She Moved to Alaska Without Ever Visiting. Now She Is Preparing for Her First Baby

Julie Caples grew up near Houston, Texas, but decided to make an extraordinary change in her life when she and her husband moved to Alaska without ever visiting the state first.

A New Life in Alaska

Caples and her husband settled in Fairbanks, trading the familiar surroundings of Texas for a remote northern community known for long winters and extreme temperatures.

The move was a major adjustment. Caples quickly discovered that the cold was not necessarily the hardest part of life in Alaska.

The Darkness Was Harder Than the Cold

During the winter months, Fairbanks can experience only a few hours of daylight each day. Caples said the extended darkness was more difficult for her than temperatures that could fall far below zero.

She also had to adjust to long periods indoors, difficult commutes and the feeling of isolation that can come with months of harsh winter weather.

Then Alaska Became Home

Despite the challenges, Caples gradually developed a different relationship with winter. What once seemed intimidating eventually became her favorite season.

Instead of seeing the darkness and cold only as obstacles, she learned to embrace the quieter lifestyle and the unique beauty of Alaska.

A Baby on the Way

Now Caples is preparing for another major change. She and her husband are expecting their first child and plan to raise the baby in Alaska.

The timing means Caples will experience an Alaskan winter while also preparing for life as a new mother, bringing an entirely new set of challenges to the life she has built there.

From Texas to a New Beginning

Caples’ journey began with a decision that might have seemed risky: moving thousands of miles away without ever seeing her new home in person.

Years later, Alaska has become the place where she wants to build her family. The woman who once had to learn how to cope with the cold and darkness is now preparing to welcome her first child there.

Source: People, October 6, 2026.