FORT WAINWRIGHT, Alaska - So, the word is out; you're stationed in Alaska and everyone wants to come visit you now. First, you'll have to get over the fact that no one wanted to travel to see you when you were in other exotic locations like Fort Polk, La., or Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. That's okay. The important thing is that they're coming now - and boy, are they coming.
We just welcomed round one of what looks to be a very busy tourist season around our house and I'll admit it, we were intimidated. Could we fulfill all of their Alaskan hopes and dreams in about a week and on a somewhat limited budget' Would they go home disappointed or would this be a vacation of a lifetime for them'
Well, thanks to help from the Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation facilities throughout the state, tips from sourdoughs I've met - that's longtime Alaskan residents for those brand new to the area - and kindness and graciousness of Alaskans at parks, businesses and tourist attractions from Fairbanks to Seward and everywhere in between, it was an amazing trip that our family will never forget.
The trip began with an introduction to the big man himself: Santa Claus. The Santa Claus House in North Pole is famous throughout the world and tops the list of everyone we know coming to visit us this summer. A big recommendation is to call first to check his schedule. Even in the summer, he's a busy guy and we missed him the first two times we visited. Fortunately, our five-year-old niece was very patient and determined. Don't forget to check out the reindeer outside. They're guaranteed to make believers out of any skeptic, no matter what his or her age.
Next we hit the road. Due to our lack of bladder coordination and the amazing scenery that we all wanted to photograph, the trip to Seward took us about 10 hours. This was the first time we had driven south and had no idea what to expect. The roads were great. Construction and congestion were nonexistent and the restrooms and scenic photo stops were plentiful. So, if you haven't gotten out yet on Alaska's roadways, now is the time.
Seward is just as beautiful as everyone told me it would be. The combination of snow-capped mountains and crystal blue harbor was breathtaking. My supervisor described it best. It was an "assault on the senses." We stayed at the Seward Military Resort which is fabulous whether you can get a room, camp or bring your camper. They have everything you need from laundry facilities to a fully equipped place to clean and prepare any fish you catch.
We dined at local establishments sampling halibut tacos and burritos and fish and chips. We also took advantage of the 50-percent-off tours offered recently through FMWR and the Seward Military Resort. We spent a day out on the water observing orcas, humpback whales, sea otters, sea lions, seals, puffins, bald eagles, mountain goats on the surrounding cliffs and more. It was amazing and so much more than what we had hoped to see. We even cruised up close to the Holgate Glacier and witnessed the calving process during which the glacier sheds blocks of ice.
As we reluctantly left Seward, we followed the signs to Exit Glacier. This amazing and free site offers a variety of hiking trails and scenic overlooks to get as close to the glacier as you want. After stopping in the visitor's center and talking with the park ranger, we opted for the most popular, 1A,A1/2 mile easy hike to the foot of the glacier. That's right, you hike up to the foot of the glacier. This is amazing and did I mention that this whole experience is free' Yes, you read it correctly; completely free of charge.
Where else in the world can you do things like this'
The two-hour drive between Seward and Anchorage is possibly the most beautiful drive I've ever experienced. Stopping for ice cream at Summit Lake on the Seward Highway is one of my most favorite memories of the entire trip. Add that one to your list if you have time.
The weekend downtown market in Anchorage was great and staying at Elmendorf Air Force Base was not just economical, but another way to show our family more of our military lifestyle.
I hate to admit that last week was our first trip to Denali National Park, but it was. We took advantage of the free park admission offered to military members over the Memorial Day weekend. While we definitely need a return trip to soak in all there is to do and see there, we thoroughly enjoyed an entirely free day there. We walked through the museum, marveling at the creatures and life cycles of the park.
We also enjoyed the short movie which showed a whole year of habitation and seasonal changes there. We then drove to mile 15, the farthest point you can take your vehicle, and hiked around the area, photographing the beauty around us. The highlight of our trip to Denali was definitely our encounter with a young brown bear on the road back to the visitor's center. I'm just sure he was a teenager; you can always tell by the attitude. He came right up to cars and hung around so long that the entire road was blocked on both sides by cars filled with astonished tourists snapping shots of the almost-oblivious creature.
Mt. McKinley proved to be elusive that day, which as I learned it does almost 80 percent of the time, so we were thankful we stopped at some scenic overlooks between Anchorage and the park to take photos of the breathtaking mountain peak.
One of the very cool things about traveling in Alaska is the network of national parks. From our cruise through the Kenai Fjords National Park in Seward to our stop at Exit Glacier and our day in Denali National Park, park rangers were available to share information, answer questions and even offered a free "junior ranger" program for children in different age groups. My niece worked through activity books and collected badges at each of these locations, learning and having fun while we explored these amazing sites.
Back at Fort Wainwright we rested a bit and then set out to experience the Interior during our family's remaining visit. Pioneer Park's free admission was a huge hit and for a reasonable fee, the 40-below chamber gave our southern family a taste of local winters. We also converged on the Trans Alaska Pipeline, only five miles outside of town on the Steese Expressway, with a myriad of tour buses for the opportunity to read about and photograph the famous oil pipeline, an interesting tourist attraction in the context of the current Gulf oil spill crisis.
The trip also wouldn't have been complete without an excursion to Chena Hot Springs and a walk through the Ice Museum. My brother-in-law talked tough in his shorts walking in to the 20-degree building, but was singing a different tune when we left less than an hour later after seeing ice sculptures, ice bedrooms, a life-size chess set made entirely of ice, an ice bar and stools and even an ice sculpture of the woman Alaskans either love or hate, former Gov. Sarah Palin.
Don't forget to ask if parks, resorts, businesses, restaurants and other establishments offer military discounts as you plan your trips. This saved us quite a bit and will continue saving us throughout the summer.
Another highlight to this recent visit was a long walk along the Chena River at Fort Wainwright. The path is extensive and we talked, laughed, skipped rocks and slowed down quite a bit from our busy travels.
We also took advantage of Outdoor Recreation's reasonable rentals and rented a boat, after taking the Boater Safety course, for their visit. That's a great way to explore area waterways and enjoy these endless summer nights.
We said "good-bye" to one group of visitors and are preparing for the next. They, of course, want to see the exact same things. That's okay. Alaska is so beautiful and I know that we will encounter different wildlife and natural beauty each time we visit these sites.
Besides, everything will look entirely different in a few months, blanketed with snow, so if you prefer being a tourist in shorts and flip-flops to one in snow boots and layers of insulation, now is definitely the time to hit the road.
We've left so many of our previous assignments with some regrets about places we didn't go or local attractions we didn't see. Don't let that happen to you here. With deployment schedules and the unpredictability of assignments, no one really knows how long they'll have in this amazing state, so get out and explore this summer; not just for your visiting friends and family, but for yourselves, too. There is so much to do and I know we've just begun to scratch the surface.
You've been armed. You have the information. Now stand tall, prepared for the onslaught of friends and family coming your way complete with high expectations and small budgets. They're no match for all that you and Alaska will show them. Go forth and conquer those tourists. You can and will give them - and yourselves - the experience of a lifetime.
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