Alaska Adventures Await: 4 Top Spots for Allied Health Travelers
THE FUN SIDE OF ALLIED HEALTH JOBS IN ANCHORAGE, FAIRBANKS, JUNEAU AND KODIAK
A travel allied health job in Alaska is a perfect fit for anyone who is itching for adventure and who loves the great outdoors. The endless summer days are the stuff of childhood fantasies, while winter brings a peaceful beauty and an unmatched array of snow sports.
Here are just a few highlights of the adventures you can find in our 49th state, in four of the most popular locations.
Anchorage
Alaska’s big city of 300,000 offers all the comforts of home alongside all the adventures of wild nature. Travelers who take jobs in Anchorage can spend a day off on a glacier cruise, witnessing shards of magnificent ice tumble to the waters below and catch glimpses of whales breaching and seals sunning themselves. Then they can return to town for the freshest of seafood dinners. If you have an adventure in mind, Anchorage has it--panning for gold, hunting, “flight-seeing” by helicopter, mountain biking, hiking and fishing.
Residents say that the perks of living in Anchorage include easily accessible biking trails, hiking and good restaurants. And allied health travelers don’t have to be wilderness experts to go outside. If running is your thing, there is a running club at Skinny Raven Sports that has a variety of events to help you meet people. In the winter, trails can be used for cross country skiing.
Fairbanks
Ever wanted to pet a reindeer, see the northern lights or meet a moose as you walk through town? Fairbanks might be a great place for your next allied health job.
A day trip can take you into the Arctic Circle where the summer brings 24 hours of daylight, the winter brings 24 hours of darkness, and you can experience the harsh environment that indigenous people have called home for over 9,000 years. Visitors rave about their experiences at Running Reindeer Ranch, where a guided hike takes you amid a docile reindeer herd.
Summer highlights in Fairbanks include the midnight sun, farmers markets, blueberry picking, salmon fishing, hiking, biking, boating, hot springs and music festivals. A famous winter event is the World Ice Art Championships. Additionally, Fairbanks is only an hour and half drive from North America’s tallest mountain--Denali.
Soaking in Chena Hot Springs in -30 degree temps and watching the aurora borealis (a.k.a. the northern lights) is considered a quintessential Fairbanks experience.
Juneau
If you love road trips, consider making the 35-hour drive from Seattle to Juneau part of your assignment experience. The drive will take you through Banff and Jasper, Alberta Canada, along the Alaska Highway (Alcan) and the Sign Post Forest. Be aware that getting your car to Juneau will include a ferry ride.
Sport fishing, kayaking, whale watching and a fantastic art scene, featuring Native artists, await you in Juneau. This southwestern Alaskan town has a walkable downtown, miles and miles of hiking trails through temperate rainforests and is nearly surrounded by mountains. Among the four destinations highlighted here, Juneau has the mildest winter temperatures.
Kodiak
On an island in southeast Alaska, a 13-week stay or an extended visit in Kodiak would allow you to experience a privilege most visitors miss--visiting an indigenous village. These villages, though they haven’t escaped the touch of the modern world, do offer a view into traditional culture and ancient subsistence lifestyles. Most are not accessible by car, but require a ferry or plane ride. Visitors to these villages can honor their hosts by bringing small gifts from their own home, enjoying local foods and listening to the stories the local people offer to share.
Kodiak is a fishing town of about 4,000 residents, where you can easily get to know people and are likely to receive an invitation to go fishing. The town also boasts a free aquarium with a touching tank where visitors can interact with tidal pool animals. The island is also host to a large number of majestic Kodiak brown bears, and is still very much a wild place.
Contact Club Staffing or apply today to start your allied health adventure--anywhere in the U.S.