Hello, my forest friends! 

The chill air hung heavily in the ivory night as she stepped out from the Henderson Oaks Apartments. Her worn purple sneakers exited first, dipped in moonlight, bits of leftover dust teetering on its laces getting shrugged off as she took a stride forward from her door. It was convenient that the park stood right across the road from her apartment, she thought, running a hand through her hair that was tied up in a tight ponytail, it made savouring night walks more conducive to knowing she could just take a detour back home if she felt like it.

Chloe crossed the dead street, hearing the sounds of the buzzing crickets as she made it to the entrance of the park. Glancing up into the starry night, she was greeted by the luminous moon amidst churlish looking clouds. It might rain soon, she noted, hurrying down the cobbled pavement, hoping to make it around the park before the raindrops touched the ground.

There was a mournful cry of a cat that echoed through the vault-still silence of the park as she quickened her pace. She found herself counting the number of benches that lay barren, a vastly different atmosphere from her morning race to the bus stop. During the day, there would often be an elderly couple that sat, side by side, feeding the pigeons with small pieces of their morning toast. At night where the stars shine like sugar spilt over marble, the desolate benches looked devoid of any comfort, almost haunting even.

A chill went down her spine but she continued her brisk pace. She promised herself she would at least take a walk around the park if she was too weary for a jog. Halfway through, she slowed down her march and observed the still pond in the middle of the park. There was a small ripple or two as she watched the reflection of the silhouetted trees that decorated the city’s only man-made forest.

All of a sudden, a streak of lightning flashed against the pond’s mirror-like surface and in that second, there was something else.

Something else loomed behind the shadows of the trees.

Chloe paused for a moment, slowing down to a halt.

Did she see something or was she imagining things? She kept her eyes glued onto the now still pond as she started her tread forward, a sudden urgency to move swiftly. Without warning, there was a loud snap to her left - as if someone or something stepped onto a simple twig. It became the focus of Chloe’s attention as she whipped her head in the direction of the noise.

Nothing.

A creeping fear of unease began growing in Chloe’s chest. Something wasn’t right. The sounds of the park has ceased and it had fallen completely silent. Trusting her gut, she took off hurriedly, the fear like a knife in her stomach twisting as she scurried around the bend, an unusual but pungent wafting scent filling her nostrils.

She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw the entrance to the park gate, hastening her pace. When her purple sneakers finally exited the gates, she took a last burst of energy, barreling down the street to her apartment block.

The yellow lamp-light of the street illuminated her as she made her way up the steps to her apartment building, breathing heavily under the black night sky. She had made it to the front entrance when something compelled her to turn around. Curiosity? Fear? A feeling that she was being watched? Chloe did not know, but she found herself spinning on her toes and facing the park once more.

Her blood ran cold.

In the darkness of the park, a distant grotesque figure stood, watching. It was unusually alpine and lank, an exaggerated outline of a cervid on its two legs - but Chloe immediately knew what it was. The antlers that stood against the glint of the moon were gnarled as if a poetic salute to the sky.

It lifted its head, exposing its skeletal face.

Chloe froze, unable to move as she heard the loud ‘click’ and ‘clack’s of bones breaking and forming. At first, she did not understand what it was for the creature was not moving - then it hit her.

The hideous-looking deer was arranging its face.

It was smiling at her.

1. You should immediately self-isolate from other household members in a separate room for 72 hours, preferably with an attached bathroom. Do not interact with anyone.

While we have come quite far in terms of the LGBTQA+ movement in our little red dot, there is still much more to learn and more people to educate. Our community still faces discrimination from different groups of people. While we now make a more conscious effort to include the LGBTQA+ in our conversations, there are a majority of people who still view homosexuality/transsexuality in a negative light, and there are some who still remain conservative and resistant to change.

