travel — The Blog — Llama Does

6 Tips for Alaskan Travel

LAST YEAR, I WENT ON A 2-MONTH ROAD TRIP WITH MY MOM FROM DALLAS, TEXAS TO ALASKA AND BACK TO VIRGINIA. YES, I SPENT 12,001 MILES IN A CAR WITH MY MOM. (YOU CAN READ THE ENTIRE SERIES OF POSTS HERE.) WE SPENT 3 WEEKS ADVENTURING AROUND ALASKA, AND WHILE WE HAD A GENERAL PLAN, I FEEL WE COULD HAVE EXPERIENCED SO MUCH MORE. TREY AND I ARE GOING BACK TO ALASKA THIS JUNE FOR A WEEK AND I HOPE TO GO BACK AFTER THAT (IT'S JUST THAT HUGE), BUT EVERYONE DOES NOT HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO RETURN. WHY NOT GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR TRIP? I CONDENSED MY EXPERIENCES AND WROTE A QUICK GUIDE SO YOU CAN PLAN AN AMAZING, SUMMER TRIP TO ALASKA.

Kantishna, AK to Juneau, AK to Bellingham, WA

The only way to drive from Kantishna to Juneau is... back the way we came... through Canada.

GoesLee McKeelJanuary 21, 2018Llama Does, Travel, trey amick photography, travel blog, National Parks, dallas to alaska, alaska, travel, llama does, landscape photography, Road Trip, Travel photography, Nature Photography, travel photographyComment

Kantishna: the heart of Denali

Kantishna Air Taxi treated us to amazing views on our way to Skyline Lodge in Kantishna. Oh, what an experience!

GoesLee McKeelJanuary 21, 2018Travel, Llama Does, Denali, Kantishna Air Taxi, dallas to alaska, exploration, travel blog, travel, llama does, landscape photography, Kantishna, Road Trip, Denali National Park, Skyline Lodge, Travel photography, travel photographyComment

Palmer, AK to Denali National Park

Jinks at Snowgoose Pond B&B knows the way to my heart; she made homemade biscuits for me again. Leaving Palmer for Denali was bittersweet.

Seward, AK

We took a Kenai Fjords tour (by boat) to see the most beautiful places and I fed the jellyfish. Yes, from the back of the boat.

GoesLee McKeelAugust 10, 2017Fuji Photography, Subaru, dallas to alaska, alaska, travel blog, travel, Fuji, llama does, Road Trip, Kenai Fjords, Subaru Road Trip, Travel photography, Seward, glacier, Fuji Film, travel photography Comments

Soldotna, AK to Seward, AK

After a quick detour for more amazing coffee, we hit the road for Seward.

GoesLee McKeelAugust 9, 2017Fuji Photography, travel blog, dallas to alaska, alaska, exploration, travel, Fuji, llama does, Exit Glacier, Road Trip, Kenai Fjords, Subaru Road Trip, Travel photography, adventure, Seward, Fuji Film Comment

Soldotna, AK to Homer, AK

Who knew so many RV's could fit on such a tiny piece of real estate????

Gakona, AK to Soldonta, AK

Today was the most beautiful drive filled with glaciers, mountains, rivers, streams, and estuaries. Did I mention glaciers and mountains?

GoesLee McKeelAugust 6, 2017Fuji Photography, Subaru, dallas to alaska, alaska, Fuji, travel, travel blog, llama does, Road Trip, Subaru Road Trip, Travel photography, adventure, Fuji Film Comment

Gakona to Wrangell-St. Elias National Park

It's as if the sun never set. I woke up at 1:30 from a nightmare and could clearly see as if it were daylight.

GoesLee McKeelAugust 6, 2017Fuji Photography, travel blog, dallas to alaska, Fuji, llama does, travel, alaska, Road Trip, Subaru Road Trip, Travel photography, adventure, Fuji Film Comments

Tok, AK to Gakona, AK

After checking out of Fast Eddy's, We turned right to finish the Alaska Highway in Delta Junction.

GoesLee McKeelAugust 5, 2017Travel, Fuji Photography, travel blog, dallas to alaska, Fuji, Alaska Highway, travel, alaska, llama does, Road Trip, Travel photography, adventure, Fuji Film Comments

Whitehorse, YT - Tok, AK

Headed out of Whitehorse early; dawn usually appears well before 5am. Stopped in Haines Junction for some gas, and received a free coke with a gas purchase.

Lee McKeelAugust 2, 2017Fuji Photography, Fast Eddy's, travel blog, dallas to alaska, Alaska Highway, Fuji, St. Elias Mountains, travel, Road Trip, Subaru Road Trip, Travel photography, adventure, Tok, Fuji Film, small towns Comments

Teslin, YT to Whitehorse, YT

The most amazing blueberry muffins created us in the lobby as we checked out (as early as dawn would allow). We were in Whitehorse by 8 am, even with a photo stop.

Muncho Lake, BC to Teslin, YT

Again, we set out at some ridiculous time in the wee hours of the morning; before even the front desk had an attendant. TEarly mornings bring the quiet, the still, and the calm: simple beauties.

Dawson Creek, BC to Muncho Lake, BC

By 7:00, we'd seen dozens of oil riggers heading to work and hit the historic Milepost 0 of the Alaska Highway.

GoesLee McKeelAugust 1, 2017Fuji Photography, Subaru, travel blog, Fuji, Opt Outside, travel, llama does, Alaska Highway, Road Trip, Subaru Road Trip, Travel photography, Fuji Film, subaru Comments

Jasper National Park to Dawson Creek, BC

It rained most of the night, and while we never got wet, I wouldn't say we were dry either. In desperate need of dehumidification, we broke camp, got fuel, and were back at Bear's Paw Bakery by 6:30 am.

GoesLee McKeelAugust 1, 2017Fuji Photography, travel blog, llama does, Alaska Highway, travel, Fuji, Subaru Road Trip, Road Trip, Canada, Travel photography, Fuji Film, subaru Comments

Jasper National Park

The squawking crows woke us and we did our morning things. I also repacked the car and forced mom to condense the unnecessary items into one bag - rather than having to unload 4 small bags, I could just unload one.

Banff National Park to Jasper National Park

We drove the Icefields Parkway (Alberta 93) from Banff to Jasper. Along the way, we saw latent, glistening snow and heard the leaves of aspens glitter in the wind nestled among evergreens.

Calgary, AB

We walked to the zoo which is only 1.3 miles (or 2.6 km), which meant we also walked 1.3 miles back to our hotel. And yes, we went to the zoo, so there was more walking there - at least 3 more miles.

GoesLee McKeelJuly 23, 2017Fuji Photography, Subaru, alberta, calgary zoo, Fuji, travel, travel blog, Subaru Road Trip, Travel photography, adventure, Calgary, Fuji Film Comments