16. Denali National Park & Preserve

Denali National Park & Preserve is a 6 million acre park centered around Denali, the tallest peak in North America (formerly called Mount McKinley). They offered the option of a guided tour through the park or just a transit bus. We opted for the latter, and lucked out by getting Elton Parks (yes, that's his real name) assigned as our driver. Under no obligation to talk to us at all, he was friendly, funny chatty, knowledgeable and made our 5 hour drive quite enjoyable.

Our goal was to absorb the beautiful scenery, spot & observe wildlife, and see Denali peak. Once again, the weather was uncooperative, and Denali remained huddled in the clouds. While our quest for a moose sighting remains unfulfilled, we did see caribou & bears.Read more