 

hello my forest friends, it's time for a book review for a satirical high stakes thrill ride of a book called bullet train. 

some spoilers ahead, so if you do plan on reading this, please skip this blog post completely. the book is only thoroughly enjoyable if you go in not knowing what is happening - in which case, I did and I also did thoroughly enjoy it. Before we begin, I'd like to quote this review by Laura Wilson from The Guardian:

"Part high-octane thriller, part farce, and laced with philosophical and literary debates, this is an unusual and thoroughly enjoyable read." - Laura Wilson, The Guardian

 

The Prince understood it like this: when people have a difficult decision to make, one that may go against their code of ethics, they conform to the group, and even come to believe that the answer is correct.

When he thought about it in those terms, it became easy to see the mechanism by which the genocide not only was difficult to stop but by which it fuelled itself. The people doing the killing didn’t trust their own judgement, but rather went along with the group, believing that was right.

 

Hello my lovely forest friends, how are we today? 

Hello my dearest forest friends - some days I look back at my blog and I question myself - why did I use to address my readers as my forest friends? What was the reason I dubbed thee as forest creatures? I suppose if I were to explain it, I would first have to expound on what this blog initially meant to me. 

I have used this space as a diary of some sort. A spot where I could sit and journal down my thoughts, my feelings, and the things that I have done that made me feel some sort of way - whether happy or sad. In the Scarlet letter written by Nathaniel Hawthorn, the forest is a symbol of nature's relationship with mankind; as a place of refuge and as a place of empowerment. Likewise, I see this space as somewhere I can seek a quiet refuge from the daily noise of the outside world, to clear my ever swirling thoughts in my head. 

And you, my dear reader, are the creatures that seek the same refuge as I do, sitting around this imaginary campfire with me as I regale my tales to you. 

I am back again, after not blogging for many moons. I have been busy, my life in a whirlwind of activities. It is not as if I am not free, no doubt, I do have my free time - but I find myself surrounded by friends on my off days - instead of taking the time for myself. Now that I have some time to spare, I am trying to regain myself and my fragmented mind, doing things for actual personal improvement - not things related to work or to the people around me. 

It felt good today, being able to go to the library by myself and pick out a book from the extensive shelves. Being able to order a meal and savour it all by myself. I realized I haven't done that in years. Eons. I haven't had any time to myself to sit down and try to collect my thoughts. I did for a while today and I find myself lamenting the years I refused to eat alone - it's actually not that bad. I might try it again. It's almost like having a date with yourself. 

I think I haven't gotten the time to sit down and learn about myself. I believe we all have the time, we just don't make it because we fill it up with people that we love, things we want to do with our partners, and games we want to play with our squad - so much so we forget to sit down with ourselves for a bit. The world is filled with noise, escapism, and pretty shiny things we want to collect. Everything is at our fingertips, we fill up our time that we are so afraid of wasting with "important things and important people" we often forget to slow down and appreciate ourselves.

I blame social media - even media in general - but at the core of it all, it's sort of usually my fault. I'm the one who doesn't say "no" to friends and I'm the one who chooses to binge watch 10 seasons of TBBT to fill my head with mindless noise because I'm afraid to deal with my thoughts, instead of actually sitting down and compartmentalizing these fragmented goals - things I want to do, things I want to improve myself with.

I guess while I have the time, I should discipline myself a little and work on me.

it has quite literally taken five gold days to find my password for this blog. apparently i do change my passwords and when i do, i never write them down in my booklet of passwords (that i am now regretting i bought because it's completely empty; digressing, i also have a lot of empty books because i'm afraid of writing in it and ruining it ANYWAY)

#include <stdio.h>
int main() {
   // printf() displays the string inside quotation
   printf("Hello, World!");
   return 0;
}

hello world

it actually hasn't been a while since i blogged, the last time i did so was when i was still in quarantine and was absolutely mind frackingly depressed to the point where I was just staring out the window, wondering how it would feel like if i just ceased to exist. hahahahahaha help.

i took a long time trying to figure out my passwords for this blog because i had the dreadful pleasure of welcoming (again, quite literally) the last person on earth to this chaotic mess called my blog. then again, it's not been a safe space for a while considering everything from 2012 onwards happened to be sponsored posts. then again, he's not that diabolical of a person, also he's not as bad as i thought  - so technically everything i've written above doesn't really count. right.

