fbpx
Tag

Alaska Vacation

Browsing
Alaska

5 Reasons to Ride the Alaska Railroad

Take a ride on a train of the Alaska Railroad.

Well, cruise ships aren’t going to be sailing to Alaska this summer but that doesn’t mean that you still can’t visit Alaska. As I have said before, there is so much more in Alaska than what you see from a cruise ship. Let this be the year that you see more of the state of Alaska. And, traveling on the Alaska Railroad is the perfect way to do it. So, here are 5 reasons why your Alaska vacation should include a ride on the Alaska Railroad.

Hey! Alaska Residents, a ride on the Alaska Railroad is great for you too! The Railroad is a great way to have a family staycation.

Okay, now read on…

The journey is as great as the destination when you ride the Alaska Railroad!

#1 Gorgeous scenery

All along the road system in Alaska you will see beautiful scenery. From Seward to Fairbanks you will be delighted by all that you see from the roadway. BUT, the Alaska Railroad takes you away from the road system through the untouched wilds of Alaska. You will see even more stunning scenery you can only see by riding the rails.

#2 Everyone gets to enjoy the ride

Being stuffed into a car isn’t the most comfortable ride for anyone. The driver has to pay attention to the road and cannot see all beauty. The passengers are stuck sitting in one seat for hours. A ride on the Alaska Railroad is so much better for everyone. The driver gets to see everything. During the ride, everyone can get up and stretch their legs and visit other train cars along the way. No one is stuck in one seat for the whole trip. How wonderful is that!

#3 A better view

Car windows are quite small. You often have to crane your neck to see all the amazing mountains, wildlife and other scenery as you drive by. Now picture yourself in a train car with giant picture windows all along the sides. Then picture going up into the Vista Dome cars with sweeping panoramic views. You will get to see so much more of the breathtaking scenery you came to Alaska to see when you travel by train rather than a car.

#4 Dining in style

The Alaska Railroad has two different levels of luxury you can choose from as you travel on the train. Adventure Class provides dining and bar service for purchase at the Wilderness Cafe. Some trains even have some dining tables for Adventure Class.

But the true luxury comes with all-inclusive GoldStar Service available on the two major train routes. Instead of eating on your lap as you drive you can enjoy sitting down in the full-service dining car and being served a delicious meal. How luxurious to watch gorgeous scenery pass by as you sit comfortably eating great food and enjoying an adult beverage or two! You can ONLY do this on the Alaska Railroad!

#5 Great for a day trip or a multi-day vacation

The last great reason to ride the Alaska Railroad is you can be so flexible. Your ride on the rails can be just a day excursion, like heading down to Seward for the day, or a long, multi-day complete vacation experience.

One benefit of a vacation package with the Alaska Railroad is that you are only bound by the train schedule. The days that you are visiting the different towns and cities in Alaska are your own. You don’t have to be following the schedule of a tour group. All your activities can be tailored to what you want to do. Then you just make sure you are back to the train when you are scheduled to move on to the next exciting destination. Such great flexibility without having to worry about your transportation from place to place!

How is a ride on the Alaska Railroad great for a multi-family/generational vacation?

  • Everyone can ride together.
  • Seats can be easily switched up to let everyone have a chance to sit by everyone.
  • Kids (well, everyone) can easily get up and stretch their legs.
  • Comfortable seats all will enjoy. Some even turn so 4 can sit and chat together.
  • No driving coordination needed. Everyone gets there at the same time.
  • Once at the destination each family can pick their own activities or everyone can stick together. It’s up to you.

Would you like some more information about traveling on the Alaska Railroad? Contact me and let’s talk about the possibilities for your family!

Happy travels to you…until we meet again!

Here are some other articles you might like to read:

Alaska

A Day Trip Escape to Whittier, Alaska

Whittier, Alaska is a teeny, tiny town that actually has some great reasons to visit. It is the “Gateway to Prince Williams Sound”. Since it sits right on the coast with access to the ocean, Whitter is the departure and arrival port for many Princess Alaska cruises. But whether you are visiting Whittier as part of a cruise or just to explore for the day, it is a great destination. Read on and find out what you can do on your day trip to Whittier, Alaska!

Location

Whitter is located in southcentral Alaska right on Prince William Sound. It is just 60 miles south of Anchorage making it a perfect day trip destination.

How to get to Whittier

The Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel Portage Side

Getting to Whittier is half of the fun of visiting. Since Whittier sits on the coastline on the other side of the Chugach Mountains the only way to get there is through a tunnel. The one-way, 2.5 mile Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel is the longest in North America and is shared by the train and vehicles. There are scheduled times every hour for the train to use the tunnel and for vehicles. It is very important to know the tunnel schedule before you head to Whittier. As you can imagine the schedule is often delayed so it is important to add extra travel time through the tunnel. Plan for at least 30-40 minutes to get through the tunnel. The current cost for private vehicles is $13.

What to explore in Whittier, Alaska

Water Activities

Whittier is on an amazing body of water! From Whittier you can go kayaking, rent jetskis, take a leisure boating excursion or join on of the glacier day cruises. If you love fishing, Prince William Sound is one of the best places to fish on the planet and there are many guides ready to help you catch your limit. And all of these activities are surrounded by some absolutely stunning scenery!

Hiking

Emerald Cove Trail

Around Whittier there are three fantastic hiking trails. If you are hiking in late July/August then be on the lookout for delicious berries and also bears.

  • Emerald Cove Trail–This is a relatively flat trail but is VERY muddy and quite rooty. You will be watching your foot placement pretty much the whole way. Children can hike this trail but you definitely will want boots. BUT, this trail is well worth the effort because when you look up you will be awestruck by the gorgeous surroundings nearby and across the bay. The full length is around 3 miles, but there is a first cove about a mile or so in and is a beautiful place to stop, play and then turn around.
  • Horsetail Falls Trail–This trail is a 1 mile moderately uphill hike to see the beautiful Horsetail Falls. For those wanting a more difficult hike, you can continue up to Blackstone Ridge to see the waterfalls from the top.
  • Portage Pass Trail–This is the most difficult hike of the three but probably also boasts the best views from the top. The trailhead for this hike is just after you get through the tunnel. The 2-mile hike will take you up and over the mountain (around 800 ft) to Portage Lake, right across from the glacier. And then on the way back, you will look down on the Whittier harbor, and Prince William Sound. Absolutely gorgeous!

Around the Town

View from parking area/picnic spot at the end of Shotgun Cove Trail (Road)
  • Sit at the head of the bay and enjoy the scenery and have a picnic.
  • Hang out at the harbor and watch all the boats go out and come in.
  • Eat at one of the restaurants on the waterfront.
  • Drive out to the end of the road and take in the beauty of the water and mountains.
  • Go birdwatching. There are so many birds to spot as well as the largest Kittiwake rookery in the North Pacific.
  • Take a self-guided tour of the historical sites.
  • Visit the Prince William Sound Museum in the Anchor Inn.
  • Stroll over to the 14-story Begich Towers which is home to nearly all of Whittier’s residents, a school, grocery store, church, and post office.

A day trip to Whittier, Alaska makes a great addition to any vacation to Alaska. If a trip to visit Alaska is on your travel bucket list please contact me! I would love to help you plan an Alaska vacation your family will remember forever.

Happy travels to you…until we meet again!

Here are some other links you might be interested in: