Adventure through Alaska
Join me on my travels throughout the state with pictures, experiences and recommendations
An ode to my old travel page:
"Why do you go away?
So that you can come back.
So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colors." ~Terry Pratchett
2/9/23- Flying into Seattle
We had an early morning before taking off to head to Seattle. My parents came to get me settled on my adventure and my boyfriend Tucker, my Uncle Mark and sister Mel sent me off. It was a morning filled with so many different emotions because I was excited, nervous and also sad knowing I would miss being so close to everyone I love... but also on the other end I looked forward to exploring with my friend Sam! We landed in Seattle after a 6 hour flight and were off to our hotel by noon. It was weird essentially traveling back in time because I was already hungry for dinner upon landing. We took an uber to Pikes Place Market to stroll around and were fascinated by all of the amazing vendors.
Pikes Place Market
At Pikes place we saw individuals selling everything from flower bouquets, fresh fruits and veggies, furs, leather, jewelry, crystals and more (essentially anything you could ever imagine). The most spectacular, however, was the fish markets along this route. Upon arrival, salmon was being launched through the air as the gentlemen of Pikes Place Fish Co played catch with the fish while chanting as they worked. Their smoked salmon melted in your mouth unlike any salmon I had ever tasted...
We ended the evening with dinner at The Pike Pub * Brewery with delicious crab & shrimp stuffed wild salmon over rice with coconut curry sauce. It was impossible not to knock out early after this meal and a long day of travel.
2/11/23- Anchorage Day 1
This was our first full day in Anchorage and we woke up early to kick off the day. After shopping for supplies for the next 3 months, we drove 10 minutes over to Potters Marsh to try to catch view of some wildlife. The snow was coming down pretty hard on the drive, however, once we arrived it began to clear up. Although we did not see any moose on this excursion, we were fascinated by the beautiful snow covered mountain views from the boardwalk. It took a while to thaw out once we got back to the car but it was worth the stroll.
Moose Tooth Pub and Pizzeria
After this walk we traveled over to the Moose Tooth Pub and Pizzeria where we got some local beer and reindeer pizza (The Call to the Wild pizza). We also got the "Amazing Apricot" pizza which was a unique but delicious combination of blackened chicken, apricot jam, carrots, and scallions. It was so cozy in our booth with a blazing bonfire outside our window. I was impressed to see so many people coming in and out of the restaurant wearing shorts despite it being just shy of 20 degrees and snowing!
2/12/23- Anchorage Day 2
On this day we visited an Ulu knife factory (The Ulu Factory, Anchorage), sampled some local reindeer sausage and fish including a variety of smoked salmon flavors (Alaska Sausage and Seafood, Anchorage), drove out to Waranzof point and watched planes take off using attached skiis! We finished this afternoon driving down Seward highway to Beluga point where you can see these creatures migrate later in the spring. The clouds had finally cleared up and we were able to catch a clear glimpse of much of the Chugach Mountains that surround Anchorage.
2/12/23- Continued
Today, we also saw 3 Dall sheep along the edge of a mountain in the Chugach range. We ended the day with Yak burgers and bison chilli by the water. Pictured above, was driving through a small airport in Anchorage. It felt similar to a boat marina like we see at home on the east coast... but for the many Alaskans that have their own pilot license and fly out to other areas of the state, themselves.
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2/19/23- Seward
This Saturday we drove down to Seward via a long windy mountanous highway full of incredible views. The day lightened up and the clouds lifted as we approached the ocean and saw many others exploring along the way, including cross country skiiers and those on snow machines Upon arriving in Seward, we were suprised to find a very small town with many stores that were closed down for the season. Of this, we came across a small fish market by the coast run by a local fisherman and his wife. Here, we sampled several house smoked fishes and fish smears. Along this coast we also found the old Mile 0 of the Iditarod, the annual dog sled race that is about 1000 miles long, ending in Nome, Alaska. This event is set to begin this March 4th, which is also the second week of the "Fur Rondy" Festivities. More to come for Rondy updates and fun!
2/19/23- Seward
When leaving Seward, we also came across a group of 4 bald eagles, including 1 young bald eagle defending their territory/ food findings from various other birds. It was amazing to see how large these birds were and to have them flying directly overhead. While walking the coastal trail in Seward we also came across what we initially thought was drift wood... BUT IT WAS AN OTTER. He floated on his back for minutes at a time, diving down intermittently for what we thought may be food. Although we did not spot any puffins on this excursion, we were more than happy with what this adventure had brought us. Not to mention, we began the day with 2 moose sightings in a quaint little neighborhood (a Mamma and her baby).
