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(Alaska) Was it worth all the hype?

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There is one question I am constantly asked and that is whether or not it was worth all the planning, all the hype, all the money, all the time, all the stress with our four-legged child, and was it really worth it? How exciting are they really? Is it all that exciting? Is there no other place where you can get the same kind of experience?  My excitement is just beyond words as I look back at all the amazing sites, adventures, and heritage that we were able to discover and experience throughout our time in Alaska.    In my opinion, the answer is an emphatic No! There is no experience like this anywhere else in the world! As a matter of fact, this is the reason why it is called the last frontier.        There is such a sense of normalization when you see a bear crossing the road or an elk just trotting down a road. 😳 It's crazy to realize how common these things are. We were able to explore many beautiful and unique places in Alaska, but unfortunately ...

Random thoughts from the Road

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As we have left Alaska, it has been a bittersweet trip for all of us, it is difficult to sum up all that we have done in 3 months but we managed to cover quite a bit of ground. In addition to Alaskas beauty, it also has a great deal of history, which has been embraced by all Alaskans as a part of their identity.  The Casiar Highway, Canada offers a diverse landscape, showcasing the natural beauty of various states in the lower 48 of the United States. From the lush greenery of the Ozark Mountains in Arkansas to the swamplands of Mississippi and Louisiana, and even the rocky terrain of Colorado, this highway truly offers a visual feast for travelers. It is a great opportunity to experience the different geographical regions of the US in one trip. It's interesting to see the diverse group of people working at gas stations. When we stop for fuel, I often strike up conversations with the attendants, and I've found that many of them are students from all over the world. They are usu...

Museum of the North @ University of Alaska

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Anyone who knows me knows just how much I appreciate and love museums, I was ecstatic when Jerry surprised me with a day to myself in a magnificent museum. However, the experience turned out to be an emotional roller coaster. My emotions went from tears to excitement to fear and confusion as I explored the museum's many exhibits. I was only able to spend three hours there, but it was enough to drain me emotionally. I was unable to watch all the videos and that was disappointing, but it was because I was so overwhelmed by the history and beauty of the museum.                  πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚Bear buttπŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚ I actually saw a sign encouraging you to touch this enormous rock that turned out to be a jade boulder. And this was just out in the hall!! There were so many years of history that I can only cover a small amount. I watched this light show go through the years that showed how many people attempted to climb Denali and how many people actually succeeded an...

Traveling Truths

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  It's interesting how work can bring people together who may not have crossed paths otherwise. In a work setting, we often have to interact with individuals who we may not necessarily choose to spend time with outside of work. However, through these interactions, we can learn from different perspectives and experiences, and build meaningful relationships, or walk away and never acknowledge their existence again. It's a reminder of the diversity and beauty of humanity, and how we can all come together in a shared space to support and learn from one another. Once we took the leap and started traveling full time, we realized that those fears we had were unfounded. We found a community of like-minded individuals on the road, and our interactions with them were anything but lonely. We also discovered the beauty and simplicity of living in a van or camper down by the river πŸ˜‚,and how it allowed us to truly appreciate each day and take things at a slower pace. Overall, our full-time ...

Highs & Lows

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  We have been beyond ecstatic about our trip to Denali!! So thrilled, that we actually arrived a day earlier then we were supposed to, so we had to find a camp spot and we found a beautiful sight on the side of the road, around the Stampede trailhead.  When we were driving past the entrance to Denali, it was a terrifying sight, with flames reaching high into the sky and a thick column of black smoke rising above the trees. Our hearts sank at the thought of the destruction and loss of nature that the fire could cause. We hoped that the jumpers/firefighters were already on their way to put out the blaze before it could spread any further. Despite the conflicting information, it was clear that the area was closed for safety reasons. (The Ranger standing in the middle of the road with orange cones and flashing lights was a good clue.)  We were disappointed that our plans had to be changed, but we were grateful for the precautions taken to protect both the park and its visito...