Alaska – the Last Frontier. There are few places in the world that have captured the imagination for so long like America’s largest and northernmost state.  This week, KDHamptons shares a  NEW Travel Diary from one of our favorite readers, Marco Luca, who shares his incredible adventure and breathtaking photography, below.  “Alaska is truly a destination that defies even the grandest superlatives,” shares Marco. “Glaciers bigger than my home country of Switzerland, majestic mountain peaks that reach higher into the sky than anywhere else in North America, and abundant wildlife inhabiting the endless carpets of the tundra – ablaze in autumn reds, oranges and yellows as September progresses. It was about time that I visit Alyeska – native Aleutian meaning ‘The Great Land’.”

WHERE TO GO

Kenai Peninsula: Start in Anchorage and head south to the fabulous Kenai Peninsula. Few highways in the US are as impressive as Seward Highway: drive along the coast of the Gulf of Alaska, enjoy the beautiful snow-capped Kenai mountains, and hike to one of Alaska’s most accessible ice fields: Exit Glacier. When in Seward, don’t miss out on a boat trip to Kenai Fjords National Park in the icy waters of Resurrection Bay, home to some of the most breathtaking vistas in North America.

The tour boats get really close to calving ice fields, and your chances of seeing marine wildlife are excellent. Your captain will stop the vessel and shout if there are whales in sight! (catch of the day of my tour, you ask? 3 Gray whales, 1 Stellar sea lion, and 50+ harbor seals!) Apart from Seward, reserve at least two days to drive down to picturesque Homer, the self-declared halibut fishing capital of the world. The Homer Spit is a long sand bar stretching into Kachemak Bay where you find the Salty Dawg Saloon, a local favorite.

Denali National Park: The highlight of my vacation. The fall colors of the tundra are overwhelmingly beautiful, and seeing a wild grizzly bear eating thousands of berries is a magical moment you will never forget. Denali National Park is also home to nearly 2,000 caribou as well as black bears, wolves, moose, and Dall sheep. If you’re blessed with a sunny day, you may even see majestic Denali (formerly Mount McKinley): What makes this 20,237ft icy giant (the highest peak in North America) so impressive is the sheer independent rise of its bulk. While Mount Everest rises 12,000ft from the Tibetan Plateau, Denali towers more than 18,000ft above its surroundings!

Dempster Highway: If you’re looking for the ultimate wilderness adventure, cross the border to Canada and drive the legendary Dempster Highway in the Yukon territory. It’s a bumpy 460-mile drive on a gravel road that winds its way through several mountain ranges and traverses the Arctic Circle up to Inuvik, close to the Arctic Ocean. Make sure you’re full on gas before you start!

Matanuska Glacier: Matanuska Glacier is one of Alaska’s most spectacular glaciers and easily accessible from Glenn Highway. A self-guided trail will take you onto the gravel-laced ice and into the icy wonderland of the mysteriously shimmering glacier. There are also guided tours that offer ice-climbing excursion, outfitted with helmet, crampons and trekking poles.

WHERE TO STAY

Alaska is all about the outdoors, and there is no better way than staying in charming wooden cabins, surrounded by clear creeks and golden birch trees. Don’t expect luxury, but cozy nights around the fireplace, hearing the raindrops on the roof while you cuddle in bed and fall asleep. It becomes a truly Alaskan experience when you’re sitting on the front porch the next day and spot a moose in the woods! You may also want to stay a week or longer in a remote fly-in lodge, without the restlessness that comes with driving day by day. The Ultima Thule Lodge comprises five uniquely handcrafted log cabins with gorgeous views of the Chitina River. After long days of exploring Wrangell-St. Elias National Park in small four-seater planes, you will certainly appreciate the wood-fired cedar sauna and outdoor hot tub of this extremely isolated lodge.

If you’re traveling in central or northern Alaska between September and April, I would strongly recommend to stay awake a little longer on clear nights to see the Aurora Borealis. If you’re lucky, you will be rewarded with an indescribably beautiful light show of waving green light streaming across the night sky.

WHAT TO EAT

Ready for some foodie adventures? Local favorites such as Dungeness crab, scallops, elk chops and bison filet delight the palate. Not to mention the salmon. Go for top-notch sockeye salmon, which is firm, rich, flavorful and brilliantly colored – forget how salmon tasted in the lower 49! And if you’re in Anchorage, reserve a window table at Simon & Seafort’s Saloon & Grill, Alaska’s best address for steaks and seafood. My order: Oysters Rockefeller with house smoked salmon, herb bread crumbs and spinach, followed by Norton Sound Alaskan Red King Crab. You won’t be disappointed, I promise!

To tag along on more adventures with Marco, follow him on Instagram HERE