Whittier Lodge, Alaska
#2
Join Date: Apr 2006
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Since you mention tunnel, I'll assume that this is in Whittier. Have you ever been to Whittier? It's small, very small. Have you figured out what you will do there for the week? I'd have trouble with the second day.
Traffic takes turns through the tunnel since there is only one lane over the railroad tracks. I think it has one half hour going east, then one half hour going west. When the train comes, all the traffic stops to let the train through.
Even with the price you have, I'd consider passing this one up.
Traffic takes turns through the tunnel since there is only one lane over the railroad tracks. I think it has one half hour going east, then one half hour going west. When the train comes, all the traffic stops to let the train through.
Even with the price you have, I'd consider passing this one up.
#3
Join Date: Jan 2003
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If this is Whittier, Alaska you are out of your mind. It took us 2-3 hours to go from Anchorage to Whittier on bus prior to cruise.
Whittier looks like I would imagine a Siberian city on the water might look. No private homes are allowed - everyone must live in a brick and concrete building which has a small school on another floor and a clinic and general store in same building. It appears to be a slight improvement over the concrete only and now abandoned similar building. There are a lot of small boats in a marina, a couple of bars, and the cruiseship terminal. It would take my 80 year old mother about 5 minutes to walk from one end to the other (OK, maybe 10).
One can not get anywhere else in Alaska from Whittier without going thru tunnel, paying toll, waiting for tunnel to go in the correct direction.
I know you say it is free, but you could not pay me to spend a week there.
Whittier looks like I would imagine a Siberian city on the water might look. No private homes are allowed - everyone must live in a brick and concrete building which has a small school on another floor and a clinic and general store in same building. It appears to be a slight improvement over the concrete only and now abandoned similar building. There are a lot of small boats in a marina, a couple of bars, and the cruiseship terminal. It would take my 80 year old mother about 5 minutes to walk from one end to the other (OK, maybe 10).
One can not get anywhere else in Alaska from Whittier without going thru tunnel, paying toll, waiting for tunnel to go in the correct direction.
I know you say it is free, but you could not pay me to spend a week there.
#4
Join Date: Jul 2003
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If you mean the Inn at Whittier, I canceled reservations there a couple years ago when I couldn't get anyone on the phone or e-mail and the place was up for sale. It is nice from the outside, but surely doesn't get very good reviews on Tripadvisor. It's right next to the cruise ship dock. I agree with Gail - If you can possibly stay in another location, I would.
#5
Join Date: Oct 2007
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Whittier is the only place in Alaska we would not visit again. Ditto what rm_mn said. Whittier was built as a secret miltary base. The tunnel is an engineering marvel but due to the mountains I don't think there is any tv reception ... not that you go to Alaska to watch tv but we like to watch the news sometimes.
#6
Join Date: Jan 2007
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If you are going there to relax - then go !and take lots of books.. you can take day trips out - the tunnel is not a big deal.... I think we did a 5 hour Prince William Sound glacier cruise from Whittier, and that was very nice.
Whittier is small though...
Whittier is small though...
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MollyJones
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Dec 26th, 2006 12:18 PM