where was i? having someone i don't actually know (but also sort of know cause we see each other on a daily basis) find this page made me a little anxious. ok a little doesn't count - i am living breathing anxiety - but it made me wonder: what if someone else finds it - what if it becomes the talk of the town - the amount of people being cancelled for saying that one word or for doing something stupid - what if what if what if?

it was quite clear to me that I had to delete most of my posts that weren't sponsored related because before i started doing influencer based posts, this blog was my online, PUBLIC, diary. i hurried to find any incriminating evidence - ANYTHING 

so i went digging. i casually sifted through ALL my old posts and let me tell you, i have got a ton of them and they are cringeworthy. it's not as cringeworthy as my primary/secondary school days (wow if i were to ever find that i would DELETE the crap out of it) but it's marginally dreadful. and i stopped right at the first ever post i did. 

Greetings my readers,

And yes, it is a thing. A thing that I don’t think most people actually understand what it truly means.

When people think of mansplaining, they’re actually thinking of men complaining, which isn’t what it is.

Mansplaining (and this actually is a word according to Microsoft word because it isn’t correcting it or saying it’s wrong, so that’s funny haha) is when a man explains a concept to women that is common knowledge or doesn’t take much to understand: aka something the woman already knows; and tries to teach it to the woman as if she doesn’t know it.

It happens to me all the time.

Popularly, a Deadpool writer was standing in line for the new Deadpool movie and a man in line started grilling her on not knowing who Deadpool was and trying to explain the character to her.

In my case, I was a boom operating for a short student film. Our actor, a very outspoken male, kept insisting how I should do my job, even yelling at me at one point because the boom was on, despite having my director instructing me to start recording.

Women are not shutting down because you’re disagreeing with them. We’re not that petty. But when my male friends starts to argue with me on how women have it much easier than men and we have privilege because we can “go to the bar, get free drinks, and then don’t even have to have sex with the guy in return like a tease,” I get a little frustrated because that’s one of the most outrageous statements I have ever heard.

Women are not shutting down because you’re disagreeing with them.

They’re shutting down because you won’t listen to their side of the story.

So, I hear you say “you are just using mansplain to refer to a man giving a correct response to something, technically he isn’t wrong. You could use “condescending”, something that isn’t gender exclusive.

True, but “mansplain” is a term that is meant to be gender specific. It refers to the specific type of condescension a man levels at a woman because he maintains a gender bias. Nobody ever said “mansplaining” was inaccurate. It is usually correct in the information it presents.

The issue at hand is that this is done with a specific intent, i.e. To undermine a woman WHETHER OR NOT she asked for correct information, and WHETHER OR NOT she was intentionally being humorous. In other words, the man assumes the woman is wrong because she is inherently incapable of knowing things, and ignores all cues to intellect, like a subtle sense of humor, rhetoric, more extensive education, emotional terminology and so on. The man assumes that she requires him to enlighten her. The man assumes that he is ENTITLED to enlighten her. The man assumes a socially superior position, whether or not it is warranted.

So, why use it?

Why fight for equality by using gender-encoded terms?

Because it is a negative gender-encoded behaviour and it absolutely should be pointed out AS A NEGATIVE. We call a murderer a murderer and a rapist a rapist. A sexist is a sexist, meaning they are prejudiced against someone for their sex. Pointing out a gender bias with a humorous term is not sexist. Think about it. Do men have any funny and not inherently cruel and dehumanizing language for women? No. If they think a woman is unfair, they call her a bitch, a cunt, a whore, etcetera. There is no equivalent to “mansplain” except “feminazi” and that is of itself, a term designed to delegitimize and degrade.

“Mansplaining” points to the negative behaviour and does not in any way deride the speaker. It merely elucidates the gender bias.

“When you are accustomed to privilege, equality feels like prejudice”.

