Late April to early May… who visits Alaska at this time? The winter teases you that it’s over, but summer is still far away. It’s spring time, supposedly, but the ice won’t just retreat yet - or it does slowly. So who does? Well, travel non-planners do, much like the Zitee squad during its first outing.
It’s not the group’s first outing per se, but first outing when Zitee had just been formed.
In April 2018, the first shirts, sweaters and hoodies of Zitee were printed. It was right in time for the scheduled spring trip. Scheduled it was, but the specific place wasn’t final. The Zitee squad was quite busy with other - no, major and more important things. Zitee was a pet project after all.
However, there was this strong desire to go to Alaska. Ever felt like you really want to go somewhere and it doesn’t matter what time you’re available? That’s exactly what happened in this trip.
So what did we do? Planned only a couple of weeks before, and then made up the trip one day at a time. This trip was arranged quite late that one AirBNB host even questioned our legitimacy! We nicely explained that our group usually gets into last-minute planning due to the busy schedule. And with a couple of the squad’s Instagram accounts as proof of our traveler ways, we convinced the vigilant host we’re legit!
The Rough Plan
Taking Alaska Air, we flew from Los Angeles, California to Anchorage - Alaska’s most populous city. We picked the flight to this area because it’s nearest to Denali National Park. Now those who know Alaska are probably smiling now. Denali National Park, huh? It’s practically closed at that time!
We sort of knew this already, but gladly went on. For first time visitors, the excitement overpowers the lack of planning. Surely there’ll be interesting things to see. Plus, there’s joy in traveling during lean season.
We rented a van in Anchorage and stayed for a night. The other bases we chose, where we rented AirBNB houses were Wasilla and Fairbanks. Wasilla for an extended stay near the mountains, outside of Anchorage which is more expensive. Fairbanks, in the hope of seeing Aurora Borealis - which of course, was very unlikely already. But hey, driving’s part of the fun, and we’ll take the minute chance!
So how do you enjoy Alaska in Spring? Here are a few ways!
Enjoy the Semi-frozen state
The semi-frozen state is the best feature of this timing. It offers unique sight and experience to travelers. Seek different bodies of water inland, and you’ll probably chance upon them being half-frozen. For example:
Waterfalls
26 miles (~42 km) from downtown Anchorage and less than a mile (a bit over 1 km) hike from the trailhead is Thunderbird falls. During spring, you can enjoy a double-layered stream: a steep trail of ice with openings revealing the moving waterfalls below.
Lake
Before leaving Anchorage to go north, we went a bit south to see Portage Lake. At the time we saw it, it’s like a big frozen blue margarita: pretty, cold, and dangerous. We braced the cold weather for some stunning photos at the shore.
River
Walk on river to a certain extent, and be amused by the moving water beneath you. Tread carefully of course.
Feast on Asian Food
Alaska has some Asian residents who brought and kept their culture, including food. And the most satisfying meals we had in Anchorage were in restaurants serving Asian cuisine. Asian cuisine experience pairs well with the cold weather in Alaska. Order hot, spicy or both in Korean restaurants such as Jinmi along Splenard Road; or hot noodle soup paired with fresh veggies in Vietnamese restaurants like the matter-of-factly named Pho Vietnam in Government Hill. At this time of the year, you won't have to wait to get a seat!
Have random stops as you please
No one’s really gonna stop you from doing so. There’s barely anyone, and the space is just vast. Here are a few interesting stops we had:
Reflect
We guess Alaska is basically quiet, that residents may have too much of it that they’d like to see tourists for a change. But if you’re a tourist coming from busy or noisy areas, spring time in Alaska is a treat for the mind. It is cold, but dressed appropriately, you can stay outside for considerably long periods on a clear day. Find a spot, take in the view, clear your mind… peace.
Springtime is still months away. But if you’re an early planner of trips, you might want to plan a quiet getaway and visit Alaska in Spring!
Bonus
Alaska has some interesting indoor attractions too. That’s great, considering how hard it could be to stay outside! For us, one of the best museums in America is the Anchorage Museum. This place is huge and impressive in so many levels. Displays in art, science, culture, everything - there's something for every curious mind! Do not miss this when you plan to stay in Anchorage. They even offer free admissions every first Friday of the month, though for a limited time only: 6 to 9 PM.
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