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Fairbanks to Anchorage Summer Road Trip 2016


When I planned the Alaska portion of this trip, I didn't really 'plan' beyond the first week. We opted to fly back to Anchorage after spending a few days in Fairbanks, then rent a car and explore the Kenai Peninsula. We rode out to Seward on the bikes and loved it, then planned to return and explore more in depth.

There were a few more things to see in Anchorage, so we headed back to the Hampton Inn after picking up the rental. On Good Friday, 1964, a 9.0-something earthquake hit Alaska, destroying downtown Anchorage, sweeping a huge portion of the neighborhoods near Turnagain Arm, into the sea, and created a tidal wave ( tsunami) into coastal Seward. Many lives were lost, property destroyed. There is a beautiful park - Earthquake Park - built within the woods of that neighborhood that slid into the sea. We spent a few hours walking the trails, reading the informational kiosks, and snapping photos. This area of the Alaskan Range is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, active volcanoes. 

Next, we drove out the Seward Highway to Beluga Point; 180 degree views of Turnagain Arm where Beluga whales ride the waves of the bore tide each day. We climbed the two outcropping little islands looking for whales...didn't spot any, but we did see goats on the steep rock across the highway!

The 20+ hours of daylight each day is tiring at best; your body is saying 'I'm tired,' your adventuresome spirit is saying ' let's go, there's more to see/do!' On this day, the body won out. We were up early for the short flight to Anchorage then ran all around Anchorage .....tomorrow we will drive to Homer and spend the night.

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