my alaska adventure
Sep 12th, 2012, 09:16 AM
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my alaska adventure
We flew into anchorage airport friday night aug 31. a bit of a wait at the rental car counter and we were off to days inn in downtown anchorarge. it was inexpensive (for anchorage-$150)
and a bit of a dive. but we thought we merely needed a bed because we were going to get up early to catch the ferry from whittier to valdez.
SATURDAY
which we did. the drive to whittier takes less than an hour but you need to plan to arrive when the traffic flow through the tunnel is going in the right direction. no wildlife sightings as we drive down turnagain arm. we had made a reservation with the ferry for our car and bought tickets in advance, and we went into the ferry office to get our paperwork. no problem. we then check and get in line for the ferry. saturday is rainy and cloudy. the ferry ride is not particularly eventful-my brother says he saw some porpoises, the ferry goes pretty fast, and we get into valdez in 3 hours at about 3pm. it is still very cloudy--i have seen pictures of valdez when it is clear and it is striking. no such luck today. we investigate valdez-there is a salmon viewing platform just outside of town which is interesting. a large number of salmon congregated there. and the ranger in the office is very helpful about what to do in valdez. she tells us, for example, where to drive after dinner to try to see a bear. we checked into the best western valdez, which had rooms with a view of the channel. it is a pretty average hotel. we ate at the restaurant next to the hotel, which was pretty good. the focus of most alaskan restaurants is as you might expect salmon and halibut. we then sent a bit outside of town where the woman told us to go and we see a bear cub. i'm a little nervous because the tourists are getting pretty close and i think mama is going to show up at any moment.
SUNDAY
the next morning we look around at the valdez museum, which had a number of interesting things about valdez and its history. also we learn more about how the natives were treated--much like the native americans in the lower 48. a very sad story. it's still cloudy and overcast.. we begin our drive back to anchorage on the richardson highway. it's still cloudy and overcast, so we dont see much. there is a place on the highway where the oil pipeline is right by the road. we stop and play around with the pipeline--i take some photos adnwonder if the FBI is going to grab me.
when we get to the glenn highway and turn off, it begins to clear up. we stop at the worthington glacier-wher you can walk by the glacier and learn about glaciers. the drive down the glenn highway becomes spectacular-- a mountain range on our left. we get to one of our special stops on the trip- a place called majestic valley lodge. this is amazing. the setting is stunning. a beautiful small inn with a striking view. we had made reservations for dinner, in part because there was nothing around there. but the dinner was very nice--and then there was a campfire in the back yard to watch the sun set over the mountain. another routine day.
MONDAY
we get up and continue our drive.to anchorage. there is another glacier we go by. we get back to anchorage and stop at the alaska native center. this is surprisingly rewarding. we encounter some native artisans selling their wares and have a very enjoyable conversation with one of them. there are displays of various aspects of native culture. there is live story telling, dancing, singing. and there are examples of how various groups lived and protected themselves from the elements.
then we continue on to our next stop--the Alyeska Hotel in Girdwood.. this is a wonderful hotel. we get ourselves to the hot tub. we decide to splurge and go up the tram to the 7 glaciers restaurant. i have some great soup and my SO has some wonderful crab legs. the view is wonderful, and the design of the restaurant pretty interesting. NB-the tram ride is free if you have made dinner res at the restaurant--otherwise $10.
and a bit of a dive. but we thought we merely needed a bed because we were going to get up early to catch the ferry from whittier to valdez.
SATURDAY
which we did. the drive to whittier takes less than an hour but you need to plan to arrive when the traffic flow through the tunnel is going in the right direction. no wildlife sightings as we drive down turnagain arm. we had made a reservation with the ferry for our car and bought tickets in advance, and we went into the ferry office to get our paperwork. no problem. we then check and get in line for the ferry. saturday is rainy and cloudy. the ferry ride is not particularly eventful-my brother says he saw some porpoises, the ferry goes pretty fast, and we get into valdez in 3 hours at about 3pm. it is still very cloudy--i have seen pictures of valdez when it is clear and it is striking. no such luck today. we investigate valdez-there is a salmon viewing platform just outside of town which is interesting. a large number of salmon congregated there. and the ranger in the office is very helpful about what to do in valdez. she tells us, for example, where to drive after dinner to try to see a bear. we checked into the best western valdez, which had rooms with a view of the channel. it is a pretty average hotel. we ate at the restaurant next to the hotel, which was pretty good. the focus of most alaskan restaurants is as you might expect salmon and halibut. we then sent a bit outside of town where the woman told us to go and we see a bear cub. i'm a little nervous because the tourists are getting pretty close and i think mama is going to show up at any moment.
SUNDAY
the next morning we look around at the valdez museum, which had a number of interesting things about valdez and its history. also we learn more about how the natives were treated--much like the native americans in the lower 48. a very sad story. it's still cloudy and overcast.. we begin our drive back to anchorage on the richardson highway. it's still cloudy and overcast, so we dont see much. there is a place on the highway where the oil pipeline is right by the road. we stop and play around with the pipeline--i take some photos adnwonder if the FBI is going to grab me.
when we get to the glenn highway and turn off, it begins to clear up. we stop at the worthington glacier-wher you can walk by the glacier and learn about glaciers. the drive down the glenn highway becomes spectacular-- a mountain range on our left. we get to one of our special stops on the trip- a place called majestic valley lodge. this is amazing. the setting is stunning. a beautiful small inn with a striking view. we had made reservations for dinner, in part because there was nothing around there. but the dinner was very nice--and then there was a campfire in the back yard to watch the sun set over the mountain. another routine day.
MONDAY
we get up and continue our drive.to anchorage. there is another glacier we go by. we get back to anchorage and stop at the alaska native center. this is surprisingly rewarding. we encounter some native artisans selling their wares and have a very enjoyable conversation with one of them. there are displays of various aspects of native culture. there is live story telling, dancing, singing. and there are examples of how various groups lived and protected themselves from the elements.
then we continue on to our next stop--the Alyeska Hotel in Girdwood.. this is a wonderful hotel. we get ourselves to the hot tub. we decide to splurge and go up the tram to the 7 glaciers restaurant. i have some great soup and my SO has some wonderful crab legs. the view is wonderful, and the design of the restaurant pretty interesting. NB-the tram ride is free if you have made dinner res at the restaurant--otherwise $10.
Sep 20th, 2012, 07:05 AM
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I don't think it's rude to top one's own posts. Obviously it's posted for people's information.
tom, I read your Part II as well. You went to a lot of places I missed on my trip to Alaska: Homer, Whittier, Girdwood. These are places I definitely want to visit on my next trip.
Thanks for the info.
tom, I read your Part II as well. You went to a lot of places I missed on my trip to Alaska: Homer, Whittier, Girdwood. These are places I definitely want to visit on my next trip.
Thanks for the info.
