If you’ve been following this blog for a while, you likely know that I’m a bucket list kind of lady. I don’t do well not adventuring, and I’ve learned that the best way to find my footing in every place we’ve been stationed is to explore. To do that, I make a bucket list. There have been times that I’ve done it seasonally, but for the most part, I do a giant one for the duty station (remember our South Korea bucket list or our JBLM bucket list?). So, today, I’m compiling our Fort Wainwright Bucket List so that we can keep track of all the amazing things we do and experience whilst here!
Our Fort Wainwright Bucket List
I always caveat our bucket lists with the fact that we add to it as we go. It’s sort of just a jumping-off point for us, so to speak, and it gives us an idea of where to start. Despite being absolutely obliterated by the kids’ sports schedules and Ryan’s never-ending TDYs, we’ve actually done a good bit here thus far. That being said, there is so much more that we want to do, too. I imagine it will take us all three years of our assignment (and then some) to even tackle this list. Nevertheless, here we go…
- Drive to the Arctic Circle
- Hike around Murphy Dome
- Visit the Alyeska Pipeline Viewing Point
- Experience the Aurora Ice Museum
- Visit the Georgeson Botanical Garden
- Go to Chena Hot Springs
- Visit the infamous Antler Arch
- Visit the World Ice Art Championships
- Enjoy a family trip to the Tanana Valley State Fair
- Spend an afternoon at Museum of the North
- Go cross-country skiing (a lot!)
- Dine at 49th State Brewing in Healy and visit the “Into the Wild” Bus
- Go dog sledding
- Hike Root Glacier Trail from Kennecott
- Visit the Running Reindeer Ranch
- Dry camp at Birch Lake
- See the Golden Days Rubbery Duckie Race
- Visit the Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum
- Spend a weekend in Chicken, Alaska
- Take a trip on the Alaska Railroad
- Experience the Denali Park Zipline
- Spend a 4th of July at the Glacier View Car launch
- Visit Katmai during the salmon run
- Go fishing in Valdez
- Check out the Iditarod
- Snowshoe around Wander Lake with the kids
- Do an open water race in Ketchikan
- Take a photo at the end of the AlCan Highway
- Take a glacier tour
- Visit Petroglyph Beach State Historic Park
- Hike Flattop Mountain in Anchorage
- Take the kids on a gold-panning adventure
- Go on a whale-watching tour
- Go on a family rafting trip on the Kenai River
- Spend a night at Alyeska Resort
- Take a helicopter tour of the Knik Glacier
- Camp and hike in Hatcher Pass during the summer months
- Visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
- Take the whole family to Sitka & see the Sitka National Historical Park Totem Trail (I’ve been once before!)
When we made our Fort Wainwright bucket list, our goal was to find a mix of things both local and far because, if you know Fairbanks, you know that we’re pretty far away from most stuff in Alaska…and Alaska is huge. Like, so big that Porter and I have to fly for a doctor’s appointment in Anchorage. But, I digress.
We also try to make sure we have a good mix of things that we, as adults, want to do, as well as things that we know the kids will particularly love. Some of these are lofty goals because that whole “Alaska Tax” thing they speak of? It’s real. Stuff here is incredibly expensive – especially for services and the things you do. That being said, we’re determined to make the absolute most of our time here, and we can’t wait to share more!
