Travel and staycation ideas for Anchorage and throughout Alaska
The weather is great, and summer is settling in soon, which means it’s that time of year when everyone is planning their next adventure. Luckily, we live in the best spot for travel and adventure – Alaska! Weekend getaways and staycations are all the thing now – and you can’t get much better than our great state for interesting places to go, fun things to do, and beautiful backdrops to make it memorable. We’ve rounded up a few ideas to help with planning your next getaway.
Lucky for us who live here in the Eagle River, Wasilla and Palmer area that Anchorage is so close. This city is a perfect springboard for just about any kind of adventure, getaway or retreat you might be in the mood for. Flightseeing over Denali, fishing for salmon, spotting eagles or visiting grizzly bears, we’ve got it all. You could also check out calving glaciers and majestic whales on a day cruise. And don’t forget hiking, biking, mountain climbing and other outdoor sports as well.
Here are a few resources you can use to plan and set out on your own adventure:
Flightseeing Tours
Sometimes the best way to see Alaska is from the air. Flight tours are fun and readily available around the state. Click here for a list of companies and air tours you can book both locally and anywhere in the state you want to explore.
White Pass & Yukon Route
Love trains, adventure, history and lots of gorgeous scenery? Check out the White Pass & Yukon Route, with a wide variety of excursions you can choose from gentle rides to serious adventures. Their most popular tour, the White Pass Summit, takes passengers on a vintage train to retrace the original route to the White Pass Summit, passing Bridal Veil Falls, Inspiration Point and Dead Horse Gulch. Along the way you’ll see breathtaking mountains, glaciers, gorges, waterfalls, tunnels, trestles and historic sites. And a bit of history as you follow the original Klondike Trail of ‘98 worn into the rocks, a permanent tribute to the thousands of souls who passed this way in search of fortune.
Wildlife Viewing Tours
Bears, whales and moose – oh my! When you think of Alaska, you think of bears, moose, eagles, whales, and all the rest of the diverse wildlife we are surrounded by. Seeing them up close and in their natural habitat is a great way to appreciate nature’s majesty while relaxing and getting away from the rat race. Check out the following websites for wildlife tours and even lists of great spots to see wildlife for those who like to go on their own:
- Alaska Bear Viewing Tours
- Alaska Bear Watching Hot Spots
- Alaska Whale Watching Tours
- Alaska’s Best Whale Watching Spots
- Bird-watching travel plan ideas
There are so many more things you can do in Alaska – on the land, on the water, in the air and pretty much anywhere you want to be. If you’re visiting the Anchorage, Palmer, Wasilla or Eagle River area and want some ideas for your next vacation, staycation or getaway, give us a call. We’ve lived and worked in this area our whole lives and enjoy helping others to experience this place we love and call home.
