💍Why Alaska? The Story Behind Our Trip to the Last Frontier.

You might be wondering... Why Alaska?

It all started with a simple, playful idea. As we were brainstorming potential honeymoon destinations, Samuel jokingly said, “What if we visited Juneau, Alaska—since we’re Mr. & Mrs. Juneau?”

We both laughed—but also paused. We’ve always had a deep love for the mountains, and the thought of getting a picture with the "Welcome to Juneau" sign as newlyweds sounded kind of perfect.

What started as a funny suggestion quickly planted a seed. I (Sophia) started researching out of curiosity—what was the weather like? What’s the local culture? When’s the best season to visit? What could we do there?

The deeper I dug, the more excited I became. That little idea grew into a full-on dream.

We found that May was the sweet spot—just before peak tourist season, with plenty of daylight and milder weather. From that moment on, we gave ourselves a year to prepare.

We started an adventure fund, pulling out cash from every paycheck and tucking it away—out of sight, out of mind. Slowly but surely, we saved enough. Every step of planning became exciting. I’d bring Samuel ideas like:

“Look at this cruise I found on Alaska.com!”

And he’d come back with:

“Did you know there's a scenic train ride to Seward? We could take it and explore the coast!”

Each new discovery made the trip feel even more real.

Soon we were buying the gear we had only bookmarked before. Then came flights, final bookings, and that nervous excitement over whether we were packing the right stuff.

And just like that, our “joke” turned into one of the most unforgettable adventures we’ve ever taken.

We’re incredibly grateful for the experience—and even more grateful to now be sharing it with you, in hopes that it inspires your own Alaskan adventure someday. 🏔️✨

✨ Thinking About Visiting Alaska?

We’re so glad we went—and we hope our story inspires your own adventure!

Want help planning?
Check out our free itinerary and more Alaska tips on our blog.

👉 Click here to explore

Let us know if you have questions—we’d love to help! 🏔️💬

🍴3 of The BEST Local Food Spots to Visit in Alaska

Alaska is a must-visit state — acres of untouched nature, scenic drives, and unforgettable wildlife sightings. But let’s be real—trying new local food is half the adventure (and helps keep the hanger away).

Whether you’re coming off a glacier hike or winding down from a wildlife tour, Anchorage has some seriously good eats. Here are our Top 3 Local Food Spots in Anchorage, Alaska you must try! 🏔️🍴

1. 🍕 Moose’s Tooth Pizza

From the moment we pulled up to Moose’s Tooth, we could tell it was a local favorite—the place was absolutely packed! We were grabbing takeout after a long hike, but the lively vibe inside made us wish we’d stayed to dine in.

Their menu is full of creative and crave-worthy pizzas. Some standouts include:

• Greek Gyro Pizza
• Chipotle Steak Pizza
• Call of the Wild (yes, with reindeer sausage!)
• Our pick: Mac 'N' Cheese Pizza 😍

We only had time to try one flavor, but we will be back to explore more of this funky, flavor-packed menu. Trust us, it’s worth the hype!

2. 🤤 Glacier Brewhouse

We hadn’t originally planned to visit Glacier Brewhouse, but a generous family friend (shoutout to Alaska locals 🙌) gifted us a meal here—and we’re so glad they did.

Located in the heart of downtown Anchorage and easy to book through OpenTable, this spot had cozy vibes and the best customer service we’ve experienced in a long time. We mentioned it was our honeymoon in our reservation note, and they made it truly special from start to finish.

Here’s what we had:

• Drink: Adult Root Beer
• Appetizer: Alaska Smoked Salmon Dip
• Dinner (Samuel): King Crab Legs & Alder Wood-Grilled Ribeye
• Dinner (Sophia): Grilled Shrimp & Scallop Skewer with Alaska Alder King Salmon
• Dessert: Complimentary S’mores Brownie Skillet (yes, please!)

We left completely full and incredibly happy. A must-visit for a cozy, celebratory night out.

3. 🍺 49th State Brewing

This brewery was another spot recommended to us by locals, and we wish we’d gone sooner! We visited the Healy location on our way back from Denali National Park, but they also have one in Anchorage.

Even before they opened, the parking lot was packed—a sign of good things to come. From unique beer flavors to delicious comfort food, everything hit the spot.

What we ordered:

• Drink: Root Beer Flight — Ripe Raspberry, Spruce Tip, Blueberry Cream, and Classic
• Dinner (Samuel): King Crabby Grilled Cheese 🦀
• Dinner (Sophia): AK Sockeye Salmon Melt

The food was amazing, and the root beer flight was such a fun (and non-alcoholic!) treat. If you love variety and bold flavors, don’t miss this place.

Watch our 3-Week Itinerary Reel on Instagram!! 📋

 ⬇️Watch reel here ⬇️

Alaska 3-Week Itinerary

Welcome to Wander With S&S!

Hi there, and welcome to our corner of the internet — Wander With S&S! We're Sophia and Samuel,  whether we're hiking through national parks, exploring new cities, or discovering hidden gems off the beaten path, we’ve learned a lot along the way — and we’re excited to share it all with you.

From detailed itineraries and gear guides to budget breakdowns and destination inspiration, we hope this space becomes your go-to resource for all things travel.

But we don’t want this to be a one-way street. Some of the best travel discoveries come from shared stories, so we’d love to hear from you too! Drop your favorite travel hacks, hidden gems, or must-try experiences in the comments, or connect with us on social. Let’s make this a space where we can all help each other explore more, stress less, and wander well.

Thanks for stopping by — we’re so glad you’re here. Let’s hit the road together!

Happy travels,

Sophia & Samuel

Trying Something New

We would love to share where we've been and where we're going. Follow along for the fun!