So, I Want To Go To Alaska

Charlottesville

August 25, 2025

Yikes. My wanderabout in part has been (is that the right tense? Certainly the wrong voice!) about embracing uncertainty and spontaneity. And in this post I am going to write about ... planning??

My failed idea of driving to Alaska last year convinced me that I can't go that far away without some form of planning. I think spontaneity in Alaska could result in me getting eaten by a bear!

Why Alaska? Probably a good place to start. Priority 1 -- visiting the not-still-there Paris, Yukon. That is the last (I think) Paris in the US and Canada that I have not visited. I'm kind of glad there is still one left because I clearly have not found answers to all the questions that still bother me so. Priority 2 -- Alaska is the only state I have not been to yet in my life. Would be kind of fun to be able to say I've been to all 50. Stopping at 49 would inspire the question -- "well, why didn't you go to the 50th?" Priority 3a and 3b -- visiting Fox and Chicken, Alaska. I'm probably not going to be visit all the "populated places"named Fox in the US but I have visited several and there is a Fox, Alaska. As for Chicken, wouldn't we all want to visit a place with this history (according to Google AI)?

The most notable place named Chicken is a small, unincorporated gold mining town in Alaska. The name Chicken, Alaska, is said to have come from miners who couldn't agree on the spelling for "ptarmigan," a game bird found in the area.

Given that late May into September is tourist season in Alaska, I figure I should starting making some plans. The folks at AAA Travel weren't all that interested in helping me -- they make their bucks booking folks on cruises and into 14-day tours staying at luxury hotels. Sounds wonderful but not in my budget -- nor does it meet my priorities.

So here's what I've thought of so far:

Day 1 Fly CHO to Anchorage on United using points/Hotel/rental car

Day 2. Anchorage

Day 3 Anchorage and vicinity

Day 4. Anchorage and vicinity

Day 5 Train to Fairbanks/hotel/rental car

Day 6 Fairbanks/Fox

Day 7. Drive to Chicken (5+ hours, 280 miles)

Day 8 Rest day in Chicken

Day 9 Drive roundtrip Chicken to Paris (9 hours, 280 miles)

Day 10 Drive to Fairbanks (5+ hours, 280 miles)

Day 11 Fairbanks

Day 12 Fly Fairbanks to CHO

Day 13-20 Go to the beach!

One thing I know for sure -- I can't anticipate all the wrinkles that will be involved. That's why this will be an adventure!

I'll ponder this itinerary for the next few days, make adjustments and then start to throw money at reservations.

PS -- I know. There is so much of Alaska that I will not visit -- like the national parks. But, like the Blues Brothers said...