I've been blogging for over a decade now, and focusing on Alaska for more than half that time. After so many years of exploring this great state, you might think I've seen and done it all. And sure, I've seen and done a lot, but there are always new experiences to be had – and new places to go, in a place so big! One such example is the Kenai Fjords Wilderness Lodge on Fox Island, which I had only previously visited as a kid on a dinner cruise from Seward...| Valerie & Valise
There are some months that I just don't hear many questions about visiting Alaska – and November is one of them. It's not that there's nothing to do in the winter (there's lots in both Anchorage and Fairbanks!) or that you can't see the aurora (you absolutely can!) – it's more that people maybe just think about visiting in the heart of winter (December & January) or in the late winter (February & March). All this to say, if you're planning to visit Alaska in November, you're in for a tre...| Valerie & Valise
Every time I look for a place to stay in Anchorage, I'm shocked. There are lots of great hotels, but by gosh, the prices are jaw-dropping. Alaska is, on the whole, an expensive destination, but hotels in Anchorage especially have gotten exorbitant. Or is it extortionate? Yeah, yeah, supply and demand, I know...| Valerie & Valise
How many times have you thought about exploring or visiting a destination in the region where you live, but never planned a trip? It's so easy to overlook the amazing places 'right in your backyard!' Such is the same for me with the region of Eklutna; I grew up in the neighboring valley of Eagle River, but hardly ever visited Eklutna. In fact, my only childhood memory was of attempting a hike there in high school, and being sorely defeated by the steep slopes of the mountain trail...| Valerie & Valise
As Alaska's largest cities, Anchorage is the biggest entry and/or exit point for Alaska travelers. While some people disparage it for having too much "city" feel, I love Anchorage and think it's worth at least a day or two during your Alaska itinerary. After all, I grew up in the Anchorage area and spent 15 years getting to know its different neighborhoods and things to do...| Valerie & Valise
I swear, it wasn't on purpose that I left Bryce Canyon to last among the Mighty 5 to visit; on my first trip to one of Utah's national parks – Zion in 2019 with my friend Marissa – the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel was closed. This tunnel, which began construction in the late 1920s, helped connect Zion and Bryce Canyon and aided the latter in its effort to become a national park. Today, it's common to visit both parks on a single trip – when the tunnel is closed, that's hard to do...| Valerie & Valise
Having grown up in the Anchorage area, one thing I love is that it never really changes. Okay, that's not true, but the spirit of the city – and its skyline – is pretty much the same as it was 20+ years ago when I was a kid... There aren't many cities around the world about which you can say that! Similarly, the hotel landscape of the Anchorage area hasn't changed a ton since I was a kid, especially in the downtown core...| Valerie & Valise
It was clear almost since the beginning of automotive history and the birth of the National Park Service that these two major parts of American life were intertwined. While many, including the likes of the illustrious Edward Abbey in Desert Solitaire, have bemoaned the way vehicle access to the National Parks have "ruined" them, I think it's hard to argue that far more people have been able to see and appreciate the natural wonders of the U.S. because of this access – helping promote good...| Valerie & Valise
Nestled deep in the heart of Alaska's Inside Passage, you might think you've suddenly traveled some 4,000 miles to the shores of Norway. Called Alaska's "Little Norway," Petersburg is a far-flung destination – even by Alaskan standards. Accessible only by boat or plane, Petersburg is the classic "hidden gem" that many travelers ask me about...| Valerie & Valise
I can hardly believe it, but it's officially been more than five years since Mr. V and I tied the knot in a Seattle backyard pandemic wedding. For our milestone anniversary, he gave me one of the best gifts possible: a trip where he did all the planning! As you can imagine, I typically plan all of our trips from soup to nuts – I figure out the logistics, do the bookings, plan the meals and breaks, and generally obsess over every single trip we take as a couple – and as a family too, of ...| Valerie & Valise
My trip to the Arctic was full of surprises: cultural experiences, new foods, and – of course, for Alaska – incredible scenery unlike anything I've seen before. (I was especially smitten by the sea ice still visible in late June!) One other notable surprise was which national park unit I most enjoyed visiting – no, it wasn't either of the National Parks, Kobuk Valley or Gates of the Arctic...| Valerie & Valise
