No one could prepare me for what Alaska had in store. I have grown up dreaming of one-day setting foot into the elusive mountains that I saw in snowboarding films. Massive mountain ranges, crystal blue skies, blower powder, and endless steep runs highlight Alaska in all of its glory. As I was making my way up to AK these images flashed through my mind, and I could not wait to see not only what the mountains had in store for me, but also what an Alaska trip really felt like behind the camera and behind the scenes.

Everything about Alaska is on a grander scale than you could ever imagine. The bald eagles that fly overhead, the moose on the side of the road in the early morning fog, the trees, and of course the mountains that surround every valley and river bed. This environment brings with it a sense of intense energy and calm at the same time, something I have never felt anywhere else. I got to spend just upward of two weeks in Haines, a tiny town situated on an ocean inlet near Glacier Bay National Park and backed up to some of the snowy peaks we ended up riding on.

After years of traveling, when I visit somewhere new I tend to judge it by a few key necessities; good food, fun activities, yoga/fitness, and cool culture… all of which I found in my two weeks spent in the Great Frontier. I flew to Alaska for the snowboarding and left realizing that everything about the place is special and just makes the snowboarding that much better.

The standouts from this adventure included:

Mountain Market A great little health food store with a coffee bar and deli. This is a BIG thumbs up on my end, as I love to cook organic whenever possible and I sure do love my coffee. ☺

The Fireweed  An Italian restaurant with good vibes, fresh food, and lots of beer… what is not to like?

Moving on from my favorite subject of food there is no shortage of things to do in and around Haines. One of the more unique experiences we had was at the Kroschel Wildlife Center. Their tagline “Not a Zoo-Its an Experience” is an accurate statement. The tour provides you with a once in a lifetime opportunity to actually howl with a wolf, feed a porcupine or kiss a moose.

Another must for me is a good yoga studio. The Haines Yoga Studio was such a nice space and the yoga instructor was absolutely amazing, the perfect treat in a town where I would not expect yoga to be a thing.

Inside of the standout places that I travel to, what usually really makes them special are the people. A special type of person moves up to Alaska to live amongst the wild… it is a wild ride of a lifestyle no doubt! I found the culture of the locals to be so kind and super welcoming. It was fascinating and so cool to get a taste of the culture, if even for just a short time. If you are looking to broaden your horizons, disconnect from the fast paced world, or just connect with nature, Alaska may be your place… I found that it did just this for me!

Leave me know your thoughts, questions, and comments—I would love to hear them!