The best of the best: Day Trippin's top 5 trips

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — This summer has offered perfect days for daytrips - bright and sunny weather that was vastly different from last summer.

First stop and number five on the Day Trippin' tour -- rock climbing at McHugh Creek's Boy Scout Rock with local guide service Ascending Path.

"One of the things I love about rock climbing is its problem solving -- its physical problem," Ascending Path founder and guide Matt Szundy said.

The number-four pick was horseback riding with Horse Trekkin' Alaska through Richter Loop.

The number-three favorite Day Trippin' pick was blueberry picking near Rabbit Lake with a group of hikers who consider stopping to pick berries a relaxing break.

"I just like to sit and either be chatting with friends or just thinking," hiker Diana Johnson said.

The number-two pick was a scenic train tide to Spencer Glacier with Whistle Stop Tours via the Alaska Railroad.

"You come around the corner there and suddenly this comes into view - it's pretty impressive" Whistle Stop Tours guide Margaret Windsor said.

But the big champion voted number one was a daytrip to Nancy Lake State Recreation area near Willow, where a Channel 2 team including editor Casey Grove, photographer Zac Gooch, and Grove's dog Jupiter, portaged 14 lakes in one day.

Though varied, all of the daytrips held a common purpose -- enjoying Alaska's wildlife and admiring the landscape of the Last Frontier, a one-of-a-kind place that offers daytrips that can't be found anywhere else.

Contact Leyla Santiago at lsantiago@ktuu.com