I floated in on the wind, with the sun shining through a thin layer of clouds and wildflower smoke. Below the plane, a huge river snaked beneath us, treelined except for occasional breaks where smaller tributaries added to the mass of water slowly making its way toward the Arctic Ocean. Suddenly, the trees disappeared, replaced by golden sand, stretching almost as far as the eye can see. Wait... sand? In Alaska? In the middle of nowhere?...| Valerie & Valise
As a kid growing up in Alaska, I'll admit I didn't give much thought to, well, anywhere else. In Alaska, in the United States, or in the world. It's only as an adult – who now lives out of state – that I've come to appreciate how special my home state was as a kid (and still is today). That's why I'm always planning trips back since my family moved away (13 and counting!), and traveling further afield from the place I used to call home (near Anchorage)...| Valerie & Valise
There's an interesting thing about Alaskans: we don't travel very much within our own state. If you live on the road system (as I did when growing up in the Anchorage area), you'll probably see the main sights in places like Denali or Seward – you might even be adventurous and head out to further flung spots like Homer, Valdez, or McCarthy (in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park)...| Valerie & Valise
Crisp mornings where you can see your breath. Cold sunlight on golden leaves. The chance to spot the aurora dancing in the sky... September is a great month to visit Alaska – especially when you know how to prepare and make the most of it...| Valerie & Valise
Nothing irks me more than when people call Alaska’s biggest city "Los Anchorage" and suggest there's nothing about it worth visiting. I grew up in the Anchorage area, and – call me biased – it holds a special place in my heart. Best of all, Anchorage is stepping up – and into the spotlight – this summer. With more flights, new hotels, exciting cultural updates, and a food scene that’s quietly catching national attention...| Valerie & Valise
Running nearly 1,906 miles from Miami, Florida, to the Canadian border near Houlton, Maine, Interstate 95 (I-95) is a transportation corridor that runs almost the entire length of America's East Coast. Along the way, it passes through many major cities, including Jacksonville, Savannah, Washington (D.C.), Philadelphia, New York City, Providence, Boston, and Portland (ME). In some ways, it funnels the lifeblood of commerce and carriage through this part of the country...| Valerie & Valise
I was surprised to learn that I am not alone in preferring Capitol Reef above Utah's other Mighty 5 parks; it is less visited than all but Canyonlands, and doesn't ever feel crowded even on busy summer days – at least not the same way you might feel crowded in Arches, Bryce Canyon, and Zion! Don't be surprised if Capitol Reef's combination of fewer crowds, jaw-dropping scenery, fascinating geology, dynamic hiking, and delicious fruit pies win you over after you visit, too...| Valerie & Valise
Ask anyone who's been, and they have a favorite among the five National Parks in Utah (that would be Arches, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands, and Zion, just to remind you). Even I do – now that I've visited them all, that is! I finally ticked off the fifth of Utah's Mighty 5 with a visit in April 2025; my friend Marissa and I made it our destination for that year's annual national parks trip...| Valerie & Valise
The sky is clear and the sun creates a million sparkles of light on the face of the ocean. A humpback whale erupts from the shallow waves in a full breach. A glacier cracks loudly making the phrase "white thunder" make sense as a giant piece of ice falls into the water. An otter rides the wake of our boat, holding onto a rock it will use to crack open the clamshell in its other paw for lunch. These are some of the quintessential experiences you can have on a Kenai Fjords National Park cruise...| Valerie & Valise
Alaska may have a short summer season, but we certainly know how to make the most of it. From Memorial Day through Labor Day, both visitors and local Alaskans can experience all The Last Frontier has to offer, from culture and cuisine to the wonders of wildlife and the Great Outdoors...| Valerie & Valise
When it comes to Utah's National Parks, it's easy to understand why they're called the Mighty 5. From Arches eponymous formations to Zion's riotous red canyons, it's hard to believe there can be anywhere so beautiful in the world. This is undoubtedly why Utah ranks #3 for the most national park visitors in the country (after North Carolina (Great Smoky Mountains) and California with its 9 parks)...| Valerie & Valise
12 days is a long time. In America, most workers receive just two weeks – 10 business days – of paid vacation each year. Adding in weekends and one holiday, the longest single trip you could take in any given year is just 17 days long. If you choose to spend 12 of those precious vacation days in Alaska, you’re committing a big part of your vacation budget for the year to explore this bucket list destination. But don’t worry – it’s absolutely worth it...| Valerie & Valise
