Anchorage Alaska

[Sarek]

Anyone been to Anchorage Alaska?

Was looking at going up there for a week or so, i don't ski so that's out. I usually dont go on tours, i like to explore on my own, but i know very little about the city and the surrounding area so i will most likley be doing a few daily tours.

So far with the research i've done my itinerary is looking like a 1 day trip/tour on the sight seeing Alaska Railroad, 1 day trip/tour on a floatplane/seaplane, 1 day for the Alaska Native Heritage Center, trying to find a 1 day whale watching tour. The other 3 days i will do some of the trails inside the city parks and maybe visit the local zoo to see the polar bears, and hopefully a few other local museums if i have the time.

Don't think the Nothern Lights are visible there during summer.

 

[cowboyec]

good ufo hot spot.

 

[cowboyec]

alaska is also prime bigfoot country.

 

[DFWJC]

Anyone been to Anchorage Alaska?

Was looking at going up there for a week or so, i don't ski so that's out. I usually dont go on tours, i like to explore on my own, but i know very little about the city and the surrounding area so i will most likley be doing a few daily tours.

So far with the research i've done my itinerary is looking like a 1 day trip/tour on the sight seeing Alaska Railroad, 1 day trip/tour on a floatplane/seaplane, 1 day for the Alaska Native Heritage Center, trying to find a 1 day whale watching tour. The other 3 days i will do some of the trails inside the city parks and maybe visit the local zoo to see the polar bears, and hopefully a few other local museums if i have the time.

Don't think the Nothern Lights are visible there during summer.

That's a pretty good itinerary.
I've done most of that and really enjoyed it.
Alaska is ridiculously beautiful.
Glacier tours are pretty amazing too, but I'm thinking the better ones might be much further north.

 

[Rockport]

Anyone been to Anchorage Alaska?

Was looking at going up there for a week or so, i don't ski so that's out. I usually dont go on tours, i like to explore on my own, but i know very little about the city and the surrounding area so i will most likley be doing a few daily tours.

So far with the research i've done my itinerary is looking like a 1 day trip/tour on the sight seeing Alaska Railroad, 1 day trip/tour on a floatplane/seaplane, 1 day for the Alaska Native Heritage Center, trying to find a 1 day whale watching tour. The other 3 days i will do some of the trails inside the city parks and maybe visit the local zoo to see the polar bears, and hopefully a few other local museums if i have the time.

Don't think the Nothern Lights are visible there during summer.

Do some fishing. Can’t beat it.

 

[Runwildboys]

Anyone been to Anchorage Alaska?

Was looking at going up there for a week or so, i don't ski so that's out. I usually dont go on tours, i like to explore on my own, but i know very little about the city and the surrounding area so i will most likley be doing a few daily tours.

So far with the research i've done my itinerary is looking like a 1 day trip/tour on the sight seeing Alaska Railroad, 1 day trip/tour on a floatplane/seaplane, 1 day for the Alaska Native Heritage Center, trying to find a 1 day whale watching tour. The other 3 days i will do some of the trails inside the city parks and maybe visit the local zoo to see the polar bears, and hopefully a few other local museums if i have the time.

Don't think the Nothern Lights are visible there during summer.

I'm not sure, but I think I've read posts from @cern saying he's gone there.

 

[Tabascocat]

Bring pepper spray

 

[catiii]

Anyone been to Anchorage Alaska?

Was looking at going up there for a week or so, i don't ski so that's out. I usually dont go on tours, i like to explore on my own, but i know very little about the city and the surrounding area so i will most likley be doing a few daily tours.

So far with the research i've done my itinerary is looking like a 1 day trip/tour on the sight seeing Alaska Railroad, 1 day trip/tour on a floatplane/seaplane, 1 day for the Alaska Native Heritage Center, trying to find a 1 day whale watching tour. The other 3 days i will do some of the trails inside the city parks and maybe visit the local zoo to see the polar bears, and hopefully a few other local museums if i have the time.

Don't think the Nothern Lights are visible there during summer.

Sun is always shining in Summer so no aurora. We went for a week in summer. Got heaps of gorgeous Kodachrome 25 slides that would look awesome still today in National Geographic. We used Anchorage only as a transit point from the train station to the airport to fly home. Just a big city like any other. The things to see are outside Anchorage.

MUST DOS:
1. Take the Alaska Ferry along the inside passage from Juneau to Skagway - cheap and the same view as a cruise line
2. Take the White Horse and Yukon Railroad from Skagway. You'll see fisherman and hikersr being dropped off along the route in the middle of nowhere and even bears running along the tracks. Once in a lifetime trip. Probably the most scenic train ride in the world.
3. Hike with Da Bears in Denali National Park
4. Alaska Railroad from Fairbanks to Denali to Anchorage or the reverse is required.
5. Red Dog Saloon in Juneau. Nothing like the live entertainment and walking out at midnight drunk and in sunlight
6. Fly a Cherokee Six from Skagway to Haines to Juneau along the inside passage at 2000 ft. (You'll LOVE the takeoff from Skagway - just close your eyes LOL) BE sure and see the melodrama in Skagway in period costumes and throw popcorn at the old theater - just like the one in the movie "Tombstone" with great actors.
7. Glacier Bay day trip cruise

 

[Sarek]

Sun is always shining in Summer so no aurora. We went for a week in summer. Got heaps of gorgeous Kodachrome 25 slides that would look awesome still today in National Geographic. We used Anchorage only as a transit point from the train station to the airport to fly home. Just a big city like any other. The things to see are outside Anchorage.

MUST DOS:
1. Take the Alaska Ferry along the inside passage from Juneau to Skagway - cheap and the same view as a cruise line
2. Take the White Horse and Yukon Railroad from Skagway. You'll see fisherman and hikersr being dropped off along the route in the middle of nowhere and even bears running along the tracks. Once in a lifetime trip. Probably the most scenic train ride in the world.
3. Hike with Da Bears in Denali National Park
4. Alaska Railroad from Fairbanks to Denali to Anchorage or the reverse is required.
5. Red Dog Saloon in Juneau. Nothing like the live entertainment and walking out at midnight drunk and in sunlight
6. Fly a Cherokee Six from Skagway to Haines to Juneau along the inside passage at 2000 ft. (You'll LOVE the takeoff from Skagway - just close your eyes LOL) BE sure and see the melodrama in Skagway in period costumes and throw popcorn at the old theater - just like the one in the movie "Tombstone" with great actors.
7. Glacier Bay day trip cruise

Hoping to do a Glacier Bay cruise in a few years from now and that will include Juneau Skagway. Won't have the time to see that suff on this trip.

The train ride from Anchorage to Denali is about 8 hours i think. One day to get there, next day to see park, third day take train back to Anchorage. I might just take the seaplane and fly over Denali. Still looking at my options, unsure how that part will play out if at all.

 

[Sarek]

Bring pepper spray

I don't think i can take bear spray in checked luggage, will buy a can when i arrive.

 

[CouchCoach]

I'm not sure, but I think I've read posts from @cern saying he's gone there.

Where is that rascal? I don't like it when a scientist hides.

I believe he fishes in AK as well as the Keys. I know some guys that have gone on fishing trips up there and loved it, caught some really nice halibut.

Sarek, the state bird of Alaska is the mosquito, be ready. They have some large enough to not bite you where you are but take you to go. They call it the Great Alaskan Take Out.

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

alaska is also prime bigfoot country.

Not true. Last I heard Kaiser’s wife lived with him in Rancho Cucamonga.

 

[Sarek]

Itinerary almost done. I'll be on the Alaska Railroad 4 days in a row.

Arriving late night.

Day one - Alaska Railroad roundtrip Anchorage to Whittier for a day cruise 26 glaciers.

Day two - Alaska Railroad Anchorage to Denali National Park, staying overnight.

Day three - Alaska Railroad Denali back to Anchorage.

Day four - Alaska Railroad roundtrip Anchorage to Seward for a day cruise Kenai Fjords wildlife, hopefully i will see whales here.

Day five - Seaplane roundtrip Anchorage to Denali. Expecting great views from the air.

Day six - Anchorage Zoo, Anchorage Museum, Heritage Center, 1 hour trolley city tour.

Day seven - Three hour bike rental parks/trails, Seafood splurge

Day eight - Probably a movie, few drinks at some local pub, late night flight back home.

First 6 days set, might change up the last 2 days a little bit.

 

[Jammer]

Itinerary almost done. I'll be on the Alaska Railroad 4 days in a row.

Arriving late night.

Day one - Alaska Railroad roundtrip Anchorage to Whittier for a day cruise 26 glaciers.

Day two - Alaska Railroad Anchorage to Denali National Park, staying overnight.

Day three - Alaska Railroad Denali back to Anchorage.

Day four - Alaska Railroad roundtrip Anchorage to Seward for a day cruise Kenai Fjords wildlife, hopefully i will see whales here.

Day five - Seaplane roundtrip Anchorage to Denali. Expecting great views from the air.

Day six - Anchorage Zoo, Anchorage Museum, Heritage Center, 1 hour trolley city tour.

Day seven - Three hour bike rental parks/trails, Seafood splurge

Day eight - Probably a movie, few drinks at some local pub, late night flight back home.

First 6 days set, might change up the last 2 days a little bit.

You're going to love it. I've been to Anchorage twice. Once in April and about 6 weeks later in June. I couldn't believe the difference between the two. In April the place looked nasty and dirty. There was trash everywhere. Fast forward to June and it was like a different place. It was beautiful. I was lucky enough to bring my wife with me twice (and my mother-in-law on one of the trips). Got to visit a lot of glaciers, when hiking in Denali and rented out some small log cabins.

 

[darthseinfeld]

Not true. Last I heard Kaiser’s wife lived with him in Rancho Cucamonga.

 

[Sarek]

You're going to love it. I've been to Anchorage twice. Once in April and about 6 weeks later in June. I couldn't believe the difference between the two. In April the place looked nasty and dirty. There was trash everywhere. Fast forward to June and it was like a different place. It was beautiful. I was lucky enough to bring my wife with me twice (and my mother-in-law on one of the trips). Got to visit a lot of glaciers, when hiking in Denali and rented out some small log cabins.

I'm thinking it takes 3 trips to Alaska to really get to see it semi properly. One trip by cruiseship. One trip by flying in during the summer. One trip by flying in during the offseason to see the northern lights. That last one to see the northern lights is a real commitment, very cold and almost no day light i think. Besides the northern lights not sure what else there is to do there at that time. Hating the cold more and more as i get older.

Did you see the northern lights in Anchorage during your April visit?

 

[Cowpolk]

I don't think i can take bear spray in checked luggage, will buy a can when i arrive.

Just capture a bigfoot and have it documented and get abducted by aliens and have them fly you home for free after they give you a tour of Saturn But refuse the tour of Uranus It is not what the tour guide describes it to be bad really bad

 

[Sarek]

 

[nobody]

Make sure to have a whale of a time!

 

[catiii]

Where is that rascal? I don't like it when a scientist hides.

I believe he fishes in AK as well as the Keys. I know some guys that have gone on fishing trips up there and loved it, caught some really nice halibut.

Sarek, the state bird of Alaska is the mosquito, be ready. They have some large enough to not bite you where you are but take you to go. They call it the Great Alaskan Take Out.

You know it's odd but when we went in June I noticed ZERO skeeters everywhere we went, even in the backcountry. Must've been the time of year. Or else them bears ate them instead of us!!!