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Alaska

Discover Alaska by Rail: A Traveling Adventure

Program No. 1014RJ
Learn about the Alaska Railroad while journeying its entire length. Explore a cross-section of Alaska life (and wildlife) in Fairbanks, Denali, Anchorage and Seward.

Enroll with Confidence

We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. Learn more

Protecting the Environment

We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Learn more

Program
At a Glance
Duration
11 days
Program Begins
Fairbanks
Program Concludes
Anchorage
Meals
25 ( 10B, 6L, 9D )
Activity Level
All Aboard! Journey the entire 470-mile length of the historic Alaska Railroad from Fairbanks to Seward. Along the way you'll learn about life in the North and its people, culture and wildlife. Ride to Denali National Park- home of North America’s tallest mountain, 20,310-foot Denali where you'll explore its trails with one of Denali Education Center's educators. Then you'll head to Anchorage and experience the cultures of Alaska’s Native groups before heading to the harbor town of Seward to take in the grandeur of Kenai Fjords National Park.
Best of all, you'll...
  • View stunning scenery and wildlife on a journey into Denali National Park.
  • Visit the Alaska Native Heritage Center to learn about Alaska's diverse array of cultures and traditions.
  • Explore Kenai Fjords National Park by boat to spot glaciers, marine mammals, birds and the rugged coast.
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Karie Vix
Karie Vix has enjoyed showing Alaska to groups from around the world since coming up to drive a bus “for one summer” in 2004. She has held a variety of roles in the travel industry though she has an accounting degree. During the off-season, she works as a flight attendant and a truck driver. Karie lives in a cabin she built with her husband and stays busy doing carpentry projects, hiking with her dog, and inventing new ways to cook salmon.
Please Note:
This expert may not be available for every date of the program
Profile Image of Julie Noel
Julie Noel
Julie Noel has been enriched by outdoor adventures since a young age. She received a B.S. in special education from Indiana University and spent her career making outdoor adventures accessible for her students. Julie’s home away from home has been in the Denali National Park area since 2014, visiting family and working as a group leader for the Denali Education Center. When not leading groups through the wonderland of Alaska, she enjoys whitewater rafting, biking, hiking, knitting and reading, sometimes at the same time.
Profile Image of Jennifer Shippee
Jennifer Shippee
Jennifer Shippee has lived in Alaska since 2006. She first came up for a summer to work on the Alaska Railroad and fell in love with the State. She has shared her experiences and the rich history of the area with visitors since 2008. She has a B.A. from Goddard College and is certified in massage therapy and Jungian life coaching. She finds a deep spiritual connection with nature, which inspires her love of wildlife, photography, writing, history, and travel.
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Katie Miller
Katie Miller is a hospitality specialist with over two decades' experience in the travel and restaurant industry. Her love of travel brought her to Alaska in 2010 where she worked on the Wilderness Express, providing education and guest service for travelers on the Alaska Railroad. Katie’s career focus is on the growth and connection of the guest experience through travel and community. In her free time, Katie enjoys tending to her native plant garden and cooking for family and friends.
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Megan McDermott
Megan McDermott has lived and worked in Alaska since 2021. She arrived in Alaska six days after graduating college, with a degree in GIS and environmental sciences. Originally, she moved up for a summer seasonal job at an ATV adventure company. She then went on to work for the Forest Service as a wilderness ranger before coming to Denali Education Center. She has a passion for the Alaskan landscape, geography, and biodiversity.
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Chelsie Valetta
Chelsie Valetta—born in Buffalo, NY—first visited Alaska in 2012. After a seasonal job in 2017, she made the move permanent, settling in Talkeetna in 2018 with her partner and two spirited huskies. She worked four years at Denali’s South District Ranger Station before joining the Denali Education Center in 2025. Outside of work and directing the Oosik Classic ski race, she enjoys birding with her partner, reading in the sun, identifying plants, and exploring trails with her adventurous pups.
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Liz Hahn
Liz Hahn is originally from Wisconsin, and has lived and worked in some of the most beautiful places in the world, including five different National Parks, a dozen U.S. states, and two other countries but considers Alaska her favorite home. She believes in keeping knowledge and education accessible for all and lifelong learning is her deepest joy. When not collecting passport stamps or hiking hundreds of miles, Liz enjoys foraging, painting, and—above all—reading.
Profile Image of Katie Pankow
Katie Pankow
Katie Pankow has been enthusiastically showing off the state of Alaska to Road Scholars with the Denali Education Center since 2019. She’s an Alaskan resident who splits her time between Talkeetna and Denali. She holds an M.F.A. in acting from the University of Florida and a B.A. in English from Florida Gulf Coast University. When she’s not running learning vacations, Katie teaches theatre to local kids, goes for long hikes, cooks ambitious recipes, and reads lots of books.
Profile Image of Jordan Lammert
Jordan Lammert
Jordan Lammert is originally from Missouri but now calls Arizona and Mexico home after graduating from college in 2021. Since 2019, she has spent her summers in Alaska's wild tundra, doing everything from working in a salmon fishery to showing visitors Alaska's wildlife. In her free time, she enjoys hiking with her cat and dog, road tripping across North America, and camping while making s’mores and champurrado under the stars.
Activity Level
On Your Feet
This program is "On Your Feet." Your mobility must match the description. Reach out to Road Scholar or DEC with questions. Activities include city walking, hiking on maintained trails with varied terrain, wet/dry conditions, and even ice/snow. You must move about on a boat in open water and get on/off a motorcoach. Distances are up to 2 mi during scheduled activities. Hikes are optional with trails up to 2 mi in length with elevation changes up to 200 ft. Pace of the hikes is up to 2 mi/hr.
Suggested Reading List
View Full List (12 Books)
You can also find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
HAVE QUESTIONS?
Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone?
We can help. Give us a call, and we can answer all of your questions!
Call 800-454-5768
Enroll with Confidence
Peace of Mind

We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. That’s why we go to the ends of the earth to give you peace of mind, from the moment you enroll until the day you return home.

Assurance Plan

Road Scholar's continued commitment to our participants and their well-being is exemplified whether participating on a program in the United States or on one of our International programs, every Road Scholar participant receives coverage under our Road Scholar Assurance Plan.

Want to Protect Your Investment?

Road Scholar is pleased to offer its Trip Protection Plan as a way to protect your program investment. You may purchase this optional trip protection plan when enrolling in your program.

Sustainable Travel

We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Read about our commitment to a more sustainable planet.






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