degas

Hi

Yeah, baby! North to Alaska!

Maybe a first time visitor next month. I'll have a rental car and 2-3 days (expect one full day and two half days).

Big on museums, native culture, scenic drives, maybe a short hike outside town or a good walk in town (please - no bears), and neat photo opportunities.

Appreciate some feedback on what to see and do, and best event flow combination so I'm not zipping back and forth. Also, alert me to any tacky tourist traps that rip you off.

I don't want much, do I?

thit_cho

Not sure if you want to get out of town, but the drive south to Seward is one of the most scenic I have ever taken, and the day cruises into Kenai Fjords NP are stunning (lots of whales, eagles, seals, etc.). I used Anchorage as a hub, and while I enjoyed wandering its streets for a few hours, it was a bit too touristy and wasn't my favorite part of Alaska. The Kenai peninsula, on the other hand, was breathtaking.

jetset1

* hmm, you are coming HERE? egads.


1. museums.. the largest is the Anchorage museum..
www.Anchoragemuseum.org.. right in the downtown area

1a. Alaska Native Heritage Center
www.alaskanative.net

2. Scenic drives.. drive south along the new Seward Highway, along Turnagain Arm.. water, mountains, birds, sheep,
or, to the top of bowl hill to Flattop Mt., I believe you follow O'Malley up the hill and look for signs.

3. Hiking.. lots of trails.. Tony Knowles Coastal Trail is a good one, which runs all the way to downtown from south Anchorage.. might be too much, depending on food/drink/fitness level

4. Check out The Mooose's Tooth for excellent gourmet pizza and microbrews, if so inclined..

5.Bears.. heh, doubt you'll have to wrastle any.. they are timid and any problem ones have been dealt with(usually black bears in neighborhoods on the hillsides that the ADF&G know about)..

5a.. being degas, there is also the "Bares" category.. Great Alaska Bush Co.. now, these bares may or may not bother you, depending on the tips.

Enjoy your stay, drive safely, keep your headlights on, and happy travels.. J.

abram

In Anchorage, we liked the Alaska Native Heritage Center, the Anchorage Museum of History & Art, and Earthquake Park.

degas

Thanks for the feedback.

thit_cho, I will get out of town a bit and do some drives.

Jetset1, I alsways carry thirty crisp dollar bills just in case I ever find myself in "Bush" country!

abram, I will put the Alaska Native Heritage Center on my to do list.

Gardyloo

Enjoy...

Cinnamon rolls at the Alyeska lodge bakery in Girdwood; Kodiak Islander burger and onion rings at the Arctic Roadrunner; fried chicken at the 'Bone; caribou sausage and cheese omelet at Gwennies, lots of beer at 'Coots. Defibrillator at any fire station.

dfnh

It was just a drive by but I enjoyed seeing Lake Hood where all the float planes are "parked". For a 1/2 day you would have enough time to head north to Independence Mine. Very nice restoration of some old buildings. Great glimpse into Alaska's past. It's a short hike to the mine's entrance. Hard to imagine a thriving mining town in the mountains and then it was gone.

jetset1

deags~ also, go to the Alyeska Prince hotel, take the tram to the top of the mountain, walk on the boardwalk adjacent to the hotel through the woods, stop at the Wildlife Refuge at Portage..

if you can get yourself up and around early on the full day, you could drive to Seward and take many good photos along the aforementioned route..

keep me/us posted on your itinerary..maybe I can meet up with you somewhere, and bring my Cars cd, and slug down a cold beer with you

degas

Jetset 1

Is the drive you mentioned the hour drive from Anchorage down the Turnagain Arm to Portage Valley?

Should I plan on a half day to make stops along the wy and also see Portage Valley?

I was thinking of a walk/ exploration in downtown Anchorage plus the drive to make it a full day. Make sense?

http://alaska.org/driving/portage-va...spur-drive.htm

jetset1

yes, I would endorse your route..you could take the Whittier tunnel and maybe do a smaller cruise around the bay.. I had relatives who enjoyed that as much as the Seward Kenai Fjords tour, which is much longer..

will look into a few possibilities for you.. what are your travel dates?

if you are needing attention in the airport, take the bear spray out of your luggage and begin to spritz yoursef before you get the rental car.. the pandemonium would be priceless

degas

jetset1, I'm still working on the scam to get me up to Alaska. Dates are up in the air. Hope sometime in Jul or early Aug. Seeing all this superb landscape motivates me to try harder!

What about Arctic Valley Road? Do it first? A letdown after the Portage Valley drive?

atravelynn

Bike (or hike) along the Coastal Trail in Anchorage. You can rent bikes.