Alaska (Anchorage)
Trip Summary
Have you ever wanted to see the glaciers? The untouched beauty of the Last Frontier? Don’t wait! Alaska stands out as being one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited, and let me tell you all the reasons why! The nature, the mountains, the animals, the ice…so much to see and love!
Knowing that one of the best ways to see Alaska was by sea in the summer, my husband and I (and his parents) booked a Princess cruise leaving out of Anchorage and flew in the day before the cruise was scheduled to leave. Some cruise lines offer two directions for the Alaskan route–north to south (Anchorage to Vancouver) and south to north (Vancouver to Anchorage), and we decided to take the north to south route so that we could get the longer leg of travel done early in the vacation while we had more energy.
And a long travel day it was, but the views from the window as we flew over Canada and into Alaska were unforgettable. Miles and miles of greenery, then mountains, then snow and ice made you perfectly content to just stare out your airplane window and just watch the beauty below.
When we got to Anchorage, we were surprised to see that it was a pretty small airport, so getting our bags was easy, and my husband even stopped at one of the food stands on the way out to try some reindeer sausage (which was actually pretty good!). Even though it was late, the sun was still up pretty high, and we quickly found the shuttle to take us to our hotel…the La Quinta Inn and Suites by Wyndham Anchorage Airport.
We chose this hotel because of its proximity to the airport, its free shuttle, breakfast, and positive reviews. Luckily, I was able to get a “secret price” for a standard room on Hotels.com for being a long-time member, but the normal price is pretty shocking for a simple hotel. I quickly found out that just about everything in Alaska is three times more expensive as you think it would be because of the remoteness and how difficult it can be to ship/fly things in, so if you go, just be prepared.
We did like La Quinta Inn, though, and found it to be clean, the staff friendly, and the gym to have new and working equipment. They have complementary drinks and cookies offered at the front desk. The breakfast is similar to what you would have at other hotels in the La Quinta Inn chain–mostly muffins, fruit, cereals, and a waffle machine. Fruit juices and milk were also offered, so we enjoyed a quick breakfast before heading out on the shuttle (which was always quick and on time).
For its cleanliness, friendly staff, gym, breakfast, and free shuttle, La Quinta Inn gets good marks. However, I felt its price can be a big deterrent, and this causes the grade to slip a bit.
La Quinta Inn and Suites by Wyndham Anchorage Airport: B+
At the airport, we met the shuttle that would take us to Whittier (where the ship was docked). I had looked into other options of going to Whittier as it is about an hour and twenty minutes to get there (and doesn’t include the time you will likely be waiting in front of the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel (the longest highway tunnel in North America!) as traffic has to take turns traveling one way through the tunnel. Taking an Uber was going to be just as expensive as taking the Princess shuttle, so we just booked the transfer through Princess as it seemed to be easier.
The drive from Anchorage to Whittier is absolutely unforgettable, so even if you are tired, stay up! So many passengers slept on this ride, and I wanted to just shake them awake and say, Look! Look at what you are missing!
The views of the water and the mountains were absolutely spectacular, and just when you think you saw the most beautiful mountain peak, another more beautiful one came into view.
Part of route we drove on was the Seward Highway, and it was by far, the most scenic drive I had ever been on.
Gorgeous sights, abundant wildlife, and pristine nature give this drive an excellent score!
Seward Highway: A
Soon, we would explore other parts of Alaska via our cruise, but what a stunning start! Alaska quickly became one of the most beautiful places I had ever been to, so if you ever get the chance to see this beautiful state, please do!
Favorite Experiences
Seward Highway was the absolute highlight of the day in Anchorage. I wish we could have spent more time in Anchorage (because there are really a lot of cool things to do there), but in our limited time there, everything I saw on that bus ride from Anchorage to Whittier showed me just how beautiful nature could be. Going through the tunnel was also a neat experience (and long!), and it was interesting seeing how much work went into making the tunnel from the lights to the shelters built-in throughout the tunnel.
What I Wish I Knew
I wish I knew how easy it would be to get an Uber to other parts of Anchorage. I would have been more willing to book a cheaper hotel farther away from the airport. Our hotel was comparable to a lot of other ones in town in terms of price, but there are cheaper ones away from the airport and downtown area if you are willing to travel more. These hotels book fast, though, so be sure to look around and to book early so you can get a spot.
If you are heading to Anchorage to catch a cruise, be sure to sit on the right side of the bus as you drive to Whittier. The views were spectacular on both sides, but I felt most of the best ones were on the right side, and I found myself often holding my phone up above my head so I could take pictures (and later cropping out the tops of people’s heads!). So if you take this transfer (or drive the road yourself), sit on the right side, and stay awake for the beautiful views!
Whether you are catching a cruise ship or not, be sure to stay a few days in Anchorage, because it is truly a gem of Alaska! That is something I wish we could have done, but prices were just too high when combined with the cruise fare. If you decide to spend a few days there, you can find information about Anchorage here and get questions answered/find some tips for things to do here. There are so many things to do–if you have the budget, though, definitely stay longer and see all the sights!
I also post reels and TikToks regularly of all the places I’ve reviewed on here, so if you want to see some videos of what to expect, check out my social media here:
TikTok: @touristyteacher
Instagram: @touristyteacher
Facebook: @touristyteacher
Happy travels!
