In September 2022, daughter Jill and I traveled north to Alaska – a 12-day adventure from Seward to Fairbanks. Click HERE to read a short introduction to our epic trip.
This narrative is a prologue to a two-part story about the sights we saw and experiences we had when we explored Denali National Park and Preserve.
This narrative is a prologue to a two-part story about the sights we saw and experiences we had when we explored Denali National Park and Preserve.
Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska (September 8-9, 2022) The first time I visited Alaska was in May 2010 – a 13-day cruise on board the Celebrity Mercury with my wife, Debra. The itinerary included port stops in Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan and a day at sea through the Inside Passage. This cruise exceeded my expectations – beautiful scenery and oh-so-memorable experiences – and whetted my appetite to see more of The Last Frontier.
And no place in Alaska held greater interest for me than Denali National Park and Preserve. Yes, I wanted to see Denali, the tallest summit in North America, but the bigger draw was the amazing wildlife and jaw-dropping scenery that I read so much about.
It was one thing to read about the park, quite another to experience it. So, after Jill and I looked at the top attractions – and there were many – I said, “I’d like to go on the Tundra Wilderness Tour. Let me read the description to you: This tour offers incredible scenery, a narrated history of the park road, and some of the best opportunities to view the park’s wildlife inhabitants. Jill, this is the tour that I’ve patiently waited for these past 12 years!”
Jill got it. “Sure thing,” she replied. “Consider it done!”
I. WAS. STOKED!
And no place in Alaska held greater interest for me than Denali National Park and Preserve. Yes, I wanted to see Denali, the tallest summit in North America, but the bigger draw was the amazing wildlife and jaw-dropping scenery that I read so much about.
It was one thing to read about the park, quite another to experience it. So, after Jill and I looked at the top attractions – and there were many – I said, “I’d like to go on the Tundra Wilderness Tour. Let me read the description to you: This tour offers incredible scenery, a narrated history of the park road, and some of the best opportunities to view the park’s wildlife inhabitants. Jill, this is the tour that I’ve patiently waited for these past 12 years!”
Jill got it. “Sure thing,” she replied. “Consider it done!”
I. WAS. STOKED!
And then it was Jill’s turn.
“We have a three-hour drive to Borealis Basecamp, so our second day in Denali is a half day at best. This eliminates a lot of the attractions we looked at, but not this one: the Denali sled dog kennels, where we can see the dogs up close – and pet them! – and watch a sled dog demonstration. We can also nose around the Visitor Center before or after we go to the kennels. How about it?”
“Sounds interesting,” I answered. “Go ahead and book it.”
“No need to book,” exclaimed Jill. “No cost, no reservation required. The bus to the kennels run every hour on the hour. All we need do is show up!”
“No cost? I can afford that,” I chuckled. “Ok, we’re done with Denali. Let’s look at things to do in Fairbanks.”
Yep, it was that simple. I look forward to sharing our experiences with you.
“We have a three-hour drive to Borealis Basecamp, so our second day in Denali is a half day at best. This eliminates a lot of the attractions we looked at, but not this one: the Denali sled dog kennels, where we can see the dogs up close – and pet them! – and watch a sled dog demonstration. We can also nose around the Visitor Center before or after we go to the kennels. How about it?”
“Sounds interesting,” I answered. “Go ahead and book it.”
“No need to book,” exclaimed Jill. “No cost, no reservation required. The bus to the kennels run every hour on the hour. All we need do is show up!”
“No cost? I can afford that,” I chuckled. “Ok, we’re done with Denali. Let’s look at things to do in Fairbanks.”
Yep, it was that simple. I look forward to sharing our experiences with you.
My Stories, One Day at a Time
Tundra Wilderness Tour
