Now that we’ve shared some pre-wedding details, here’s a look at our ten-day honeymoon in Alaska. Our goal was to experience America’s largest state together and to share it through our eyes—although a lot of the photos probably just show the quirky ways we Petersiks like to entertain ourselves when traveling (case in point: a ring photo we snapped on a hike during our one-week anniversary).
First, the obvious question: why Alaska? It doesn’t exactly fit most people’s idea of a “dream honeymoon,” but it made perfect sense for us. We wanted to bring Burger along, which made domestic travel easier and more relaxed since he’s an easy companion and part of our little family. We also wanted somewhere neither of us had visited before — Hawaii had recently been crossed off — and Alaska felt adventurous and a little offbeat, which suits us. In July the long daylight (often 19+ hours) gives comfortable temperatures in the 60s and 70s, with glaciers and snow-capped peaks an easy drive away. The result felt like visiting multiple climates in one trip: mild coastal areas, rainforest valleys, and high-elevation icefields.
We arrived in Anchorage with just a hotel reservation, a rental car, a chihuahua in a travel bag and an open itinerary. Our first day was spent exploring downtown and getting the lay of the land, but Alaska is really about the outdoors, so we didn’t linger in the city. We did, however, indulge our newlywed silliness with a few souvenir photos—because why not be a moose or a polar bear for a laugh?
One of the highlights was a road trip along Highway 1. We prefer road travel to cruises, and this route didn’t disappoint: glacial waterfalls, snowy peaks, sunny skies and wildlife kept pulling us off the road for photos. We stopped to see dall sheep on cliffs and even dipped our toes into melting glacier runoff—bracingly cold, but worth it for the experience.
Our first major stop was the Alyeska Resort, where we enjoyed a rare fancy day thanks to a couples hot-stone massage gifted for our wedding. Even in July the resort felt alpine and dramatic. It sits amid lush, temperate rainforest, so one moment we were hiking through damp greenery and the next we were riding a tram above the clouds, eating lunch with a view of snow-capped peaks.
After a luxurious night at Alyeska—the nicest hotel we’d stayed in up to that point—we continued on to Seward. Along the way we stopped for scenic overlooks, an up-close look at a glacier, and a hike that was cut short by a recent bear sighting (on our wedding day, no less). Those spontaneous stops are what made the drive memorable.
Back in Anchorage we kept enjoying the outdoors. One day we rented bikes for a 14-mile ride along a coastal paved trail. True to form, we brought Burger along in a “kid caboose” so our pup could join the adventure. People stared, of course, but Burger loved it—he even protested when we stopped pedaling.
For a grand finale we took a private seaplane tour. With our hotel next to Lake Hood, the world’s busiest seaplane base, it was an obvious way to see Alaska from above. We stayed on the ground with Burger while flying over vast wilderness and toward an active volcano. The flight was incredible: we snapped hundreds of photos, spotted moose, seals and even a mother bear with cubs, and watched lush green terrain give way to icy glaciers and stark arctic scenery.
We even landed on a remote lake and explored a tiny island covered in wildflowers before heading back. It felt rugged in the best possible way—easy to access from the city yet wholly wild.
That was our first vacation as a married couple: a mix of relaxation, unexpected scenery and a lot of small, joyful moments. We’d love to hear about your honeymoon experiences or dream destinations, and any great Alaska stories you’d care to share.
See more photos from our Alaskan honeymoon in our Flickr album (view with captions to know what’s going on).