The best time to visit Alaska! Is all year long!
I get this question all the time. “When is the best time to visit Alaska?”. And I respond with, “What are you looking to do?”. Is your sights set on seeing an abundance of bear, moose and other Alaskan animals. Or are you wanted to see the Northern Lights and catch a glimpse of something that is far to great to miss in your lifetime? All these questions are what will determine the best time to visit. For the most part it’s easy to say that the busiest time of the year is from May to Sept. Come June and July, places are going to be filling up and selling out! I mean it really every year it does! Most people book their vacation to Alaska almost years in advance and for good reason too.
When you travel to Alaska within those months you are going to see a lot of what Alaska has to offer. Here at travel49th.com we like to showcase many different things to do in the state.
But it doesn’t end their. Whether your a hunter, hiker, skier, or a tourist Alaska has something for you. Within this blog post I would like to share my top 3 picks of things to do in Alaska. And I must say that non of them are bias as I love to hunt, hike, camp, fish and fly. This is my home and I would like to share it with those who seek to view it’s beauty.
Number 3- Gold Dredge No 8./ The Riverboat Discovery
The Gold Dredge No 8 and The Riverboat Discovery are both my favorite and are being covered under one, for you main reason. You can do them both in the same day and back to back. What do I mean by that? Well, you walk up hop on a bus and head over to the Riverboat Discovery where you will get a wonderful history lesson of the Riverboats that shuttled gold miners and others to Fairbanks. You will stop at a Native village and learn the way of their life. Hop back on the boat to head back to the dock and then it’s on the bus at noon, to head over to the Gold Dredge No 8. In the same fashion, you will get a wonderful history lesson of how gold panners back in the day panned for gold. You will hop on a locomotive and trained through gold mined tunnels. But the best part is at the end. Everyone is handed a bag of gold and you are taught have to pan for your very own gold. And EVERYONE founds gold in their very own bag of “pay dirt. These two together are one of a kind and I recommend these two to everyone visiting Fairbanks. But like many others in the state, they close down for the winter are you can figure the rivers freeze and the temperate drops.
Number 2- Denali Park
I can’t tell you how much I love the same town of Denali. It really is a small town. In the summer it’s hustling and bustling with people, events and much more. There’s even a small Medical station to handle small emergency. But come Sept 15th, and everything closes, pretty much over night. The winter weather starts to come and everyone starts to board up their shops. The gas station closes down and the town turns off its two only stop lights. But if you are there during the summer months you can better you will have a million dollar view of Denali. The mountains will be surrounding you and the park entrance is right down the street. Within walking distance. But within the small city of Denali, you will find pizza diners, t-shirt shops and small businesses renting out bicycles, kayak’s and many other amenities. And don’t forget to hit up the Alaska Salmon bake. An “All you can eat” salmon place. And for the daring adventurer, there’s white water rafting down through the Denali canyon. But if that’s not for your liking, you can always book a helicopter tour to a glacier and see sights you never though you would see in a life time.
Number 1- The Alaskan Railroad
This should be on everybody’s list of must do’s in this life. The Alaska Railroad is like no other train in the world. It has breath taking views! Well prepped meals in the dinning car. And Great seats no matter where you sit. The whole thing ride is the definition of peaceful at it’s peak. Now there are many different routes that take you all over the state. I like the Fairbanks to Anchorage route, with stops in Denali. But I do know that the Whittier route is also so pleasant to view as well. I meet a lot of people traveling throughout Alaska, and when they tell me that they are not riding the train. I tell them that they are truly missing out on something wonderful. The Alaska Railroad is truly my number one pick, because of the peace it brings to me and those I travel with. It’s a great time and I wish I can do it every weekend. The Alaska Railroad is moderately priced and costs around $150 dollars or so. One thing to check out is depending on what time of the year you come the railroad puts on events that are to die for. From the HooDoo Choo Choo, a brewery train with beers and friends, Is promised to be the best time of your life. To the holiday Polar Express for the whole family. This train really sets the bar high for service and you will love it just as much as I do.
This should be on everybody’s list of must do’s in this life. The Alaska Railroad is like no other train in the world. It has breath taking views!
But wait! My top 3 where for those coming to Alaska in the Summer. Let’s not forget that there is the winter traveler. The one who dares the freezing cold of -45 Below. I know it’s hard to think about but it does happen in Fairbanks and even lower temps up higher in the state. So what do you do in the winter. Well that’s easy! I say spend most of your time up in Fairbanks. Why do you ask? Because Fairbanks is home to the winter activities and offers up some great memories. So here are my top three picks for the winter in Alaska.
Number 3- The Great Alaska Ice Sculptures.
Yep that’s right! Craved ice! And they compete each other. Every year in Fairbanks right around March timeframe, Fairbanks holds the annual Ice Classic. There are many different classes like sculptures made from one block of ice. To those who compete with two blocks of ice. And man let me tell you, these sculptures are Huge! And one heck of a sight to see. Prep yourself as the temperatures will be in the -20/-10’s, but there is a hot coco shack to get your toes and fingers warmed up in.
Number 2- The Northern Lights
That’s what us Alaskan’s call them. If visiting Alaska the farther north you go, the better chance of seeing them is! Which is other reason why Fairbanks is the best spot to visit in the off season. But get ready to mystify with changing colors that will awe you for hours. When people ask me what do they look like I tell them that it’s comparable to seeing a gigantic flag just waving in the sky above. The cool thing about Fairbanks is that many of the hotels have a Northern Light wake up call. Just ask the front desk if they have one. And if any are out while you sleep, the front desk will call your room letting you know they are out. Unfortunately most of the Northern Lights happen late at night just after 10pm going to 2am. But if you are lucky to catch them get ready for purples’, pinks’ and many different colors.
Number 1- Chena Hot springs
Chena Hot springs is my number one pick for two reasons. One is that it can be -30 degrees outside and you are outside in the cold in a nice hot springs heated up to 70 degrees. And the second reason why it’s one of my number one picks is because the Northern Lights are heavy out there. The resort even has it’s own Northern Light portal van. Hop in this wonderful vehicle and drive around with no light pollution and get the best pictures your heart can desire.
If you are planning a trip to Alaska, talk to one of our Alaskan State-Wide specialist. They will help you plan for the adventure you want and desire. All for FREE! Nothing out of your pocket. We are very passionate about Alaska and want you to keep coming to us for advice and bookings. Thank you and enjoy all that Alaska has to offer.