I recently went to Alaska to do research for a new series I am developing. It was a quick trip but we managed to pack quite a bit of sightseeing into one short week.
Day 1 – drive from Lake Tahoe to Reno and then fly from Reno to Anchorage. We spent the night at the Alyeska resort in Girdwood Alaska. The Alyeska resort is a ski resort in the winter, and while it did snow on the mountain during our stay, it didn’t snow nearly enough to open the slopes. We did however manage to see our first moose of the trip on the side of the road in Girdwood which was all kinds of fun.
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Day 2 – On our first full day in Alaska we decided to make the 250 mile roundtrip journey to Seward. Seward is located on the Gulf of Alaska and is known for its fishing. It is a small town with good food and a wonderful view. While we were in Seward we stopped off at Kenai Fjords National Park, which is really best enjoyed during the summer, but we did manage to get a photo of the sign. My husband Ken and I are trying to get photos of the signs of all of the national parks. So far we have 45 parks out of 52. After this trip we still need one in Florida: Dry Tortugas, five in Alaska: Lake Clark, Gates of the Arctic, Glacier Bay, Katmai, Kobuk Valley, and the one in the Virgin Islands.
Day 3 – we drove from Anchorage to Valdez, about 300 miles over the Glenn Highway to the Richardson Highway. We saw a lot of really beautiful country along the way although it rained for the entire trip.
Day 4: We hung out in Valdez which is the approximate location where I imagine my fictional town of Moosehead Alaska to be located. The town in nestled on the gulf but it is also surrounded by tall majestic mountains. In a word it is breathtaking. The food was excellent, the locals friendly and very helpful in answering my questions, and best off all, there are hundreds of bunnies running around everywhere. The story is that about 20 years ago one of the locals got each of their four children a bunny for Easter. The rabbits didn’t work out as pets so they let them go. Of course they did what bunnies do best – multiply, and now they are everywhere.
Day 5: We drove from Valdez to Fairbanks via the Richardson Highway. We managed to not only see a mama and baby moose, but we came across two different groups of Caribou on the side of the road. I got a photo of the moose but not the caribou. The little buggers were too quick and headed for the trees before I could get my camera out. This trip is about 365 miles a very, very, beautiful.
We also visited the town of North Pole Alaska on day 5. It is Christmas everyday in North Pole. I’m not sure I’d want to have Christmas every day but it was an adorable town. I especially liked the red and white stripped candy cane lampposts.
Another highlight of day 5 was that I got a chance to see the northern lights. I tried to take a photo but it just came out dark. It was an awesome experience that I would never have had if one of my awesome fans who lives in the area didn’t message me to go outside and look up. Thank you Amy.
Day 6: We made the 358 mile journey from Fairbanks to Anchorage. By the time we arrived in Anchorage we had driven over a twelve hundred miles and seen some of the most beautiful country anywhere. It was truly an awesome trip and I can’t wait to have time to get a start on my Alaska series. It was rainy and foggy for the first part of the trip on day 6 but the sun did come out in time for us to have a cold one outdoors at the Denali Brewing Company in Talkeetna.
Day 7: We flew to Reno and then drove home to Tahoe where a very happy Echo was at the door to greet me. Next up for us is a trip back to the San Juan Islands in November to do some follow up research for the Whales and Tails series. I will of course post photos along the way.
Now for the giveaway. Comment below to be entered to win a Kindle or Paperback copy of any Kathi Daley book. (Non US Kindle only)
Random Thoughts and Meaningless Musings 
Alaskan Alliance seems right!
It was a fun book.
Thank you so much for sharing your amazing trip with us…my husband and I are heading to the great smoky mountains in Nov..I love it there..living at the beach has it perks but there’s nothing like the beautiful mountains..
The Smoky Mountains are beautiful. Have a wonderful time.
Looks like you had a great trip. Alaska is one place my husband and I want to go..can’t wait for the new series it sound awesome too
It is really beautiful and fall is a great time to go.
What a wonderful trip it must have been! It’s on my bucket list of things I would love to do. Can’t wait to hear about the new series📖
I can’t wait to start working on the new series. I need to finish up the Christmas books first and then I will start working on it.
It looks like your trip to Alaska was awesome, fun, and gorgeous! I would love to visit there one day myself. I’m looking forward to your new series, of course!
I think it will be a fun series and I’m looking forward to writing it.
My dream vacation. The pictures are wonderful and can’t wait for the new series. Thank-You so much for sharing your wonderful trip.
I’m glad I could take you along. 🙂
It sounds like you had a great trip! My husband and I hope to visit one day.
