11 Incredible Things to do in Valdez, Alaska
Valdez is one of the best hidden gems along Alaska’s southeastern coastline. Located within a deep fjord in the Prince William Sound, the town offers a unique mix of seemingly countless glaciers, towering mountains, rainforests, and some of the best wildlife spotting opportunities the state has to offer. If you’re planning a stop in this town on your road trip around the state (and you absolutely should!), here’s 11 incredible things to do in Valdez, Alaska,
How to get to McCarthy, Alaska, the gateway to Wrangell-St. Elias National Park
Wrangell-St. Elias, tucked away in the southeastern corner of Alaska, holds the impressive title of being the largest U.S. National Park and Preserve, with over 20,000 square miles of pristine wilderness. There’s really only one town with year-round residents that sits within Wrangell-St. Elias’ massive footprint—the teeny town of McCarthy, Alaska, which is the best homebase to explore everything that Wrangell-St. Elias has to offer. However, getting to McCarthy, Alaska isn’t the most straightforward, requiring multiple modes of transportation and driving on a 60 mile gravel road, littered with antique railroad spikes. Sounds a bit scary? It is! Here’s everything you need to know about how to get to McCarthy, Alaska, the gateway to Wrangell-St. Elias National Park.
8 Incredible Things to Do in McCarthy, Alaska
McCarthy, Alaska is an itty bitty town, with just about 30 yearround residents, tucked away in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve. McCarthy is unique for a number of reasons—for example, there are no drivable roads leading to the town, it’s believed there are more dogs than people, AND it’s located within the United States’ largest national park and wilderness preserve. If you’re planning a visit to Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and want to know how to stay busy while you’re staying in this quirky, little town, here are the [x] best things to do in McCarthy, Alaska.
10 Incredible Things to do in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park
Alaska is home to the largest U.S. National Park—Wrangell-St. Elias, which sprawls a whopping 20,600 square miles and is actually larger than if you combine Yellowstone, Yosemite, AND the entire country of Switzerland! This park, tucked away in southeastern Alaska, is a unique mix of quirky small towns, pioneering history, and the largest swath of untouched wilderness in the United States. If you want to explore this incredibly remote corner of the U.S. for yourself, here are 10 incredible things to do in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park.
Hvammsvik Hot Springs Review: An Honest and Unbiased View
During my husband, Justin’s and my two week long road trip around Iceland, we squeezed in seeing as many waterfalls, glaciers, and hot springs as possible, including Hvammsvik Hot Springs. This unique property harnesses the area’s geothermal waters into manmade pools, which are seamlessly integrated into the coastline of the stunning surrounding fjord. We paid to visit Hvammsvik Hot Springs with our own hard earned dollars, so if you’re considering doing the same, here’s my honest review of my experience.
Solheimasandur Plane Wreck: Everything You Need to Know
The Solheimasandur Plane Wreck, located along the southwestern coastline of Iceland, may be one of the most famous wreckages in the world—and for good reason! The rusting body of a plane serves as a dramatic contrast to its surroundings on a black sand beach, with the pounding Atlantic Ocean, mossy green mountains, and the Mýrdalsjökull Glacier as its backdrop. There’s quite a few different ways to experience the Solheimasandur Plane Wreck for yourself, from visiting on an ATV to taking a shuttle, so here’s everything you need to know to plan your visit.
Seljavallalaug Swimming Pool: One of the Oldest Pools in Iceland
Swimming pools in Iceland aren’t just for leisure and exercise—they’ve been a cultural cornerstone in the country for centuries, serving as a melting pot for people of all ages and backgrounds throughout its small communities. One of the oldest swimming pools, Seljavallalaug, is tucked in an impossibly green bowl of mountains, dotted with waterfalls, along the southwestern coastline of Iceland, a popular corridor with tourists that’s packed with hot springs, black sand beaches, and glaciers. Here’s everything you need to know about visiting the Seljavallalaug Swimming Pool, one of the most beautiful hot springs in Iceland.
Visiting the Sólheimajökull Glacier in Iceland: Everything You Need to Know
True to its name, Iceland has a LOT of glaciers and ice caps—it’s estimated that about 10% of the country is covered with ice. If you want to get an up close and personal look at these ancient hunks of ice for yourself, one of the most popular options is the Sólheimajökull Glacier, thanks to its easy accessibility and proximity to other popular attractions along the country’s southwestern coastline. My husband, Justin, and I have visited Iceland twice and have made a point to have adventures on this glacier both times. So, if you’re interested in visiting this 44 square kilometer behemoth for yourself, here’s everything you need to know about visiting the Sólheimajökull Glacier, from how to get to it to what it’s like hiking on its ancient ice.
12 Incredible Waterfalls in Iceland to Add to Your Bucketlist
Iceland is renowned for its stunning and dynamic landscapes, with lush mountains, ancient glaciers, and over 10,000 waterfalls sprinkled across the country. With so many incredible cascades, it can be hard to know which ones to prioritize visiting if you only have a short period of time in Iceland. My husband, Justin, and I have collectively spent over a month in Iceland, exploring as many of the beautiful cascades that we can squeeze in, from ones that are located just a short drive from the capital city of Reykjavik to more remote ones, tucked away in the beautiful eastern fjords. Here are 12 of the most beautiful waterfalls in Iceland to add to your itinerary in the Land of Fire and Ice.
Exploring Iceland in a Campervan: What You Need to Know
Iceland is a country that was built for road trips, with seemingly endless hikes, waterfalls, and hidden beaches to explore. One of the most popular ways to explore Iceland is by renting a campervan, using an adventuremobile to serve as your accommodations AND transportation during your time in the country. My husband, Justin, and I recently traveled for two weeks around Iceland in a campervan and found out, firsthand, ALL of the highs and lows of exploring this unique country this way, from showering on the road to cooking food on the go. If you’re considering traveling around Iceland in a campervan, here’s everything to know, from the pros and cons of exploring this stunning country with this form of transportation to things I wish I knew before we rented ours.