Growing up in Alaska the Alaska Railroad always had a certain magic about it. At a young age when we would go out on a family fishing trip or camping trip we would drive past one of their trains. As a kid it was easy to dream of how much more fun it would be to see all of the views by train. My first train experience in Alaska was in kindergarten. One of our field trips was a trip on the Alaska Railroad. It was so fun and “the coolest field trip ever.” Since then I have been wanting to see more of Alaska by train and going to Denali had always been a huge bucket-list item for me. We took the Denali Star from Anchorage to Denali in the Adventure Class sponsored by The Alaska Railroad.

5 Tips for Taking the Alaska Railroad to Denali:

1. Make sure to arrive at least 45 minutes before your departure. This will allow for time to check your bags in the same way you would before a flight. I carried on a small camera bag and backpack for everything I would want access to throughout the trip.

2. Bring a camera with a zoom lens. Although the views are incredible, wildlife and Denali can be best captured when you can get as close as possible. If you don’t own one I highly recommend renting gear from Aperturent or your local camera gear rental location. I love this location because it’s in Dallas, has great customer service, and I have never had trouble with any of the camera gear. You can also rent from Aperturent online and the gear will be shipped to your house or destination.

3. You don’t have to bring snacks unless you want to. They have snacks on board and even full meals for purchase. They have pretzels & cheese, pizza, Alaskan beers, wine, and so much more available all throughout the ride. However, if you want a full meal they will escort you to your table in sections and you can enjoy a variety of delicious food! If you ride on the GoldStar Service, although it costs more it will include: meals and two complimentary adult beverages as well as glass dome ceilings (Something to keep in mind).

4. Denali is not a place you would be able to easily walk everywhere. You can certainly walk, but it is not uncommon for restaurants and places of interest to be miles apart. The different restaurants and places to go would require a car or shuttle. Alaska Tour and Travel has some great tips and information here. I highly recommend visiting 49th State Brewing Company while in Denali if you get a chance.

5. Plan for any type of weather. Alaska weather is constantly changing and completely unpredictable. When we went, it was record high temperatures throughout Alaska and the temperature actually got up to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. When we boarded the train it was cooler in the morning so jeans were perfect, but I brought an extra outfit on board in case it got hot and did end up changing in the restroom about halfway through the trip.

We had so much fun on this adventure and we were blessed with the BEST views of Denali. The train would slow down for us to take pictures, and they did an awesome job explaining sites along the way. Part of the trip ran parallel to the roadways, but a lot of where the train goes is not a route that is accessible by car. If you have any questions feel free to leave them in the comments below. Make sure to follow along with my other adventures on Instagram www.instagram.com/travelandtenacity/

XOXO,   

Jillian