We had an amazing opportunity to visit some friends in Anchorage this past April. Not thinking twice, we accepted our invitation to stay at their house and be tourists for a week in this bucket list destination! Once we started planning (very last minute), I was immediately reminded that end of April/early May wasn't exactly tourist season in the great AK (peak season is mid-June through mid-August). So the timing could be considered either VERY GOOD news or not so great news, depending on who you are and how you like to travel. For us, we like to be immersed in our surroundings and away from the tourist crowds, so this timing could not have been better.
The Good/Super Awesome
Zero crowds and zero traffic. This isn't exactly fair, I don't think there is traffic at anytime, anywhere in the Anchorage vicinity EVER, even at 5pm in the middle of downtown. This is an amazing perk anytime of year. But THE best perk of off season or "shoulder season" travel was the lack of crowds at attractions, hiking trails and restaurants. We found ourselves many times alone on a trail, just us and the glorious surroundings (and the fleeting worries of a bear encounter). That is probably my most valued travel experience, one that you can't exactly plan for, but when you find it, you're just incredibly grateful for and present in your surroundings. We hiked the Byron Glacier Trail and literally had the place to ourselves, it was like a dream. Traveling during the off season can at least give you a much better chance of some peace, tranquility and help you avoid having to Photoshop out the bus full of tourists from your Denali photos.
Minimal mosquitoes. We weren't completely spared by the blood suckers, but I am assured we had it real good compared to the height of mosquito season. That's usually mid-June through mid-July, and I'm told the bugs are relentless. At the end of April, we saw maybe 5 mosquitoes and avoided bites entirely. It probably helped we had light jackets and long pants on most of the time. If you're like me, you loathe mosquitoes and go to great lengths to avoid the attacks so this was ideal timing.
Cost savings. Nothing is cheap anymore, but we did find a great price on direct flights from Denver, nearly $300 cheaper than average summer fares. Many of the flightseeing tour operators we found offered less frequent flights on fewer routes, but with rates ranging from $50-150 lower. Although, we didn't stay in a hotel for this visit, it seems most hotels during shoulder or off season can save you 25-50% off of peak season rates.
The Bad (but not that bad)
Seasonal closures. While there are many activities open year round, many big ticket attractions are closed for a good part of the Winter and Spring seasons waiting for the "thaw". We hoped to go to the Alaska Native Heritage Center, but it was closed until mid-May for employee training. The Alyeska Tram was also closed for maintenance as it had just wrapped up ski season and was prepping for summer tourists for their mid-May opening. Parts of the Kenai Fjord park were still closed due to risk of ice fall and several tourist and information centers had yet to open their doors for the season. To avoid major disappointment, make sure you check on daily openings and availability. I assure you there were just a couple surprises, and very few disappointments we weren't expecting.
Rolling the dice with weather. We had PERFECT weather at the end of April but realize this is not always the case. It had snowed for 3 days the week before. Temperatures were in the upper 50s and low 60s, and with sun, that made it feel perfectly comfortable. Locals were all in short sleeves, which meant I needed a light jacket. Better than we could ask for!
Minimal animal sightings. Spring is a tricky time, bears are starting to come out of hibernation and moose are starting to have their babies. So unless you can find a flightseeing trip out to the back country, you likely won't see bears fishing in the river or docile moose roaming around. My advice, avoid the moose as much as you can...stay in your car or house to have a barrier in between you and a potentially protective mama. To guarantee safe wildlife encounters, visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, which is open year round or book a flight to see wildlife from above.
The Ugly
Let's be real, there's no such thing as "ugly" in Alaska. You're going to love it, just open your eyes and soak it all in anytime of year that has decent sunshine.
My advice for off season travel is to seriously consider it, prioritize your must sees and activities and do your research to avoid the disappointments of seasonal closures. If you think you can see 90% of your big ticket items, go for it like we did. It won't disappoint!