It’s been a few years since I visited Alaska but I can still clearly remember the epic train journey from Anchorage to Fairbanks through the Denali National Park. When you think of a 12 hour train ride it doesn’t conjure up many images of joy or fun but this is perhaps the most tolerable train ride in the world, definitely that I’ve been on.
If you’re into shopping, five star luxury hotels and panic sets in if you get a bit of dirt on your shoes, then there’s hundreds of other cities around the world that you should go to first. Alaska (yes I know it’s a state, not a city) is all about epic landscapes, the outdoors, adventure, nature and exploring untouched wilderness. For sure, you can ponse it up a bit and stay in the best hotels, go on a cruise and take some tours in a range rover, but the best way to experience Alaska is to get off the tourist trails and venture into the wilderness by yourself with a mate. Understanding this is probably not for everybody, I’m going to focus mostly on the more typical and recommended places and activities.
Alaska is probably one of only a few places that I’ve been to that I really want to go back to and spend a week or more at. Actually if I had a month or two to spare, which I don’t, I’d do a road trip around the USA and end up in Alaska. Of course, this all depends on what your idea of a good holiday is, but if you’re into truly getting away from it all, avoiding big cities, crowds and hoards of tourists yelling, pushing and shouting at the tip of their lungs, then Alaska should be somewhere near the top of your list.
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