Ancorage - 3 Days in May - What to Do? - Where to Stay?
 

Mid 50's. Flying in early before embarking on a cruise at the end of May. Am looking for suggestions as to what to see, where to stay and where to eat. We will have a rental car. Looking for any tips you can recommend.

For starters:
1. Alaska Native Heritage Center
2. Anchorage Museum
3. Take a drive south along Turnagain Arm to Girdwood. At the Alyeska resort, take the tram to the top of Mt. Alyeska and have lunch there. Time permitting, visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center on your way out. www.http://www.alaskawildlife.org

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Vic's travels: http://my.flightmemory.com/vogilvie

Be prepared-- Fine Dining is not well understood in Alasks

I meant: Alaska

In addition to the Alaska Native Heritage Center and the Alaska Museum of HIstory & Art, we liked the Alaska Experience Theater and Earthquake Park.

Stay downtown. You might be able to score a 3-star hotel on Priceline if it's early enough (before the bulk of cruise people cause prices to shoot up.) I'd recommend the Hilton, Marriott, Sheraton, Captain Cook, or, at a lower price point, the Clarion Suites (formerly Hawthorn Suites) located on the Park Strip, or the Comfort Inn at Ship Creek. Or there are numerous B&Bs that offer good value (but which would need the car.)

Book your car ASAP - prices <i>really</i> rocket for the prime season.

Where does your cruise depart from? You might into dropping the car at the port, saving transport costs (but possibly incurring higher rental car costs - do the math.)

The Turnagain Arm drive (Girdwood, Portage) is indeed a must-do. I'd also recommend doing a "26 Glacier" cruise out of Whittier - http://www.26glaciers.com/ - even if your cruise includes College Fjord; a very different experience.

You could also take part of a day and drive up to the Mat-Su Valley, lovely in the spring. Shoot for Palmer and the Matanuska Valley rather than Wasilla (strip malls and Target stores) for a glimpse of Alaska's small agricultural region. Stop at the Eklutna cemetery en route - very interesting Native Alaskan graveyard. (Fee.)

In town, the Native Heritage Center, the museum, the coastal trail... all good. Stop for a burger at the Arctic Roadrunner on Old Seward Hwy - get a Kodiak burger and an order of onion "rings" (not really, but OMG) and <i>split them.</i> Don't forget your Plavix.

<i>Go for a float plane sightseeing flight</i> from Lake Hood. Not cheap, but just skip one of the overpriced excursions on the cruise and use the money for the flight. You can NOT understand what it's all about just from the ground. Rust's is the biggest service at the lake, but there are many others. http://www.flyrusts.com/

If you want native craft souvenirs - the good stuff, not the tourist schlunk, pay a visit to the Alaska Native Medical Center's gift shop - http://anthctoday.org/hospital/visitors.html and while you're there, look like you have a purpose and walk through some of the halls to see the art on display - stunning and the best in town.

Have a beer at Koots. Again, look like you have a purpose. Pony tail optional. http://koots.com/

Meant to say, zombie makeup optional. I'm dating myself.

We stayed at the Big Bear B&B a number of years ago and it was fantastic! It's in a neighborhood close to downtown so it was easy to find and easy to get places. The owner, Carol, is a retired home economics teacher and she certainly knows how to cook! Our breakfasts (we stayed 3 nights) included something different each day--bear claws, reindeer sausage, blueberry coffee cake. Yummy!

http://www.alaskabigbearbb.com/

<b>"Be prepared-- Fine Dining is not well understood in Alasks"</b>
That doesn't mean that you will starve or go without delicious food.
Two of my favorite fine dining restaurants are Orso & Southside Bistro. A more casual, but still special place is Moose's Tooth Pub and Pizzeria. The pizza is really exceptional.

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Vic's travels: http://my.flightmemory.com/vogilvie