Top Trails in America – Tony Knowles Coastal Trail in Alaska

Looking back, our piece the other day on Swine Flu Travel Tips was missing something important: an alternative. So you’re not going to Mexico, and you didn’t score a free upgrade to Jamaica like one of the USA Travel Guide staffers did just today. What to do? Well, you can take the money you would have spent on that Mexico vacation and buy a ginormous television (guilty as charged), or you can really avoid that pesky pig pandemic and take a trip to Alaska!

Ah, Alaska, one of my personal favorites! I’ve been there twice myself, and every summer I contemplate how I can trick someone into paying my way back there again. On the other hand, last time was met with considerable heartbreak.

Keep your options open with a visit to the largest city in Alaska, Anchorage, a great place to find cozy accommodations, shopping, upscale dining, festivals, concerts and of course the vibrant abundance of Alaska’s natural beauty. There’s plenty of cosmopolitan comforts for the evenings, but the late-morning, early-afternoon should be all about setting off on a brilliant, not to mention healthy, sightseeing adventure.

Anchorage has dozens of trails, but four what you might call major trails: Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, Lani Fleischer Coastal Creek Trail, Campbell Creek Greenbelt, Ship Creek Trail. Depending on the length of your stay, you’ll have ample time to explore them all, but if one day of fun in the sparkling Alaska sun is all you need (note: it probably won’t be sunny), then we say test your mettle against the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail.

Tony Knowles Coastal Trail in Anchorage, Alaska is a major recreation trail running nearly eleven miles south from downtown Anchorage to Kincaid Park. Because the trail frisks the coastlines of Knik Arm and then Cook Inlet closely, spectacular views accompany you every step of the way.

Not that you have to step: bikers adore this trail for its gentle difficulty and considerable length, and even the wheelchair-bound love to tackle the Tony Knowles. The northern leg of the trail, a 2.4-mile roundtrip between downtown and Westchester Lagoon, is a popular option for the fitness-minded or those who simply aren’t looking for an hours-long commitment.

For everyone else, there’s the breathtaking trip down to Kincaid Park. As you get further into the southern leg, there are a few steep grades that may tire and challenge a beginning hiker or biker, so just be careful and never overexert yourself. You don’t always know how exhausted you are until it’s too late, so be sensible and if you’re new to the area, please consider traveling with a partner.

Workouts are fun, but photo ops are better! I love the Tony Knowles, because there’s so much to see: lush forests, the Alaska coasts at Knik Arm and Cook Inlet, mountains and, of course, the wildlife. Lucky hikers might spy bears, moose, smaller mammals, a variety of birds and if you’re timing is especially superb, beluga whales. Close encounters are rare but do happen, so always be aware of your surroundings and never try to engage or agitate the (wild) animals. The trail is dog-friendly, so if you’re bringing your furry companion along, make sure he or she will behave in the event of an animal encounter.

Truth is, there’s nothing I can tell you about the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail that wouldn’t be better told through pictures. Trails of Anchorage has incredible photos at every half-mile point along the trail, along with photos for the other big three trails. You’ll also find maps, directions and tips. All around a great resource!

Where to stay? Our favorite choice for hotels in Anchorage, AK is the Inlet Tower Hotel & Suites. Ask for a room on an upper floor for a truly spectacular sight: the quaint humbleness of Anchorage against the backdrop of Alaska wilderness. It’s why they invented words like “breathtaking.”

Have a fun time, I know you will!

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