Page 6 - Travel Guide Fly Alaska Winter Edition

GETTING TO

AND AROUND ALASKA

Photo by Scott Graber
If you are headed to Alaska
for the snow and winter
activities, then a good place to
start is Anchorage or Fairbanks.
Alaska Airlines from Seattle,
Washington has daily flights
and Ravn Alaska services local
cities and communities in
Alaska. Airports in Anchorage
and Fairbanks are equipped
with several car rental agencies.
Avis is located at both airports
and the Anchorage based
Midnight Sun Car & Van Rental
is just minutes from the airport.
Alaska 4x4 Rentals and Alaska
Auto Rentals specialize in
renting vehicles equipped the train from Anchorage to
for winter driving conditions. Fairbanks. The Alaska Railroad
However, you will want to operates year-round with
check to see if an agency has regularly scheduled passenger
road restrictions during the service connecting south
winter months. Many agencies central and interior Alaska.
also allow you to pick up in They also have specialty trains
one city and drop off in another that coincide with holidays
city. If you are not familiar with and festivals. One of the
driving on snow and ice, then popular winter routes is the peak.
it is highly recommended that Aurora Winter Train, which Outside of Anchorage there
you rent a vehicle with 4-wheel runs between Anchorage and are several towns that have
or all-wheel drive. The Alaska Fairbanks. Experience the local charm and are worth
Department of Transportation beauty of Alaskan scenery as visiting for pristine, secluded
does an excellent job of you ride in comfort with heated winter activities. Cooper
keeping the highways plowed rail cars, plush seats and large Landing, two hours south of
and maintained but it is best picture windows. The full-day Anchorage is nestled like a
to be prepared when driving. railroad trip follows the same little gem in the lush mountain
This includes packing extra backcountry stretch of tracks ranges of the Kenai. Outdoor
blankets, food and water. as the summer Denali Star Train enthusiasts who want to be
Anchorage is built on a glacial and offers magnificent views off the beaten path, will find
plane, which means it is very of the dazzling snow-covered plenty of undisturbed trails that
flat and easy to get around. landscape of Denali, North are perfect for cross-country
Another option is to take America’s highest mountain skiing, snowshoeing and fat tire

4 ® WINTER EDITION