2/20/23- Portage Glacier Trail
Today, we left early in the morning to start our 1 hour drive to Whittier to see Portage Glacier. Although, this hike did not end in our goal of seeing the glacier itself... it was well worth the view. We underestimated what we would need to navigate this trail and the conditions due to snow. This hike took us quite a bit of time due to VERY deep snow and lack of snow shoes/ poles. We stopped just short of the pass when we turned back due to tracks ending, inability to see marked trail and unpacked snow. From here, we could see the very small town of Whittier along with bald eagles and snowy forest.
2/20/23- Whittier
In order to get to the Portage Glacier trail, we had to drive through this tunnel that traversed below this mountain. This was the only way we could get into and out of Whittier from where we were coming from. On each side, we had about a 30-40 minute wait in order to be clear to go through this 2 mile long tunnel. This tunnel is shared traffic with trains that come through, therefore the staff on either side are very diligant to keep everyone informed and safe. When the light turns green, the large door opens and you drive in,side traveling between rock and driving directly on the traintracks for the entirety of the 2 miles. Once you approach the end of the tunnel, the door to release you to the other side opens and you are free to exit! (this felt very strange).
2/20/23- Sam in the Snow
I wanted to include this photo to just show you how deep this snow was along this route (Portage Glacier route). Just when you though the snowy footsteps beneath would support you... we would sink to almost hip level which made this hike a challenging one. There were many stumbles and flops into the snow because of the uneven footing and deep fluffy white. By the end of this hike we were soaked (mostly from the snow).
2/20/23- Continued
On the way home from Whittier we stopped in the town of Girdwood for a bite to eat. We all got seafood chowder with local salmon at the base of a skii slope, the restaurant called "Base Camp Cafe". This small and cozy place served amazing chowder and had fun vintage decor. Not only was this intrigueing but also that the wall/ bookcase had a hidden door!
After this, we headed back towards Anchorage and on the way spotted more dall sheep along the side of a mountain just shy of Beluga Point.
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2/20/23- The Auroras
We ended this weekend by catching the auroras. We drove up to the Glenn alps trailhead in Anchorage and wandered along the endtrance to flat top mountain. The stars were incredible and as we were about to head home just past midnight, the lights appeared. It was a spectacular show. Truly speachless. It started looking just like a green cloud and then... BAM... within seconds they had spread across the sky. It was an incredible magnetic storm!! The greens swicthed from streakes to swirls with hints of red and pink.
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2/25/23- Rondy week 1
This weekend was the beginning of the Rondy Festival. Sam and I visited the rock and mineral show at the midtown mall and saw several items made by local artists in the same location. This was anywhere from handmade knives to wood working (and more). There were so many people walking around in their handmade fur jackets, hats and mittens. We finished the weekend by walking around the snow sculpture competion followed by cider flights at Double Shovel Cider Co and fireworks downtown. The Baluga sculpture was my most favorite.
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3/3/2023- What a night
After clinical, Sam and I made our way downtown for "first Fridays" at the museum (free admission). It was very busy because there was a school art show taking place in the lobby. It was really fascinating to learn more about Alaskan history.
After the museaum we followed the music we heard from just outside and wound up at an outdoor concert (sponsered by the Rondy festival). Here we did some dancing with spiked hot cocoa before making our way into the bar next door. Little did we know we would be wandering into a beard competition!
This all made for an interesting night with many twists and turns. The night ended by learning more about the Iditarod from some of the locals.
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3/4/2023- Iditarod opening ceremonies and running of the reindeer race
On Saturday we woke up early to catch the opening Ceremonies of the Iditarod (a 1000 mile dog sled race that goes from Willow, AK to Nome, AK with competetors from across the globe). We arrived downtime just before start time to grab a warm cup of coffee and then the opening ceremonies began.
In the afternoon, we returned to downtown to participate in "The Running of the Reindeer", an annual dash down 4th street that has been happening for the past 15 years. We ran in the first group (the gals). It was soon after the run began when caribou were breeezing by us on all sides. It was both fun and excillerating to be nearly pummeled by these beatiful animals. Above is a photo of me with one of the runners (Elsa).
