Anchorage, Alaska – 2026 Experience

Our Anchorage Experience will focus on Beauty.  In a land marked by the pioneering effort, the preservation of First Nations’ cultures, and the advent of Christianity: we will focus on the God-given beauty of its landscape and that of its many cultures and peoples.  Immersing ourselves in Christian Alaska is important, as we learn of the coming of Missionaries from the Catholic Church, the Russian Orthodox Church, and various Protestant Communities. But dress warmly, especially for the IDITAROD!

March 3rd: Our trip to Alaska Consists of an opening Mass at Holy Rosary Church and a dinner Reception with talks focusing on the History of Christianity in Alaska. At the Reception, we will be meeting local friends of the Napa Institute in Anchorage, as they welcome us to this unique and beautiful part of our country.  

March 4th: We will begin our day with Mass at Our Lady of Guadalupe Cathedral.  This day is dedicated to the cultural heritage of Alaska. The highlight will be an exclusive tour of the Rasmuson Museum, with its Old Masters and fine examples of First Nations’ Craftsmanship, from ages past to the modern day.  We will also learn how the local people are reviving and preserving their traditional crafts, giving them a sense of dignity for their beautiful cultural heritage. One of the highlights of the Museum is the Smithsonian Section, which preserves the oral history of Alaska and archival photographic collections. 

March  5th: This is an exciting day of which plans are still on the way. Weather permitting, we will be circling Denali National Park by plane, including the peak of Mt. McKinley, of Denali in the Athabascan language – meaning “The Great One.” From there we fly to see the miles-long Oil Pipeline and we land at a Northern Alaskan town, where we will celebrate Mass.  We return to Anchorage for a festive dinner. 

March  6th: After breakfast and Mass, we will travel to spend the day at the locality of Girdwood. This is an hours drive outside of Anchorage; in order to enjoy mountain views, glaciers, and a Wildlife Center with flourishing herds of Wood Bison, Musk Ox, and Elk. 

March  7th:  Iditarod Day! To really get a good taste of Alaska’s culture, our trip is capped off by the Iditarod.  We will see mushers and their dogs taking off in the ceremonial morning opening of this race.  We will spend this time outdoors, so it is imperative to dress warmly.  Both locals and tourists are coming into town for this exciting event! We end our tour of Alaska with lunch.  Guests will depart this day with memories of a very unique visit.