Alaska - Anchorage

June 11, 2019

After our day cruise on the Kenai Fjords we took a late train from Seward to Anchorage. This route stays mostly within the borders of either the Chugach National Forest or the Chugach State Park. The National Forest alone is about the size of New Hampshire and is 30% covered in ice. Passing through the Kenai Mountains, past glaciers, lakes, rivers, and along the Turnagain Arm inlet, this is one spectacular ride. The train staff also did their best to point out wildlife spotted along the way, even slowing down the train to provide for better viewing. But we were toward the back of the train so any moose or bear or whatever spotted by those in the front had usually high-tailed it away from the train by the time our car rolled past. Although we didn’t arrive in Anchorage until around 10:15pm, the high latitude spring ensured that it was still light out.

Anchorage itself is a tidy if somewhat plain city in a not at all plain setting, surrounded as it is by water and mountains. It has a fine museum (the cleverly named Anchorage Museum), which presents an Alaskan perspective on art, history, culture, science and ecology. The city also has miles of nice bike and walking paths with views to the spectacular scenery that encircles it. We spent just a couple of days there, including some much-needed down time, before renting a car and heading up to Denali National Park.

As seen from the Seward to Anchorage train

Video of train rear view

Rudolph for sale in Anchorage. Alaska is not the best place for vegetarians.

Glass work in the Anchorage Museum, where the shadow cast is at least as interesting as the bowl itself.

Alaskans and Salmon exhibit at the Anchorage Museum

Alaskan Native wear at the Anchorage Museum. The piece on the left is a "Gut Parka," sewn together from sea mammal intestines and other internal membranes. Said to be durable and waterproof.

Video: Deborah has fun with soap bubbles

View from the coastal trail in Anchorage.

Arctic Tern in an Anchorage park. These birds migrate from pole to pole, traveling about 25,000 miles per year. They breed up here in the arctic and winter in the Antarctic.