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Get ready to plan the ultimate Alaska vacation! No rental car needed! With a 7-day itinerary, you will be able to see and experience the most famous locations throughout interior Alaska. Travel Alaska by train on the Alaska Railroad from Anchorage to Denali and then Denali to Fairbanks. And end your Alaska vacation with a visit to Santa Claus House in North Pole, Alaska. You will have fun experiences and see breathtaking views. Below is everything you need to know, to pack, to plan, and most importantly, to have fun.  

Disclaimer: There are some links in this article that are affiliate links, which means that if you purchase through them, we receive a small commission. This is never an extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.

Disclaimer: There are some links in this article that are affiliate links, which means that if you purchase through them, we receive a small commission. This is never an extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.

My Personal Alaska Vacation

While my classmates were busy planning out their final year pharmacy school rotations, I was planning an Alaska vacation. That sounds about right, right? Also “rotations” are just month-long internships at different pharmacy practice sites which is what makes up the final year of pharmacy school.  

So, in an effort to travel more, I chose my first rotation to be at a compounding pharmacy in North Pole, Alaska. I planned a week-long vacation starting in Anchorage and ending in Fairbanks where my host family would pick me up. When I look back (to May 2006), this was quite a long journey for me. It was the furthest I had every traveled up to that point. But I wasn’t solo for the week, since I took my BFF with me. But once my Alaska vacation ended, I was on my own with my host family on the complete opposite side of the country.  It was a once in a lifetime type experience and one that I look back on with the fondest memories. 

Alaska Temperatures

• Summer in Alaska 

The warm season of summer in Alaska is considered from mid-May to mid-September. Alaska temperatures average on high from approximately 60-70 degrees Fahrenheit. The average low ranges from approximately 45-55 degrees Fahrenheit. The wet or rainy season in Alaska lasts from July - October, so from mid-May till then it’s relatively dry weather. Summer in Alaska has no snow fall, so the only way to see snow is basically on the tops of the mountains. All the above information is accurate for Anchorage, Denali, Fairbanks, and North Pole which are the locations covered in this post. The only exception is that Denali National Park has a bit more likelihood for rainfall during the summer season than Anchorage or Fairbanks does. And Fairbanks has a chance for warmer temperatures during the summer in Alaska.  

Clothes for Alaska

The best answer is, it depends on when you go. My Alaska vacation was in May and to be honest I needed all the clothes for Alaska. On the Alaska Railroad, I needed cold weather clothes, because you are going through the Alaska Mountain range. But when I was staying in North Pole, Alaska it was during summer solstice, so I needed warm weather clothes. With that being said, I think the best answer is to layer. You can check out my free printable packing list and subscribe to get your copy so you can make sure you don’t forget anything.  

Depending on the excursion, you may want to pack appropriate attire for that as well like hiking boots, beanie, gloves, and jacket. If you go during summer solstice, there is almost 19 hours of daylight, so don’t forget to pack your sunglasses. It can stay pretty light even for the other couple of hours. So, if you need absolute darkness to sleep, you may want to pack an eye mask too.

Eating Alaskan Salmon at a Salmon Bake in Alaska 

It truly doesn't get any more authentic Alaska than that. At the time of my Alaska vacation, I did not have any food allergies, so there are no specific restaurant recommendations in my 7-day itinerary. But I will say that there are a couple of must eats that I’ll mention along the way. The number one food you must eat: Alaskan SALMON! My mouth is watering as I’m writing this. Honest to God, I have not had salmon as good as in Alaska. Hands down, it’s the best! They know they have the best salmon too, because there is a salmon bake in Alaska at almost every corner. A Salmon Bake in Alaska is basically a family style barbecue. Go to it. It’s fun and authentic and features the yummy Alaskan salmon.

Excursion: City Tour

For my first day, I took a city tour of the largest city of Alaska, Anchorage. By doing that, I was able to see such landmarks as Ship Creek which is popular for its salmon fishing. Although you can see it was low tide during my visit.  

Watched the seaplanes take off nearby at Lake Hood which is also the location for the Alaska Aviation Museum. 

And I got a great view of the Anchorage skyline. 

As a born New Yorker, I love a Sabrett hot dog from the carts in the city. To my surprise, something similar was in Anchorage. This time there wasn’t a hot dog in the bun, but a reindeer sausage! While the bun may not be gluten free, the reindeer sausage typically is. It was so yummy, so make sure this is another food stop during your time in Anchorage. It comes standard on the linked city tour above.

If you ever need help on where to walk, places to visit, or places to eat, or just need a map, be sure to stop in at the Log Cabin Visitor Center. 

