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April Alaska Adventure

Maybe end of April is the ideal time of year to visit Alaska, or we just got super lucky, but the weather was not cold. 50s and sunny in the day. With daylight lasting well into 9pm. 

But wait, let me back up. 

In the last week of April, my brother-in-law invited us all to Wasilla, Alaska to surprise my older sister on her 50th birthday. It was a huge surprise and she was SUPER shocked to see me, my younger sister and Mom at her doorstep. Epic. Just epic. Once the shock wore off (it took hours), we had an absolute spectacular weekend.  

First day, we drove along the Seward Highway toward Seward. We stopped at a glacial lake and Whittier, a harbor town with shrimp boats and small cruise ships that go around looking at glaciers. The town is tiny, only reachable through a one-lane road that goes under a mountain (or by boat) and ALL its residents live in one high-rise apartment building with a school/market across the street accessible by tunnel because of all the crazy amount of snow this town gets. This day was beautiful. There was a lot of talk of sea otters but I didn't see any. Boo. 

Then we stayed the night at the Alyeska Resort, a ski and spa hotel in the middle of a gorgeous valley. We ate dinner at the Italian restaurant and spent the next full day at the Nordic spa getting messages with the birthday girl and doing the Nordic Baths experience -- hot and cold plunges over and over again. Bliss!

That night we went out to dinner in Anchorage and watched an opera at the Anchorage Opera Company. It was my first opera (that I can recall) and it was so emotional. I was super concerned about what to wear and my brother-in-law assured me it would be "Alaska casual" meaning we'd see people in formal wear AND others in jeans and sweaters -- and he was right! All are welcome.  

The next day, we drove to Talkeetna, it's a base camp town hikers use before they summit Denali -- the highest mountain in the Americas. WOW. The town was basically Sicily, Alaska and my Northern Exposure heart was exploding. We ate excellent pizza and just took in all the beautiful views. And did some souvenir shopping. 

Then, the weekend was over and we all headed home. I was never really sure what to think about Alaska but it's so beautiful, the air is so crisp and clean and the sun stays out for a looong time in April. Totally worth the trip. 

Here are a few more photos: 

Talkeetna, Alaska

Whittier, Alaska

The Pool at the Alyeska Resort 

Denali! 


The BIG Surprise

Moose Crossing the Road

A Look Out at Beluga Bay -- no belugas spotted

The Portage Lake Near the Whittier Glacier (it's around that corner)

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