Top 10 Reasons NOT to Visit Alaska
In February of 2020 our family made a very big decision: we were going to spend our summer family vacation in Alaska. It made sense for us in many ways. Alaska was always on the top of our "one day list." We had friends who lived in Anchorage so seeing them would be a bonus but also we knew they would be helpful in making plans for visiting. Not everyone would think to take three young kids to such a wild place, but like I’ve said before, we travel with our kids to make memories. We knew this would be a big one. We could hardly wait until July.
You know where this is going. March 2020. I don’t need to explain that part of the story.
Big travel felt like a luxury for our family we did not need to make. So we put Alaska on hold.
In March 2021, as vaccines started rolling out, we decided to take the leap and re-plan the trip. It felt like a risk, but one we felt comfortable making with the knowledge we had. At the time of our flight taking off in late July, Delta-variant was just starting to rage his ugly head. Did I question our decision? For a moment, yes. But we decided we were going to be as safe as we could be in the circumstances we were given.
I’m so glad we did. It was a trip of a lifetime, just as we hoped it would be.
If you are considering a trip with your family, I would love to tell you all about what we did, what we would recommend, etc. We had amazing intel from locals with kids and it made the trip perfect.
However, maybe you would like someone to talk you out of this trip idea and what you need is a list of all the reasons to avoid Alaska. If that is the case, here are my top 10 reasons NOT to visit Alaska…
1. In Anchorage and the Kenai Penninsula, where we spent most of our time, you might often witness both the majesty of the mountains and the mighty power of the oceans all at the same time. The combo of the two will make you feel small. No one wants to feels small. Also the incredible views will cause you to forever judge the boring grassland that is the Midwest and living in judgement can be toxic.
2. And don’t even get me started on the daylight. Do you know you could be on a mountain at 10:00 at night watching the golden orange sun slowly make it’s way down the valley? And then go out for pizza and beers at Moosetooth Brewery and STILL have daylight outside? Awful. Who likes that much sun? Monsters, that’s who.
3. If you don’t like spending a vacation sitting on your own private deck of a cabin on a cliff overlooking a roaring ocean with volcanoes in the background, then this is not the place for you. If the idea of spending an entire evening on that porch watching an eagle perched on a tree eye level with said cabin and then watch that eagle swoop down from his tree to catch a bright pink salmon straight from the ocean is your idea of a boring time, then you really won't enjoy yourself here.
4. Have you ever said "eww, soft, cool sand under my feet and bright warm sun on my face, gross"? Then do not bother booking a ticket.
5. Did I mention the views? Not worth it. Really. Stay away.
6. You might have to eat things like salmon caught fresh the week before you arrived, moose that once roamed wild in the forests, crab who just that morning crawled around on the ocean floor. It will ruin you for any meat source here on after. What a shame.
7. And for all you wildlife haters out there, well you’re gonna want to avoid Alaska at all costs. You could find yourself on a glacier tour on the quiet bay of the pacific ocean where you will definitely spot not one, not two, but maybe even FOUR humpback whales spouting water and riding the gentle waves feet from your boat. Or sea lions lounging on rocks. Or puffins speeding by. Or sea otters lazily floating in the harbor. Or moose munching on trees along your hike. Who wants that?
8. "I love puppies!" said no one ever. And if you come to Alaska, you might have to visit an Alaska Sled Dog Farm owned and run by a multi-year champion of the Iditarod Sled Dog Race. You will meet that owner and they will teach you about the Iditarod race and it will change your whole perspective on animals and caring for them. You will be impressed. And then, oh sheesh, just you wait. Then you will get to meet the sled dog puppies. They will be the cutest things you ever saw. And they will turn your dog fearing three year old into a puppy lover. It’s a very bad idea. Trust me.
9. Do you just hate picking wild blueberries in the mountain valleys just like Sal and her bear friend and then bringing them home to make blueberry pancakes the next morning? You do? Then don’t come. Seriously, stay away. It’s too tempting and then you’ll just be miserable.
10. Lastly, if you do come, which I hope you don’t, but if you do, I surely hope you don’t have the kindest, most gracious and generous hosts on your visit like we did. You might find your children becoming best friends with your best friends’ kids. They will make life long friendships and turn a beautiful place into a lasting memory. Then you will want to come back every year because you feel like you only got a taste of this amazing place. Don’t do it. It’s dangerous.
Or do, and it will be a trip you talk about as a family for the rest of your life.
Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Glutton for punishment? Here’s more Alaska content in this video.