Dear friends,
Dear friends,
What options do I have in Anchorage regarding OUTDOOR activities on weekday August 10 after 6 p.m. Want to air out after a long 12-hour flight from NYC, pick-up the car,check in my hotel. I prefer top-rated scenery to take pictures of.
Thanks.

Good news~ it will be light til around midnight, so you can stroll the Coastal Trail, take a drive and find a spot along Turnagin Arm for pictures~ sometimes, the Dalls can be seen, as well as whales in the inlet, eagles, moose.
Enjoy your visit.

jetset1,
Thanks. Turnagain Arm will probably be my choice. I travel there once by train and remember the scenery was spectacular. I just do not remember if one can stop a car along the Arm and take pictures without interfering with traffic. Also, any specific places along the Arm you can suggest?
Thanks

Yes, go about fifteen minutes(depending on the motorhome brigade ahead of you,lol) to Bird Point.. spectacular!
If you are very ambitious, go out to Girdwood, take the tram to the top, and voila~ you have a view bbeyond words, glaciers and all.
At some point, if you have legs of steel and the lungs of Arnold, hike the trails up, and you'll get a free ride down for your reward. You can even eat the blueberries
Rarely, a black bear can be spotted, but not to worry, guys on atv patrol the trails so as to keep their hotel patrons safe.. all the same, don't try the soup du jour if it says mystery stew(sorry)..
any more questions, feel free. I will be there myself showing my relatives the sights soon. The weather has been dry and lovely, and most of the kamikaze mosquitoes have moved North, where the Denali folks are grouping by now! Safe travels, J.

I meant the tram at the Alyeska Hotel.
There are good places to eat in Girdwood, Chair Five restaurant for pizza, burgers and casual, the bakery near the day lodge and a casual restaurant in the hotel, the Pond cafe.
Save Double Musky for a huge appetite.

Agree with jetset on Turn Again for pictures. Consider another suggestion. After so many hours on a plane it is always nice to go on a hike. I like to drive in the evening to the trail head for Flat Top and hike 1 1/2 mile to the top. Views are spectacular and we often see Mt.McKinley on clear evenings. We also enjoy Tony Knowles Coastal Trail but prefer magnificent views from Flattop.

http://www.alaska.org/anchorage/parks-and-trails.jsp

The sunset on August 10th is at 10:16 pm according to http://www.sunrisesunset.com/

We stayed at a B&B outside of downtown anchorage that had a canoe and pedalboat and found that this was a great way to relax after the plane trip. Many of the B&B's that we stayed at had canoes and pedalboats so perhaps this will be an option for you as well.

Pat2003~ You sound like a total hiking pro, and I'd love to join one of your future outtings.
Just for fun, have you ever considered doing the Mt. Marathon race in Seward? It's held by lottery for first timers, but you sound like a great candidate, J.

Oleg, let us know what you decided. As you see there are so many options in Anchorage and I hope you are able to spend more time than just one night there.

J., that's so funny. Have I ever considered doing the Mt. Marathon race in Seward? Never! I used to race down a few of the Presidential peaks in White Mountains in New Hampshire but that was so very long ago.

We are planning a drive this August along Skilak Lake Road to check out hiking trails for our next year trip. Do you have any favorite hikes in Kenai Wildlife Refuge? One day I wish to hike Skyline Trail on Sterling Hwy. Are you familiar with this trail? I am intrigued by 1 mile trail that gains elevation 1800 feet and takes about 4 hours to complete. Let me get in shape and I may go for it. If not, you need to suggest something easier in the area. Did you drive lately on Skilak Lake Rd.? How are driving conditions?

Pat2003~ Skyline trial, according to friends in a peninsula hiking club is a challenge. Pretty much for the hardcore. I haven't done it but would like to. I haven't been on the lake road since last fall, but haven't heard negative comments from locals or the paper.
Russian River Falls is a favorite, but I go in the fall and spring when it's quiet..
Also, Kelly/Peterson lake has a nice strolling trial, medium obstacles. It's between Cooper Landing and Sterling.
More soon, it's too early for me.. a bumblebee decided to wake me up bright and early outside my window,lol. J.

An evening drive down Turnagain Arm is magical on a nice summer night.

The Mount Marathon Run is a tremendous experience even if you aren't that competitive. I remember running that last stretch to the finish line, spotting friends and asking them ``where's Bill Spencer?'' joking as if I was going to challenge that perennial winner for the title.

Well, Bill Spencer heard me. He raised his hand and waved -- he was already showered and enjoying a post-race treat!

