Top 10 Things to Know When Visiting Denali National Park
Denali National Park: This is a wonderful place to visit where the mountains are unlike anywhere else. It has the tallest peak in the USA, often shrouded by clouds. The wildlife is plentiful. These are the important tips to plan and enjoy your visit to Denali National Park.
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Blog for Denali National Park:
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Top 13 Tourist Attractions in Fairbanks - Travel Alaska
Top 13 Tourist Attractions and Beautiful Places in Fairbanks - Travel Alaska:
Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum, Running Reindeer Ranch, Morris Thompson Cultural & Visitors Center, University of Alaska Museum of the North, Bouchard's International Dog Mushing and Sled Museum, The Aurora Ice Museum, Pioneer Park, Georgeson Botanical Garden, McKinley Explorer, Chena River State Recreation Area, Large Animal Research Station, Palace Theatre, Chena Indian Village
Tourist Train From Anchorage To Denali National Park Alaska
Princess train from Anchorage to Denali National Park with views of Mount Foraker, Mount Hunter and Denali from south of Talkeetna, and more views of Denali from Hurricane and Broad Pass, passing thru small villages like Willow, Chase, Hurricane, Cantwell and crossing the Susitana and Hurricane Gulch Bridges.
20150708: Day 31, Denali Shuttle Tour
20150708: Denali Shuttle Bus Tour
Exploring Denali National Park via a Denali Shuttle Bus
The 8th of July 2015, a Wednesday, was our 31st travel day. This video is part 3 of 3, covering our Shuttle Bus Tour of Denali Park on the 8th of July, 2015.
After dropping off the pups at the Tonglen Lake Kennel on the 7th of July, we were on the road early on the 8th of July arriving at the Wilderness Access Center around 07:30 AM. We boarded the tour bus and were on our way into the park shortly after 9:00 AM. The tour lasted for over 8 hours, the weather was mixed from overcast to rain...with a bit of smoke in the air from fires still raging near Fairbanks.
The video covers highlights of the tour, including both video and photographic segments. Of special note: we've included views from Eielson Visitor Center (66 Mile Point) from 3 different days; 6, 7, and 8 July 2015 so that you may get an idea of what to expect. Denali is only visible about 20% of the time! During our tour on the 8th of July, we were NOT able to see Denali. The folks on the 7th of July tour were lucky to see the road beneath them due to the smoke. However...on the 6th of July Denali revealed herself! Too bad we couldn't have booked our trip on the 6th!
Upon returning to the Wilderness Access Center we headed for the Tonglen kennels to retrieve our pups...which enjoyed a bath and a bit of grooming during their stay. We also visited the Tonglen Cafe...picking up a plate of gourmet food for dinner that night...which included reindeer sausage.
These are the YouTube videos we've posted regarding the Denali segment of our Alaskan road trip:
Part 1: 20150706: Fairbanks to Denali.
YouTube Link:
Part 2: 20150706-07: Denali Park Road, Tonglen Lake, Denali Village Boardwalk
YouTube Link:
Part 3: 20150708: Denali Shuttle Bus Tour
YouTube Link:
Anchorage, Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States in land area at 570,374 square miles, over twice the size of Texas
Mount McKinley, or Denali The High One is the highest mountain in the United States and North America with an elevation of 20,320 feet.
Anchorage is Alaska's largest city with over 291,000 residents. At 61 degrees north is it slightly more northern than Oslo and Stockholm.
Because of the northern latitude, in the summer the days are very long although the temperatures rarely rise above the 70s. But that doesn't stop Alaska's residents from shedding their parkas for shorts the moment the sun appears.
Oscar Anderson was an early Anchorage resident, said to be the 18th person to set foot on the area and his house, built in 1915 was the first wood-frame house in Anchorage.
The Glacier Brewhouse is both a brewery and one of Anchorage's top restaurants. The place gets busy early so it is a good idea to make reservations. Aside from rotisserie meats the menu features lots of fresh local seafood. And who ever had fresh raspberry whet beer? The brewhouse was brewing it and it was delicious. Alaska glacier bottled water is a great way to taste the purity of the environment around Anchorage. This bottled water is a popular drink for Asians who visit and refer glaciers. Although there were rave reviews about the seafood chowder and the calamari, I tried the pita with hummus which was a great appetizer that went well with the raspberry wheat beer.
One can't be in Alaska without tasting king crab legs. The fresh version is more spectacular than the deep freeze version we get in the lower 48. Alaskan halibut also shines over their southern neighbors and at Glacier Brewhouse they serve it with a healthy balsamic salad and a not so healthy side of fries.
A popular street food are reindeer hot dogs which are actually a blend of pork sausage and reindeer. I didn't taste it but I understand it is a must try, unless you are Santa Claus. There are lots of tourist shops selling made in China souvenirs but if you want something that is truly Alaskan and unique, The Oomingmak Qiviut shop is an Alaskan native cooperative that produces Muskox products.
