This month I’m breaking format and presenting my links roundup at the beginning of the month instead of the end. Please bear with me through this shockingly unprecedented turn of events, because it will all be worth it in the end.
At this moment, I’m in the middle of Alaska with limited internet access. I’ll begin posting content from the trip later this week, covering everything from wildlife to nightlife, from glacier hiking to whale watching to backcountry camping. I hope to provide some of the most complete coverage of Alaska you’ve ever read.
In the meantime, why not dive into some of the Alaska articles written in the past couple of years by some of my blogging friends?
Check out their links and get yourself in an Alaska mood, because for the rest of July on Quirky Travel Guy, it’s all Alaska, all the time. Tell your friends, tell your enemies, tell your indifferent casual acquaintances.
(All photos by Quirky Travel Guy.)
The ultimate collection of Alaska travel blog links:
Jack and Jill was one of the first travel blogs I started reading, back when the idea of going to Alaska seemed like a pipe dream for me. Their posts include grizzly photos and tips about what not to do in Denali National Park, which of course I’m already breaking by spending only two days in the backcountry. Oh well.
Ukelele enthusiast Pam posted a handful of dispatches from the 49th state that shed some insight into the landscape, the wildlife and the locals. And she has a rocking slideshow.
The Planet D (broken link removed)
The lovely and talented Deb and Dave have a collection of a dozen Alaska posts, including some amazing pics from a helicopter ride over the Juneau ice fields and a shot of the midnight sun, which I can’t wait to see.
No Vacation Required (broken link removed)
The NVR guys headed to Alaska last year and had some amazing life experiences, like an envy-inspiring stay in a secluded cabin with gorgeous lake views and a grizzly bear neighbor.
Chris Around the World (broken link removed)
I’m not going to make it to the Inside Passage – that’s the dangling limb of Alaska on the southeastern side that tries to reach down towards Seattle – but Chris made it there and wrote up some interesting pieces on fishing and seeing glaciers, plus trying a digital detox.
Green Global Travel (broken link removed)
Bret had a chance to visit Denali and saw the mountain plus all of the big animals I’m aiming for, like bears, caribou, moose and wolves. And thanks for the warning about the mosquitoes!
Adventures with Ben (broken link removed)
Ben got the chance to drive a 32-foot RV around Alaska for 11 days. What a cool opportunity. That puts my Kia rental car to shame. He also writes about Chena Hot Springs, a natural pool that will warm you up in a hurry.
Scroll through the Vacation Gals’ cruise page to find a number of first-hand reports about Alaskan cruise vacations and a video of a pod of killer whales surfacing right next to their cruise ship.
Inside the Travel Lab (broken link removed)
Abi’s Alaska articles include a fascinating examination of Tlingit culture in Wrangell, focusing on how the native peoples have endured and tried to retain their cultural identity and independence.
A Dangerous Business (broken link removed)
Amanda went on an Alaskan cruise and found herself with stories like visiting the Sarah Palin store, a place which really existed in Skagway. I would have totally sought out this place too!
Keith spent lots of time with glaciers and ice caves. That’s what Alaska is all about, right? I love the description of walking across the “jello mud” to reach Baird Glacier.
UPDATE: Below is a separate article I published before traveling to Alaska. I moved it here to consolidate and archive some older posts.
Quirky Travel Guy is Going to Alaska!
On June 27, I will be boarding a plane for a direct flight from Chicago to Anchorage, for eight days of adventure in the great state of Alaska! I’ve always wanted to see Alaska, and this will be state #49 to cross off my list, leaving only Hawaii (next winter, maybe?)
I was able to get a round-trip flight from Chicago to Anchorage for around $600, a pretty good price – and the flights are non-stop, which means my travel time will be as short as possible. (At six hours, it will still be the longest flight I’ve ever taken.)
I’m going to dedicate the entire month of July to my Alaska visit, which means that every post – museum reviews, nightlife reports, Photo Teasers and Quirky Attractions – will be about this awesome state.
When it’s over, I’ll be providing an extremely-detailed report of exactly how much money it took to make this trip happen, from flight costs to car rental and gas to camping fees to incidental spending, so that you’ll know exactly how much $$ you need if you want to visit Alaska yourself. I’ve been unable to find such an article anywhere, and I think it will be incredibly useful.
There are a ton of things I’d like to do while I’m in Alaska, but exactly how much we get to experience depends on how much everything costs. I’m still a budget traveler, and it’s doubtful I’ll be able to afford to take a bush plane to a tiny isolated town and stay overnight, for instance, although such a trip would be an incredible life experience.
Still, with a combination of sponsorships and personal savings, I’m hoping to be able to go camping in Denali National Park (bears!), hike on a glacier, do some whale watching, experience the nightlife of Anchorage and Fairbanks, and maybe even take a 60-minute sightseeing flight to bring back some amazing pics and video of the beautiful landscape.
Have you ever been to Alaska? Do you have any suggestions for activities I should take on? What would you like to read about? Leave a comment and let me know!
