Phil and Marilyn get ready to fly
Intrepid DIY adventurers with a passion for exploration. Intrigued by Alaska’s stunning beauty, vast terrain, and unique culture, they’d set their sights on the challenging frontier of visiting the five national parks without road access. They turned to OBP to craft a customized journey tailored to their goals and interests – an adventure spanning 17 days, 5 national parks, and boasting unique overnight stays in 7 total destinations, each with personalized daily activities.
For those dreaming of their own Alaskan adventure, Phil and Marilyn offer valuable advice:
Phil and Marilyn in Kobuk Valley National Park
Phil and Marilyn: A few years ago, we set ourselves the ambitious goal of visiting all the national parks in the country. Having already visited three of Alaska’s national parks, we were drawn to the challenge of venturing into its five national parks that have no road access. With its vast terrain, unpredictable weather, and unique culture, Alaska poses some logistical challenges, and we turned to OBP to create a customized journey tailored just for us and our goals and interests – 17 days, 5 national parks, and 7 overnight destinations.
Phil and Marilyn: The White Pass train journey turned out to be breathtaking. OBP strategically booked us on the very last train car, which had a beautiful viewing deck facing back down the tracks, giving us a unique vantage point. The rainy, misty morning gave way to rainbows and stunning views. It was just lovely! That unexpected beauty just added to the overall charm of the trip.
A view from the skies, while flying over a floodplain in the Alaskan wilderness
Phil and Marilyn: Alaska’s weather is reliably unreliable, and we experienced that reality head-on. For instance, our flight from Skagway to Juneau was canceled due to weather, prompting us to take alternative transportation on a regular ferry. The ferry experience was completely unique – it’s the real deal, the way lots of locals travel. There are huge trucks and equipment on the boat’s deck, and despite the weather, some folks even set up tents instead of staying inside the cabin. We have nothing like that back east! Embracing change became a central theme, opening up doorways to delightful, off-the-beaten-path adventures, like exploring Glacier Bay on land when weather disrupted our boat tour. The experience of hiking through rainforests and seeing the Tlingit Healing Totem Pole and Tribal House was spectacular – yet another highlight.
Phil and Marilyn: Oh, yes! When fog prevented us from visiting Admiralty Island, OBP guided us to Chichagof Island instead, offering an incredible encounter with giant Alaskan brown bears. This change in plans allowed us to capture stunning photos from water level, providing a more intimate wildlife experience.
A glacial river flows in the backcountry of the Alaskan wilderness
Phil and Marilyn: Logistics for a trip like this are challenging, especially considering the remote locations and reliance on small planes, let alone the sheer length and scope of the trip. Working with OBP allowed us to connect with reliable lodges and air transportation services. We particularly enjoyed the lodge at Lake Clark – something we might not have sprung for had we planned things ourselves, but it was such a wonderful time and absolutely worthwhile! It just goes to show that investing wisely (both time and money) in a trip like this really makes all the difference in what you experience, and OBP’s inside expertise helped us make wise and worthwhile investments every step of the way.
The rugged, looming, and beautiful mountains of Alaska
Phil: You know, we love authentic travel. We’re not necessarily looking for the trendy spots – we want to experience something more real than that. And Alaska has so much to offer in that realm.
Take Kotzebue, for example, so, realistically, there’s only one hotel tourists visit. And near the hotel is a sign reading “WELCOME TO OTZ,” OTZ being the three-letter airport code. Every time we said Kotzebue, the town’s name, someone would correct us on the pronunciation. It seemed like even the residents had their own takes on how to say it. So we whimsically suggested that the sign could better read as “Oz.” Like this uniquely isolated land might be another world altogether – “WELCOME TO OZ.”
Marilyn: One morning, I was out walking solo, and struck up a conversation with a lady with a little two-year-old. She shared that she was helping out at the local orphanage and working to give kids without homes some support and engagement, that sort of thing. It turns out too that her husband was the fire chief in town. Coincidentally, I’d just been reading a book on fire services in Alaska that I picked up during one of our ferry rides and thought her husband might have been mentioned in it. And so I left her that book, which she hadn’t known. Later, we ran into them on another plane flight. It was so special to get that taste of how genuine and interconnected those Alaskan communities are.
Unique view of towering mountains in Alaska
Phil and Marilyn: Allocate enough time to really make the most of your journey, especially considering potential delays and the overall vastness of Alaska. Embrace flexibility in your plans – the unexpected often leads to unique and memorable experiences. Investing in a well-planned trip, even if it seems costly, guarantees a better return on the overall experience. Reading books beforehand and digging into local culture and wildlife will enhance the journey. Alaska rewards those who take the time to explore beyond the touristy spots – OBP’s help was critical in making the most of our trip, which made for an unforgettable adventure.
About the Author: Lauren Burgess
Lauren weaves poetry into marketing to help good people and businesses connect with their communities and elevate their impact. From Ecuadorian volcanoes to Alaskan rivers, entrepreneurship to art, she believes in taking the leap, falling in love, and embracing life’s wild, animate magic – an ethos she lives out alongside her partner of 12 years and their adopted barncat.
See where you can go with Off the Beaten Path! Request your free journeys catalog today.
Stay in the know and feed your spirit of adventure. Get travel inspiration sent straight to your inbox!
