Page 16 - AAA Magazine – Ohio Auto Club – September 2022

GLACIERS, BEARS AND NATIONAL PARKS:
JOURNEY ACROSS ALASKA’S LAST FRONTIER
By Alex Futo
They say a picture is worth a thousand words and Alaska never runs out of things to say. With mountain peaks that touch the clouds, pristine forests and
everything from grizzly bears to humpback whales calling it home, Alaska is teeming with wow factors that attract more than a million travelers each year. And you may be wondering where to begin planning your vacation in a state so overwhelmingly vast and full of natural wonders.
As we explore only five of Alaska’s top destinations, AAA Ohio’s Director of Travel Operations Jan Sliva joined us to offer advice and share some of her own trip highlights.
“It is really a large state with a lot to do and it is hard to see it all,” said Sliva. “You must really focus on what you want to see or plan to stay a month.”
ANCHORAGE
Anchorage is Alaska’s largest city and a popular starting point for most visiting tourists. It serves as a
Maridav / Shutterstock
gateway to Alaska’s indigenous heritage and wildlife, featuring the Alaska Native Heritage Center, Anchorage Museum, Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center and
the Alaska Zoo. Discovering the Alaskan wilderness
is still within your reach, too, with several cruising opportunities, wildlife adventure excursions and national parks orbiting the city.
When asked about one of her top three favorite Alaskan experiences, Sliva said, “Walk on a glacier. You can do this from Anchorage with Salmon Berry Tours – it was awesome.”
DENALI NATIONAL PARK AND PRESERVE
Arguably one of the most popular of Alaska’s eight national parks, Denali is home to North America’s highest peak and a treasure trove of outdoor activities. Hiking, biking, camping, rafting, fishing, glacier tours, sled dog kennel tours, wildlife viewing, flightseeing – Denali has it all.
If seeing as much of the wildlife as possible is on your Alaskan bucket list, Sliva recalled encountering bears,
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