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