Tourist Season in Alaska

So crazy to be living in a place that is SUCH a tourist destination.  People said that it was coming, we saw changes in the weather, road and infrastructure and all of a sudden, IT’S TOURIST SEASON!  In one sense you want to complain and call them the “idiot tourists”, and then on the other hand you want the world to see and enjoy the beauty of Alaska ad you see through your eyes.  Flights are full with different dialects, languages and ages.  The roads are jammed with the rental RVs and trailers carrying various “toys”.  Traffic is crazy and we would benefit with reservations at our favorite restaurants.  Then I remind myself that the local economy is flourishing and when they only make their money in a short tourist season, we “endure” summer in Alaska!

While the lower 48 is having heat and humidity we are too, but the Alaskan way.  Temperatures range from the mid 60s to the mid 70s and it’s been raining all week.  Air is cleaned out and everything is green.  No air conditioning here but we had to install a ceiling fan in our bedroom just to move the air around.  Not sure if it’s more out of habit to have a fan over our bed when the windows are open but nonetheless, it helps!

If you cannot beat ‘em, join ‘em!  We’ve also taken to the road.  Denali here we come!  We headed to the interior of Alaska to enjoy some R&R and good weather and we were not disappointed.  With days longer, the weather mild and the scenery so green and lush, it’s beauty to behold in the Last Frontier! 

Denali is basically a wide spot in the road.  Addresses are mile markers and trust me; you know it when you get there.  No GPS needed.  While we thought Denali as a “place”, it’s more of an “area”.  An area dedicated to the outdoors, wild life, outdoor activities and of course, Mount McKinley.  The scenery is breathtaking and awe-inspiring and puts all new meaning of “being a small part of the universe”.  We did the touristy thing of driving the initial 15 miles into Denali National Park.  We visited a dog sled farm, held the puppies and heard stories of the Iditarod which fascinated me.  We also drove up to Fairbanks and the NorthPole.  We ate at some fun seasonal restaurants near the park entrance but the highlight personally was river fishing in the vast frontier. 

We met up with some friends who we last saw in India, of all places.  They were camping in the wilderness and we visited their camp site.  Their 360 degree view of mountains surrounding them and river below was amazing!  No potties and showers here… all nature!  Bear line with bells around their tent and shovel instead of toilet paper, this was nature at its finest.  I now have my own fishing pole and fishing license and tackle and the time we spent along the river was relaxing, serene and very much enjoyable.  This is what all those Idiot Tourists come to experience in Alaska, and personally, I don’t blame them!