Well, it’s official, folks: we’re hitting the road very soon! Starting at the end of June, we’ll begin the first leg of our global adventure with an epic drive from Miami to Alaska—about as far as we can go on the North American continent. It will be a long, relatively brisk journey, since we only have about a month to get there. Why the rush? We have an important date with some bears on July 31st, which involves a pricey, non-refundable water taxi (more on that later).
Yes, we're moving back into the Airstream—this time as a family of five sharing roughly 200 square feet. It's a good thing Alaska is massive because we’ll need to spend a lot of time outdoors.
Why the Last Frontier of Alaska?
Here’s why we chose this as our first segment of our world trip:
-Alaska is EPIC. It has 3,000 rivers, 3 million lakes, 29 volcanoes, 33,000 miles of coastline, the largest rainforest in North America, and is twice the size of Texas! The superlatives of this massive state are seemingly endless.
-Alaska is WILD. It boasts a superb wildlife: human ratio and is home to many endangered and threatened species, including blue, bowhead, fin, and sei whales, polar bears, Steller sea lions, and arctic ringed seals.
-Alaska is FOREIGN to us. We’re going from palm trees to the polar ice caps of the Arctic. We’re excited to meet and learn from indigenous communities who’ve lived in these frigid, remote landscapes for generations.
-Only Dana has seen Alaska—and that was on a childhood cruise. This time, it’s new territory for the rest of the family.
-Our sister and brother-in-law run the Wild Alaskan Company and are based there in the summer. We have a big birthday to celebrate there this year.
Why drive?
We get this question a lot: Why not just fly to Alaska?
Here’s why we’re opting to drive:
Alaska is made for RV travel.
Many of the best places to explore by road have few hotels or lodges, and they book fast in summer. RV travel gives us the freedom, flexibility, and access we need—and we already know our Airstream (aka La Tortuga) inside and out.We prefer slower travel.
There’s something special about seeing the landscapes and terrain evolve while gradually getting acclimated to the various environments. Flying is great for business travel, but it’s unnatural and rushed. We prefer to savor the experience and the journey to distant places whenever possible.There’s magic along the way.
From the Florida scrub jay and maybe the ghost orchid, to Hot Springs National Park, to meeting with the Cherokee and Sioux communities on the Great Plains, and possibly spotting the endangered black-footed ferret in the Badlands—this route is packed with once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. And yes, we’ll try to soak in Liard Hot Springs on the Alaska-Canada Highway.This is for all of us.
Our daughter missed our last cross-continent trek since she was not yet born. This is her chance to experience the wonder of a road trip across the continent.
The Plan
We’ve mapped a route that balances efficiency with wildlife opportunities, and yes, we’ve consulted with ChatGPT to help out a bit. If you’re a human with local knowledge, route tips, or can’t-miss experiences, please send them our way!
We will need to average about 3 hours of driving per day. However, the plan is to take at least one or two full days off each week. On most driving days, we’ll aim for 4–5 hours max, allowing flexibility for the unexpected—whether that’s a wildlife sighting, a flat tire, or a perfect roadside hot spring.
In the coming weeks, we’ll share our packing list, Airstream prep, and the highs and lows of gearing up for this new chapter. Thanks for following along—we’re glad you’re here!
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