Incredible experience. We trained for months running Flattop and also on Bird Ridge. Worth every second of effort . . . now if only I could fit into the t-shirt.

I just searched for photos and views from Coastal Trail and Flattop Mtn. Not even close to what I saw along Turnagain Arm. TA views not just superb but very photogenic too. So, I would drive to the "Bird Point", unless my plane is late and I won't be able to pick up the car 'till next morning.

repete~ do you still compete in the marathon, or are those days over? One of my good friends participated two years in a row.
Hey, at least you have the t-shirt! When I see pictures of the leg scrapes, bloody knees and gravel imbedded calves, I like my "level ground" activities even more, J.

Oleg, you could rent a bike and ride the trail. www.alaska-bike-rentals.com
Good luck with the planning!

Wow, two of my favorite Alaskans, J and Repete, and a favorite fellow Fodorite, Pat, all here together. You guys are the best for advice on Alaska!

Oleg, have a great trip. If you get a chance check out some hiking trails around Anchorage for great photos. Bird Ridge is #1 for me.

J., Repete, BayouGal, I will run Mt. Marathon in 2007 but only if you all going to do it with me. Well?

BayouGal, I agree that J. and Repete always give great advice on Alaska. They are both the best for all detailed information.

Repet, I remember during our first visit long time ago we went in the evening for a drive along Turnagain Arm. The light for photography was so perfect that all pictures came out magical. You are so right, it was a very magical evening and for many other reasons as well.

J., thanks for info on Kelly/Peterson Lake trail. Would like to hear more about it.
Do you know what is the best way to find the Bridge Access Road on Kenai Flats? Our friends from Homer told us this is a great place for bird watching and spotting caribou but were not able to give us detailed directions.

Oh yes, I know the Kenai Flats dirctions all right! Let me know when your getting close and I'll meet you there with champagne, no fooling.

Directions for the bird watchers:

Okay, coming through Soldotna, you can reach it two ways, both about the same amount of driving time, twenty minutes. Turn right after reaching second stop light, or, my preferred way to sugar:
If you want donuts first at the Moose is Loose, proceed ahead past the first stoplight, then the second, watch for it 1/4 mile on your right, big tall sign.
If not and you'd like a nice look at our magnificent Kenai River, keep coming south, cross the bridge(which is being widened and is two narrow lanes currently), turning right on Kalifornsky, or K-beach, as us locals call it. Follow the road about four miles til you get to the Bridge access road, turn right, go about one mile over the bridge and voila! You get to smile at the birdies!
Hey, guess what? The robin had her four babies and they are so cute. I peaked and saw their beaks and they were all napping. Very sweet.
Listen, no Alaska guide from anywhere is better than BudgetQueen. I often just let her do all the real good advice, because she has seen and done more here than I probably ever will, no kidding. You know, I live here, whoopie.
We don't do motorhome travels yet and SE ferry, all the bear trips(I saw bears for seventeen years in the eastern Aleutians, and stuffed my cheeks with king crab, so I was spoiled).
So if anyone wonders why I am quiet(for once) when asked for Alaskan advice, there's your answer. I'm here for local stuff on the peninsula and Anchorage/Girdwood and my beloved Homer of course!
Happy to help, J.

Yes, BQ helped us immensely when planning, but I was referring to residents. We ALL know we can rely on BQ's advice!

BayouGal~ we are going to have such a par-tay when you arrive! Even though my neighbor is a detective, he will understand when the bottles hit the deck rail, and things get crazy!
I'm actually gonna be winding down slowly,lol, since my cousins will be sleepy adjusting to the huge time change from S.A., I will have to tipee toe around the rockin J. ranch..
anyhoo, this means you can all relax for awhile.. the board can be calm and relaxed, no interruptions, no salty talk(of my caliber anyway)..I'm sipping my Pinot now, and smiling. J.

I too was referring to Alaskan residents. I think we can agree that without Budget Queen fodorites wouldn't have so many successful trips to Alaska. However, I think we need to appreciate even the shortest posts from those who maybe travel only once to Alaska. Their personal experiences are not less valuable than experiences of those of us who are frequent Alaskan travelers or those who live in this beautiful state. We have to appreciate and remember that every post counts and is important to each of us who recently is planning a trip or just dreaming about the next visit to Alaska.

Aw, J, you will be missed!

Pat, you are such a sweetheart, I don't think anyone would misunderstand you.

Have a great 4th everyone! And thank God for FREEDOM!