Anyone else spend more time researching their next destination than doing literally anything else? Well, the first time I ever did that was for Alaska… and it was worth it! Over a year of planning paid off making the trip unforgettable. For this post, I’m going to start discussing the itinerary. It’s easy to spend numerous hours researching and thinking that your trip will go perfectly but in reality, schedules will shift. That is part of why I will split the itinerary into several posts.
From Charlotte to Anchorage to Homer:
August 26th: Skipping over the exciting 10+ hour flight, 2-hour delay, and layover in Dallas, we finally got to Anchorage about 12 am and picked up the car. If you plan on driving the McCarthy Road or Dalton Highway very few companies will allow it. We booked with Alaska 4×4 Rentals (alaska4x4rentals.com), which is a locally owned car rental company, so they understand Alaskan roads and conditions. We drove to the hotel for the night and somehow managed to get up the next morning ready for the start of our Alaskan adventure.
Day 1, August 27th: You know you’re still in the US when there’s a Walmart. Alaskan Walmart is really no different except you’ll find 2-foot-long green beans (vegetable grow bigger due to the amount of sun they get in the summer). While in Anchorage, we picked up snacks (not green beans) and went to REI for bear spray, bear horn, etc. For the record, I could’ve spent as much money in REI as we spent on the entire trip as it’s the second largest in the country, but off we went to find a glacier.
We drove from Anchorage to Homer with stops in Byron Glacier for a hike and the town of Whittier for lunch. A rainy day in Alaska is expected and shouldn’t stop anyone. By the time we hiked to Byron Glacier, we understood why everyone says to bring your rain jacket! After attempting to walk on a slick piece of ice that broke off of the glacier, we didn’t make it far and decided to stop for a picture. But it was still pretty fun for a first glacier encounter, and we didn’t break anything. Whittier isn’t too far unless the one-way tunnel stops you. That was a fun surprise. One disadvantage of researching so far in advance is that you may forget certain things when the trip finally arrives. For instance, I forgot that there’s a toll and schedule for the tunnel to Whittier. The tunnel is a mile long, but don’t skip it and miss out on The Swiftwater Cafe for fresh Alaskan crab legs! The perfect first lunch to have while in Alaska. Whittier is tiny and needs no more than a couple of hours to see so finish the drive to Homer after lunch.
Day 2: It was day 2 when ‘Misty Mountains’ from The Hobbit was stuck in my head. Just to be clear it was due to the clouds and mountain views (pictures at the top of the post) not because there was a dragon or fire. (In case you haven’t heard it: Misty Mountains – YouTube.) Be sure to walk the Homer Spit and keep an eye out for sea otters, seals, and starfish! Always keep your binoculars handy. The Land’s End Resort, Homer Alaska Hotel | Land’s End Resort | Heart of Kachemak Bay (lands-end-resort.com), was the perfect spot for being near the water. If you don’t want to go outside in the rain, they have ocean view rooms!
Not only are there remarkable views and playful otters, but you’ll find several adorable shops and fantastic restaurants. My favorite earrings are from RAu GOLD. It’s owned by an Alaskan family and the gold mining goes back several generations. Alaskan gold makes a great souvenir, plus it easily fits in any size luggage!
On the morning of day three, Homer said goodbye with a beautiful double-rainbow. Stay tuned for the rest of day three.
The Lost Hobbit 
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