3/5/2023- Iditarod official start on Willow Lake
Above is a picture I took of Ryan Redington, the winner of the Iditarod 2023. I took this photo during the official start more than one week before the finish of the race. Sam and I drove up to Willow lake and set up shop towards the center of the frozen lake to view the start of their 1000 mile journey. It was so cool to be able to experience this while I was here. There were mushers from Alaska, New Hampshire, South Africa, Denmark and beyond! Families were tailgating this event out on the lake with bonfires, BBQ, drinks and music.
3/5/2023- Iditarod Official start continued
While we waiting to leave the lot following the Iditarod events, we watched small planes takeoff one by one. In this picture we can see Denali to the right of the image, the largest mountain in the United States. We plan to drive up to Denali National Park in late April or early May in hopes to wander around the grounds and possibly spot some more wildlife.
On our drive home we saw 4+ moose along the sides of the road
3/11/2023- Hike at Near Point
This weekend I joined a new friend on a hike of Near Point via the Wolverine trail. Towards the peak it got very icy which forced us to do a lot of swicthbacking up the mountain with some postholing in softer snow. I definitely need better spikes for hikes like these because the traction I had did not cut it. However, the hike was so much fun and the view at the top just before sunset was worth every second of the steep climb. Many moose tracks were spotted along the trail but luckily we did not run into any face to face. This hike wound up being just over 8 miles and we got back to the car just before the sun dipped below the horizon. We finished the hike with cotton candy March skies and tired legs.
3/12/2023- A low key SUnday
This Sunday we layed low with some movies, pasteries and crafts. Sam and I woke up early to go to "Fire Island Rustic Bake Shop" in Anchorage for some sweet and savory treats (as pictured above) followed by the house of bread to stock up for the week. We both picked up new hobbies this week (me making hats and Sam knitting scarves). This lazy Sunday was what we both needed after many busy weeks of exploring and roaming non-stop.
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3/20/2023- Snow Machining at Big Lake
Things are beginning to warm up and there are sure signs of spring. This was the first time I had seen grass since being in Alaska! Today, we drove up to Big Lake to joing my clinical instructor and her family for snow machining. We set up shop on the frozen lake with chairs, a bonfire, and some snacks. This was my first time being on a snow machine (thats what they call snow mobiling here) and it was so much fun going fast across the flat part of the lake, plowing through powder and skipping over jumps! We even spotted a moose and her baby on the island in the center. For lunch we roasted reindeer hotdogs over the fire and marshmellow dipped strawberries. Cheers to a fun day!
3/23/2023- A COld and colorful night
This Thursday was certainly worth the late night drive to view the auroras from high up in the sky. The show was so spectacular that you could see them dancing from downtown Anchorage despite light polution. We raced towards Glenn Alps Trailhead to catch them at their prime, but unfortunately could not make it up the mountain without the truck. We raced back home, hopped in the truck and drove 25min back in hopes they would still be at their brightest. By the time we made it to our viewing spot, they had faded quite a bit but still looked beautiful (as seen above). Nice way to end Friday-eve.
3/25/2023- Snowy sunrise and fuzzy beasts
On Saturday of this week we woke up early, picked up some friends to grab some coffee and pasteries followed by a sunrise stroll through Eagle River. Though we did not see any wild-life, there has been word on the street that since this day bears have been emerging from their slumber in this area and that there has even been a angry bull moose charging people. I must say, I am happy we did not encounter any of the above. It was so quiet and peaceful along these trails as the sun came up from behind the mountains. After this morning adventure, we headed on over to the Musk Ox farm to learn more about these large Arctic creatures. By the late afternoon we were all pooped and wound down the day by visiting a local distillary and sitting by the fire at a nearby brewery.
3/26/2023- Hike at Grand-view/ McHugh Trail
Following by our busy Saturday, Sam and I slept in before heading out to McHugh along the Chugach. The drive to this hike was less than ideal with lots of slipping and sliding towards the beginning (but once I realized I had accidently taken my car out of 4 wheel drive it was much smoother sailing). At the start, we were the only ones along the trail. My new spikes were a life saver when it came to traction and ascedning this steap slope. However, though we made it to Grand-view we were unable to make it to the McHugh summit due to worsening trail conditions. Sam did not have her spikes, so she crawled up and butt slid most of the way down while I navigated with my poles and spikes. It is always cool seeing small planes flying below you. Once we reached the bottom we crossed paths with some other hikers. The view from the top of the first peak was nothing short of stunning though, being able to see towards the Turnagin arm, mount Susitna (sleeping lady) and all of downtown Anchorage.
4/1/2023- Baby Blue Skies & hope for spring!
This weekend I was on my own as Sam was working. I took the opportunity to go on a solo hike along a more populated trail (Wolverine Trail) to soak in some vitamen D and to enjoy some time to myself. I planned on a small walk after having some breakfast from Fire Island Rustic Bake Shop but decided to head up above tree line since it was such a beautiful day. Ended up being a little 5.5mile hike round trip as I did not ascend the summit due to not packing poles. I paused 1 mile from the top to take in the view and to pet some friendly dogs before jogging down. I also got a suprise facetime during this rest break from one of my favoirte neighbors from home and got to share some of this beautiful view. The jog back down was great with spikes, packed snow and my large jacket strapped to my backpack.
4/2/2023- Alaska Wild-life Conservation Center
On Sunday we got an early start out to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center which was about 1 hour away from Anchorage. I picked up some friends along the way and we made a pit stop at "Birch and Alder" on the Seward Highway for some birch flavored lattes (these tasted smokey and sweet). The drive was stunning and it was my first time driving in this direction since late February. It looked like a completely different road with many of the mountains having shed much of their snow as they basked the sun. Once we arrived at the conservation center, we decided to walk the grounds in hopes we would be able to see some of the bears as they come out of hibernation. As we rounded the corner past some musk ox, we saw 3 brown bears making their way towards a small circle of trees. It was crazy to see how large they truly are with one smaller bear I assumed was a cub. Here, we also saw Sitka dear, bison and coyotes. After this mid-day adventure we headed back towards Anchorage and I completed the day with some warm naan and curry.
AWCC works as an animal sancuary for creatures found all across Alaska that are orphaned or injured.
4/8/2023- Enjoying the weather while under the weather
This weekend I had a gnarly cough which limited me to the house for most of the weekend. Before the snow came roaring in, Sam and I took advantage of some blue sky and sunshine with some fat tire biking. My congestion was not having this, so it made it a little more challenging with multiple cough breaks. I definitley could have chose a better time to do this activity, but with only a few weekends left, I felt like I could not waste a sunny day. We went 13 miles total from Earthquake park to Kincaid park and back. After this, I spent a majority the rest of the weekend laying low and snuggled up in bed with the exception to watching Quinnipiac Win the College Hockey National Championships! Go bobcats!
4/15/2023- Back to seward with Tuck, Jack and Sam!
This was the first full day I got to spend showing my boyfriend Tucker and friend Jack around after they landed in Anchorage on Thursday. We made many pit stops on our way down to Seward including AWCC, Birch and Alder for smoked salmon bagels and many pull offs to admire the view. The drive began with bright sun and low clouds floating past the mountain tops making the morning seem out of this world beautiful. Upon arriving in Seward we spent some time watching these seals close to shore followed by haddock tacos for lunch and a visit to "Saltwood Smokehouse" for some incredible smoked black cod and salmon samples.
4/16/2023- Sunday Summits with my Tuck
There is nothing more special than being able to share this experience with Tucker and having him here for a weekend to adventure with. This was a weekend that I looked forward to during this entire experience and tried to figure out ways to maximize his time here. One of my patients recommended this hike, Little O'Malley mountain trail, which was the perfect summit for this Sunday. At the top we celebrated with a beverage and spent some time soaking in the sun and 360 degrees of stunning views. The way down consisted of deep sinking in the snow and a lot of butt sliding despite getting absolutely drenched. The day was ended with some pizza, brews and an attempt at viewing the lights. Although the auroras did not dance while we were up at Glenn Alps trailhead tonight, the view of the stars was unmatched.
4/18/2023- Celebrating Us
This was Tucker and my 3 year anniversary since we first started dating. We were able to celebrate over dinner at "Kinleys" with oysters, and dinner before he flew back home the following day. This way the perfect way to end his visit <3
4/22/2023- Homer coming in hot
Homer was a maginal little place right on the water, filled with boats, local art, wine and quirky little hidden gems. In a way, it reminded me of home, especially when we came across their "Seafairers" memorial similar to the fisherman memorial we have in Gloucester, MA (both of these monuments honoring those who have gone down at sea). There was a placcard with a poem at this memorial that was both powerful and meaningful which made this moment really memorable.
