I first visited Alaska in the summer of 1995, shortly after taking the bar exam but before starting my first job out of law school. Two similarly-situated friends and I spent a month driving around and experiencing as much as our then-meager budget would allow. I didn’t return for 24 years, when Keith Combs and I were invited to Bear Trail Lodge. Hanna and I went back during the COVID-plagued year of 2020, and this year we returned with four friends.

During the interim between my first and second trips, a few things changed: Hanna became a part of my life; my ability to spend improved; as did my gear; and my fishing experiences multiplied substantially.

Nevertheless, the primary reasons for going to Alaska have largely remained the same. It’s remarkably easy to get there, despite seeming remote, and you can enjoy a thrilling trip on just about any budget. Furthermore, you don’t need a passport, the primary language is English, and of course you don’t need to change any currency.

Beyond those basics, here are eight non-fishing factors that have remained consistent since ’95, and that I expect you too will enjoy on your first/next trip to the Last Frontier:

The People are Remarkably Friendly – Every place I’ve been in Alaska, people have gone out of their way to be nice. In 1995, we were invited to family cookouts, given floors to sleep on, and otherwise treated like boy kings. On subsequent trips, we’ve always noticed that fellow travelers are thrilled to be there and the locals are excited to show off their state. There’s a vibe of happiness and hospitality, tinged with extreme politeness, that makes it hard to have a bad time.
It's Still Expensive – I know that I wrote above it’s possible to have a great trip at a wide range of price tags. That’s true, but even if you’re tent camping and enjoying free hikes and other activities, the basics like a gallon of gas or a 12 pack of beer still cost more up here than they do at home. You can save, but not on everything, so as you figure out what you’ll be doing be sure to integrate that reality into your calculations.
It's Hard to Have a Bad Meal – I think of Alaska the way I think of New Orleans – the locals love their grub, especially if it’s made from local ingredients, so even at the most touristy establishments it’s tough to leave hungry or completely unsatisfied. Some places are of course better than others, but every place you go there are more than a few choices for exceptional food of a remarkable variety.
You’ll See Wildlife Without Even Trying – I’ve seen the bears at Katmai and in Denali, and chased other sorts of wildlife around various places, but you typically don’t need to go far or make special efforts to see something. On this trip we saw a moose and calf roadside as we left Exit Glacier. Last time we saw bighorn sheep on a roadside cliff near Girdwood. Our big addition on this trip was a pod of Dall’s Porpoises that played around the boat as we returned to port in Seward.

You Can Only See a Portion of the State – Alaska is 663,300 square miles, nearly twice as large as Texas. Much of that is uninhabitable or uninhabited, but there’s still lots to see and do, and you’d need a lot of time and float plane trips to make a dent in the options.
The “Uniform” Persists – Just about every serious Alaskan still wears Xtratuf boots and a Carhartt hooded sweatshirt. Add in some Grundéns bibs and you’ll be completely set up.
Ice Cream Everywhere – You’d think that a cold weather state would be big on coffee or hot chocolate or soup, and I’m sure they are, but at least during the summer months there’s ice cream everywhere. We tried a lot of it, along with many of the local beers. I’m not sure if there were so many brews back in ’95. We just bought 30 packs of Olympia.
Best of all, still no snakes! – You may get eaten by a bear, but Mr. No Shoulders will never surprise you enough to jump out of your waders.

Finally, I didn’t have a cell phone back in ‘95, and being off the grid really meant you were off the grid. I have one now, and I depend on it heavily for a lot of things, but the fact that I had no service many places was a nice temporary bonus. We were unconnected and able to fully immerse ourselves in the environment.