We also visited what Anchorage calls “Mushing District.” In this area of the city, you will see plaques that detail information about the infamous sled dog races that occur here every year. Don’t forget to see Balto the Wonder Dog on 4th Ave. His statue marks the starting line for the Iditarod Sled Dog Race that occurs every March.

Excursion: The Anchorage Museum

The Anchorage Museum is the largest museum in Alaska in the largest city of Alaska. Here you will learn all about the history, culture, space, and animals that make up this area of the world. You can also find all sorts of fun things to explore with many hands on exhibits.

Excursion: Anchorage Trolley

Another fun way to see the city of Anchorage is by trolley. Here you can take a quick 1-hour ride on the Anchorage trolley which will bring you to some more great historic locations downtown and to some beautiful parks to see if you can spot any Alaskan wildlife. 

If you are looking for more adventurous excursions, more scenic excursions, or even more local locations to visit then check out some of these excursions.

Day 2: Anchorage to Denali

• Alaska by Train on the Alaska Railroad

No Alaska vacation would be complete without a ride on The Alaska Railroad. To be honest, the most memorable part of my Alaska vacation was my journey on this iconic train. The train ride from Anchorage to Denali takes roughly 8 hours. During that time, every kind of wildlife could be seen from the train. Moose, caribou, eagles, and bears, oh my! Lol. It was incredible. 

Although, I bought a train ticket for a seat on the Alaska Railroad, I rarely spent any time in it. In between most of the train cars, there is an open-air corridor which is open on both sides of the train. With each opening big enough to fit two people side by side snuggly. Most of my 8-hour journey on the Alaska Railroad was spent just there in the open-air corridor between the train cars. It was similar to how the kid rode The Polar Express train in the movie. 

As the train makes its way to Denali, you pass through the majestic Alaska Mountain range. Words fall short to accurately describe this part of the experience. The train winds up high into the mountains, so now you can feel the cold air from the snow-capped mountains. In the distance, you can hear the rush of water from the many streams and rivers you pass. Every corner is exciting, because it's also a chance to catch a glimpse of the iconic blue and yellow colors of the Alaska Railroad train in action. 

Day 3: Denali National Park

Denali or Mount McKinley is the highest peak in North America. If you consider its total measurement (not just from sea level up) then Denali is actually taller than Everest. Shocked? I know. Quite a sight to behold too.

Denali Hotel:  McKinley Chalet Resort 

After my journey on the Alaska Railroad, I checked in to a beautiful hotel just a short drive from the Denali train depot. If you are planning your Alaska vacation, make sure to book your room at the McKinley Chalet Resort. It’s seated right along the Parks Highway and directly across the street from the grocery store, shops, and restaurants of Denali. The view from the room was looking out over the Nenana River which is where the resort is located. It was such a peaceful and calming way to start a day full of Alaska adventures. Depending on the time of year, you can white water raft this river too. It was not yet the season for it during my visit. 

Since my visit there, they’ve expanded the resort to offer more amenities to guests such as an outdoor theater for movies or live entertainment, along with fire pits, and more. And with restaurants on site, across the street, and a salmon bake nearby, there are plenty of dining options to choose from.  

Excursion: Denali National Park Bus Tours

The first excursion on the Denali portion of my 7-day itinerary was a bus tour. Denali National Park has only one road in, and so they only allow private cars to go so far. Beyond that, is where only the tour buses can go. You can see from the picture below why they likely made that rule. The one road can be quite dangerous with the steep edge to one side and often times there isn't room enough for two vehicles to pass side by side. In times like that, one bus will have to stop to allow for another to pass where there is extra space to allow for it. So, having drivers that know how to navigate this terrain is important to keep everyone safe.

We made frequent stops on our tour for pictures of Denali, and the Alaska wildlife, and learned a great deal about the national park and Denali itself. 

Day 4: Denali National Park

Excursion: Horseback Riding

Another way to see the beautiful Denali National Park and the Alaska wildlife without having to peek through windows is by getting outside into nature and horseback riding. We love horseback riding, so of course I had to add it to the Alaska vacation 7-day itinerary. Even the kids enjoy horseback riding.

For this excursion, my horses name was JC which was fitting, because I'm a huge 'N Sync fan. Needless to say, lots of jokes were made about this. As a way to keep us all together on our horseback riding tour, we tried to keep to a single file line. Our guide was the first horse out and JC (my horse) had a thing about being second. This doesn't seem like a bad thing, since I'm right behind the guide so I can see everything and hear everything he is saying. It only got a little crazy when any horse tried to disrupt the line and cut in front of us. JC had to get back to second any way he could, so he frequently brushed me into trees and bushes. Just another crazy adventure to keep me on my toes. Haha. 