It is owned by approximately 250 Native Alaskan women from remote coastal villages of Alaska who knit each item by hand. Each village has a signature pattern derived from traditional aspects of village life and the Eskimo culture; they may come from an ancient artifact or a beadwork design.
The name Musk Ox is deceiving, as the animal does not produce musk, nor is it related to cattle. Skeletal and behavioral studies show a closer relationship to sheep and goats Qiviut is shed naturally each year during the spring months.
About 40 miles south of Anchorage is the Alyeska ski resort -- even in May there is abundant snow -- although skiers were not about. It has an average of 643 of annual snowfall and is known for its steep terrain. For off piste skiing - Chugach Powder Guides operate snowcat or helicopter adventure in the world-famous Chugach Mountain Range. Helicopters guarantee 16 - 20,000 vertical feet of skiing per day. The cost $1125 per person. If that price is unbearable ... the normal day ski lift pass is $60 for an adult.
Not far from Alyeska is Portage and the home of the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. The center takes in injured and orphaned animals and many who cannot be released into the wild are given a permanent home at the center.
Snickers, the porcupine is one such creature that was raised in a home and has a lot of personality .. so much so that a youtube video featuring him with almost 1.8 million views. (youtube.com/watch?v=U5I5H7EeC8k)
The center had recently taken in three orphaned moose calves who keep the four-year old moose Jack company. Jack had arrived at the center as a 3-day old moose with bite marks and a broken leg .. and a 20% chance of survival.
Muskox who's warm fur is used in making Qiviut products are an arctic survivor. Their thick coat grows up to 36 inches long.
The wood bison were extinct from Alaska until they were reintroduced in 2003. They are the largest land animal in North America.
Bears are also residents at the center including brown bears, black bears and a grizzly bear.
Heading south toward the coastal town of Whittier brings one to the Whittier tunnel. This is the longest combined railroad car tunnel in North America and connects the commuters between the Prince William Sound and Turnagain Arm. The tunnel opened in 1943.
Whittier is home to lots of sea life from birds, to sea otters, seals, whales, and sea lions.
In 1964 a 9.2 magnitude earthquake (the largest ever recorded in North America)
generated a major tectonic tsunami. The waves destroyed Girdwood and Portage and evidence of the damage today is still visible from the dead wood forests in the area.
For more visit: travelalaska.com and for more Around The World videos go to: atw.tv
Alaska Land of Surprises
An introduction to the Alaska Experience VideoSource Travel Guide featuring Alaska
Visit: for stock footage and complete travel program availability
Transcript:
Alaska
A land so vast, it defies the imagination
a wildness so profound it draws you back to
your place in nature
People that warm the heart,
And a heritage that spans
The breadth of human history.
alaska's every dimension stretches the imagination
from it 30,000 miles of convoluted coastline*
To it's countless unnamed peaks .
covering an area one fifth the size of
the continental united states,
alaska's rich geological heritage includes
17 of the 20 highest mts. In the united states,
half the world's glaciers, 3 million lakes,
and 3,000 meandering rivers.
Alaska is a land of surprises.
To many people alaska means snow,ice, and cold;
But to those that know her, alaska also means
Long summer days that produce some of the worlds
Largest vegetables.
if you expect igloos,
you will discover russian churches
And european villages....
if you expect log cabins,
you will find high tech skyscrapers
And if you go to alaska expecting to observe nature,
You may discover how much a part of nature you are,
When you observe a grizzly bear
picking up your scent in the wild!
The unexpected seems to be the norm in alaska wl
You may experience a sunset at noon.......
Or you may still be out fishing at midnight!
In some places the summer sun never hits the horizon
And in winter the northern lights can turn the sky
Into an eerie display of dancing illuminations (Northern Lights).
The Alaska Experience Preview
From The Alaska Experience Travel Guide : for stock footage and complete travel program availability
Transcript:
Alaska
A land so vast, it defies the imagination
a wildness so profound it draws you back to
your place in nature
People that warm the heart,
And a heritage that spans
The breadth of human history.
alaska's every dimension stretches the imagination
from it 30,000 miles of convoluted coastline*
To it's countless unnamed peaks .
covering an area one fifth the size of
the continental united states,
alaska's rich geological heritage includes
17 of the 20 highest mts. In the united states,
half the world's glaciers, 3 million lakes,
and 3,000 meandering rivers.
Alaska is a land of surprises.
To many people alaska means snow,ice, and cold;
But to those that know her, alaska also means
Long summer days that produce some of the worlds
Largest vegetables.
if you expect igloos,
you will discover russian churches
And european villages....
if you expect log cabins,
you will find high tech skyscrapers
And if you go to alaska expecting to observe nature,
You may discover how much a part of nature you are,
When you observe a grizzly bear
picking up your scent in the wild!