Men are accustomed to being taken seriously with no more credibility than their genitals, endowed with authority, socialized to speak whenever or wherever they wish, and learn to treat women as unequal in subtle but hurtful ways, from gender bias in the workplace to social interactions. When this negative bias is pointed out to them and highlighted, when the privilege of doing this with impunity is revoked, suddenly they feel as if they are being mistreated.

Female subjugation is to our culture as water is to fish; it’s so pervasive and ubiquitous that it’s almost impossible to see unless you know what you’re looking for.

But it’s there.

No one can debate you into understanding their point of view. It will never happen, and I think we all know that, if we’re honest with ourselves. All we can really do is keep extending the invitation for you to give us your sustained curiosity, and hope that you accept that invitation someday. Until then, you can hold out in your unassailable “debate us or be wrong” fortresses for as long as you’re determined to.

Until then, stop trying to mansplain to me about a woman’s biological clock, or about how to play the games I have on my steam pc.

The Best Itinerary for a Grand Alaskan Adventure: 10 Days in Alaska




Ready for an adventure of a lifetime? Alaska, land of craggy, snow-capped mountains, vast tundra plains, gravel-beach rivers and stunning fjords, is definitely one of the most beautiful places on earth. Humongous in scale, this 10-day itinerary is merely just a sampler platter, showing you a smattering of all Alaska has to offer. Sally forth into the epic wilderness and visit a quirky medley of attractions, a feast for your eyes. An Alaska vacation is going to be the one that is unforgettable!





Highlights:





Feel Alaska’s Vastness by Driving One of its Highways


Learn About Alaska Native Cultures


Visiting this whimsical stacked cabin looks like something out of a children's book.


Dive into Alaska’s Largest Museum


Explore and hike through the staggering massif of Mount Denali is the centerpiece of Denali National Park





BRIEF ITINERARY:




Day 1: Arrive In Anchorage

Day 2: Explore Anchorage

Day 3: Denali

Day 4: Denali National Park

Day 5: Denali

Day 6: Travel to/Explore Seward

Day 7: Sightseeing in Kenai Fjords

Day 8: Travel to Girdwood

Day 9: Alaska Spencer Glacier and rafting

Day 10: Drive back to Anchorage






DETAILED ITINERARY:




Day 1: Arrive In Anchorage




Source: Anchorage Musuem




Here’s a good tip: try to get a window seat as you descend into Anchorage - your eyes will be treated to an up-close view of the decadent Chugach Mountains, covered in snow and glaciers (at any time of the year). Arrive at the Airport of Anchorage, gather your luggage and get a taxi into the city and let the experience of a lifetime begin.




After you have settled into your downtown hotel, head over to the Snow City Café for some food! Stacks of pancakes doused in Canadian maple syrup, gluten-free breakies galore, one of the most acclaimed eggs Benedict dishes in the state, crab-flavored omelettes and sockeye salmon cakes with that uber-fresh Anchorage edge all add up to make Snow City Café unquestionably the top spot in the city for starting the day. The joint is located on the corner of 4th Avenue in the downtown, boasts a sunny interior with plenty of natural light and a staff that is perpetually smiling. Don’t miss the regular community events that take place here either, ranging from summertime street parties to charity fundraisers.




Next up, a visit to the Anchorage Museum, one of the largest museums in the state. This isn’t just a city museum, it shares the story of Alaska. These art and history galleries are the best primer for a trip through Alaska. Drawing in just shy of 200,000 visitors each year, this sprawling exhibition space of more than 170,000 square feet is hailed as the finest museum in all of Alaska. It’s loaded with everything from landscape portraiture of the wild Alaskan backcountry (just check out that Romantic rendition of craggy Mount McKinley by the famed Sydney Laurence) to collections of tools and relics from the Frontier State’s native tribespeople of centuries gone by. A journey through the attraction promises to tell tales of Alaskan history from its earliest years, ranging through Russian settlement, to the great gold rushes, to the curious undercurrent of artistic modernism found today in Anchorage itself.




