How to make ‘see more of Alaska’ one of your New Year’s resolutions

New Year’s resolutions come and go. But one that’s at or near the top of my list each year is, “See more of Alaska.”

Anchorage travelers are lucky. There ar great nonstop flights to most of the state from our home airport. And there aren’t too many destinations that you can’t reach with just a single connection.

It pays to plan ahead to the most popular destinations. Then there are a handful of hot spots around the state that are super-spendy to reach.

You can use your Alaska Airlines miles to most, but not all destinations.

From Anchorage to Utqiagvik, you can fly nonstop on Alaska Airlines for $159 one-way, if you purchase your ticket 21 days in advance. Or, you can spend 7,500 Alaska Airlines miles. You can stay at the King Eider Inn, which is right across from the airport. Take your shoes off at the door. Or, stay down by the water at the Top of the World Hotel.

During the summer, the Top of the World Hotel offers a day tour, which includes a visit to the Inupiat Heritage Center, a drive to the northernmost point on the road system, a walk on the tundra and other highlights. A “polar bear plunge” in the Arctic Ocean is optional, but the hotel will provide a towel.

From Anchorage to Nome, the cost in miles is pretty cheap: 5,000 each way on Alaska Airlines. If you fly in the morning, you’ll travel with Horizon Air on one of their E-175 regional jets with 76 seats. The afternoon flight is a 737. You have to make plans at least 21 days in advance. If you want to pay for the flight, prices start at $174 each way.

Call Carol Gales at “Roam Nome” to show you around. Whether you’re interested in wildlife like musk ox, or Iditarod history, Carol can give you the inside scoop.

If you’d like to visit Kotzebue from Anchorage, the cost in miles is about the same: 5,000 miles each way. The cost in dollars is a little less: $154 one-way.

Travelers from Anchorage to Bethel can take advantage of some good fares, from as little as $112 one-way. Or, spend 5,000 Alaska Air miles one-way. Bethel is the hub for more than 50 villages in the Lower Kuskokwim River Delta. Communities like Akiak, Chefornak, Quinhagak and Kasigluk are available from Bethel. Prices on the small planes from Bethel are much more, though. From Bethel to Chefornak, for example, Grant Aviation charges $210 one-way for the 45-minute flight. They offer three flights each day on a Cessna 207 or 208.

Further west, in the middle of the Bering Sea, lies St. Paul Island. The major industry on this volcanic island is the Trident Seafoods crab processing plant. It’s the largest plant in the world. But a big attraction during the summer is the incredible variety of birds that stop during their migration. Birders from all over the world make their way to the island to see the rare birds, including some that you’ll only see on the island. Also, the northern fur seals return to breed on the island.

The local village corporation, TDX, offers a nature tour to show off the island and its wildlife. The St. Paul Island Tour includes accommodations at the hotel (located at the airport), all meals and is guided by naturalists familiar with the wildlife. Three-day/two-night tours start at $2,495 per person.

Ravn Alaska flies from Anchorage to St. Paul Island four days a week. Prices start at $660 one-way on the Dash-8 aircraft. Or, you can cash in 40,000 Alaska Airlines miles each way, plus a $19 charge.

If you want to see Katmai National Park, the nearest jet gateway is King Salmon. Horizon Air flies during the winter months using the E-175. But Alaska Airlines takes over in the summer with 737s. The cost is $199 each way.

Last summer, both Aleutian Airways and Ravn Alaska offered flights from Anchorage to King Salmon as well.

To get up to Brooks Camp to see the bears in July, take a short floatplane ride from the nearby dock on the Naknek River. Make reservations starting on Jan. 5 at 8 a.m. The campground is very popular, so call early: 877-444-6777. Day trips to see the bears also are available from King Salmon or Anchorage.

Farther down the Alaska Peninsula, anglers and bird hunters love to go to Cold Bay. Nearby is Russell Creek, which is loaded up with fat silver salmon. On the other side of the narrow peninsula is Izembek National Wildlife Refuge. Migratory ducks and geese stop in to feast on the nutrient-rich seagrass. The area is a perfect storm for outdoor enthusiasts who love to hunt and fish.

There are a few lodges that cater to visitors, including the Izembek Lodge and Cold Bay Lodge. Tickets cost $589 one-way on Ravn Alaska. Or, spend between 25,000 and 40,000 Alaska Air miles each way.

Speaking of fishing, Alaska Airlines flies each day between Anchorage and Kodiak for as little as $143 one-way. Or, redeem 5,000 Alaska Air miles each way. Just be sure and book your tickets at least 21 days in advance. Fishing charters that leave from Kodiak’s downtown harbor don’t have to go far before hooking fish. Keep an eye out for whales, puffins and all manner of wildlife, including bears. Learn more about what to see and do in Kodiak from the local visitors bureau, Discover Kodiak.

For a wild adventure, fly on Alaska Air’s twice-weekly jets out to Adak Island. The tickets cost $569 each way, but you can get there using just 7,500 Alaska Air miles in each direction. You can search around online to find a car rental and a condo to stay in. The caribou hunting is fantastic.

Another nearby magnet for outdoor lovers is Cordova. Tickets for the one-hour flight cost 5,000 Alaska Air miles, or $155 each way. There’s freshwater fishing in Eyak Lake or salmon and halibut fishing in the ocean.

In early May, the community puts on the annual Copper River Delta Shorebird Festival. You can fly over, or take the Alaska Marine Highway ferry from Whittier.

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Juneau, our state capital, is 568 miles from Anchorage. Alaska Air has several flights each day, covering the distance in about 1 hour, 40 minutes. Juneau is a fun destination in the summer. Go on the Mount Roberts Tram to get a head start on the mountain trail, or go whale-watching. Hike up to a glacier or go fishing in the abundant waters of the Inside Passage.

But during the winter, you can go visit our legislature at work. My state senator, Elvi Gray-Jackson, said it’s best to visit early in the session in February or March. Be sure and call ahead for an appointment. As a rule, legislators love to visit with constituents.

Budget 5,000 Alaska Air miles each way. The published price is $182 one-way. But tickets to Juneau go on sale often.

Tickets from Anchorage to Sitka cost more money: $249 each way. But it’s still the same number of miles: 5,000 each way. Ketchikan is a little farther down the coast, so it’s 7,500 miles each way. Or, pay $269 one-way.

There’s no shortage of dream destinations right here in Alaska to tempt you with a trip in the coming year. And if you’re staying on Alaska Airlines, the mileage redemption rates are great.

With our big airport and frequent flights around the state, a resolution to see more of Alaska might be the easiest to keep next year.

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