Karen Dillard

Anchorage, AK
Alaska Travel Agent Expert

I love my work as an Alaska travel agent since the state is a dream destination for anybody who visits it. Alaska is a terrific place to go if you're looking for adventure and the great outdoors. From Fairbanks to Anchorage, one of my favorite Ala...
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Denali National Park Travel Agent Expert

One of the great things about arranging Alaskan holidays is planning trips to Denali National Park - an awesome place to visit anytime of the year.  Alaska's core wilderness, covering 6 million acres, is protected by the Denali National Park and Preserve.  The tallest mountain in North America, Denali, once called Mt. McKinley, stands at 20,310 feet and serves as the national park’s focal point. The park is home to a wide variety of animal species, including grizzly bears, wolves, moose, caribou, and Dall sheep and has a landscape of tundra, spruce forest, and glaciers. Summertime activities include mountaineering, trekking, biking, and backpacking. While Denali was once called Mt. McKinley (honoring U.S. President McKinley), U.S. President Barack Obama announced that the country’s tallest mountain would be known as Denali in 2015. He did this to commemorate the Athabascan-speaking people from which the word, “Denali” originates. Prospectors who panned for gold along the Yukon River also named the mountain Densmore Peak. The mountain was referred to as Mt. McKinley after one gold prospector started using the name, which was tagged in a New York Sun article in 1897. A single thin road divides the six million acres of wilderness that make up Denali. The relatively low-elevation taiga forest gives way to snow-capped mountains, high alpine tundra, and North America's tallest peak, Denali (20,310 feet), as this northern journey is made. Wild animals of all sizes wander unfenced habitats, living like their ancestors. A remote trip--yet one filled with nature and all its wonders--awaits you in this Alaskan paradise. To get prepped for your Alaska adventure, I suggest you read the book, Travels in Alaska, penned by John Muir in the later part of the 19th century. John Muir, the founder of the Sierra Club, visited Yosemite as well as made some trips to the Alaskan wilderness.  Knowing something about Alaska’s history and the adventures others have made will make your trip to Denali National Park all that much more interesting. It’s also helpful to learn something about the area’s plants.  For instance, the region is home to 650 plus flowering plans, along with lichens, algae, moss, and algae. The growing season is not long. It extends from May 9 to about September 22 and usually does not start before April 22 or after the 26th of May. It rarely ends before September 3rd or the 9th of October. Therefore, the average season runs for 136 days or about 4.4 months. If you want to see Denali when plants are in bloom, it’s best to schedule travel from the mid part of May to early September. Whether you want to see wildlife and plants or wish to fish or hunt, I can arrange a one-of-a-kind Alaskan adventure. While sport hunting is permitted in the Denali Nature Preserve, Denali fly fishing is featured in some of the most scenic rivers and creeks in Alaska. You can fly fish in the Nenana River and its tributaries, including Jack River, Seattle Creek, and Fish Creek, as well as an abundance of other streams and creeks.  Also, you can visit Alaska anytime of the year. When you go depends on what you have planned. Let me help guide the way to an exciting Alaskan adventure and holiday. Give me a call anytime to make your Alaskan travel plans. I look forward to working for you as your travel agent professional for Denali National Park. 

My Travel Albums

Karen and Family Fishing Trips
Whittier Boat Harbor

My Reviews

7 of 11 people found this review helpful
Last Minute trip to Seattle
Positive: Professionalism, Quality, Responsiveness and Value
Karen Dillard took great care of me! She thought of every detail, shopped for the best rates and quality. I am so impressed with her thoughtful, professional, kind manner. Highly recommend her!
By  Caprissa Frawley  from  Denver, Colorado
Traveled to  Washington ~ USA
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
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5 of 7 people found this review helpful
The best trip of our lives visiting Alaska!
Karen is great! She really showed us the hospitality of Alaska. She was super helpful with planning the trip and during our stay in Alaska. We really appreciate her for putting in the effort for us to have a wholesome Alaskan experience. She is also quick at responding to our needs. When we told her that we were interested in dog mushing after we arrived in Alaska, she booked us a tour right away that night. My family and I had a wonderful time at Alaska thanks to Karen, and we look forward to visiting Alaska again!
By  Emily C.  from  Davis, California
Traveled to  Fairbanks ~ Alaska ~ USA
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
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Best Agent for Your Alaska Travels
Two years ago I started planing an Alaskan vacation for June 2024. I searched the internet for a travel agent and was directed to Karen Dillard. I told Karen my plans and she started to work. We were going to fly into Anchorage and fly out of Fairbanks. Next she suggested staying at McKinley Creekside Cabins. We loved this place! The rooms, the staff, the food, the views was excellent!
Next she suggested a cabin in North Pole. It was such a cute cozy cabin tucked away in the woods and it wasn't very far from Fairbanks.
I am thankful for Karen and her hard work these past two years. I know it was difficult due to some of my plans changing throughout the two years due to the amount of days I was able to be in Alaska.
Thank you Karen for your friendship!
By  Nancy P  from  Memphis, Tennessee
Traveled to  Alaska ~ USA
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
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She Provided Added Value to our Trip!
She was knowledgable about my travel destination
Working with this agent was convenient and easy
The agent provided added value in the planning process
By  Ronald King  from  Denver, Colorado
Traveled to  Alaska ~ USA
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
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Had a Awesome Time in Alaska!
Just got back from the trip. Had an awesome time, could not have done it without her! She was knowledgable about my travel destination
Working with this agent was convenient and easy
The agent provided added value in the planning process
The agent crafted the perfect trip for me
By  Edward Stefanovich  from  Orlando, Florida
Traveled to  Alaska ~ USA
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
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Destination Expert:

  • Denali National Park
  • Anchorage
  • Kenai Fjords National Park
  • Chugach Range
  • Fairbanks

Travel Specialist:

  • National Parks
  • Animals & Wildlife
  • Hiking & Backpacking
  • Adventure
  • Cycling

Certifications/Awards:

  • CTC

Industry Affiliations:

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