Explore the journey — one trail, museum, meal, and memory at a time.
Dutch Harbor WWII History Museum
Getting from Dutch Harbor back to Anchorage should have been easy. Instead, the day turned into a series of delays, missed opportunities, and unexpected conversations. Along the way I finally visited the Aleutian World War II Visitor Center, where the story of the Japanese bombing and the Lost Villages gave me a much deeper appreciation for the people who call these remote islands home.
Understanding Unalaska / Dutch Harbor
The best way to understand Dutch Harbor isn't from a guidebook—it's from someone who has spent a lifetime living there. Dennis and Lynda took me beyond the familiar landmarks to explore World War II history, hidden military sites, local stories, volcanic landscapes, and the geological forces that continue to shape Unalaska today.
Whitehorse May 27–28
A planned stop in Whitehorse turned into two days of unexpected discoveries. Between a glassblowing event, Yukon history at the MacBride Museum, a potentially dangerous wheel problem, and conversations with surveyors, nurses, travelers, and locals, the city revealed itself through the people who call it home. Sometimes the most memorable travel days aren't planned at all.
Teslin, YT
A quiet drive from Watson Lake to Teslin turned into one of the most interesting days of the trip. From seeing my first wild caribou to learning about WWII aviation history, Indigenous culture, and life in remote Yukon communities, Teslin revealed far more depth and history than I expected.
Signpost Forest
I arrived in Watson Lake, Yukon without realizing how much history was packed into one small stop along the Alaska Highway. From the massive Sign Post Forest and the Northern Lights Centre to the wartime history of the Alaska Highway and a quiet walk through the local cemetery, the day turned into something far more interesting and reflective than I expected.
Tamástslikt & Pendelton Mills
After slowing down for a few days near Pendleton, Oregon, I visited the Tamástslikt Cultural Institute, explored the long history behind Pendleton Woolen Mills, drove through the Umatilla National Wildlife Refuge, and crossed into Washington beneath a rising orange full moon.
Astoria/Portland
After a loud night in Astoria, I made my way up to the Astoria Column for early morning views of the Columbia River under heavy coastal clouds. From there, I drove to Portland and spent time inside Powell’s City of Books, getting lost in photography shelves and old techniques that still matter. A day of travel, history, and small moments that shaped the experience.
Drive to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
I left Benson, Arizona debating whether to drive south to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. The desert drive revealed abandoned buildings, desperate handwritten signs, and miles of roadside graves. Inside the monument, I learned how organ pipe and saguaro cacti sustain birds, bats, and Indigenous communities. It was a day of beauty, weight, and reflection in the Sonoran Desert.