Once we were out of the single file line and riding the Alaskan tundra, it was time to really look out for the Alaska wildlife. With one eye, I was looking out for bears or basically anything else that could chase and eat me. But with the other eye, I was taking in the view and looking for the animals native to this land that you really don't get to see anywhere else. Breathing in the fresh crisp mountain air. Hearing nature with the quietness coming from this desolate area. It really is a surreal experience and should not be missed.

Day 5: Huskies in Alaska 

Excursion: Husky Homestead 

Dog Sled Racing is Alaska’s Nascar and Jeff King is, well, its king. Husky Homestead is Iditarod Champion Jeff King's training center. You'll learn how they raise and train the huskies in Alaska dog sledding and what it takes to become an Iditarod champion. Not only that, but you'll get to meet and pet the huskies, and watch them as they actively train. It’s a behind the scenes tour of how it all comes together for the Iditarod. 

Excursion: Horse-Drawn Covered Wagon Tour with Dining

As a child, I grew up watching Little House on the Prairie. You can imagine how elated I was to go on a covered wagon tour over the Alaskan tundra. My “half-pint” heart was bursting. As we moseyed along, I was transported in time to the era of cowboys and the Wild West. It was a fun tour that ended with a family style dinner. Although I wasn’t gluten free or dairy free at the time, I spoke with the company and they can accommodate both allergies on all their dining excursions. Always call ahead to give advance notice just to be sure.

Denali to Fairbanks | Alaska by Train on the Alaska Railroad

While I only spent 3 days of my 7-day itinerary visiting Interior Alaska's Denali National Park, it's really only the tip of the iceberg (pun intended). There are so many things to do in Denali National Park that it can be a whole Alaska vacation on it's own. I'll be writing all about other Denali excursions in a blog post coming soon. In the meantime, we are on our last leg of riding the Alaska Railroad and seeing this beautiful state of Alaska by train. This part of the train route on The Alaska Railroad from Denali to Fairbanks is short (only about 4 hours) and typically runs in the evening.

Day 6: Fairbanks River Boat Tours

Excursion: Riverboat Discovery

We're starting off a new day on the last leg of our 7-day itinerary in Fairbanks, Alaska. Hopping onboard the Riverboat Discovery, this steamboat takes you down the Chena River.

From the boat, you pass another kennel for the huskies in Alaska, but this time it's of the Iditarod winner Susan Butcher. Be prepared for a demonstration of her sled dogs in action.

As you continue down the river, another presentation awaits. This time we are watching a true Alaskan bush pilot showing you the precision needed to land and take off. The test of these skills is important to ensure they are able to get to those living the wild and rural Alaskan life.

The steamboat also makes stops at an Indian Village to see demonstrations of Alaskan life in the frontier as well as a trading post to pick up souvenirs.

Day 7: Santa Claus House | North Pole, Alaska

Last stop on our 7-day itinerary is a visit to Santa Claus House. Located just outside of Fairbanks is the small town of North Pole, Alaska. Here you will find that it's decorated all year long for Christmas. At the hub is Santa Claus House. Covered in the most beautiful Christmas murals, Santa Claus house is a great photo spot! During the summer months, you can feed, pet, and take pictures with Santa’s reindeer right next door. Inside Santa Claus house, there are plenty of memorabilia to shop for to remember your amazing Alaska vacation. 

North Pole is still by far the most talked about part of my Alaska vacation. And why wouldn’t it be? It did not disappoint and every Christmas lover should come visit this holiday destination.

My North Pole, Alaska Vacation

Although our 7-day itinerary of Interior Alaska may have ended here, my Alaska vacation was still just beginning. While I spent the month of my internship working and learning, my host family was also so gracious and kind to give me an authentic Alaskan experience. They'll be a blog post coming soon of all the things to do in North Pole, Alaska. In keeping with the Christmas spirit, you can read about The Polar Express train ride we took, or check out some warmer Christmas destinations like our trolley ride in Jekyll Island, Georgia.

Don't let the Alaska Vacation end here...

There is so much to do in Alaska (and I didn’t even see the Northern Lights). After my Alaska vacation was over, I always said I wanted to come back. I wanted to experience the other side of Alaska, the glaciers and the waterways. Thankfully, I was able to return 9 years later and do just that. The blog post on my Alaskan cruise is coming soon. 

Disclaimer: There are some links in this article that are affiliate links, which means that if you purchase through them, we receive a small commission. This is never an extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.

Disclaimer: There are some links in this article that are affiliate links, which means that if you purchase through them, we receive a small commission. This is never an extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.