Afterwards, to end the night, Sip local craft beers at the Midnight Sun Brewing Co. Staying true to the rule that there’s no American city too small to support a microbrewery (or three), Anchorage offers up this acclaimed beer depot. Situated on Dimond Hook Drive just to the south of the center, the menu touts a range of creative hops concoctions, going from the Pacific dweller’s favorite, Arctic Rhino Coffee Porter, to the warming, peppery tones of Sockeye Red IPA. Real hops heads can also look forward to finding a range of seasonal brews adorning the menu, all alongside a medley of all-American bites, from mozzarella sticks to grilled-cheese sandwiches to double-fried chips. It’s great for a post-hike unwind!





Day 2: Explore Anchorage






Source: Unsplash




Rise and shine to shop for local produce at the Saturday Market! Anchorage’s famous Saturday Market is a hubbub of local chatter, drawing people in from the surrounding Chugach valleys and the city’s suburbs to mingle and talk and – most importantly – eat! Yes sir, this is the place to be if you’ve come to Alaska for the cuisine. Stalls pop-up selling all kinds of regional delicacies, including smoked salmon, fresh salmon that tastes plucked straight from the mountain streams, fresh veg, fruit and even Caribbean and Polynesian curries. There are craft stalls too. These tout a medley of Russian dolls and painted Fabergé eggs, Native American trinkets and Anchorage-related souvenirs.




Afterwards, it’s time to hit the pistes of the Hilltop Ski Area! Draped over the small foothills of the Chugach ranges just a short 15-minute drive from the heart of the Anchorage downtown, the Hilltop Ski Area is a fine place to strap on the skis or wax down the snowboard while visiting. Suited perfectly to beginner skiers, the resort has just one piste, a humble chairlift and a couple of drags. There’s also a small terrain park for adrenaline-seekers on-site, along with a ski school and rental facilities if you’re in need of gear. And if the terrain here just isn’t challenging enough, then be sure to shoot southwards out of town to Alyeska – one of North America’s most acclaimed winter resorts where the snow is powder-perfect!




You’ve already taken in the Anchorage Museum and climbed Flattop Mountain but who can go to bed when it’s still light outside at 11pm? A bolt of energy surges through downtown Anchorage on any given weekend evening in the summer. Pushcart vendors hawk sausages on 4th Ave, horse-drawn carriages pick up passengers at Hotel Captain Cook, frisbees glide through the air in Delaney Park and a line out the door at Chilkoot Charlie’s waits for the house band to metaphorically blow the roof away.





Day 3: Talkeetna






Source: Unsplash




Board the morning train with Alaska Railroad and enjoy the seven-hour scenic ride to Talkeetna, a small Alaska town where artists, pilots, and mountaineers congregate. This will be a pit stop before you head down to Denali for your next adventure! Check into your hotel and head out to the town to explore!




Along with the bars and former roundhouses, the one main street in Talkeetna is filled with a mix of ramshackle shops, wooden cabins, and quaint houses turned storefronts selling everything from standard Alaskan souvenirs to local crafts and artwork. Each shop, even those filled to the brim with mass-market products only a tourist could love, comes with a hippie ethos and “shop local” mentality. While this is certainly a great place to stock up on your standard magnets, keychains, and ornaments to bring home, it also offers plenty of shops run by local artisans who sell everything from jewelry and soap to artwork and photography.




No visit is complete without a visit to Nagley’s General Store, which has been in operation since 1921, a.k.a. since “before most of you were born,” as its logo proudly displays; it was also the former home of Stubbs the Mayor, and workers are happy to tell you about the many store cats who came before and after him.




Sneak a photo at the unusual Dr Seuss House! Hidden in the sparse woods outside Talkeetna, Alaska, is a bizarrely singular home known by locals as the Dr. Seuss House, though that isn’t what its creator calls it. While this whimsical house has no direct relation to the famed author, it is easy to see how the structure got its nickname. The house is not complete and is on private property that is monitored. But if you take a ride on the Alaskan railroad through Talkeetna you’ll get an amazing view. You can also see it briefly from the highway but it is gone in a second, so be on the lookout.




