This is my second visit to Alaska with my sister. We spent the majority of our time in Anchorage, visiting a few local attractions and friends. There’s no itinerary to follow, and we were just taking it easy and enjoying the winter. My previous trip to Alaska was five years ago, when I witnessed the northern lights for the first time in Fairbanks. Fairbanks is about about an hour’s flight from Anchorage, the starting point for the Alaska adventure. That time, we went in January, during the peak of winter, but as I remember, it wasn’t as cold as this time. Perhaps living in a tropical country for so long has changed my tolerance for cold weather.
[ Read: Chena Hot Spring Resort & Aurora Ice Museum in Fairbanks ]
Driving is the most convenient mode of transportation to getting around. Although I saw public buses on the road but I don’t think it is available in all area. We spent the very last two days at Girdwood, which is about a 45-minute drive from Anchorage. I am not a good driver in comparison to my sister, and I also do not feel comfortable driving with the steering wheel on the left, nor do I feel comfortable driving in unpredictable snow and icy roads like in Alaska. Hence, my sister drove the entire time when we were in Alaska last December. Thank you, sis! And, as usual, I assisted in checking the GPS direction, and from time to time, I would take some footage and photos from the passenger seat, capturing the scenery along the way.
As if we were in the winter wonderland, the view along the way was scenic, indeed.
I don’t make any plans to do anything in particular when I took the video or photos. But, I think it would be a waste to simply leave it in my HD. So I’ve created a short clip from the footage with the music that I think is quite go along well with it. You may notice that some of the captures were shot too low or high because they were taken with my phone and camera placed on the car dashboard while the car was moving. Haha… I removed and edited parts of the original video to make it less shaky and bumpy. I hope it is still enjoyable to watch.
In this video as well I have added a short introduction that is less than a minute but took me almost an hour to get the more proper one. Really, talking in front of the camera is still really not my thing. I am trying and still trying. Haha.. I also added a short opener before entering the main clip. I hope it does spark up the video a bit.
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Skiing is probably the most popular winter activity in Anchorage. Alyeska Resort in Girdwood is a popular place to stay and ski during winter. We saw many people – young and old – come in and out or check in when we were there. Those who do not ski or prefer to stay indoors, can curl up inside the blanket or relax and enjoy the resort’s amenities. There is indoor pool, fitness, and dining facilities at the resort.
It’s a joy to see friends and families get together to have some fun. Unfortunately, the cable car was out of service when we arrived and only the ski lift that is available. So, we decided to skip going to the restaurant that is located up on the mountain and just staying in. Even so, I still enjoyed watching the white scenery around and going slow – spending time with my sister whom I had not met for years. It was an enjoyable stay. Thanks to my sister who had arranged everything!
So, what do you think of Alaska, particularly around Anchorage? Feel free to let me know your thoughts in the comment box below!