Vacations don't have to be all about the sun and the sand. If you're looking to escape the heat, or just experience something a little different, then an Alaskan road trip is the perfect solution. There's no better route than the scenic Seward Highway! The road may be a little windy as it takes you through the magnificent Kenai Mountains, along the breezy coastal Turnagain Arm, into the Chugach National Forest and through some of the country's most rugged untamed landscapes. To conquer the Seward Highway is a feat of which to be proud... and a feat that will be hard to forget.
Photo Credit: Flickr/Christoph Strässler
Wasilla, Alaska, United States
Denali National Park, Alaska, United States
Indian Valley Mine National Historic Site is a cute little tourist attraction that has deep roots in the past. The cabin that houses their gift shop is one of the oldest buildings on the Turnagain Arm, and it's also got a little museum on site as well. You can also experience panning for gold, like the earliest settlers in Alaska did, and take in the views as you relax right at the edge of the coast.
A rugged road trip calls for rib-sticking grub, which is exactly what you'll get at Turnagain Arm Pit BBQ. With succulent ribs, pulled pork, smoked brisket, flavorful sausage, deep fried wings, and BBQ staples like collards, banana pudding, and sweet tea, you might forget for a moment that you're in Alaska, not the South!
Summer is probably the best time for a trip down the Seward Highway. Winter brings severe cold and extreme weather, and fall tends to be on the rainy, cold side of things. Winter can last well into the spring in Alaska as well, but the warmer months in the state can be quite pleasant, and make for great hiking and exploring weather! The highway does get shoveled in the winter, so it's a safer road to travel if you're set on visiting Alaska then, but your options for exploring parks might be more limited.