Planning a trip for a week in Alaska and will spend a couple of nights in Seward and the rest near Anchorage to visit Hatcher's Pass, mine, flightseeing etc etc. We really don't want to stay in ANC but would like to stay the surrounding areas to get the feel for the outdoors. Any places anybody recommend for a 2 or 3 night stay?

We enjoyed Alaska Garden Gate B&B in Palmer last summer. Karen cooks great breakfasts. Check her website for a list of things to do in the area. Independence Mine was very interesting. The pass doesn't open until around July 4. If you prefer not to mingle with the other guests, you don't have to. I think she had her house built to be a B&B so the livingroom is huge. We chose a large downstairs room with kitchenette and private entrance.

I would also look at a stay in Talkeetna. There are plenty of excellent Alaska B&B's to try.

If I stay in Palmer or Talkeenta, can I visit Anchorage sights for a day trip?

It's easy from Palmer, a bit of driving from Talkeetna. But it's not like Palmer is going to be a wilderness experience, you're going to be close to Walmart and some of the worse strip-mall sprawl in AK -- although Wasilla is worse. It ain't Cicely.

Why not spend one night in Anchorage between the Seward-Hatcher Pass segments, spend a night out in the town for dinner and a morning doing museums or Flattop or Eagler River Nature Center? Then head to Talkneetna.

Alaska requires lodging on the move for me. IF you want Anchorage activities - stay there. Repeat has excellent suggestions. Spread out your touring with a night or two in Anchorage, a night in Talkeetna and maybe a night in Girdwood?

Anchorage to Palmer = 42 miles.
Anchorage to Talkeetna = 113 miles.