Anchorage, Alaska: The Last Frontier

Alaska is a great place to get back in touch with nature.  Everyone was laid back and things were just more simple in Alaska.  There was no big shopping center nor high rise buildings to hide the trees and beautiful mountains.  The air was crisp and clean.  It was easy to leave civilization behind and get lost in the wilderness.  Privacy was very easy to find because there was not much of a crowd even at the most popular place. 

The weather in June was pleasant for those not used to the cold.  I am a cold person by nature so it was a bit chilly for me.  However, once I started moving, it was the perfect weather for hiking!  Dress in layers!  I found that wearing a long sleeve shirt and a jacket was sufficient for casual hike.  However, if you plan to go up the mountains or hike up to the glacier, layer a bit more with thermals or a heavier jacket that help block the wind.  The cold in Anchorage was a different kind of cold than the cold in Texas.  It was more of a piercing cold so bundle up for the mountains!

What they say about the abundance of daylight in the summer was true!  I knew this flying into Anchorage but it still surprised me that at 11:30 at night, there was still daylight.  It was amazing because my day did not have to end because there were still bright outside.  The saying “so many things and so little time” did not apply in Anchorage during the summer.  In Anchorage, I had all the daylight available to do everything I wanted before I tired out.  I had to make myself go to bed by midnight because there were 22 hours of daylight in Anchorage.  More daylight meant less chances of me seeing the Aurora Borealis. 

Midnight in Anchorage

Alyeska Resort
I tried to go up the tram at Alyeska Resort but it was closed for their annual maintenance.  I heard it was a beautiful sight to see Alaska from up above.  It was still nice to walk around the resort.  Make sure the tram is open before heading there during the summer.

Aviation Field
One in five people in Alaska owned one of these small planes.  It was the best way to travel when the roads were iced over.  Getting to the aviation field was easy.  All I had to do was drive up to it.  There were no fees but be careful since this was a parking lot for the planes.

Seaward Highway
There was so much to do in Anchorage that you really didn’t have to plan ahead.  Rent a car and drive along Seaward Highway.  Most of the activities were right off the highway.  Hikes, museums, bird watching,  and so much more were right off the road.  There were plenty of trails and things to do along the way.  Driving around Alaska was very easy.  Some roads were a bit scary especially trying to get up the mountain on a dirt road in a tiny car.  Make sure you have the right car for that.  Driving along the coast was amazing because one side was water and the other mountain.  The scenery was spectacular!

Seaward Highway

Fishing Spot right off Seaward Highway

Walking along the popular fishing spot off Seaward Highway

This used to be a glacier but now just chunks for ice.

Melted Glacier off Seaward Highway

Fresh Mountain Water
The most amazing thing in Anchorage was the ability to get pristine water straight from the mountain!  Along the drive on the coast, there were a few pipes sticking out of the mountains with clean drinking water running from it.  Many locals brought out their jugs to fill up their water supply.  The water was cold and clear just like how water was meant to be!

Pipe that supplied water straight from the mountain!

Filling up my water supply.

Fresh Spring water tasted cool and refreshing!

Alaska Wildlife Center
Reindeers do exist!! However, they did not fly.  These creatures were almost like a fairy tale creatures because they only exist in the cold climate.  This was my first time seeing them up close so it was so surreal.  At the Alaska Wildlife Center, I saw most of the animals that were known to Alaska: bears, moose, reindeers, and bald eagle. All the animals were outside with fences separating them.

Reindeers do exist!

These reindeers didn't fly but they did lay around.

Brown Bear

These bears ate very well!  Lobster tails!

Buffalo

Bald Eagle

Wildlife was seen roaming freely around Alaska as well.  There were plenty of wildlife and it always amazed me when I see one up close.  I was hoping to see some bears but was only able to see a tiny cub for a second before it went back behind the trees.

Moose

This fox kept following me around but turned around every time I stopped.

Moose

Hiking to Matanuska Glacier
To get to this Glacier, we had to pay to get in.  They also offered guided tours toward the face of the glacier but I opted to explore it on my own.  It was a bit dangerous considering I did not have the proper shoes or equipment but I survived with extra precautions.  The path to the glacier was not very clear but it was still fairly easy to get to.  The glacier was amazing up close!  Because of my lack of proper equipment, I did not get up close enough to touch the glacier.  I think a distance back to where you can still marvel at the enormity and beauty of it was good enough.  The glacier used to be a lot bigger but because of the global warming, it had receded a bit.  However, it was still spectacular nonetheless!  It was a bit scary walking over the ice since I could see water rushing underneath ice pathway I was on. 

This Glacier used to be a lot bigger but due to global warming it had shrunk tremendously.

Hiking! Hiking! And more Hiking!
There were several hiking trails right off Seaward Highway.  It was exciting to drive along and then spontaneously stop for a hike. 

A nice prize at the end of the hike.

Whittier
Whittier was a cute little town not too far from Anchorage.  The only road there had to be through a one lane tunnel.  

Tunnel to Whittier

Whittier

Kayaking
I went through the tunnel to a small town of Whittier for my kayak.  The people that worked there were very friendly and offered a lot of advice and tips on the small town.  The lake had several bird caves.  The lake was beautiful and very clean.  However, do not put your fingers in the water because it will make your nails brittle.  I did not realize this until I noticed my nails started breaking off after I had my fingers in the water.  I think it was the high concentration of minerals?  I was bundled up before I started my trek but ended up discarding most of it  because it got very hot in direct sunlight and the constant movement.

White Water Rafting
This was the first time I had ever white water raft and it was the best one so far.   The current was a lot stronger in Anchorage and the water was much colder!  It was definitely an adrenalin rush!  Make sure to bundle up and wear thick socks!  I signed up for the rafting with Nova at Six Mile Creek.  They provided wet suits and all the gears but make sure to wear thermals and layers of clothes for warmth.  The cold was more noticeable when we were drifting to the next rush.  We were all geared up at the meeting point and then bused to a location for the water rafting.  Before we boarded the raft, we were given safety instructions and had to do a swim test.  For the swimming test, I had to swim across the river with the current pushing against me.  I failed my swimming test and had to be rescued!  Being the sneaky person that I was, I got on the raft anyway.  The rafting was amazing!  A lot of adrenalin rush!  At the beginning, I had only paid for a class 4 rafting but had a choice to continue on to a class 5 once class 4 rafting was done and just pay later.  Class 5 was extremely intense and we amazingly got through a lot that I did not think was possible.  However, we underestimated our last bump and our raft flipped over.  That was some freezing water and I would do it all over again!  They did take pictures throughout the trip for you to buy at the end.  I had my own waterproof camera so I did not even bother.  This was the best water rafting experience I ever had!

Anchorage was not known for their restaurant but for the abundance of outdoor activities.  I found a local grocery store and stocked up on granola bars for my adventures in the wilderness.  We were surprised to find a Pho restaurant there and it was not that great.

Sushi in Anchorage was not bad at all.  The restaurant was close to the Sheraton so I ended up walking there.  The restaurant provided a lot of privacy by sectioning everyone off.  In order to get the attention of the waiter, there was a button that you can push at your table.  It was a bit different but proved to be a nice touch.  I didn't have high hopes for the sushi because of the lack of Asian influence in the city.  I was proven wrong and the sushi was just as good as any sushi in other places.

Alaska was a wonderful place to fulfill the outdoor adventurer in you.  I definitely would come back here again!  It was a good place to get back to nature and enjoy a very cheap vacation.  Most of our activities did not cost anything at all!

What was left from Portage Glacier