Congratulations to the 2024 Alaska Travel Photo Contest winner: Linea Marshall!
Linea's photo was top pick out of more than 500 entries. It wasn't only the composition and natural beauty that caught our eyes. It was the feeling it gave us. The feeling of exploring new places, of there being something special and surprising around every bend, whether it's a bend in the trail or the train track.
We touched base with Linea to hear more about her time in Alaska. It's a good read!
What’s your Alaska story?
I visited Alaska for the first time in July 2021, a couple months after graduating college. I grew up in Florida and had always wanted to live somewhere farther north (although originally that meant the northern Lower 48!) and was doing some job hunting to that end. After a day trip to Georgia Aquarium, I thought working at an aquarium or wildlife center would be interesting, and that led me to apply to several job openings at facilities across the US, including an internship position that I came upon at the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward, one of the stops on my trip in July.
On December 8, 2021, I received the call offering me the internship. Less than a month later, I flew cross-country from Orlando to Anchorage. When I left Florida, it was 80 degrees. When I landed in Anchorage, it was -8. The coldest temperature I had ever encountered. That was an experience! By the time I finished my internship, I had decided I wanted to stay. I found a year-round job in Seward and have called Alaska home ever since.
Can you tell us about the photograph? Location, what the day was like, had you been on the train before … etc?
The train had been on my family's and my bucket list since we first visited Alaska, and this year we were finally able to make it a part of the itinerary for their visit in late August. We took the Seward to Anchorage route, which I was very excited for because a good portion of the route passes through parts of the Kenai Peninsula that are off the highway system, so all the sights were brand new to me. When we came back to paralleling the highway, the most beautiful sunset was beginning along Turnagain Arm. I took this photo right before the Girdwood stop, when the sun had just emerged from behind the clouds. I loved the way the sunbeams lit up the mountains and the train as it turned the curve. The sunset continued until we came into Anchorage, and I got some of my favorite photos I've ever taken that day.
What are some of your favorite places in Alaska? To photograph or otherwise!
Oh, I could write an entire essay on my favorite places in Alaska. Of course, I'm biased toward Seward. There are breathtaking hikes for every skill level, from Two Lakes and Tonsina to Lost Lake and the Harding Icefield Trail. The glacier/wildlife cruises out into Kenai Fjords are really a must-do. I've seen something new every time I've gone out on one. I've also done a bear viewing day trip to Hallo Bay in Katmai National Park, as well as a trip to Brooks Falls, and nothing beats watching the sows dig for clams with their cubs on the beach of Hallo Bay or seeing a huge male catch a leaping salmon from the lip of the falls. You feel like you're on location with National Geographic.
Hatcher Pass and Talkeetna are probably my other two top favorite places in Alaska. Honestly, anywhere in Alaska is a photographer's paradise, but Hatcher Pass is especially beautiful. It has incredible views, whether you're driving the road or backcountry hiking, and there are nearly unlimited outdoor adventure opportunities all year long. Talkeetna has great views of Denali if the mountain is out and the best cinnamon rolls on Earth at Talkeetna Roadhouse. Seriously. They're the size of a dinner plate and everyone I've taken there has also raved about how delicious they are. I've also gone on a Denali glacier landing flightseeing trip out of Talkeetna, and I don't think anything will ever top that experience. There is no way to describe the feeling when you're standing on a snow-covered glacier surrounded by the tallest peaks in North America.
Any Alaska travel advice for future visitors?
If you think this may be your only opportunity to travel to Alaska, try to do as much as you can. I never thought I'd get to visit again, much less live here. But don't pack your itinerary so full that you're constantly on the go from one thing to another. Schedule in a day or two to slow down. If you're from the US, there's nowhere else like it in the Lower 48. I don't think there's anywhere else like it in the world, really. You're in *Alaska*. Take time to soak it all in.
There were so many incredible contest entries this year, showcasing the Alaska experience from every angle. A sincere thank you to all the talented photographers who entered their photos!
Curious about the photo location? Learn more about this beautiful Alaska Railroad route.
At Alaska Tour & Travel, we specialize in building custom trips for every timeline, personality, and budget. If you'd like to have an Alaskan plan your Alaska trip, give us a call at 800-208-0200.
Posted in: Favorite Places