It’s really beautiful and the fall is a wonderful time to go.
Thank you so much for sharing your photographs and all the wonderful things you were able to do and see on your trip. It sounds/looks like your trip to Alaska was awesome!! I’ve been to Alaska several times on business trips and was able to do a little sightseeing while there … I’d love to visit there again one day would love to visit there one day myself. I’m looking forward to your new series!
We had a great time. Thank you for coming along.
What a great trip. Love, love Alaska
I want to go back in fall 2017. We will be in the east fall of 2016.
We usually go in July but I would love to try Autumn
Enjoyed your musings very much this week. Alaska sounds and looks so beautiful, I love the North Pole would be so much fun at Christmas. But my one question that you didn’t address was the temperature?
The temperature was actually pretty mild when we were there but I bet it gets COLD in the winter.
Thanks for sharing the gorgeous pictures. My husband and I were taking a military hop one year from Travis AFB to Osan, Korea and Alaska was a stopover. There was a delay getting out the next day so we rented a car and drove around for the day. Beautiful.
It really is some of the most beautiful and unspoiled country.
You posted some really beautiful pics. Glad you had a great time. My folks went up for fishing almost every year after they retired. They loved it there. Got a kick out of the rabbit story. That is pretty typical. Each area has it’s own beauty. Just like the seasons have their own beauties. Thanks for the chance at another book. Always appreciated
Thank you Della. The bunnies were fun.
Sounds like you had a blast. Glad you had fun and a safe trip. 🙂
Thank you Janel.
Thank you so much for sharing the pictures from your trip to Alaska. It looked like it was a wonderful trip for you and your husband.
We really did have a wonderful time.
The pictures were breathtaking. I would love to have been your research assistant(:)) on your trip. Through the pictures we will be able to picture what you are talking about in your new series. Thanks for the stay at home vacation! 🙂
You are so welcome Donna. I’m glad that you enjoyed it.
The blog was wonderful. It was different than any I’d seen before. Can hardly wait for your November trip to the San Juan Islands as Whales and Tails has become my favorite series. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you Ruth. We leave for the San Juan Islands on November 20 so stay tuned. 🙂
Wow, this sounds like an awesome trip. Thank you for sharing. I want a bunny now.
Yeah me too. I saw a black bunny that was only a few months old. I really had to resist the urge to bring it home. So cute.
Going to Alaska is on my bucket list. Your pictures of your trip makes me get the itch even stronger. Thanks so much for sharing. robeader53@yahoo.com
It was an awesome trip. Fall is a good time to go if you get the chance.
We love Alaska! We’ve been there 6 times and cannot wait to go again! Thanks for sharing your trip with us.
You are so welcome. We want to go up to Barrow next to see the polar bears.
Thank you for sharing all the beautiful pictures of Alaska. You took me back home again. My husband and I lived In Alaska for 4 years shortly after we were married (military) and Alaska became our home. There is no place in the world like Alaska.
It really is an awesome state. I can’t wait to go for another visit.
I’m so happy you got to see so much. You now know that AK is a big state to travel and the ‘road system’ is somewhat limited 😉 That’s why we Alaskans use small planes as the lower 48 people use taxis: it’s the only way to get there!
I’m sorry you didn’t see any mountain goats down Girdwood way….prime viewing locale. Did you see any belugas? They were running then, too, with the Girdwood area north great viewing spots.
We really only were in Girdwood to sleep and eat dinner. It was a beautiful area. I’d like to go back and stay there for a few days sometime.
Really enjoyed all the photos that you posted along the way. Your Friday posts are always informative and fun. I really look forward to them every week. Thanks for the chance to win.
Thank you Doward.
I thought the pictures you posted on your trip were great. I’ve never been to Alaska so it was awesome to see them. Thank you for taking us along.
Thank you for coming along. It was fun to share the journey.
Thanks for being so generous in sharing your trips with us. I love all the pictures, especially the mama and baby moose 🙂 looks like the trip was a wonderful one!
Yeah it was fun to see the babies.
It sounds like you did an awful lot of driving. Love the pictures & your vivid descriptions; I almost felt as if I was there too. The Aurora borealis must have been amazing that far north.
It really was an awesome trip and it really was a LOT of driving.
Sounds like a great trip! Thank you for letting me live vicariously through you! Can’t wait for your next trip!
Next up is a quickie to San Juan Island at the end of November. I’ll be sure to bring everyone along.
