Alaska is a state that has been on my bucket list to visit for as long as I can remember! I have always been fascinated with different panoramic landscapes, and those of the mountains are some of my favorites to photograph (which you will see a lot of in this post). This trip was based in Anchorage, Alaska with day trips to Talkeetna to the north and Seward to the south. Whether you want to visit Alaska for views of Denali National Park or stay closer to the coast, there is a lot to see and explore in this beautiful state!
TALKEETNA
Approximately a two-hour drive north of Anchorage you will find the small town of Talkeetna, Alaska. This is a popular stop for those who are driving to Denali National Park in Healy since it is roughly a halfway point from Anchorage. Across from the downtown area is the state-owned Talkeetna Airport-TKA, which is primarily used for air taxi operations for climbers and sightseers. While in town, my father and I booked a “Denali Experience” tour that included a glacier landing with K2 Aviation, which was one of the coolest experiences! The flight takes you around the National Park and makes a stop on a glacier where you can explore the Denali mountain range up close! As we arrived at the K2 office after our drive from Anchorage, we were not able to be booked on a flight until the afternoon. Our plane fit only four guests and the pilot! While we waited for our scheduled plane ride, this allowed us time to explore the downtown area. Talkeetna’s Main Street is filled with quaint shops and a few restaurants. We stopped for lunch at Mountain High Pizza Pie in town, which was great! Talkeetna is a definite stop if you are passing through the area, and I highly recommend a flight with K2 Aviation!
As we walked through the neighborhood streets of Talkeetna, we stumbled upon this path (above), leading to a river and some of the most beautiful panoramic views of the Denali mountain range!
SEWARD
The seaside town of Seward is where the spectacular view of the mountains meets the sea, and this is one of my favorite places in Alaska! From Anchorage, the drive to Seward is an approximately 2.5-hour drive south. The drive alone to Seward is beautiful, with stunning views of the mountains both on the way there and on the return journey back to Anchorage. While there, we explored the town and Resurrection Bay (where you can find the Iditarod Mile 0 monument). The main event of our day in Seward was spent on a tour with Kenai Fjords Tours to whale watch and view the outskirts of Kenai Fjord National Park. This park is one of the closest National Parks in Alaska in proximity to Anchorage!
The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race is held annually in Alaska in early March. It is a long-distance sled dog race from Anchorage to Nome, Alaska. The race takes roughly 8-15 days, sometimes longer. The National Iditarod Historic Trail was first known as the Seward-Nome route predates the race as it is known today in Anchorage. The 2,300-mile trail was originally used to transport mail and supplies from the coast to communities of the interior parts of Alaska during the gold rush era. You can find the monument, pictured above, marking Mile 0 of the trail along the shore of Resurrection Bay in Seward.
ANCHORAGE
The largest city in Alaska, Anchorage is located along the Cook Inlet and is the gateway to the nearby wilderness areas and mountain ranges. While we mainly spent our short time in the area exploring Talkeetna and Seward, we were able to visit the Alaska Zoo and the downtown area of Anchorage. Throughout our daily travels, a lot of time was spent in the car commuting, and one thing that did not disappoint in the Anchorage area was the views! The panoramic views of the surrounding mountain ranges were amazing, and we even stopped on the side of the road to snap a few pictures of the views!
Have you ever traveled to Alaska? If so, where? What were some of your favorite adventures from there?
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