Gobble Up the Last Frontier An Alaskan Thanksgiving Safari

When you think turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce, Alaska might not be the first place to come to mind. But that's precisely why it should be. Here in the land of extremes and the unexpected, Thanksgiving isn't just a meal; it's an expedition—a journey through gustatory delights and natural wonders that redefine gratitude.

Embarking on this mission means tossing aside your Macy's Parade dreams for something wilder... much wilder. It’s about taking a chopper over Denali instead of watching football re-runs (Denali National Park & Preserve, AK 99755). You'll need thermal gear rather than festive sweaters—it’s cold out there in nature’s playground!

But let’s start with food because what is Thanksgiving without excessive caloric intake? The traditionalists head straight for Turkey Red (550 S Alaska St., Palmer, AK 99645), where farm-to-table takes on meaning beyond buzzwords as organic ingredients are sourced within view most days. For something less conventional but equally Alaskan, we hunt—and I mean literally hunt—for our dinner here. Try joining a guided hunting trip for ptarmigan or even reindeer—an experience sure to make any table game at Grandma's house seem tame by comparison.

If you’re not one for pulling the trigger yourself but still crave that authentic local twist—may I suggest The Salmon Bake’ where fire pits roasting fresh-caught salmon dot the landscape like some primordial feast fit for Jack London characters (2300 Airport Way South Fairbanks, AK 99701).

In between bites; however—because pacing is key when feasting across an entire state—you must explore! Picture this: Kayaking around icebergs at Spencer Glacier after helping Outward Bound volunteers serve hot meals to Anchorage's homeless population (APU Kellogg Campus Center 4400 University Dr., Anchorage AK 99508). That juxtaposition defines living authentically up north - rugged compassion against an unforgiving backdrop.

And who needs pumpkin pie when you can sip locally crafted birch syrup while discussing Robert Service poems beside a crackling woodstove in Talkeetna Roadhouse? This century-old establishment has walls soaked with tales more potent than its stiffest toddies—outsized legends fitting of their surroundings (13550 E Main St., Talkeetna, AK 99676).

Evenings wrap up under aurora borealis light shows—if Lady Nature obliges—with fellow nomads bonding over shared experiences of uncharted territories ventured throughout each day or perhaps sharing stories highlighted from Jon Krakauer’s 'Into The Wild,' which echoes profoundly here amidst expansive wilderness.

An Alaskan Thanksgiving isn't merely observed; it invades your being with its sheer force and beauty—the omnipresent mountains reminding us both how small we are yet partaking in something grandiose simultaneously.

As Hunter might’ve put it himself: Buy the ticket [to Alaska], take the ride...and enjoy every eccentrically bizarre munch and crunch along this snowy trail less gobbled.

Websites & Twitter Handles:

- Turkey Red (@TurkeyRedAK): www.turkeyredak.com

- Denali National Park & Preserve: www.nps.gov/dena

- The Salmon Bake (@SalmonBake): www.salmonbakealaska.com

- Outward Bound (@OutwardBoundUSA): www.outwardbound.org

- Talkeetna Roadhouse (@TalkeetnaRH): www.talkeetnaroadhouse.com