Our final morning in Alaska began earlier than usual, wrapped in that soft grey light that lingers even in summer. The air around Portage Lake was still and cold, and for a brief moment, I stood outside our RV and watched the mountains slowly wake up. After days of adventure, this calmness felt like Alaska’s gentle way of saying goodbye. We made a simple breakfast, cleaned up the RV, and began preparing for the return. By 10 AM we reached the RV rental office, and the finality of the trip hit us. Returning the vehicle took nearly an hour and a half—paperwork, inspection, unloading bags one last time.

The rental company offered a complimentary drop-off to the airport, and by 12:30 PM we were standing outside Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport with our bags and memories heavier than anything we checked in. We checked in our luggage, found a comfortable corner near our gate, and spent the next hour playing Sequence.

A Heart Full of Alaska

And just like that, our journey came to an end. Eleven unforgettable days—glacier hikes, endless highways, purple skies, fjords wrapped in fog, wildlife sanctuaries, mountain passes, and the quiet towns that welcomed us again and again. As the plane finally lifted off and the mountains fell away beneath the clouds, one thing was clear: Alaska doesn’t just give you memories. It gives you stories that stay with you forever.