One of the coolest guys I know, George Lawton who is also a prominent real estate agent in Birmingham, Alabama has recently traveled to Alaska together with his beautiful wife and three wonderful kids. George has been generous enough to share his 5-day itinerary for Alaska with us!
Day 1 in 5-Day Itinerary for Alaska Trip
They stayed in Coast Inn at Lake Hood in Anchorage. The hotel is close to Ted Stevens International Airport and located strategically near business centers, shopping malls, and downtown Anchorage, Alaska. It is a comfortable place to stay with friendly staff.
Beluga Point in Anchorage, Alaska
On their first day in Anchorage, they went to Beluga Point which is along the Seward Highway. It is a popular spot along Seward Highway. It is named ‘Beluga’ because of the white whales that are often spotted from that point and is a great spot to watch the tide, surfers, and kayakers from several miles.
If you want to see the tide in Beluga Point, make sure to check the tide schedule for great viewing!
Alaska Wildlife Conservatory Center
They also went to Alaska Wildlife Conservatory Center. It is a great place for kids to see Alaska’s wildlife.
Summit Lake Alaska
On the first day, they also went hiking to Summit Lake. It is around 60 miles north of Anchorage at the crest of Hatcher Pass. You’ll find a great view in Summit Lake.
Day 2 in 5-Day Itinerary for Alaska Trip
Talkeetna
On the second day, they checked out of the hotel in Anchorage and went to Talkeetna – approximately 2 hours from Anchorage. It is a historic village nestled at the base of Denali.
Denali National Park
They went on a drive to Denali National Park which is about 2.5 hours from Talkeetna. Denali National Park is one of the most popular land attractions in Alaska. It is about a 6-million-acre park and is a great place to relax with its amazing scenery. It is also a great place to go for a hike.
They went for a hike with the Rock Creek trail which is in Denali National Park. It connects the center for visitors with sled dog kennels.
Day 3 in 5-Day Itinerary for Alaska Trip
Glacier Alaska Tour
They went for a glacier helicopter tour. It is one of the most popular heli-tours in Alaska. There is nothing like sight-seeing by helicopter for a great view of Alaska’s remote glaciers!
Savage Rock and River
On that same day, they also went for a hike to Savage Rock River. It is a great hike for the family. The views are always worth the hike!
Day 4 in 5-Day Itinerary for Alaska Trip
Healy, AK
They had breakfast in Rose Café which is in Healy, AK – about a 15-minute drive from Denali. The Café is a mom-and-pop restaurant in Alaska that serves great breakfast.
They toured Healy, AK with an ATV.
Teklanika River Campground
They went camping out in Teklanika River Campground which is one of the 6 campgrounds located in Denali National Park.
Day 5 in 5-Day Itinerary for Alaska Trip
They took a Tek Bus Tour of Denali to mile 66 where the Visitor Center is located.
Below are the companies that made their trip awesome.
Anchorage
Coast Inn at Lake Hood
Phone: (907)243-2233
Denali Lodge
Grande Denali Lodge
Phone: (907)683-5100
Helicopter Ride
Temsco Helicopters, Inc.
Contact: denali_tours@temscoair.com
Healy Tour
Black Diamond ATV dinner tour
Phone: (907)683-4653
NOTES:
· Fill up gas tank!! Gas stations can be few and far between so make sure you fill up when you have the chance.
· Bring spotting scope with phone attachment.
· Bring bear spray for hiking (maybe pistol if allowed).
· Rain coats – the weather in Alaska is pretty unpredictable and it’s best to be prepared!
· Pack lots of layers (t-shirt, long sleeve t-shirt, hoodie, puffy coat).
· Comfortable hiking shoes (doesn’t have to be boots).”
· Remember that Alaska has a season of darkness every year – If you’re wanting to see the Northern Lights you’ll need to go in the winter months, but be prepared for the cold and do your research before you go! George and his family went during the summer season when it stayed daylight for close to 24 hours each day, so that’s something to keep in mind when looking at this itinerary. He said that they were able to REALLY get their money’s worth because they did things (hiking, etc) well into the evening that they wouldn’t have been able to do had the sun gone down.
· Going to a place like Alaska will definitely require a rental car. Things aren’t close together (within walking distance, or really even Uber distance) like they are in a place like Nashville or Charleston.
· May-September is the peak season for whale watching.
· June-September is the peak season for bear watching.
· Depending on where you go, the wifi and internet access can be a little spotty. Do your research ahead of time and make sure you can get to where you want to go with an internet-free map, just in case!
This sounds like the trip of a lifetime and it’s definitely on my bucket list! I also want to say a HUGE thank you to George and his family for sharing this information with us – I can’t wait to use it!
