If there is any silver lining to be found during these crazy times, it’s this: Tons of people discovered—and rediscovered—the joys of camping last year, and we couldn’t be happier. It just reinforces what we’ve always said: Camping is the best way to travel!

And it’s really the best way to see Alaska, too! We’ve rounded up several articles describing the joys of both camping and road tripping this year for our annual New Year Travel Inspiration article – Camping Edition!

Camping is the Way to Travel

Campervans are poised to become the most popular form of travel in 2021, according to Outdoorsy.com‘s cofounder. In fact, she predicts that camping in all its forms—from tents to campervans to RVs—will continue to be the most popular form of travel next summer. We can’t argue with that! We think everyone should come and live the #vanlife!
5 ways RVs and camper vans could change travel in 2021

Outdoorsy.com is the leading online peer-to-peer RV marketplace, sort of an AirBNB for RVs, and it not only experienced ridiculous growth last year, it also inspired all kinds of different people, celebrities included, to hit the road in a camper! While we are, of course, partial to campervans, Outdoorsy’s listings include vans, RVs, and trailers, too.
A-list celebrities like Mariah Carey are choosing the RV life with Outdoorsy

Epic Road Trips

You don’t have to be a celebrity to take an epic road trip, however. In fact, you just need a van and a plan. And sometimes not even a plan! The Alaska Life has compiled a list of 7 amazing Alaska trips you can take in your van, whether your focus is fishing, or ghost towns, or getting away from the crowds:
7 Road Trips That’ll Fuel Your Wanderlust To Travel Alaska This Year

And while you can spend your whole trip in Alaska and be duly amazed and overwhelmed, we’re still anticipating the U.S.-Canada border reopening once again. You can take your van into the Yukon for epic views of mountains, lakes, forests and wildlife:
Exploring the Yukon

An Alaskan town has once again made Matador’s list of the 25 coolest towns in America. This time, it’s Fairbanks, and even though it’s on the list because it’s a winter wonderland, it’s super fun in the summertime, too, with its Summer Solstice festival and midnight baseball game, its gold rush history, its Museum of the North, and even its summer dogsledding!
The 25 coolest towns in America to visit in 2021

Camp Stove (or Fire) Cuisine

While you’re here, why not celebrate with Alaska’s most iconic dishes? Sourdough and reindeer sausage can be found all over the state and are the beginnings of a great camp stove meal (but we recommend letting someone else cook the King Crab legs or Kachemak Bay oysters), washed down with some local spruce tip flavored beer!
10 iconic Alaskan foods that show off the state’s abundant natural resources

Mugs of hot chocolate and campfires go together, don’t they? But hot chocolate doesn’t have to come from a packet. This article from The Outbound offers a few alternatives to the standard packets, while still providing that same snuggly warmth and happiness.
Awesome Hot Drinks for Your Next Campfire

And last, make a pizza on your camp stove! This video from Backpacker Magazine explains how to make one in the backcountry, but it’s even easier in your camper van kitchen. Bring along perishable ingredients and keep them in the fridge if you want, use bowls to mix the dough and sauces, and keep your cooking area clean with a sink and running water! The principles in the video still stand, though: Cooking on a camp stove is tricky, but with a little practice, you can make pretty much anything!
How to Make Pizza in the Backcountry

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Inspired yet? We certainly are! We’re ready to welcome you on your next epic adventure, so book now!

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Still daunted? No problem, we’ve got you covered. Try How to Plan an Alaska Road Trip, and How to Pack for Your Trip to Alaska. Or, see how real people did it in our How They Got Lost series.