Alaska Roadtrip with Anxiety and a Very Good Dog
Alaska is giant! Like “how is this still the same state?” giant. And while so much of Alaska requires boats, planes, trains, or a very healthy trust in small aircraft, we decided to do it the chaotic millennial way: an Alaska road trip with a dog during shoulder season. It was chaotic, slightly anxiety-inducing, and one of my favorite adventures ever.
This was a fall trip. The bears were mostly down for winter, the snow hadn’t fully committed yet, and Alaska was doing that thing where it looks calm but could absolutely humble you if you got too confident.
I’ve been dreading writing this post. Not because the trip wasn’t incredible, but because it was one of my favorite trips with Chewy. Writing about him now is hard. My cross-country move with him still holds the top spot for favorite adventure (and wow… those stories), but this Alaska road trip was special. He was happy, curious, slightly judgmental, and overall PERFECT!
So here we go.
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Kira and I flew into Anchorage on different flights because logistics are fake. Chewy and I flew Alaska Airlines, and he was an absolute dream traveler. We lucked out with an empty row and a flight attendant who encouraged me to take him out of his carrier so we could nap-snuggle like elite travelers. She also supplied enough pretzels to sustain Chewy for the rest of his natural life.
We landed late and went straight to our Airbnb.
Sometime in the middle of the night, Chewy woke from a dead sleep with a full-body “oh hell no” response. I have never seen that dog move like that. He was panicked and staring straight out the window, fully convinced something outside was looking for a snack and that snack was us.
Extra treats were deployed. Reassurances were whispered. Eventually, he decided we were safe enough to go back to sleep.
Our first full day was spent on a glacier cruise out of Whittier. Chewy sat this one out back at the Airbnb, enjoying a day of naps and peace.
The boat was warm. Lunch was provided. The water was calm. The scenery was unreal. Massive glaciers, dramatic cliffs, forests that didn’t look real, and wildlife everywhere. If you ask me which glaciers we saw by name, I will confidently tell you I have no idea. But they were stunning and far exceeded my expectations.
We saw lots of eagles and otters along the way. Alaska really said “look, but don’t get too comfortable.”
When we got back, we picked Chewy up and went to find food. And here’s where I’m going to be honest without naming names. We found zero good food in Alaska unless it was a chain. I don’t say this to hurt feelings, but I also don’t want you thinking every travel experience is magical and perfectly curated. Sometimes dinner is just survival. We’ll leave it at that.
Now, a special note about the drive from our Airbnb to Whittier.
Claustrophobic drivers and passengers, consider this your warning. This drive includes a one-way tunnel. It is one-way for extremely good reasons. It is incredibly long, incredibly dark, and looks like it was carved by the cast of Shawshank Redemption using prison spoons. I saw no ventilation, no emergency exits, and not nearly enough support beams to calm my nervous system.
Kira drove. I mostly closed my eyes and made up a song about how she needed to drive faster but not too fast, while also politely asking the mountain gods to please hold everything together just a little bit longer.
Do not judge me. It worked.
We headed north toward the Wasilla area, taking our time along the Seward Highway. We stopped at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, which is a drive-through reserve where you can park and get out for a closer look. Chewy loved this setup because he could see giant animals from the safety of the car.
This is where I saw my first real-life moose. Let’s be clear: Moose are way bigger than you think they are. Photos do not prepare you.
We also did a short hike up to Byron Glacier. Compared to the boat tour and what was still to come, the glacier views weren’t mind-blowing, but it was nice to get outside and move our legs. Chewy rode along in the backpack and let me know whenever my pace was unacceptable.
That night, while I was letting Chewy out for his bedtime potty break, we heard a wolf pack howling. Close enough that we immediately reconsidered all our life choices. I have never seen Chewy move that fast. Bathroom break complete! Mission aborted!
This day was filled with dogs, just not Chewy. The old man stayed back at the Airbnb to rest.
Kira and I went dog sledding at SnowHook Adventure Guides of Alaska, though there wasn’t enough snow for actual sleds. Instead, we learned about sled teams, played with the dogs, and helped exercise them using ATVs. The dogs ran in front while the ATVs followed behind. Commands were shouted. Stops were made for pets and praise. The dogs were thriving.
Then came the puppy pen. Absolute chaos in the best way. By the time they told us we needed to leave, I had three puppies attached to my pants and one actively playing tug-of-war with my sleeve. Thankfully, the company provides jackets, pants, and boots for this exact scenario.
Highlight of the trip. No contest!
On our last full day, we drove back toward Anchorage and dropped Chewy off with a Rover sitter. The old man deserved his own adventure, new friends, and new smells.
While he was busy living his best life, Kira and I went on a glacier tour with Alaska Helicopter Tours. Neither of us had ever been in a helicopter before, and it absolutely did not disappoint. The helicopter was smaller than I would’ve preferred, but once we were in the air, I felt surprisingly safe.
We got close views of glaciers, landed right on one, and walked around on the ice. The pilot also made sure to find us views of bears and moose while keeping a safe distance so the wildlife wasn’t disturbed.
This was an easy 10/10 experience and something I would recommend to anyone.
Afterward, we picked Chewy up and headed into Anchorage for a little exploring. It was a weekday afternoon, so a lot was closed, but we found a super cute art collective called Sevigny Studio. They loved Chewy riding around in his backpack, and I spent way too much money.
Worth it.
The next day, we flew home.
This Alaska road trip was wild, humbling, beautiful, and slightly terrifying. Driving it during shoulder season gave us quiet roads, dramatic landscapes, and moments that still sit heavy and warm in my chest.
This trip was special. It was one of those trips that sticks with you, even when it’s hard to revisit. And it will always have an extra place in my heart because it was the OG Two Girls and One Dog trip.
** Written by Emily & Loved by Kira **
