Alaska

Introduction

Visiting Alaska has been on my radar, but I never thought to visit until my girlfriend told me she really wanted to go. And it was such a great experience! Even though we went during the winter time, Alaska was incredibly pretty and surpassed all my expectations.

Before coming, you should know that Alaska is a BIG state and it takes a while to get from place to place. Renting a car is a must, and make sure it has 4WD/AWD. A lot of the terrain beyond the main highways are relatively unpaved and rocky. Your car will get dusty on the trip, so you might want to rinse off the car before you return it.

In winter, I would recommend bringing proper gear, like snowshoes, trekking poles, etc. I didn’t bring any of that and we were okay, but during the winter a lot of hiking trails will have ice and deep snow. You could go to an REI when you land, buy your gear and return it on the day you leave. Also, there are some places, towns, and hikes that aren’t open in the off-season. Do your research accordingly so that you don’t drive far and see that it’s closed!

Alaska was also more expensive than I expected. Expect dinners in Anchorage to be on par with SF/NYC prices. If you’re trying to do this on a budget, I would recommend bringing some prepared food with you to save money at the grocery store.

The first portion of this article will be dedicated to Anchorage, and the 2nd part will be dedicated to Fairbanks.

All these disclaimers may seem intimidating, but it’s definitely worth the trip and hassle. Alaska is so beautiful and there wasn’t enough time to do everything I wanted. Some of these are listed below:

Kenai Fjords National Park - the trails were mostly closed in the winter, but be sure to hike Exit Glacier and the Harding Icefield if you can.
Day trips to Talkeetna, Homer, and Seward - all top picks but they’re in different directions of each other.
Northern lights chasing - it’s harder to see the northern lights in Anchorage (Fairbanks is better) but still possible. Do a Google search for the website that has the aurora tracker.

Nature

Eklutna Lakeside Trail - the lake was super pretty even in the winter! It was fully frozen over, so it was cool to walk on the lake itself and get great pictures of the mountain.
Portage Pass Trailhead - the drive on the way here is beautiful, but you will have to pay a toll ($13 round-trip) to get to Whittier. The tunnel is only one way, so they only let cars go in one direction at certain parts of the hour. We didn’t have a chance to get to the glacier (the snow on the hike was too deep) but even going to the Portage Lake Overlook is worth the drive.

food

Altura Bistro - they happened to have a set tasting menu with a wine pairing on the night that we went, and the food was amazing! So I have full confidence that the rest of the food is good too.
Yamaya Seafood - this place is a super hole-in-the-wall spot. It looks closed on the outside but don't let that deceive you. The chef and his wife are the cutest couple ever, and the chef is the only one cooking everything. You can tell he cooks everything with love and the wife actually chatted with me for a little bit. The food and the atmosphere really does remind you of Japan and the food was absolutely AMAZING. This is my top pick in this list.
Lucky Wishbone - the fried chicken here is amazing! Definitely worth the trip for some diner food.
49th State Brewing - This spot was absolutely stellar with some great food. We had the yak burger, creme brulee and some other things and all the food was fantastic!

Attractions & Other details

Snowhook Adventures - I highly recommend doing the dog sledding tour! It was one of the highlights of the trip and the guide was able to explain the history of the dogs, along with petting the dogs themselves. And then we were able to ride with the dogs for a little bit! This was so much fun and has to be on your list.
Alyeska Resort - I thought it was a great spot to go ski/snowboarding and it was relatively more affordable than I expected. If you just do the lower mountain, it cuts your ticket cost by almost half. We didn't have too much time so that was perfect for us. I would recommend it!
Matanuska Glacier - I thought walking on the glacier would be tacky but I actually enjoyed the tour. I was also able to book last-minute (reference this link). The tour guide was incredibly thorough in explaining the glacier's history and everything was pretty hassle free. You'll need a car with 4WD/AWD to get down to their staging spot though.

Fairbanks

For our last trip, we didn't get the chance to see everything we wanted to see. Therefore, we decided to go to Fairbanks to do a different set of activities! Fairbanks was a fantastic trip and we would recommend anyone to visit.

However, we went in mid-April, which was an odd time to visit because most activities were either 1) just closing because the season ended or 2) they were just about to close. Therefore, I would recommend coming a little earlier or during the summertime so you get the full slate of activities.

Also, if you plan to rent a car, I would make sure you're comfortable driving in snowy/winter conditions. For both times we went to Alaska, the main roads and highways were clear. But, there were some parts where the roads are very slushy or still have snow on them. You'll want to make sure that your rental car has AWD.

Attractions

Aurora Husky Lodge - We went to this provider to view the northern lights and it was such an amazing experience! It was run by the cutest Japanese couple. They picked us up in Fairbanks and drove us ~45min to their cabin, where it was incredibly cozy with lots of chairs and couches and some light snacks. Then the husband ran us through what to expect, his experience with the lights, and showed us a video on the lights. They also made sure to remind us when the lights were out, so we could relax and not have to wait outside in the cold.
Chena Outdoor Collective (Reindeer & Sled Dogs) - We selected this vendor to do a reindeer walk and it was also an amazing experience. The guide started by talking about the history of the reindeer, and then we got to walk them across the grounds while learning more about them. They're essentially more mellow versions of dogs and they were so cute!
Chena Hot Springs Resort - The hot springs were definitely nice and quite affordable but the locker rooms were essentially what you would expect at your local high school. They do not take Apple Pay or AMEX.
Santa Claus House - It was cute to see all the Santa Clauses and the merch but I wouldn't say this is a must do.

Food

Missing Moose Cafe
The Pump House Restaurant Fairbanks - This is one of the classier restaurants in Fairbanks where it has a very nice atmosphere, perfect for a nice occasion. The elk medallions were very tasty and interesting but the whole restaurant was on the more expensive side.

Nature

Alyeska Pipeline / Viewing Point
Pioneer Park
Chena Lakes Recreation Area - this is where we did ice fishing through a vendor and it was such a great experience as well!

Day trip - Denali National Park
A day trip to Denali National Park is definitely manageable and is worth your time! It's only a 2.5 hr drive from Fairbanks and it was so beautiful during April. A lot of snow was still in the park and there was virtually no one on the trails when we went.

We started off at the Denali Visitor Center where a very kind park ranger got us settled with the trails he recommended and what was closed/open. He also gave us an update on park conditions and even gave us free snow shoes to rent! I would highly recommend stopping by here to get oriented, and everything I listed below.