My cousins have joined us from Michigan for a wonderful Alaska Vacation! They centered their time around the delightful Alaska Backcountry Cottages as a comfortable place to rejuvenate! They came during the amazing time of the Spring Explosion!
Saturday evening my cousins collected their suitcases from the baggage claim, with the help of their GPS, they drove the scenic 40 minute drive from Anchorage and arrived at the PERFECT location. They checked into the Spruce Cottage, a two story stand-alone, full-service, cottage, with all the amenities needed for their comfort.
Sunday Day 1: When they woke in the morning, they saw a 270 degree view of the surrounding mountains including the iconic Pioneer Peak, close enough they felt like they could touch them. Some breakfast foods were waiting and plenty of Keurig cups were in the kitchen.
Their first day was spent getting settled and checking out the area. A list of local restaurants and grocery stores was in the cottage so they knew where to find what they needed.
They included driving to Hatcher Pass, about 30 minutes from the Cottages as they checked out the area. Hatcher’s Pass is a mountain pass through the southwest part of the Talkeetna Mountains, Alaska. It is named after Robert Hatcher, a prospector and miner.
Monday Day 2: Full-day ATV tour to the Knik Glacier with Alaska Backcountry Adventure Tours. This was their favorite day of the week! Taking off right from AKBCC, they had a truly unbeatable experience of witnessing nature’s wonders. They saw about 50 dall sheep or mountain goats, eagles and moose! A delicious lunch was served and they thought their tour guide (my son) was wonderful!
Thursday Day 5: Alaska Railroad to Talkeetna took the four of them from Anchorage for a truly onboard experience! Riding the train was comfortable and the journey was spectacular! Talkeetna sits at the confluence of three rivers, the Susitna, Talkeetna, and Chulitna. They run like thoroughfares through the densely forested region, so traveling on the rail gave them access to some pretty remarkable views that wouldn’t be seen otherwise. Talkeetna’s town center is a pleasant 15 min walk from the depot.
The group checked out Wasilla, including the Iditarod Museum, where they saw the history and excitement of the Iditarod, the world famous dog race!
Outbound Heli Tours is located here at Alaska Backcountry Cottages and flies anywhere visitors want to go. All four of my cousins wish they would have had more time to take a helicopter ride to the Glacier, but only one of the four would have taken the “polar plunge” and completely submerged herself in the Knik glacier water!