Take a before- or after-dinner stroll through this tiny town, and check out the artwork that residents create during the quiet, cold winter months. Denali Brewing Company and Twister Creek Restaurant is a nice dinner option and a good place to soak in the bustling summer scene.




Day 4: Welcome to Denali National Park






Source: Pinterest




Rise and shine to board a train from Talkeetna to Denali, onboard the train crosses the Knik River with the Chugach Mountains as a backdrop. Just south of Talkeetna, watch for views of Denali rising high above the Susitna River. North of Talkeetna, the tracks veer away from the road system and into the backcountry Hurricane area; this region offers views of the snaking Indian River, the occasional remote cabin and the expansive sight of Hurricane Gulch from the top of a 296-foot bridge.




Your stay begins at Denali Park Village, in either a Lodge Room or a Cabin all to yourself, located seven miles south of the park entrance and nestled along the banks of the Nenana River. Join a guide for a hike up Quigley Ridge or down to McKinley Bar. In the afternoon, you can squeeze in a visit to Fanny Quigley's cabin to explore the prospector's past of the area. Or book a massage at the Nest Spa. Strong hikers should plan to spend the day hiking up to Camp Ridge or along the Busia Mountain Trail.




Most of Denali National Park is not accessible by private vehicle, so National Park Service buses are the only way to really get into the park, see wildlife, and potentially, see the mountain of Denali herself.




Only the first 15 miles of the main Park Road allows private vehicles, so booking a bus is essential for sightseeing. Two types are available — narrated tour buses, where you stick with a group for the day, and transit buses, which allow you to hop off where you want and ride back with a different crew as space allows. Bus ticket prices depend on how far into the park you want to go, with the farthest point of Kantishna 92 miles down the road.




Consider reserving an early morning time slot if you plan to do much hiking, as the ride alone takes several hours, depending on how far you’re going (about 7 to 12 hours round trip to the various turn-around points). Along the way, buses make rest stops and pauses for wildlife ogling whenever someone spots a moose, bear, caribou or the like.




The Tundra Wilderness Tour offers spectacular scenery and many opportunities for wildlife viewing which makes it one of the most popular ways to experience and understand Denali National Park. This 7 to 8 hour tour takes you 54 miles into the Park, within 30 miles of Denali where on a clear day you can view the entire mountain from base to summit! After a scenic 7-hour bus tour indulge in some hot Alaskan brewed coffee at Quigley's Coffee Corner at The Lodge.





Day 5: Day two for Denali




Source: Backroads




Begin with breakfast at Gold Rush Dining Room. At the "center of it all" and all-day casual, offering bountiful buffets with plenty of options between food and brews. Once you have eaten your fill, it’s time for the adventure to begin.




Take a hike of a lifetime! Join a guided hiking tour provided by your lodge, an in-depth view of the environmental, historical and scientific significance of Alaska’s awe-inspiring wilderness. Afterwards, treat yourself to a rafting experience. Enjoy stunningly beautiful scenery and your choice of exciting whitewater rafting or a tranquil mild whitewater trip. This 3 to 4 hour rafting trip takes you on Class III and IV whitewater rafting down 11 miles of scenic canyon and gorge. Rafting on the glacially fed Nenana River is a fantastic experience for all ages. Whichever trip you choose, you'll get to see a part of Alaska you can't explore any other way.




After an exciting day, you can unwind and dine at Gold Rush Dining Room, open all day in the heart of the Denali Park Village to enjoy scrumptious uniquely Alaskan offerings throughout the evening. After a sumptuous meal, you can visit the Lucky Miss Saloon, a gathering place for friends old and new. Enjoy the "views and spirits" of Denali though creative cocktails, the best brews and inspired small plates.





