Explore the journey — one trail, museum, meal, and memory at a time.
Happy 250th America
I missed the Anchorage Fourth of July parade but still ended up with a full day downtown. The festival at Delaney Park, conversations with locals, a Hefeweizen at the 49th State Brewery, and fireworks from a local's viewing spot made for a day that didn't go quite as planned—but worked out well anyway.
Anchorage Cycling Trails
Anchorage surprised me. What started as a casual bike ride turned into an afternoon exploring miles of interconnected trails, watching moose from a safe distance, learning about the 1964 earthquake at Earthquake Park, and discovering just how bike-friendly Alaska's largest city really is.
Potter Marsh
A slow day at Potter Marsh near Anchorage turned into an easy wildlife walk with Hooded Mergansers, Tree Swallows, Bald Eagles, Sandhill Cranes, and a female Mallard. Later, I drove south along Turnagain Arm to Beluga Point, watched the tide move across the mudflats, and tried once again to spot Dall sheep high on the cliffs.
Anchorage Museum
A day in Anchorage turned into five hours at the Anchorage Museum exploring Alaska's history, geology, Native cultures, and art. Afterwards I photographed reflections in downtown buildings before ending the evening at Lake Hood watching floatplanes and a pair of Greater Scaup go about their business.
Drive To Anchorage
Leaving Valdez, I expected a short drive to Anchorage. Instead, the day turned into a nine-hour journey with a stop at the Wrangell-St. Elias Visitor Center, an unexpected conversation about beavers with a park ranger, colorful mountain landscapes, views of the Matanuska Glacier, and a noisy introduction to Anchorage.
Valdez Old Town
Rain turned out to be the perfect excuse to explore the Old Town Museum and the site of the original Valdez. Survivor interviews, recreated buildings, and a driving tour of Old Valdez transformed the 1964 Good Friday Earthquake from history into something deeply personal, revealing how an entire community was rebuilt just a few miles away.
Meares Glacier Tour
The day after kayaking Columbia Glacier, I returned to Prince William Sound aboard the Stan Stephens 26 Glaciers Cruise. Meares Glacier, whales, puffins, bald eagles, sea lions, waterfalls, and unforgettable conversations made this one of the highlights of my Alaska adventure.
Columbia Glacier Kayaking
Experienced a full-day excursion to Columbia Glacier in Prince William Sound, including amazing kayaking among brilliant blue icebergs, harbor seals resting on floating ice, and the thunder of glacier calving. It's an unforgettable opportunity to explore one of Alaska's most spectacular—and rapidly changing—tidewater glaciers near Valdez.
Valdez Museum & Oil Terminal
The Valdez Museum covers more history per square foot than most places I've been — the 9.2 earthquake that liquefied the waterfront and forced the whole town to move four miles, the $8 billion pipeline that eliminated Alaska's income tax, and an exhibit on Lee Wulff, the father of modern fly fishing, who grew up fishing these exact waters.
Thompson Pass into Valdez
Forty miles from Valdez on the Richardson Highway — walking up to Worthington Glacier, watching helicopter pilots train long-line loads over Thompson Pass, descending through fog, ice fields, and waterfalls, and booking a kayak trip to Columbia Glacier on Prince William Sound. One of the most spectacular drives in Alaska.
Chitina to Valdez
Rain, rushing water, and low clouds set the tone for a slow day in Alaska. While driving back toward Glennallen for fuel, I stopped for foggy landscapes, puzzled over a lone truck sitting in a field beneath a massive cloud bank, and eventually found a beautiful campsite where two rivers met beneath snow-covered mountains. Sometimes the best days are the unplanned ones.
Salmon Fishing in the Copper River
A lazy catch-up day turned into a memorable Alaska travel day, with a walk across the Kuskulana River Bridge, views of the Copper River, salmon fishing near Chitina, fish wheels in the current, and a quiet riverside camp for the night.
Father’s Day In Remote Alaska
After a long day exploring Kennecott, Root Glacier, and McCarthy, I spent Father's Day parked beside the McCarthy Road reflecting on family, retirement, and life on the road. From blogging and photo editing to planning Valdez and enjoying a rare mosquito-free afternoon, it was a quiet day that reminded me how connected we can remain, even from remote Alaska.
Kennecott Copper Mill, Root Glacier, McCarthy, AK
What looked like a simple day trip to McCarthy became a lesson in Alaska logistics, mining history, and glacier landscapes. After navigating the infamous McCarthy Road, I toured the massive Kennecott Copper Mill, learned how one of the richest copper mines in history operated, and then hiked toward Root Glacier under gathering storm clouds before making the long journey back.
Kuskulana Bridge
A ranger's warning about a contaminated mining site sent me in a different direction through Wrangell–St. Elias National Park. The drive south led through Chitina, across the Copper River, past fish wheels and salmon fishermen, and over the dramatic Kuskulana Bridge before ending at a quiet overnight stop along the historic McCarthy Road.
Caribou Creek Trail
After learning that snow and high water had made the Skookum Volcano Trail a questionable choice, I shifted plans and hiked the Caribou Creek Trail along Nabesna Road in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. Along the way were interesting conversations, a mysterious abandoned jacket, relentless mosquitoes, stream crossings, and a quiet backcountry cabin tucked deep into Alaska's wilderness.
TOK, AK
A restless night beside the border led to a day of discoveries. From watching geese in a quiet pond and finally learning the purpose of thermosyphons along northern highways to reflecting on Indigenous languages and culture before crossing back into Alaska, the drive to Tok offered far more than just miles on the odometer. The day ended at Eagle Trail State Recreation Site as I prepared for the journey toward Wrangell–St. Elias.
River Beauty and Rough Roads
A simple drive from Whitehorse to Tok turned into a nine-hour day of coffee shops, grocery store adventures, faulty gas pumps, roadside naps, wildflower photography, rough sections of the Alaska Highway, international bicycle travelers, and rabbits that seemed determined to stand in the middle of the road. The scenery was spectacular, even when the weather refused to cooperate.
Skagway to Whitehorse
Before leaving Skagway, I explored the Gold Rush Cemetery and Reid Falls, learning about Martin Itjen, Soapy Smith, and Frank Reid while photographing one of the town's most visited historic sites. The drive north on the Klondike Highway offered rain-soaked mountain views, a stop at the historic Venus Mine near Carcross, and a return to Whitehorse to end the day.
Sturgill's Landing and a Quiet Skagway
After a quiet morning in Skagway, I hiked the Sturgill's Landing Trail through dense rainforest overlooking Taiya Inlet. The day included wildlife photography, conversations with fellow hikers, citrus-flavored western hemlock tips, a navigation lesson with my Garmin GPS, and a surprisingly empty Skagway at the end of the day.