Into The Wild in Alaska

Welcome to the land of the Midnight Sun!

Fairbanks is the largest city in the interior of Alaska and the perfect place to start your phenomenal Alaskan adventure. Depending on when you arrive, you’ll enjoy the spectacular light show that is the Aurora Borealis, or bask all day and night in a sun that never sets.

Fairbanks is an adventurer’s paradise, but also a great place for foodies to flock to. You can find specialties like reindeer sausage and other favorites on menus all over Fairbanks. Spend the day wandering the streets, sampling local favorites and soaking in your first taste of the wild country. 

Rise and shine early for your train ride to Denali National Park. Leaving Fairbanks at 8:15 a.m., your Alaska Railroad train will weave through the dense forest of the interior of Alaska. Enjoy the scenic view while grabbing a hearty breakfast of pancakes, pure maple syrup, and fresh orange juice. If you’re in the mood for a celebration, you can even get a smoked salmon Bloody Mary!

This route travels through 122 miles of unspoiled wilderness and will give you a peek into the rough and tumble wilderness of America’s last frontier! When you arrive outside of Denali National Park, you’ll be escorted to your accommodation at the Denali Overlook Inn. Renowned for its rustic feel with all of the comforts of home, this is the Denali Overlook Inn is the perfect place to stop before a fun and educational day in the park. 

Welcome to Denali National Park! Spanning 6 million acres, this is the largest natural park in the United States, and home to Mt. Denali, an ice-capped giant that sits on the far end of the park. Adrenaline junkies love to test their wits and strength on the snow-packed sides of this mountain, also known as “The High One.” Scraping the sky at over 20,000 feet, Denali certainly lives up to its name.

While you likely won’t be climbing up the sides of Denali, you can still enjoy the rest of the park and gaze upon this mountain from a distance. Denali is home to 169 different types of birds and 39 different types of mammals and 14 different breeds of fish swim in its 12,200 lakes. The magnitude of Denali National Park is only eclipsed by the sheer volume of the creatures that call this place home. You’ll be able to see it all by bus today.

You will also embark on  the Denali National History Tour, which offers an overview of how Denali National Park was formed and why it remains so relevant to Alaska today. You’ll learn about how taking small steps to do your part for the planet can result in large changes and a more sustainable Earth. You’ll also begin to appreciate how the natural world works together!

 After a full day at the park, head back to the Denali Overlook Inn for a night of rest before your trip to Anchorage.

Today you will head to Alaska’s second-largest city to check out this marvelous state from the air. Anchorage is home to some of the best “flightseeing” tours in all of Alaska! You can soar above the clouds and see glaciers from the air, check out animals in their native habitats and truly take in the state through a beautiful new perspective.

After you have your feet back on the ground, you’ll meet up with some of Alaska’s most prestigious canines. During the off-season, Anchorage is where many dog-sledding champs call home. These athletic pups have a fascinating history that dates back all the way to 1850! Learn all about the grueling process of becoming an expert dog-sledder during your informative afternoon in Anchorage.

It’s fitting that one of the wildest places in Alaska is also the most remote state capital in the United States. Juneau is surrounded by water on three sides and mountains on one side. Known for its eccentric people, excellent breweries and variety of watersports, Juneau is one of a kind.

Your day in Juneau will be spent checking out some of the ocean’s most incredible gentle giants in their natural habitat. There are tons of different types of whales that flock to the waters around this Alaskan capital, and with the help of binoculars and a little bit of luck, you’ll be able to catch a glimpse of them gliding in and out of the water. 

When rumors of gold started cropping up in the mid-1800s, thousands of people made their way up to Alaska with the hopes that they would make it rich! Many did not, but they left behind the relics of their towns. One of the most famous of these is Skagway. 

Spend the day wandering through the picturesque village of Skagway, and step back in time in some of the perfectly preserved buildings, restaurants and saloons. You’ll spend the day learning about this history of this village, and others like it, that dominated the Alaskan coastline during the great gold rush!

Today you’ll head back to Anchorage to catch your flight back home. You’ll have a little time to soak in just a small slice of the wondrous natural beauty that makes up the last frontier and contemplate what you’ve learned about the natural world throughout your visit. Hopefully, you’ll have picked up a unique treasure to bring home with you!