Doing It All vs. Doing It Right

Doing It All vs. Doing It Right

One of the biggest problems faced by Alaska visitors is being overwhelmed by the size of the place and the range of choices involved. The temptation is to cram everything the state has to offer into a two-week trip, and it just can't be done. If you succumb to this type of schedule, you'll find yourself frantically rushing from attraction to attraction and wind up seeing a blur of visions as they pass by your windshield.

Don't see it all through glass. Take some hikes, catch some fish, watch some birds, see some whales. If you're prepared to rough it a bit, all the better. Bring, borrow, or rent some camping gear and look into the public-use cabins scattered across the state. Or, just do an overnight in a tent—the opportunities for getting an hour or two away from a trailhead and bedding down for the night with no remnants of civilization other than what you carry on your back are too numerous to enumerate. You'll acquire a new understanding of Alaska's allure, and have experienced a part of the state that too few visitors ever enjoy.