Anchorage -- Let's Go Play!

 

 

So we have been in Anchorage for a week now.  We've gotten acclimated to the weather, driving on ice, and have enjoyed the Anchorage downtown area.  We also got out into the elements and explored into the vast frontier.  This state is amazing!  The people say "Welcome to Alaska" and mean it.  Locals smile and I don't get the impression that anyone is in a hurry.  "Traffic" is 5 cars deep at a red light and everyone makes the light.  To put it in perspective, there are less people in the entire state of Alaska than reside in Los Angeles.  Anchorage is the biggest city with a population of less than 300,000 in the entire municipality. 

Our first road trip we drove from Anchorage down to Seward and back again.  120 miles each way, no problem!  Google maps said it would take just under 4 hrs.  I thought FOR SURE they were lying.  They were not.  :)  The scenery was more than worth it!  We experienced ice roads, snow, rain, snow plows and everything in between.  The road snugged the inlet with ice sheets and broken ice floating with the fast current while on the other side were avalanche areas and ice walls.  From people climbing the frozen waterfalls to snowmobiling to ice fishing and snow shoeing, winter sports are in full swing. 

As we drove from inlet to frozen lakes and then up into the mountains and over the pass you realize that you are such a small part of this vast earth.  It puts into perspective that there is such a bigger existence.  The mountains are so high and they reach into the heavens.  You cannot see where the white of the mountain tops stop and the white clouds begin.  Pictures do not do it justice, although we tried.

We finally reach Seward and realize that if we have lunch and go back then the daylight will be long gone.  Time for a Rockstar and beef jerky (or was it reindeer jerky?) and we begin our journey back to Anchorage before our 6 hours of sunshine is completely gone. 

Having now traveled south, next road trip was a venture up north.  We met Washington State friends who now live in the area, for lunch in Wasilla.  The hour drive north took us into the valley where Moose crossing signs on the interstate are commonplace.  It was another beautiful area with mega scenery.  More snow, more ice, wind and a lovely area that I cannot wait to go back and explore, but next time on sleds!!

BTW ..... I Love Alaska!

Seward Harbor

 

Turnagain Arm

 

 



It's New Years.... Let's go to Anchorage!

Anchorage, Alaska

 

 

Being the wife of a man who works on the road has it's many challenges and advantages.  I've been so fortunate to travel as much as I have being a travel agent but actually relocating to different places around the globe puts a different spin and perspective on the destination itself.  I may stay at our home base in California the majority of the time, but it would be no surprise to say that I do much of the research when a new city is mentioned.  I investigative and work on securing housing, utilities, restaurants, destination information and what there is to do and see when I go to visit.  It LOVE being able to see destinations as a local and not a tourist!

 

As a travel agent, when we visit a city or destination we are brought in, provided transportation to one of the nicest hotels in town, and are lucky enough to be wined and dined so we go home and talk about and sell that destination and their activities.  We see the good, best, and most popular.  These familiarization trips (FAM trips) are a lot of fun, quick and get you excited to go back to our offices to sell.  When Randy begins a project in a new area we go in as prospective residents.  We fly in, find our way to an affordable hotel and begin our adventure.  We meet locals and get a personalized tour from someone within his new office.  They show us the tourist areas, which normally we are told to avoid and then point out what we need to know in order to live here.  We are shown where to go shopping, good restaurants, talk about the local politics, how the transportation system works, what neighborhoods to watch out for and what the local people do on their day off.  These "tour guides" talk from the heart and don't get a commission from the places that they recommend.

 

I have been handed the best of both worlds for a lover of travel. 

 

Our newest adventure is taking us to America's 49th state and the Last Frontier.  Anchorage, Alaska!!

Let our journey begin...