Trains and Hiking Boots

We planned this as our once-in-a-lifetime, celebrate retirement trip. A bucket list item. We flew into Anchorage Tuesday, and had already enjoyed a Wednesday bicycle tour. On Thursday of our Alaska adventure, my husband and I were up early. We had to catch the train to Seward.

The Alaska Railroad travels 470 miles, from Seward to Fairbanks. Riding a train was another bucket list item. My husband had worked as a welder on the railroad in Wyoming in his youth. We've both ridden trains, but we wanted another chance to enjoy the charm of travel by rail.

We rode in the Gold Star Dome car. Of course, our travel companion for the last 18 years Curious George was along for the ride. Breakfast in a dining car, views out the dome top, it was elegant even in our hiking clothes.

My husband had done most of the trip planning, using Alaska Tour & Travel. You pick what you want to see and do, and they arrange an itinerary and make reservations for you. Unlike more structured tours, you aren't with the same people, and you're responsible to get yourself where you need to be. It suited us perfectly, although we could see the appeal of having a guide shepherd your travel.

Arriving in Seward, we dropped off our luggage at the Gateway Hotel, which was clean, bright, and had the most helpful, cheerful staff. We hunted down lunch at a funky diner adjacent to the hotel, Red's. We tried unsuccessfully to finish the massive and delicious burgers and shakes.

​Next up was the Exit Glacier Tour. We rode in a van with two other couples to Kenai Fjords National Park. Our guide led us on over two miles of hiking trail to a glacier viewpoint.

My photos do not require a spoiler alert. I've seen glaciers on nature documentaries and in photos. Nothing can prepare you for seeing them in person. The Exit Glacier was massive and stunning. Cold air flowed off the white and blue ice.

The day drew to a close. We ate at a place we were told locals preferred. It was perfectly adequate. 

The Alaskans we met embodied the term Rugged Individualist. They were friendly, loved their state, and seemed eager to share the snippets us tourists could absorb in our limited time.

I have chronicled Friday. See An Alaskan Mini-Mystery posted 9/14 for the amazing fjord tour via boat.

Already, we were doubting our certainty that this should be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. But we had many more days of travel to decide if our initial impressions of Alaska deserved our wild enthusiasm.

---