I bet you’re a little curious about the title of this article. What would you not want to do when visiting Alaska? Don’t you want to do everything? Well, not quite. There are some things that you shouldn’t do when visiting Alaska, and I’ll tell you about them below.
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Don’t Tell Anyone Where You’re Going
I had this towards the middle of the post but decided to move it to the top because this is super important. Tell at least a couple people where you’ll be going when you’re exploring Alaska and when you expect to be back. If you have a medical emergency, accident, or get lost or weathered in, it’s a tremendous advantage for rescue teams to have a solid point to start searching at.
Likely, if you’re vacationing here, you probably haven’t been on the trail you plan to hike before, you may not anticipate bad weather coming in, and/or you’re not as prepared as you thought you were. It happens to all of us, but in a worst case scenario it can be deadly, and many places won’t have cell service for you to call for help. So, tell friends and family where you’ll be, how long you’ll be there, and buy or rent a device like the Garmin inReach to have incase of an emergency.
Have Dead Batteries
I know there are outlets, charging stations, and all that jazz basically everywhere now, but have you tried to plug your phone/camera battery/etc into a mountain, berry bush, or ocean? I didn’t think so. Chances are, the batteries on your emergency device, phone, and camera will die at the worst time. Breaching whale? Dead camera. Bogged down in the fog on a trail? Dead inReach. FaceTiming mom on a day you can see Denali? Dead phone. Charging your electronics whenever possible and bringing a portable charger/power bank with you is very important. Honestly, it’s more of a safety issue than anything, but being able to capture miraculous moments on your Alaskan adventure is pretty awesome, too.
Plan a Short Trip
Chances are you’ve traveled a long distance to get to Alaska, so why not stay awhile and enjoy it! There are so many things to do and see. If at all possible, try stay at least a week. I know it’s not a cheap trip, but check out some money saving ideas here that might help you save money so you can stay longer and enjoy our beautiful state!
Forget to Bring Layers
Layers, layer, layers. You’ve probably read many posts by now regarding how to dress in Alaska. I’m guessing they’ve all mentioned needing layers? If so, they’re absolutely correct. No matter what season you visit Alaska, layers are always necessary. Weather is ever changing, and it’s always better to have more layers than too little. But, if you don’t want to pack so much or don’t own proper layers for your trip, you can always shop locally once you’re here at the start of your trip to be prepared.
Skip Sunscreen and Bug Spray
Boy, oh boy. Don’t make this mistake. Trust me. That Midnight Sun and even the bright sun in winter can burn you fast, especially if you’re out on the water or adventuring. Wear sunscreen, and don’t forget to reapply.
You’ll need sunscreen year round, but thankfully you don’t need bug spray for all seasons. But when you need it, you really need it. Mosquitos, no-see-ums, and horseflies are huge bummers during spring, summer, and fall. But, with some help from this handy dandy article I put together, they should be less of a problem for you.
Overplan
I know it’s hard not to do this when you’re going on a dream vacation, but don’t overplan. There are more activities and sights to see here than anyone could in a lifetime, so don’t expect to cram them all into a week’s vacation.
Get Cozy with the Wildlife
Don’t be that person. The wildlife is wild, no matter how adorable or pettable it looks. Don’t pet it, don’t feed it, don’t crowd it. But, if you do want some safe encounters with animals, check out the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center.
Be Inflexible
As I’ve already mentioned, weather is an ever changing factor here. Chances are, some of your planned activities, tours, and excursions may be delayed or cancelled due to weather. It’s hard to not be disappointed, but try to pivot and find something else. Maybe you have a float plane or helicopter ride planned, but get fogged out? Why not try a train ride or maybe a glacier cruise? There’s always something amazing to do and see in Alaska, so don’t let the weather ruin your trip!
Miss Out on Local Food
Don’t hit up all the same chain restaurants you have at home while you’re here. We have so many great local places, and a variety of tasty foods here. You’d miss out if you didn’t try it! Check out this list of delicious Alaskan food to try on your vacation here, and the best resturants in Soldotna and Kenai!
Rush
Alaska isn’t the place to be in a hurry. In the summer, there are many visitors and places can get crowded and busy. You may have to wait to get seated and try some delicious deep fried halibut. There will likely be long checkout lines a gift shop registers. You may have to wait your turn for a bit to get that photo in front of a beautifully carved totem pole. It’s all totally worth the wait.
Pass Up Bathrooms, Fuel, or Food Stops
Depending on where you’re traveling to, rest stops, fuel, and snacks can be few and far between. Take advantage of them when you see them. Check out maps to plan your next stop, but don’t assume the stop is still open unless you’ve called to confirm as some places are seasonal or closed and information can be outdated.
Forget Toilet Paper, Wet Wipes, and Sanitizer
This kind of goes with the above tip. One thing you shouldn’t do when visiting Alaska is travel without toilet paper, wet wipes, and sanitizer. If you run into a situation where you passed up a bathroom pit stop and really regret it, you may have to use the great outdoors as your own personal restroom, or use an outhouse that might not have tp or anything to wash your hands with, so be prepared.
Use the Turnouts as Your Restroom
Okay, I know just said you’ll probably have to pee outside at some point if you’ll be roadtripping, but there is some roadside bathroom etiquette to abide by. 1. Make sure you’re out of view from the highway. Shockingly, not everyone does this. 2. You’ll probably have to do your thang at a turnout, but just step out of the area of traffic and foot traffic a bit. People stop there to take photos, let their dogs out, and stretch their legs. The last thing we want to see is anyone’s business. BUT, also be aware and on the lookout for wildlife before you step off the side of the pavement. Not trying to scare you, but wildlife is everywhere and it’s best to be safe. (Also, don’t lower your tushy into any devil’s club!) 3. Don’t toss your hand wipes and whatnot all over. It takes longer than you’d think for that to disintegrate and is just disgusting. Having little trash bags (or even doggie trash bags) with can be handy for that, and for vehicle trash as well.
Trash Alaska
I’m sorry we don’t have enough trash cans in frequently visited places, and the ones we do have are always full. Trust me, I know it’s annoying. But, we’d all really appreciate it you’d use the above mentioned bags and take your trash with you until you find a public dumpster. Since you’re reading this, I’m guessing you must be a pretty awesome, considerate, and intelligent person, so I really don’t need to include this or the above rule anyway, but it’s not a bad reminder.
There you have it, a list of some easy peasy things you shouldn’t do when visiting Alaska. This list will help you enjoy your visit more, plan better, and hopefully have the Alaska vacation of your dreams! Happy traveling, friends!
Do you have questions about traveling to Alaska? Leave a comment and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible!