I’ve had enough of this heat shit and just booked a quick 10 day solo trip to Anchorage. I’ve been there a couple of times but the first time I was a kid and the second was just long enough to catch a cruise.
Can anyone give me any ideas for cool stuff to do while there? I’ll have a car.
Plan to drive to Denali and spend a night or two in a lodge or something.
Would like to fish (in ocean, not rivers, because I don’t compete with bears at the end of their season).
Any ideas?
If I just sat outside I’d be happy enough but I’d like to go see as much as I can.
I’ve not been, but I hear that Whittier is an . . . interesting . . . experience.
The Alyeska resort in Girdwood might be worth checking out, but it tends to be more of a ski resort. Girdwood is, or at least was, kind of a hippie town.
Silver salmon should be running in Anchorage right now. A little research should help you find locations.
2 day trip to Seward … drive down to Seward. Go hike at Aleyeska and take the tram car for the view. See the bore tide at Turnagain Spit (but DO NOT go onto the mud flats).
Eat king crab at Ray’s. Visit the Exit Glacier.
Headed north: stop in Talkeetna for lunch or gas enroute to Denali.
Take the park-sponsored East Fork (non-narrated) transit bus inside Denali - it’s the only way to get deep inside the park. Schedule a glacier walk flight at Denali. Overestimate your weight (including gear) when they ask you! (If they’re overweight, people who underestimated lose their seat).
Bring a night shade sleeping mask.
Aurora is tough to see this time of year. You can check the aurora forecast.
Outside of Fairbanks you can go to Chena Hot Springs resort and see the interesting geothermal features (and soak in them if you choose).
I was trying to figure out if this was a tomato based pore cleanser, or if you meant some OTHER member of the nightshade family…
Google the whole phrase though, and I’m reminded Summer in Alaska means 24hour(ish) daylight…
Great suggestion (as are all the others; what a great question, and now I want to go back up there more than ever!).
If you wanted to go to the Fairbanks area, there’s another option. You could fly ANC to FAI for <$200 round trip. Rent a car in Fairbanks and drive to Denali from there instead of driving from ANC.
My wife lived in Anchorage many years ago. At that time, most of the ski areas were in the southern part of the state and did not have summer skiing.
The only option would possibly skiing on a glacier (more remote, not a resort, short runs). You could possibly make it doable, but sounds like a pass to me.
Yep flights aren’t too bad. I booked on Delta with a several hour layover in MSP to see some friends and that cost me a bit. Plus I made a few upgrades to Comfort+ on the longer legs.
I love Delta but didn’t know that virtually every non-middle seat is now classified as “preferred” and incurs an up-charge of $29-49. That’s so obnoxious.
If you have a car drive down hwy 1 seward hwy. the turnagan is a must see. stop at mile marker 5.5 and 11.5 to see some waterfalls.
Just past bird creek is Girdwood. One of my fav tiny towns. Turn at the gas station you should see a sign for the Ayaska resort, The resort is a nice place to lookie and they have a tram that goes up the mountain for an awsome view. Virgin falls is a tucked away beauty. direction can be found on google.
Get back on 1 and take the Portage glacier exit. Lots of beautiful views here. There is a pull over to a small lake called something like blue ice that has amazing views. If you follow the porage glacier rd down to the lake there is a boat ride there.
I absolutely love driving around the Turnagin area.