In May of 2015, I had the opportunity to spend two weeks on a Royal Caribbean Cruisetour through Alaska which involved a week of cruise ship exploring (beginning in Vacouver and ending in Seward) and a week of Alaskan countryside via motorcoach and rail. To say that this was the trip of a lifetime is an understatement as nothing (neither words nor pictures) can adequately describe the majestic beauty and experience of actually being there.
Our cruise began in Vancouver, British Columbia and set sail on the Radiance of the Seas for a 7 day adventure that included stops at Ketchikan, Juneau, and Skagway as well as views of the Inside Passage, Icy Strait Point, and the Hubbard Glacier. The cruise portion ended in Seward where we jumped on a motor coach ( as well as the Alaskan Railroad) and made our way through Anchorage, Talkeetna, Denali, and Fairbanks.
When I began this post, I wanted to highlight each stop along the way. Each place had its own unique geography, people, vibe, and so forth. Some were more touristy, with shops on every street corner. And some were very remote with only a restaurant or two and not much else. But even after reading pages and pages of descriptions, there would still be many gaps undoubtedly leaving you with a “guess you had to be there” feeling.
Even so, there are a handful of categorical observations that I would like to make…
First, you simply must see Alaska from every vantage point possible to have the true splendor sink in. For us, this included a dual engine plane, sea plane, helicopter, cruise ship, multiple boats, a flat bottom high speed boat, a school bus, a motor coach, a rail car, and even a dog sled. There is simply nothing like landing in a helicopter on top a glacier or taking a small plane through mountains and landing in a lake. This gets a bit expensive, but is well worth the added cost plus it reduces the regret list significantly. It also allowed us to see just about every single animal there is to see in Alaska.
Second, try all the food and try it anywhere and everywhere. Some of the best food we had was from little shops, food trucks, and unexpected places. It also helps that there are a limited number of chain stores of any kind in Alaska. Eating local fish, in any form, is definitely recommended.
Third, check out all the stores. No, not just the gift shops (though there are quite a few). Check out the everyday stores like the hardware store, the grocery store, the health food store (of which there are a surprisingly high number). All these shops give you more insight into what a day in ththe life of an Alaskan is and how they survive throughout the year. Oh – and in regards to the gift shops, look for shops that sell crafts made by locals – many items are even better than those made in China and go a long way to support local communities.
Fourth, and finally, talk to the native Alaskans (even the ones who move there just to work during tourist season). They all provide such varied insight into what it’s like (especially in the winter months) to live, work, and play in the small towns of rural Alaska. We encountered so many stories – like having to take multiple planes to get to a high school sports game, or sharing a hunted moose with your neighborhood, or even never going to a movie (because there are no movie theaters). It’s a culture and geography that’s so unique and different that it makes you think twice about how life is taken for granted in the lower 48 states.