Valdez – This tiny fishing town with a population of only four thousand was one of our last stopping points as we headed out of Alaska. To get there by car you have to pass through some of the most amazing scenery In the USA. Rolling green mountains led to sheer cliffs, and fog sat low in the crevices. Incidentally we arrived during Gold Rush Week and wished we could have stayed longer to enjoy the festivities! We did enjoy great coffee at a cute local coffee stand and stay at a campground there before heading on. It ‘s worth visiting if only for the scenery!

Hike Flattop – This hike may or may not have made one of us cry, (not saying who ;)). In the summer it’s a moderate 1.5 hr climb a shirt drive from downtown Anchorage, however our first encounter with it there was still snow and ice on the ground. At the top of the hike there are several hundred feet of rockslide, and the sheer ice sheet that covered them made for a heart pounding trek up an almost completely vertical cliff. In the summer, more specifically around the time of the summer solstice (the longest day of the year), the day is exceptionally long in Alaska, granting all kinds of experiences to be had such as a midnight trek up flat top with a trampoline being set up on top of the mountain! If your interested look up Summer Solstice Hike, Flattop on the Alaskan Facebook pages for more info 🙂

Joint Base Elmendorf- Richardson – Sorry non-military folks this one won’t be as accessible for you. For those who can get on base, the Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson was one of our favorite spots near Anchorage. There are several lakes on base that we were surprised to find were great temperatures for paddle boarding, and you can rent boats and outdoor supplies inexpensively from the base outdoor center. The roads to the lake were also where we saw a ton of wildlife! We could almost grantee that we would pass a moose or bear cub every trip there. One day we even got treated to a bear swimming across the lake in pursuit of a moose calf as we were paddle boarding not far away. That being said, do be careful there!

Homer – Unlike Valdez, Homer is a huge tourist destination. The boardwalks down to the piers were crowded with people and shops, but it still maintained a unique Alaskan flavor. The original Salty Dog Saloon is also there, make sure you bring a dollar bill to sign and leave somewhere on the money covered walls and ceiling!

Denali – Denali is a no brainer for most Alaskan travelers to add to their list. There are some things to take into consideration if you plan to head here. Denali has limited road access. The Denali road lottery is a huge deal up there! Only a certain number are granted access via car beyond mile 15 each year. There are several campgrounds in the park but the further in you get the earlier you will need to make your reservations to ensure a site. We brought bikes and were able to access areas to others had to take the tour busses to see. Tour bus seats also sell out quickly, plan your trip here at least a few months in advance in order to have a good shot at openings for both campsites and tour bus spots.

The Seward Highway – I never expected to love a road so much! This is the main entrance and exit road for Anchorage and is a beautiful scenic drive with mountains on one side and a ocean channel called the Turnagain Arm where the Boar Tide (a unique wave many surfers come to ride) takes place on the other. There are a lot of beautiful pulloffs with snow runoff waterfalls to stop at and lots a number of beautiful hiking trails running parallel to the road.

The Matanuska Glacier – most impressive before May and after October this is a unique 30 minute easy hike that leads to a great spot to explore. It felt like a truly Alaskan experience and we enjoyed scoping out the ice caves and sliding down the massive snowbanks. The visitor center here is also a great spot for a rainy day!