(May 23 – May 27) – Anchorage Alaska –
I had never really had a desire to venture to Alaska. In the later half of 2025 I felt a pull to visit, when this happens I follow the feeling. Did you know that you can actually drive from the US to Alaska via the AlCAN (Alaska/Canada Highway)?
I decided to use my flight credit windfall from American Airlines after my trip to New Zealand, to make the journey this year and my destination would be Anchorage. The timing provided travel during Memorial day weekend (bonus). Did you know you could actually take a ferry from Bellingham Washington to various destinations in Alaska. I could have actually taken Angeline with me. The closest location would have been Whittier, but from some reason that ferry had been taken out of commission. My other options would have been to take the ferry to Juneau or Skagway and then drive through the Yukon to Anchorage. I will save that journey for a time that my life partner and I can make that trip.
I stayed at the Lakefront Anchorage Inn that bordered a lake and where you could observe the Seaplanes takeoff and land. It was a great experience. I got a fantastic deal since I arrived before the cruise season. I also found out that there are no city/hotel taxes in the Anchorage city area. I do try to go into new areas pushing aside any expectations or preconceived notions, but Anchorage was not at all what I thought. I did drive into the neighborhoods since I opted to rent a car. I just got a feeling of struggle and depression while there.
The weather was just right for me. I brought my Columbia fleece and my gloves were packed away in my work laptop bag. When I arrived it was in the 40’s but it didn’t really feel that cold. It never got higher than 60 during the time I was there. The average hours of daylight however was 18, so blackout blinds were a must. The 4 hour time difference wasn’t bad since I still worked on Tuesday and Wednesday my regular work eastern time zone hours. Sunrise before 5am was a big help since I started my workday at 4:00am. The time difference didn’t stop me from touring glaciers and parks the scenery of the area is inspiring. It was easy for me to get away and find some alone time amongst some trees or beside some body of water. I didn’t run into many who were actually natives to the area but long term transplants from places like Montana, Wyoming and Washington.
I made an appointment for a massage to help me relax as it is altogether different driving than flying. I found Crystal through Airbnb experience and signed up for a Twilight Tune-up Sunday and it was billed as an Alaska-Inspired Restorative Massage by Arctic Dawn. It was hands down one of the most relaxing, intuitive, renewing experiences I have had. If you are ever in Anchorage check out Arctic Dawn and make an appointment with Crystal, you will be the better for it. I also took some time and got a mani-pedi at The Artistic Nail and Spa where they did a great job preparing me for my trip to Hawaii. I met someone from Vietnam and I got such a loving vibe from her that got me to thinking of maybe making a trip there. I’ve had a few people tell me that I should visit there, not only for the beauty of the land but for the people as well. We will see what the future holds.
Memorial day was a full day of Alaskan history from the earthquake on good Friday in 1964 that swallowed up parts of the city to landslides at a glacier. Alaska’s foundation has a lot of silt and clay mixed with the sand and gravel left from the glaciers. The result is an area called Earthquake Village which is a point frozen in time of what happens when an earthquake encounters such terrain. Pictures don’t capture it and you have to see it for yourself. I saw beautiful glacier lakes, got to experience a couple of landslides and see reindeer. I generally will try some native foods but I was not at all interested in reindeer sausage or any meat at this time. My tour guide urged me to visit Sitka and Ketchikan on my next trip which would allow me to do so on the ferry from Bellingham via the Alaska Marine Highway System. Maybe I will see you there in 2027.
The one thing I have to admit that I didn’t realize was that there were parts of Alaska really close to the continental US. They border parts of British Columbia. Overall I am glad that I got the opportunity to visit Alaska with its quiet beauty.
Here are some of the photos from my Alaska trip. Enjoy
Miles driven 671 , year to date 6,051
Miles flown 1,405, year to date 1,405
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