4/22/2023- Homer Continued
This day was also spent with walks along Bishops beach during the breezy morning after enjoying a homemade ham and cheese croissant from "Two Sisters Bakery". We also had the opportunity to participate in two tastings, one at "Bear Creek Winery" and one at "Sweetgale Meadworks and Cider Co" (both quaint little places that were sure to impress). The honey wine ate the meadworks place was my most favorite and the firepit they had on the deck really made it that much more cozy with the cool breeze.
4/22/2023- Homer Spit
This image is a view of the spit from our airbnb's balcony around 10:30pm. The spit is about 4 miles long and jets out into Kachemak Bay. The night we arrived we drove down to the very end of the spit where we stopped in "Salty Dawg Saloon" which was very interesting as the entirety of the inside (walls, ceiling, etc) are covered in dollar bills signed by many of the visitors or undergarnments! We played a round of pool before we headed back for some shut eye.
The next day along the spit, we also purchased some fresh oysters from a fisherman and shucked these at our bnb after dinner. The natural brine on them was so fresh and salty, I could have had a dozen more!
On the drive home to Anchorage the next day we stopped to admire some volcanos including Mount Lliamna (last erruption in 1867) and Mount Redoubt (last erruption in 2009) as we drove through Ninilchik.
4/23/2023- Taking in every last Aurora
WIth only 2 weeks left in Alaska and a high KP index tonight, there was no way I was going to miss the lights if they were coming out one more time before I go. This one was extra special. The thought about saying goodbye to this extravegent phenomenon and this amazing place, knowing I may never see the auroras again, felt very nostolgic. I plan to come back in the summer months to visit, however, the Auroras are most visible ~October- April (as summer has light almost all 24 hours of the day and does not get dark enough). Even tonight it was harder to capture because, even at midnight, there was still that hint of twilight as you can see in this image. I went to bed feeling fulfilled and content after this weekend.
4/23/2023- Sunset over anchorage
The sunset tonight was amazing with hardly any clouds in the sky. With the sun setting later and later, we caught the tail end of the sun dipping below the horizon at just about 10::45 as we awaited the northern lights.
With each week, I look back and am so amazed with how much Sam and I have been able to do. We have done our best to take advantage of every moment and to live day by day without getting ahead of ourselves. I feel like this has helped me be more mindful and to let go of things that I would typically dwell on.
4/29/2023- Last Saturday morning in anchorage
WIth traveling up to Denali next weekend and then flying home, this was my last Saturday morning spent in Anchorage. I wanted to take time to myself this morning to reflect on how my experience here has changed my mindset and allowed me to meet some amazing people. Every single person I have grown to know has made a difference in my experience here and has changed my perspective for the better. This morning I drove along the Seward highway soaking in every second of sunshine. As I drove, I noticed some buds on the trees beginning to bloom! I got my favorite bagel sandwich and sat by Beluga point before spotting 21 little dall sheep in a group along the mountainside. I was able to share this expeirence with a family from Belgium by letting them zoom and look through my camera lens.
It is truly the little things that make every day so great :)
4/30/2023- Bird Ridge
After a concert the night before and a later night, Sam and I woke up and decided to hike "Bird ridge". Unfortunately, my stomach was against me so we did not make it all the way up (hiking + belly aches = distress). However, about halfway up and above tree-line we could see up and down the Turnagain arm and over to Hope, AK. This part of the trail was nice and clear thanks to the warmer weather and sunshine. We met several good dogs along the way, one in particular that decided to hang with us the whole way up.
4/30/2023- Continued
This little spot off the trail felt like a piece of heaven on earth. I will never get over the sights of the mountains disapearing into the water below, especially when standing across the way on another mountain. Although I was not feeling well, what we were able to achieve of this hike was well worth every second.
4/29/2023- A lot of "lasts"
Sam and I won Red Jumpsuit Apparatus concert tickets and went to the concert downtown Anchorage at "Williwaw social". This was such a fun time and brought me right back to elementary school sleepovers in the early 2000's. Following the conert, Sam and I headed over to one of our favorite weekend spots to hangout by the fire-pits and then on the roof at "Anchorage Brewing Company". There had been so many Friday nights of sitting in the barrels and meeting countless cool people to exchange stories with. We soaked it all in as it would be our last time (this go around) being able to come here together. It was ironic as we were leaving saying "until next time" and noticing one of their brews in the barrel next to me was named after that same phrase. "Until next time Anchorage Brewing Company!"