Alaska, the 49th state, the Last Frontier. Wild, rugged, stark, mysterious and jaw-droppingly gorgeous. With no shortage of wild mountain landscapes, beautiful glaciers, and abundant wildlife Alaska will pull you in with its beauty and refuse to let you go from its icy grip. The last four days of my Alaskan adventure were spent in Talkeetna and Denali.
Talkeetna, Alaska
Hands down, don’t come to Alaska and not visit one of the quirkiest, most awesome towns – Talkeetna. This charming town is a 2.5-hour drive north of Anchorage. However, with a pit stop in Seward, the drive is about 4 hours.
I will have to admit the drive wasn’t half bad especially with the beautiful scenery.😘
Anywho, Talkeetna is home to about 1,000 residents and is the gateway to Denali. Talkeetna’s main street is lined with a few restaurants and a variety of tourist shops which sell anything from antlers to birch syrup, to native art, to hats and T-shirts.
At the end of Talkeetna’s main street is the Susitna River. On a clear day, you will be able to see Denali.
When visiting Talkeetna, it is hard not to look up and be inspired by seeing Denali, the tallest peak in North America. You can see the entire Alaska Range on a clear day and it is quite breathtaking. Also, it is the stop for all of the local adventures and you know that is what I am about.
Scenic Flight Tour
You know that I am not satisfied with just looking, I did a flight-seeing tour that lands on the glacier in the middle of Denali. After boarding a 10-seater, it was time to take off for once in a lifetime experience.
It is one of the most awe-inspiring and amazing views in the world.
Talkeetna is nestled in the middle of some of the most beautiful scenery in Alaska and it would be a shame if you didn’t get up there to see it.
After Talkeetna, it was time to explore Denali National Park.
Denali
On this trip, I learned that Denali is McKinley Mountain. Duh! There was an Ohio Senator who was determined to keep it named McKinley because the former president that was assassinated was from Ohio. However on August 20, 2015, President Obama, officially changed its name to Denali as it is the official name of the mountain of the indigenous people of Alaska. Anywho, I have so many thoughts but I will let go.
Denali is a place you will never forget – phenomenal wildlife, meandering rivers, and massive mountain make this part the perfect backdrop for my Alaskan adventure.
Denali National Park is beautiful and the only way to see it is by signing up for the tour bus. As the highest peak in North America, Denali stands tall at 20,310 feet above sea level. This mountain is so large it creates its own weather. Therefore, it is not uncommon for the mountain to be entirely invisible behind a blanket of cloud. Only 305 of people who visit the part actually see the mountain!
Unfortunately on trip, I did not get to see the majestic mountain. However, it wasn’t so bad. I saw several caribous, bears, the national bird, and the artic chipmunks.
Alaskan Adventure End
The last 10 days in Alaska have been phenomenal. I strongly recommend visiting Alaska and doing the land tour. It is the best way to see and have a wonderful experience in Alaska.
Thank you so much for reading this blog and joining me in my adventures! Make sure to check out my other blogs. Contact me when you are ready to travel domestically or internationally. I am here to curate a trip for you, your friends, and your family.
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