many other attractions and activities to explore in the city, such as dog mushing, ice fishing, snowmobiling, and fishing. You can customize your trip based on your interests and time available, just get in contact with me.. I hope you have a wonderful time exploring Fairbanks
HIGHLIGHTS:
Ice Fishing Tour
DAY8
Denali National Park
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Explore nature and observe wildlife at Denali National Park
Denali National Park is open year-round, but most people visit in the summer, when lodges and tours are operating — usually early June through mid-September. Summer offers the best chances to see wildlife, the most moderate weather and the easiest time to visit as activities and lodges are all operating1. However, a visit in spring or fall can also be rewarding, though services and activities are limited. Ultimately, the best time to plan your trip depends on what you’d like to do. Summer sight-seeing in Denali is mainly done by bus, and there are several trips to choose from. Transit bus trips are the cheapest and most flexible option, although they aren't narrated. Pictured is the Grand Denali Lodge
HIGHLIGHTS:
Sightseeing joining a Transit Bus Tour
Early Morning Hike Around Horseshoe Lake
Dine at the Morino Grill located at the Denali Visitor Center
There is also the Black Bear Coffee House
Denali Park Salmon Bake is a popular Dining option in Denali
49th State Brewing Company located just outside the park in Healy
Prospectors Pizzeria & Alehouse
DAY9
Denali National Park
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On day 9 just relax and enjoy the scenery
In 2022 two wolverines were spotted hanging out by a culvert in Denali National Park, rangers said. “A rare appearance by two wolverines quickly became the talk of the park this week,” park officials said Saturday, Aug. 20, on Facebook. “Since these animals are so rarely seen, some park staff had to brush up on their wolverine knowledge!” Wolverines can be between 38 and 47 inches long, and weigh between 13 and 31 pounds, according to the National Park Service. They’re “active year-round” and breed from April to October, according to the National Park Service. During the winter months, they “den in deep snow.” Wolverines can be powerful and aggressive, the National Park Service reported. They have strong teeth and will eat anything they find. They’re considered a threatened or endangered species in the continental U.S. In Alaska, however, their population is stable.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Northern Lights
DAY10
Glacier Bay
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Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve is a remote, unspoiled place where wildlife outnumbers roads
Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve is a remote, unspoiled place where wildlife outnumbers roads a million to one. Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve is a remote, unspoiled place where wildlife outnumbers roads a million to one. Visitors arrive by boat or plane and stay at Glacier Bay Lodge or camp in one of the available Alaska campgrounds. Then they can hike through the rainforest and along the beaches, or kayak Alaska in the calm waters of Bartlett Cove and the Beardslee Islands. Get ready for puffins, bears, whales, and eagles. Forests and fjords. Glaciers and salmon streams. Tourboats and ancient Tlingit homeland. Glacier Bay offers countless opportunities for discovery and we hope you will have fun, make lifelong memories, and develop a deep connection to this special place.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Glacier Bay is home to a diverse array of wildlife, including puffins, bears, whales, and eagles
Glaciers: The park is named for its stunning glaciers, which can be seen up close by boat or air
Tlingit homeland Glacier Bay has been home to the Tlingit people for thousands of years
DAY11
Glacier Bay
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Experiencing Glacier Bay
Bartlett Cove: Bartlett Cove is the only developed area in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. It is home to the park’s visitor center, as well as a campground, lodge, and several hiking trails. Beardslee Islands: The Beardslee Islands are a group of small islands located in the waters of Bartlett Cove. They are a popular destination for kayaking and wildlife viewing. Hiking: Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve offers a variety of hiking trails for visitors to explore. From easy nature walks to challenging backcountry routes, there is something for everyone. Fishing: Fishing is a popular activity in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. Visitors can fish for salmon, halibut, and other species in the park’s waters.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Bartlett Cove: Bartlett Cove is the only developed area in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve.
Beardslee Islands: The Beardslee Islands are a group of small islands
Hiking: Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve offers a variety of hiking trails
Fishing: Fishing is a popular activity in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve.
DAY12
Glacier Bay
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Glacier Bay Lodge in Alaska
Offering mountain views, Alaska Glacier Lodge in Palmer has accommodations, a shared lounge, a terrace, a restaurant and a bar. Both WiFi and private parking are accessible at the lodge free of charge. Alaska Glacier Lodge offers a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom with free toiletries, a hairdryer and shower. A fridge is also offered, as well as a coffee machine and an electric tea pot. If you would like to discover the area, hiking is possible nearby. The nearest airport is Ted Stevens Anchorage International, 53 miles from the accommodation, and the property offers a paid airport shuttle service.
HIGHLIGHTS:
The lodge is surrounded by stunning natural beauty, with views of the forest and the nearby bay
DAY13
Juneau
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Juneau, Alaska: Where adventure and beauty meet.
Juneau is the capital city of Alaska, located in the panhandle of the state. It is a popular tourist destination known for its stunning natural beauty, rich history, and outdoor activities. Some of the top attractions in Juneau include the Mendenhall Glacier, Tracy Arm Fjord, and the Alaska State Museum. Visitors can also enjoy hiking, fishing, wildlife watching, and more in the surrounding area. With its unique blend of natural wonders and cultural attractions, Juneau is a must-see destination for any traveler to Alaska.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Mendenhall Glacier
Tracy Arm Fjord
Alaska State Museum
DAY14
Juneau
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Alaska's State Capitol
Mount Roberts Tramway: This aerial tramway takes visitors from the cruise ship docks in downtown Juneau to the top of Mount Roberts, offering stunning views of the city and the surrounding area. Alaska State Capitol: The Alaska State Capitol is home to the state’s legislature and governor’s office. Guided tours are available, offering a glimpse into the history and workings of Alaska’s government. St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church: This historic church, built in 1894, is the oldest continuously operating Russian Orthodox Church in Southeast Alaska. It features beautiful icons and architecture. Last Chance Mining Museum: This museum, located in the former compressor building of the Alaska-Juneau Gold Mining Company, offers a fascinating look into Juneau’s gold mining history.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Mount Roberts Tramway it takes visitors from the cruise ship docks to Mount Roberts
Alaska State Capitol - guided tours are available
St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church built in 1894
Last Chance Mining Museum
DAY15
Juneau
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Last Day in Juneau Alaska
This is just one possible itinerary for visiting some of the best places in Alaska. There are many other destinations worth visiting, such as Kenai Fjords National Park, Ketchikan, Kodiak, Skagway, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, Seward, Talkeetna, Katmai National Park and Preserve, Valdez, North Pole, Lake Clark National Park and Preserve, Sitka, Homer and more. I can customize your trip based on your interests and time available.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Tracy’s King Crab Shack: This popular seafood restaurant is known for its delicious king crab dishes
The Rookery Cafe: This cafe serves a variety of dishes made with fresh, local ingredients.
Salt: This restaurant offers a contemporary Alaskan dining experience.
The Hangar on the Wharf: This waterfront restaurant serves a variety of dishes.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Alaska is a beautiful state with many natural wonders and unique experiences. From exploring the city of Anchorage to visiting national parks and seeing glaciers, there is something for everyone. Have a wonderful trip and make many joyful memories!