The unexpected seems to be the norm in alaska You may experience a sunset at noon.......
Or you may still be out fishing at midnight!
In some places the summer sun never hits the horizon
And in winter the northern lights can turn the sky
Into an eerie display of dancing illuminations (Northern Lights).
Alaska is a rare and fragile window into the natural world..... A world where every living thing lives in harmony with the
Powerful forces of nature. A world where the forces
of nature prevail
And man must be in tune. Or perish.
If you are fortunate enough to come to experience this
Wonderful place, try to experience it on its own terms.
Try to avoid imposing your day to day values on this
Unique and precious experience. Although the modern
Traveller can bring many creature comforts along
When he comes to today's alaska, everyone who visits
This raw and wild land finds himself roughing it
Just a little bit.........
for some that may mean sleepless frostbitten nights be on an icefield at the foot of mt. Mckinley.
for others it may mean a lukewarm shower, a dirt
road, or an evening without television..........
Part of the magic of alaska is that her most profound
Experiences may come when least expected.
the beaten path may offer many wonders,
but the moments that last forever ,
may sneak up on you like the chinook winds
And linger like an alaskan sunset
Traveling and Getting Around Alaska
From the Alaska Experience Travel Guide to Alaska.
for stock footage and complete Alaska Travel Guide info
Transcript:
The very size of alaska encourages diversity in it's people.
Many communities remain isolated by distance and terrain.
Aireal; iliamna, upik
And it's this same isolation - the empty spaces on the
Alaskan maps, the remote landscapes unreachable by road- gold denali pan
That many visitors to alaska find irresistable.
The major highways cover only a small portion
Of the state, and of these, only a few are open
many towns are accesible only by plane,
Or in the case of some northern coastal towns,
By barge during the summer months.
The airplane plays a major role in all
aspects of modern alaskan life.
owning a small plane is not a luxury reserved for
The wealthy, but a commonplace necessity.
one of three alaskan citizens has a pilots license-
Giving the state more private pilots per capita
Than anywhere in the world.
And instead of a main street, many communities
have an airstrip down the center of town.
It would be difficult for anyone to see very much
of alaska without spending some time in a small plane.
Charter air services are readily available throughout the state.
Fly-in fishing and hunting trips are popular-
And can provide the wilderness experience of a lifetime.
For those who'd rather explore the more beaten path,
The Alaskan railroad offers an equally exciting way
to venture into the wilderness.
the train connects anchorage with fairbanks by way of
denali, or mt. Mckinley national park, and is one of
the most popular ways to see the park. The station
is just a few yards from the denali park hotel,
Which is itself built around old railroad cars.
since passenger cars are no longer allowed into the park,
The train provides a viable alternative for travel to and
from denali. From the hotel, free shuttle busses commute
in and out of the park on a regular basis .
South of anchorage, the alaskan railroad serves the
Stretch along turnagain arm to portage and the fishing
Village of seward.
trains and planes are not the only form of transportation the alaskans use.
Dogsleds, once the most comfortable and fastest way to get around in alaska
Have been replaced by the threewheelers and snowmobile.
but the dog remains an integral part of indian and eskimo
culture. Walking through any native village you
Will see racks of salmon drying in the sun .....
the traditional form of dog food for the dogsled teams.
Dog sled racing is alaskas official state sport,
with major races taking place throughout the winter
And spring seasons. The world's longest dog sled race,
The iditarod, follows the same gruelling thousand mile
Trail that once provided the only overland access across The interior to nome.
Today, those of us more accustomed
To the creature comforts , can see this great land from
the glass dome of a railroad car equipped with a full bar,
or from a luxury cruise ship or the deck of a ferry on
The marine highway.
Strawberry Fields / Central Park New York
Strawberry Fields is located near Central Park West between 71st and 74th streets. It is a 2.5 acre area that was built to pay tribute to the singer, songwriter and peace activist John Lennon; and thousands of local artists meet here to pay tribute to the singer.
descubriendony.com
discoveringnyc.com
discoveringnewyork.com
Seldovia Alaska Dancing Eagles Vacation Cabin Rental
The Alaska Dancing Eagles Vacation Cabin Rental, located on the historic boardwalk, has every thing for your vacation pleasure, and features a fully equipped kitchen, a bedroom and bathroom on the main floor, and a sleeping loft with four single beds. The cabin comfortably sleeps six and comes furnished with everything but your food and drink. A view of Seldovia Harbor, Seldovia Bay, and Mount Illiamna can be enjoyed from the cabin, private decks, and wildflower gardens, or for the more adventurous, fishing for salmon from the beach, hiking the alpine trails, bird watching, clam digging, and berry picking complement charter fishing and sea kayaking. You’ll never be bored. When it’s all said and done the quiet charm of this secluded property will enchant the entire family. Transportation from the airport or boat harbor will be provided.