I’m so glad you shared the beautiful photo and descriptions. Visiting Alaska is on my bucket list, but, for now, I can live vicariously through your journal (and the new series when it is published). Many years ago, while attending a work related conference in Canada, we saw Caribou in the wild. They were a beautiful sight to behold. Welcome home. Looking forward to your mystery party on FB.
The Caribou really were beautiful and so fun to come across.
Glad you had such an amazing trip. I love Alaska and hope to go back some day.
It really is beautiful country.
It sounds like you had a great vacation. Thanks for sharing the memories with us! I look forward to reading the new series.
Thank you Kay.
After seeing all of your beautiful pictures; can’t wait for the new series. I love Whales and Tails. Thanks for taking us all on your trip!
Thank you for coming along. It was a fun trip.
I have greatly enjoyed your vacation highlights. I have a former colleague who shared her recent trip to Alaska and distant relatives living in Ankorage, but never thought of it as a great “Bucket List” destination…especially North Pole, Alaska, the Northern Light, and all things halibut! In my travels I’ve always been fascinated with native cultures and Alaska would be a super place to explore those cultures. Thanks so much for sharing!
You are so welcome. It really is an awesome place.
Sorry the weather was rather damp on your trip, but I’m glad you had such a wonderful time in Alaska and i can’t wait for more Alaska mysteries!!
I can’t wait to get caught up with my Christmas mysteries so I can start in with the new series. I’ll keep you posted.
Your pictures are gorgeous, Alaska is one place that I have wanted to go for years, some day I will make it there.
It really is beautiful and worth the trip.
Thank you so much for sharing your Alaskan adventure with us. The pictures were so breathtaking. Thanks for the opportunity to win.
You are so welcome Michele.
Thanks for sharing your trip with us. It looks absolutely amazing!
It really was awesome.
Thank you for sharing pictures from your trip. I’ve always wondered what Alaska looks like!
It really is amazing.
Thank you for sharing. We wanted to go but never had the chance so it was nice to see it through you. It is gorgeous and Tim would have loved North Pole because he LOVED Christmas. Thanks again
North Pole really is an awesome place for those who love Christmas.
Debbie you are the winner of the Kathi Daley book. Please email me at kathidaley@kathidaley.com with your choice of book and a mailing address if you prefer a paperback.
Beautiful pics of the majestic scenery in Alaska. I am laughing at all those bunnies you saw, not an animal that one would expect to see on a trip to Alaska. I have bunnies in my yard here on Cape Cod, but usually only see one or two at a time. I have been on a moose safari in New Hampshire and it is a thrill to see moose, love the pic of the mama and calf. Scenes like those make a trip special. I am looking forward to your Alaskan series.
Thank you Elaine. The bunnies were fun.
I’m so glad you enjoyed Alaska. It’s such an interesting place. We took my kids to North Alaska before and they loved it. I take that if a series is set in Moosehead then it’s a spin-off from the Zoe series. I just loved the characters in the book where Zoe and Zak visit Moosehead. Very likeable and I would love to read he series set around those characters. Your just going to have to learn to write faster because after I finish a book, I want to find out what happens in the next. Lol. Love your books
Yes it will be a spin off of Alaskan Alliance. I think I am going to write it from Harmony’s perspective. I can’t wait to get started.
Sounds like it was a great trip.
It really was fun.
Thank you so much for sharing, Kathi! I’m afraid my traveling days are behind me but wish I’d told hubby that’s where I wanted to go! Absolutely beautiful! Thank you again!
It really is beautiful. There is so much open space.
I really enjoyed reading about your trip to Alaska. I lived in Anchorage for 14 years and still have family there. I miss it a LOT!!!
How fun to live in Anchorage. I was surprised how big it was.
The pictures are beautiful! What a way to do research for your books. That was a lot of driving. It’s my favorite way to travel. It takes longer but you see more. I can’t wait to see what you dream up for the new Alaskan series.
Thank you I’m excited to get started.
ALL OF THE PICS WERE AWESOME. YOUR NARRATIVE MADE ME FEEL AS THOUGH I WAS ALONG WITH YOU AND YOUR HUSBAND…
Thank you Noreen. I’m glad you could come along on the journey.
Thanks for the great pictures. It sounds like you’re having a great time, enjoying some well deserved r&r. Can’t wait to read the new series!
St. John, USVI will be a wonderful trip to get your park pix…
It looks like a beautiful place thanks for sharing.
Beautiful views! hlad you got some sight seeing tome in and sharing with us.
That sounds like a wonderful trip! I would love to go someday. It looks beautiful.
Beautiful, we have a friend that lives at North Pole. One of the things on my bucket list is to see the northern lights.