Camping in Alaska

The Rving Trip of a Lifetime

Planning a trip to Alaska is almost as exciting as going there…well almost. There is so much to see and so much to do that it’s hard to take it all in. We were lucky enough to have someone guide us to the places that they had enjoyed. We went in 2000 and I am sure that there is more to see now and more improved roads. When we went I was surprised that the roads were so good and there were places all along the way to get anything that you might need. We had heard that you need to take extra tires as you might be 50 or 100 miles from help. NOT SO. Our transmission went out in our motorhome and we had to be towed about 50 miles but the service was great and the workmanship excellent. Our cell phones worked most everywhere so we were always in touch.

I must truly say that this is the best vacation I have ever had and rving is the only way to see Alaska. If you do not have two or three months to spend, then plan on flying to Alaska and renting a motorhome. There is so much to see and Alaska has many Campgrounds, both private and commercial, so if you are still working and only have two or three weeks then I recommend this option. Another option which is a driver-friendly option is a sea-and-land tour via the Inside Passage. You can load you RV on the BC ferries in Seattle, Washington or British Columbia and travel the Inside Passage to Alaska. If you decide on one of these options then consider a trip to Canada at a later date. A trip in itself is sightseeing in Calgary, Lake Louise, Glacier National Park (US side or the Canadian side), Baniff and the Edmonton Mall.

Skagway is such a quaint little town with its old time Western Shows. Go through the Boot Hill Cemetery and up to a beautiful waterfall. Be sure to ride the White Pass & Yukon Route Railway, and experience the historic 1898 narrow gauge Klondike Gold Rush Railroad with breathtaking terrain, beautiful scenery, cascading waterfalls and sky-high trestles. If you travel through Canada, then back to Whitehorse and on to Tok then you need to decide whether you want to go southwest to Anchorage or north to Fairbanks. We went southwest first to Anchorage, the largest city in Alaska with good RV facilities and a place to rest and get supplies. A good side trip is Valdez, the south end of the Alaskan pipeline, the Museum of the earthquake, the fish hatchery, glaciers and viewing the whales from a party boat. We thought that viewing the glaciers from the boat was spectacular. The glaciers were all around us.  Be sure to go slow because some of the glaciers were hidden under the water making you think of the Titantic.
For people who enjoy fishing, then Seward, Soldotna, Kenai and Homer is a must. For Halibut and King Salmon you must take a charter boat or rent a boat. If you lucky enough to be in Soldotna when the Salmon are running you are in for a real treat. Only natives can go down to the water and they are there by the hundreds with their nets. I believe that each person was entitled to 90 Salmons per day.  Then back to Anchorage and north to Denali Park. A bus trip through the park is a must, hope it is a clear day so you can see the top of Mount McKinley. Be sure to visit the World largest coal mine just north of the park. The equipment for this operation is gigantic. This Strip mining is a must see.

Then on to Fairbanks, be sure to take the Riverboat cruise to learn about the Eskimos’ way of living and surviving off the land in the frigid winters. They must catch and cure one salmon per sled dog per day. That is 365 salmon per dog per year. It is amazing to watch the Alaskans clean these Salmon in record time. You also go to an Alaskan Village and talk the Eskimos and learn some of their customs. Also while in Fairbanks visit the factory where they make beautiful bowls from trees. Be sure you take the children to the North Pole village to see Santa this is a trip that you will enjoy whether you have little ones or not.

Then back to Tok for the rugged Top of the World Highway that takes you on to Chicken and Dawson City on your way through the Yukon to Whitehorse. Then you must decide your route home, the eastern route back to Edmonton or the Western route to Prince George then the US of A. There are many State Parks in Canada on lakes with Rving Sites.

An investment well worth the money is the The Milepost 2011 , a book for your trip to and while you are in Alaska, milepost by milepost starting at Dawson Creek, British Columbia, the beginning of the Alcan Highway – milepost 0. This book makes rving in Alaska easy. Remember your passport as you will soon need one, so it is best to apply for one now.

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