Top 10 Reasons to take an Alaskan Roadtrip

 Top 10 Reasons to take an Alaskan Roadtrip

10. No Passport Needed 

Alaska is an amazing choice for Americans wanting to stay inside the U.S. during the age of COVID.  If you’re anything like me, however, you still want the most BANG for your travel buck.  Alaska is hands down an incredible, picturesque, memory-making adventure that’s within your grasp without needing a passport. 

9. Coffee

If you’re not a coffee addict, skip this one.  (Or perhaps just replace it with cannabis.  Because that’s also readily -and legally- available here).  The two of us *are* addicted to espresso and we got a huge kick out of diverting our dollars from Starbucks to the little local coffee huts available every couple of miles.

8. Outdoor Activities

Alaska is the outdoorsman’s heaven.  The options for nature overs are endless.  Since we were traveling with our littles we took it pretty tamely, but you could zip-line, paraglide, white-water raft, kayak, and fish, just to name a few.

7. Walkability

One of the biggest surprises for me was the walkability of the state.  Almost everywhere we went (up to Denali and down to the Kenai peninsula) there were paved trails alongside the highway.  I thought this was pretty incredible especially for accessibility.  If you’re pushing a stroller or if you’re in a wheelchair, you’ll still be able to enjoy Alaska’s trails.

6. Best Bathroom Breaks

One of the perils of a road trip is the necessity of using nasty gas station bathrooms (or,  heaven forbid, do what my daughter calls a ‘bush wee’).  Up here however there were ample rest stops along the highway, and, get this, they were GORGEOUS.  Not the actual potties themselves, mind you.  But the VIEWS.  We stopped at a couple of the most stunning viewpoints you can imagine.  On our way down to the Kenai Peninsula we didn’t have to stop at a gas station once. 

5. Weather

Now this year was a little different for us Texans, (I will forever remember our week with sketchy power in February), but usually it’s hot as heck by June.  The temperature during our trip in Alaska ranged from 48-60ish depending on the wind and cloud coverage.  It also sprinkled at least once a day for a few minutes as well.  If you’re looking for a tropical beach destination this isn’t it.  But we personally loved the cooler temperatures and the moody skies.

4. Great for Kids 

Our kids had a blast up here.  My littles are 5 and 2 and they were excited and content for the majority of the trip.  Darcey loved the little trinket shops and spotting the animals.  Ronan was obsessed with the pebbly beaches and chunking rocks into the ocean.  Between the orca cruise and the dog sledding, I can’t decide which tour was more kid-friendly or more exciting for the whole family.

3. Friendly People

I always take claims of friendliness with a grain of salt when reading travel blogs.  (At one popular tropical destination famed for its friendliness, I was spit on and called many *not nice* names while walking on the street). Keep in mind that your perception of how friendly a destination is can be a combination of how the locals perceive you and what you represent.  With that disclaimer, oh my goodness Alaska was an incredibly friendly place!  There were so many examples of the warmth we received as a visiting family, such as…  The Anchorage bus driver talking to Ronan about his hot wheels.  The ladies cleaning the fish giving the kids an impromptu science lesson on the food chain.  The random locals greeting us with a cheery ‘good morning’ and asking if their dogs could say hi to the kids.  Wow! I was almost moved to tears each time we were met with a friendly smile.  It was a much-needed balm to the soul after the isolation of COVID.

2. Animal Sitings

The wildlife in Alaska is something you have to see to believe.  It has been a long time wish of mine to see a moose, but I came with modest expectations just in case they were hiding.  9 MOOSE SITINGS and our trip isn’t even over!  The majority of these majestic creatures were spotted in the Denali National Park but we did see 3 just chilling on the side of the highway.  In addition to these antlered animals, we also saw otters, bald eagles, a seal (I swear it winked at me), and bison.  I can’t recommend this experience enough to families looking for a safari experience closer to home.

1. The Scenery

I saved the best for last…  The mountains are indescribable.  The epic view from our cabin in Anchor Point took our breath away every time we stepped outside.  I attempted to capture some of their beauty on my smart phone camera but the pics don’t do them justice.  If you want a truly awe-inspiring vantage of the peaks, you must visit Homer.  You won’t be able to peel your eyes away from the scenery.