Alaska #1
Scenic State Route 1
Trying to see Alaska by motor vehicle certainly has its limitations. When looking at a map of the state, only a relatively small section is accessible by road. Nevertheless, the scenery of Alaska can still be experienced from the highways, and Rte. 1 is one of the best. Driving into Alaska, Tok is the first major crossroads and where you pick up Rte.1, known as the Tok Cut-Off. As a highway, Rte. 1 is as well maintained as can be for one that experiences such extremes of temperature. The pavement is almost glassy but the underlying ground bucks the road into a mild roller coaster effect. If you've driven up the Alaska Highway to get here, it'll be the smoothest road you've seen in days. As Rte.1 rolls through the magnificent forests of Alaska, the first thing you start to notice is how big everything is.
Trees and wildlife all have to be hearty to survive the winters up here. The next sights you won't see in the lower 48 states are the glaciers. These aren't just frost caps on the top of mountains either, though there are plenty of those in the background. We're talking large expanses of flat ground covered year-round with ice yards-thick. Once you roll through Anchorage, keep following Rte. 1 down the Kenai Peninsula. Here you can see some of the prettiest parts of Alaska and can take a look at area fishing villages. Watch out as moose like it, too. After you pass Soldodna on the way to Homer, be sure to find a place on the high bluffs to pull over and look out over the water. While the beachfront recreation areas are a great place to camp, this high vantage point is the place to be as bald eagles waft by riding the air currents so close you can almost touch them. At the end of Rte. 1, Homer offers several dockside restaurants where you can end your drive by enjoying some fresh-off-the-boat Alaskan salmon.
Starting Point:
Tok, AK
Distance of Drive:
541 miles
Must Eat:
O'Brady's Burgers and Brew
800 E. Dimond Blvd., Anchorage, AK 99515
Phone: 907-344-8033
Call ahead to confirm hours of operation.
Good Stop For: 26 Different Hamburgers
Lands End
4786 Homer Spit Road, Homer, AK 99603
Phone: 907-235-0406
Call ahead to confirm hours of operation.
Good Stop For: Artichoke Dip
Best Time of Year for Drive:
Late spring to fall
Points of Interest on Drive:
Kenai National Refuge
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