© Brandon Elijah Scott / WoodlandHerbal.com
Last month I had the unbelievable opportunity to visit Alaska for the first time, and it was well beyond what I imagined it would be. It’s so beautiful, rugged, wild, mystical and magical, and I loved every moment exploring the wilderness, the mountains, the fjords, rivers, and parks. I arrived off the plane, gathered my luggage and set out in a rental car. My first stop was the Turnagain Arm before heading to my accommodation on Kenai Peninsula. The summer light was long, allowing for a mere 3 hours of night, but it really wasn’t all that dark, so I took advantage of as much sightseeing as my tired eyes could handle. From there, I spent the next couple of days exploring Seward and Homer, taking two cruises through the fjords, which was definitely the highlight of the entire trip.
© Brandon Elijah Scott / WoodlandHerbal.com My last morning on the peninsula, I made my way to the riverside village of Cooper Landing to join Alaska Wildland Adventure, which as the name suggests is an adventure tour operator who offers lodging, fishing, vacation packages, and river rafting adventures. The property is fun and very attractive, littered with wood cabins and easy access to the Kenai river. I met my guide Noah, and he outfitted the group with boots, warm water wear, and wet bags. After the safety and guideline talk, we were ready to get on the river.
Their river access point was located mere feet from their small village of cabins. A small eddy gave access to the river just off their property, making it a breeze to launch. Noah had us hop into the raft and position ourselves before he pushed off and jumped in. The water was a brilliant turquoise color, nearly crystal clear and rushing fast back out to the ocean. We had a crew of 8-10 people, with Noah sitting in the center, where he manned our movement down the river. All I had to do was hold on tight and enjoy the ride. The speed wasn’t too intense, and rarely did a splash get me, which was nice, considering I brought my camera gear with me, tucked in a large wet sack.
Along the way, Noah would tell us about the area, history of the peninsula, about the recent fires what have plagued nearby areas, and he was funny, and kind in answering anyone’s questions. Never did the ride get very intense, which by the end had me reeling to go on more intense whitewater like what I experienced in Maine on the wild Kennebec River. All in all, we saw 15 bald eagles and 3 eagle nests. It was a great experience overall, and I’d do it again in a heartbeat, though I think next time I’ll take the more intense trip.
Their river access point was located mere feet from their small village of cabins. A small eddy gave access to the river just off their property, making it a breeze to launch. Noah had us hop into the raft and position ourselves before he pushed off and jumped in. The water was a brilliant turquoise color, nearly crystal clear and rushing fast back out to the ocean. We had a crew of 8-10 people, with Noah sitting in the center, where he manned our movement down the river. All I had to do was hold on tight and enjoy the ride. The speed wasn’t too intense, and rarely did a splash get me, which was nice, considering I brought my camera gear with me, tucked in a large wet sack.
Along the way, Noah would tell us about the area, history of the peninsula, about the recent fires what have plagued nearby areas, and he was funny, and kind in answering anyone’s questions. Never did the ride get very intense, which by the end had me reeling to go on more intense whitewater like what I experienced in Maine on the wild Kennebec River. All in all, we saw 15 bald eagles and 3 eagle nests. It was a great experience overall, and I’d do it again in a heartbeat, though I think next time I’ll take the more intense trip.
Afterwards, I made my way north back to Anchorage, before heading to Denali National Park the next day. In Anchorage, I ate at the new Turkish Delight, which is owned by a college professor, who makes some truly amazing food. All over the world where I’ve visited, it’s easy to run into a traditional Turkish kabab restaurant, but this was different. This was good, very, very good. Turkish Delight offers a range of traditional Turkish fare, but they also get rather creative with their offerings, which I think set them apart already, but more so, what really set them apart was the quality of ingredients. I was happily surprised how much I enjoyed everything.
The owner was a very kind host and I enjoyed getting to speak with her for awhile. She brought me karides for my main dish, which are sautéed shrimp in butter, olive oil, lemon and herbs, which were fantastic. She also brought humus with cheese plate. The cheese plate was a great selection of different Turkish cheeses, roasted hazelnuts, dips, marmalade, fresh fruit, sourdough, and dried fruit like mulberries, apricots and figs. That was a pleasure, from start to finish. The humus was the best I’ve ever had, tasting so savory, garlicky and fresh. Yum! The shrimp lemon dish was truly lovely. My desert was a warm apple tea, which I wish I could have right now as I write this. If you find yourself in Anchorage, don’t pass up a chance to goto Turkish Delight!
The owner was a very kind host and I enjoyed getting to speak with her for awhile. She brought me karides for my main dish, which are sautéed shrimp in butter, olive oil, lemon and herbs, which were fantastic. She also brought humus with cheese plate. The cheese plate was a great selection of different Turkish cheeses, roasted hazelnuts, dips, marmalade, fresh fruit, sourdough, and dried fruit like mulberries, apricots and figs. That was a pleasure, from start to finish. The humus was the best I’ve ever had, tasting so savory, garlicky and fresh. Yum! The shrimp lemon dish was truly lovely. My desert was a warm apple tea, which I wish I could have right now as I write this. If you find yourself in Anchorage, don’t pass up a chance to goto Turkish Delight!
After filling my belly nearly beyond my physical limits, I headed to my accommodation for the night, known as Maria’s Creekside Inn. This lovely little inn wasn’t far from the center of town, but it had a private feel, being sandwiched between residential buildings and a park with stream. Maria’s Creekside B&B offers a handful of comfortable rooms, outfitted with private bathrooms, most amenities, a home cooked breakfast and a spacious common area in case you’re feeling social.
My room had a large king bed and a small twin, and had nice views of the garden. The art around the accommodation was stunning, and so nice that I found myself wanting just about every nature-inspired art piece on the walls. So beautifully furnished. I found the atmosphere inside to be comfortable, classy and in a great spot to jump off into the wilderness from. The nightlife was a little loud around 8:00 PM, but things settled down after awhile, making for a peaceful night in the city. I had the windows cracked to let air in and no one kept me up making noise throughout the night, even though I was staying in the city. A worthwhile place to stay when you need to stay in Anchorage, and are trying to find something nice but affordable.
My room had a large king bed and a small twin, and had nice views of the garden. The art around the accommodation was stunning, and so nice that I found myself wanting just about every nature-inspired art piece on the walls. So beautifully furnished. I found the atmosphere inside to be comfortable, classy and in a great spot to jump off into the wilderness from. The nightlife was a little loud around 8:00 PM, but things settled down after awhile, making for a peaceful night in the city. I had the windows cracked to let air in and no one kept me up making noise throughout the night, even though I was staying in the city. A worthwhile place to stay when you need to stay in Anchorage, and are trying to find something nice but affordable.
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