A Return Trip to Alaska Motivation
In my reading, I see several folks have made several RV trips to Alaska. You will have seen the scenery, done the tourist stuff, and satisfied your curiosity with the prior visit. If you elimina...
Forum Discussion
FWIW, YMMV, and all the other disclaimers.....
I have family in Alaska some of whom I can do without (mostly siblings) and some that I really miss (grandkids)...so I go back as often as I can for the kids.
However, having grown up and lived in Alaska for the better part of nearly 6 decades, I still think there's a lot to see...granted it's expensive to get to Alaska and if one must pay a commercial enterprise to do all the activities, it's really expensive but what to do?
- Explore all of the access points to Chugach State Park (ranging from Girdwood to Eagle River) and hike the trails (recognizing advancing age...the easier, road-accessible trails)
- Visit the Fairbanks area and spend two weeks or more exploring the surrounding towns...a rich part of Alaska that is often missed, even though on the road system
- Southeast: What can one say: A temperate rain forest that is culturally and geographically distinct from other parts of Alaska. A bucket list activity for retirement is to take the AMHS from Bellingham (or wherever) and stop at every town in SE Alaska for 4-5 days; not only is there very spectacular and unique scenery in SE (IMNSHO), but the ambience and pace of SE (particularly away from the cruise ship docks) is a refreshing change from Los Anchorage and Squarebanks
- Arctic Alaska: Can one say acres? Boundless country and the "True North" as far as I'm concerned. Another area (IMNSHO) worth spending some time in rather than just the "checklist" quick trips.
- Other Road System Areas: Talkeetna, Seward, Homer, Whittier, Palmer, Fairbanks area (mentioned above), McCarthy/Kennicott, Valdez, Denali Park/Healy, Glennallen, Copper Center....all of these are worth a couple of days (or more depending)
Recognize that not all of this is RV related or RV-Accessible, but there's just tons to see in Alaska...and someone mentioned filling the freezer with fish....if one wants to talk about fishing for enjoyment (and possibly filling the freezer), grab a canoe with a small outboard, start in Homer, and spend the summer just driving as far north as one cares to go, fishing on the roadside lakes and streams...avoiding the popular salmon rivers. Another bucket list activity for retirement.
I have family in Alaska some of whom I can do without (mostly siblings) and some that I really miss (grandkids)...so I go back as often as I can for the kids.
However, having grown up and lived in Alaska for the better part of nearly 6 decades, I still think there's a lot to see...granted it's expensive to get to Alaska and if one must pay a commercial enterprise to do all the activities, it's really expensive but what to do?
- Explore all of the access points to Chugach State Park (ranging from Girdwood to Eagle River) and hike the trails (recognizing advancing age...the easier, road-accessible trails)
- Visit the Fairbanks area and spend two weeks or more exploring the surrounding towns...a rich part of Alaska that is often missed, even though on the road system
- Southeast: What can one say: A temperate rain forest that is culturally and geographically distinct from other parts of Alaska. A bucket list activity for retirement is to take the AMHS from Bellingham (or wherever) and stop at every town in SE Alaska for 4-5 days; not only is there very spectacular and unique scenery in SE (IMNSHO), but the ambience and pace of SE (particularly away from the cruise ship docks) is a refreshing change from Los Anchorage and Squarebanks
- Arctic Alaska: Can one say acres? Boundless country and the "True North" as far as I'm concerned. Another area (IMNSHO) worth spending some time in rather than just the "checklist" quick trips.
- Other Road System Areas: Talkeetna, Seward, Homer, Whittier, Palmer, Fairbanks area (mentioned above), McCarthy/Kennicott, Valdez, Denali Park/Healy, Glennallen, Copper Center....all of these are worth a couple of days (or more depending)
Recognize that not all of this is RV related or RV-Accessible, but there's just tons to see in Alaska...and someone mentioned filling the freezer with fish....if one wants to talk about fishing for enjoyment (and possibly filling the freezer), grab a canoe with a small outboard, start in Homer, and spend the summer just driving as far north as one cares to go, fishing on the roadside lakes and streams...avoiding the popular salmon rivers. Another bucket list activity for retirement.