Day 6: Travel to/Explore Seward






Source: Unsplash




Rise and shine to take the early Park Connection Motorcoach from Anchorage to Seward! After making the 150-minute drive from Anchorage to Seward, you’ll have most of the day to explore the city. If you are wondering what to do in Seward, the first thing you should consider is simply walking around town to orient yourself. Although the town is divided into two parts, separated by a few miles of waterfront parks, Seward is small enough to walk or bike quite easily.




After checking in, spend a few hours at the Alaska SeaLife Center in downtown Seward; you can see a variety of sea creatures including several in rehabilitation or research studies. From sea lions and seals to puffins and coho salmon, the Sealife Center educates visitors on the types of animals in the area and the impact that humans have on their existence. You can book additional hands-on interactive tours with puffin, octopus and sea otters. Additionally, if you are interested you can also take a behind-the-scenes tour of the facility to learn about the Alaska Sealife Center’s role in the community.




Continue your cultural trip in Seward by visiting the Chugach Heritage Center, where you can learn about the heritage of the Chugach people and view Native artworks. The Seward Community Library Museum is also worth a stop, as it houses photographs, artifacts and historical documents pertaining to Seward’s history, as well as Native baskets and ivory carvings.




The Seward Community Library Museum is also worth a stop, as it houses photographs, artifacts and historical documents pertaining to Seward’s history, as well as Native baskets and ivory carvings.




End the night with some Harbor Dining at Alaska Seafood Grill – a restaurant that serves up local seafood, burgers & sides! Located in the Harbor in beautiful Seward, Alaska, they provide a variety of fresh, Alaskan seafood in a fast casual environment. All items are offered a’la carte, to mix and match to sample the Arctic Ocean’s bounty.





Day 7: Sightseeing in Kenai Fjords






Source: Unsplash




Wake up at the break of dawn to head out for a sightseeing tour that will take you out into Kenai Fjords National Park. As the name suggests, these fjords are massive waterways that are home to some of Alaska’s greatest sea life, including humpback and orca whales, seabirds like puffins, and plenty of otters. Encompassing 1,047 square miles (2,711 square kilometers), the park is littered with glacial-carved fjords.




Within the park, make sure to visit Harding Icefield, an enormous ice field with 40 glaciers flowing into it. Take an aerial tour over the park for a unique vantage point, kayak through the fjords and explore the trails around Exit Glacier. If you’re interested in fishing, salmon and Dolly Varden are prevalent in the backcountry of the park. And don’t forget to spend some time trying to spot wildlife like black bears, bald eagles, mountain goats, Dall’s porpoises, Steller sea lions, humpback and orca whales and much more.




If you are asked to describe Seward Boat Harbor with one word, “bustling” would be the right definition for it. Conveniently located on the northern edge of Resurrection Bay, just a short drive off the Seward Highway, the busy harbor accommodates over 100 charter fishing boats and a small number of tour boats. This fact (and, of course, the mail attraction of the city – Kenai Fjord National Park) can explain why more than 300,000 voyagers travel great distances to take part in the hectic life of the harbor and admire its splendid surroundings.




Swirl to the opposite site of the Seward Highway, to what it looks like a residential area with isolated houses. A short drive of less than five minutes (use map or GPS, since it is quite easy to get lost on winding county roads) will take you to the base of Mount Marathon, a home of Two Lakes Park. As the name suggests, the main attraction of the park are two lakes settled behind a few unfenced houses. As you hit a trail (a short, less than a mile loop) and venture out into the woods, the Alaskan wilderness warmly embraces you, leaving behind the sights of the city. Scenic waterfalls, spruce, and dense vegetation replace the familiar images of Seward and accompany you all the way through the hike. So pristine! Some people regard Two Lakes Park as a hidden gem of Seward.




Just a few miles north of Seward, a breathtaking place, called Bear Creek, claims its ownership. The main jewel of this location is Bear Lake, better known as the area’s best spot for fishing and watching jumping out of the water pink salmon. Narrow, winding trails running through the woods to the peaceful lake make the creek also irresistible for the hikers of all levels. But while enjoying your hike of fishing session, keep an eye on bears, lawful residents of the place. Apparently, even the name of the area was given to it by virtue of these furry, short-tailed mammals.




