17 Apr Blog Your Way Around the World: Alaska Winter Magic – Part One
In 2010, seven of Adventure Collection’s ten members sponsored Blog Your Way Around the World, a unique online travel contest that challenged contestants to write a short essay about why they deserved to win eight of the world’s most amazing adventure vacations and how, if selected the winner, they would write about their experiences to inspire others. Beth Robbins won the contest by receiving the most votes from readers. Beth recently enjoyed, and blogged about, one of her prizes, a trip to Alaska in winter, courtesy of Adventure Collection member Off the Beaten Path. We are pleased to share her dispatches here.
Getting ready for this adventure was really made easy for me. Off the Beaten Path helped to make this entire experience a smooth and wonderful one.
Erin, one of the very knowledgeable representatives, not only was very helpful, she was also very patient. She has followed up on all my choices (which changed several times) and helped me to make the right decision as to which fabulous trip I was to choose. That is how I ended up in Alaska in the winter.
Leaving from the east coast we spent 16 hours in airports and changed planes 3 times…… finally arriving in Fairbanks. (Now I know why this city was never on my “Bucket List”).
Fairbanks is like stepping into the past with a feeling that you have just arrived into the last frontier. It was once a boomtown due to the gold rush, but it is now the home of the trans-atlantic pipeline, the University of Alaska, military bases and many tourist activities.
We checked into the Spring Hill Suites, which was one of the nicer hotels in Fairbanks. After settling into our room we went downstairs for dinner and were told we had a one hour wait for a table. I think all of Fairbanks must have been in this restaurant. It was amazing! Every table was over flowing with people, beer and bottles of wine. Obviously, there is not much else to do in this town but to eat and drink on a Friday night.
The next day I was in for a very pleasant surprise. In the morning we met our guide Mike and three other people that would be our travel partners for the next five days. After the introductions we visited a large site where an international ice sculpture competition took place with artists coming from all over the world. The sculptures, larger than life size, were awesome.
From there we headed to Chena Hots Springs with a stop to see the Alaskan Pipe Line. The ride to the hot springs took about an hour. Along the highway moose tracks were spotted on both sides of the road; but the elusive animal was not to be seen.
Alaska is known as the land of moose, wildlife and the northern lights. The first night we boarded snowcats and drove up the most beautiful mountain road to a Yurt at the very top. We waited patiently for the sky to darken and the northern lights to appear. The Aurora Borealis threatened to dance across the midnight sky. But instead, it meekly showed only one of it’s colors low and quietly across the horizon; leaving the splendid images of what it should be to our vivid imagination.
The following morning we followed our guide on a beautiful trail hike. Weaving, upward through the woods to overlook the Chena Valley. The uphill hike was very worth while when the vistas of the valley emerged below us. With this bright sunny day we were very optimistic that we would surely see a beautiful display from the Northern Lights this evening.
After a great lunch, we soaked our tired bodies in the hot springs to get ready for our midnight jaunt back up the mountain to watch the Northern lights.
Unfortunately the evening weather changed drastically, and amidst a flurry of snow and a thick cover of clouds, the Aurora totally hid from our view. Disappointed we returned to our rooms and prepared to leave the next morning for our flight to Anchorage.
Want to experience the magic of an Alaskan winter for yourself? Contact Off the Beaten Path today at 800-445-2995.
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