Try the Cookery for dinner! This neighborhood restaurant is the best place in town to get fresh oysters and locally brewed beer. Their menu is short and simple, but features satisfying dishes such as kimchi sausage, smoked beef brisket, and spicy fried chicken. Save room for dessert! Everyone loves their cream cheese ice cream!





Day 8: Travel to Girdwood






Source: Ski-guru




A 1.5-hour drive, head to Girdwood via rental car. En route, we recommend taking a small detour to enjoy lunch and walk around my favorite small Alaska town, Hope. There isn’t a ton to do in Hope, but it gives you a good picture of what life is like outside the “cities” in Alaska. Enjoy lunch at the Sea View Cafe, walk along the river, and try your hand at gold panning.




In Girdwood, spend the afternoon by taking the Alyeska tram up Alyeska mountain. This tram is part of the Alyeska Resort and takes about seven minutes to bring you up the mountain. En route, you’ll see hanging glaciers on nearby mountains, and maybe even some wildlife in the landscape below. If you’re not ready to brave the Alaskan trails on your own, join a guided hike with Ascending Path. Even if you’re comfortable hiking, doing it with them will be a richer experience, since you’ll learn about the flora and fauna as you go.




Once you’ve arrived at the top of the tram, you can hike around and afterwards enjoy dinner at Seven Glaciers restaurant.





Day 9: Alaska Spencer Glacier and rafting






Source: Unsplash




Wake up and board The Alaska Railroad, where you’ll be transported to Spencer Glacier, an area accessible only by rail. Your trip begins with a scenic ride on Alaska Railroad’s Glacier Discovery train, which runs from Anchorage, Girdwood, and other pick-up points along the railbelt.




Enjoy a beautiful ride down Turnagain Arm and the Placer River Valley and into more remote areas of Alaska that you can’t get to by car. Disembark at the Spencer Glacier Whistlestop, and gear up for an exploration of the iceberg-choked Spencer Lake and points beyond. Cramp on some ice cleats and hike, or even climb on Spencer Glacier itself.




Regardless of age or physical ability, you’ll get to experience picture-postcard Alaska with this tour, where your guide does all the heavy lifting. You’ll feel like an Arctic explorer as you float among icebergs that have broken off the Spencer Glacier. They are all shapes and sizes, dotting the water of Spencer Lake and creating a surreal landscape that your guide will expertly navigate. Some are even close enough to touch! End up at the Placer River, where the water is usually high enough to accommodate a family-friendly float. You’ll encounter mellow Class I or II water on this river, so you won’t get wet except for the occasional splash. Be sure you have a camera ready to capture the ultimate in scenic Alaska: see-through icebergs, the dramatic “face” of Spencer Glacier, and yourself rafting among it all!




End off the night at Girdwood's Friendliest Bar, the Hightower Pub, Pub fare with a focus on house made soul food, in addition to cold beer, burgers, wings!




Day 10: Back to Anchorage






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Wake up on your last day from these 10 days in Alaska. It’s an easy day: all you need to do is get back to Anchorage from Girdwood, approximately an hour away. Eat your fill at your hotel buffet before heading out!




On the way back, make a pit stop to the Potter Marsh, a huge wetland marsh, one of the most accessible wildlife viewing spots in Alaska. This 564-acre freshwater marsh stretches for nearly two miles between the New Seward Highway and the base of the Chugach Mountains. This rich habitat also attracts browsing moose, beavers and muskrats, bald eagles, and spawning salmon.




If you have some time, go for a hike up Flattop, one of Anchorage’s popular hiking mountains near the city. Whichever path you choose, start the hike at the Glen Alps Trailhead. It’s about 20 minutes from downtown Anchorage. Flattop Mountain Shuttle can provide transportation from downtown to the trailhead and back.




At the end, you’ll need to board a plane home at Ted Stevens International Airport. Many flights are red-eye when heading home, so settle in for the long flight with dreams full of your Alaskan adventures!