Alaska ideas

[Magic In The Night]

Headed to our 49th state. Anyone have any suggestions?

 

[sportschick]

PM Amraeder. He's from up that way. That's really all I've got.

 

[Claws for Concern]

Is the summer baseball season over up there? If not, try to catch a game in Fairbanks or Anchorage.

 

[forever_town]

Is the summer baseball season over up there? If not, try to catch a game in Fairbanks or Anchorage.

Didn't their summer season end after one game?

I keed, I keed.

 

[PeteyPirate]

Bring a jacket.

 

[DocTalk]

Go to a locals fishing store and make connections to fish for salmon in the middle of nowhere.

 

[Mike Harris not that one]

GOT to go to Humpy's Ale House in Anchorage and order the Moose's tooth. I want to say it was an IPA - great taste.

The White Pass Railroad in Skagway was outstanding, in fact there wasn't anything in Alaska that wasn't. Went there 10 years ago and I can remember every minute of it.

 

[pallister]

Stay in a hotel, not a bus.

 

[joe_schmoe]

wear comfortable shoes! seriously.

I enjoyed every second I spent in Alaska, and a mjority of it was spent hiking and walking through villages.
Nowadays with all the cruise traffic in many cities, the foot traffic is more prevalant than vehicles.

Just don't try to take everything in. The board could be a bigger help if we had more specifics on your trip. Alaska, after all, is a pretty big state so I've heard.

 

[doubledown68]

I took a six-hour bus trip through Denali National Park when I visited a while back. Absolutely fantastic. If you're up that way, I highly recommend it.

And if you any driving at all, beware of moose. Seriously.

 

[Magic In The Night]

OK, I'll try to be more specific. I'm flying into Anchorage, spending one night there, then taking a train to Seward and going on a cruise. The stops are Juneau, Skagway, Icy Strait Point and Ketchikan. It also cruises past the Hubbard Glacier. And thanks for all the suggestions so far. I won't be conducting any motor vehicles that I know of. I can't even imagine hitting a moose. We have enough trouble with all the deer here in the Midwest!

 

[jlee]

Baseball season's done, so you can't catch any of that. I've never made it down to the southeast part of the state, but you might want to hit the Alaskan Brewing Company in Juneau. Other than that, bring something suitable for cold rain, don't buy a sweatshop-made ulu and remember to exchange your dollars for the local currency before you go.

 

[Buck]

I heard they have an opening for a crazy guy to live with the bears.
Apparently the job has been open for several years.

 

[WhiskeyRiver]

No kidding, bring warm clothes. We're in the middle of what is shaping up to be the coldest summer on record in Anchorage. We've only cracked 70 degrees 2 or 3 times. Right now it's cloudy, rainy and 55, or in other words a typical day this summer.

As for things to do in Anchorage, you could indeed go to Humpy's -- it's a great place with great food and a lot of different beers on tap -- and sample the Moose's Tooth IPA or you could actually go to Moose's Tooth, a gourmet pizza joint, and sample all of their fine brews from the source.

Downtown has a lot of touristy things to sample, like signage all over the place detailing the history of the city and a statue of Balto, one of the dogs involved on the serum run to Nome that eventually inspired the Iditarod. The Anchorage Museum is also downtown, or you could hitch a ride out to the Alaska Native Heritage Center, where you'd likely see a demonstration of Native games that will amaze you.

If you're feeling adventurous, find your way to Far North Bicentennial Park, where there's a decent chance you'll get mauled by a bear.

The train ride to Seward is amazing. You'll pass by Portage Glacier, and the train slows down to a crawl several times for photo ops of wildlife and whatnot. Seward itself is a pretty cool place. If you have the chance, make you're way downtown to Thorn's Showcase Lounge. It is a relic from another place and time. The Yukon Bar right across the street is a cool place as well, and usually has live music of some sort.

You may be tempted to go to the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward. Don't. It is ridiculously expensive and you will see and learn so much more about wildlife on the cruise you will really feel robbed. My only caveat to that is if you've got young children. The SeaLife Center is geared toward that age group and the kiddies would probably like it. Still way too expensive, though.

I've been on a few wildlife cruises that go around Resurrection Bay, but I've never made it out into the Gulf. I can guarantee you will be impressed.

 

[forever_town]

That's a great post WhiskeyRiver.

Looks like there is a lot to experience up there.

 

[Colton]

Paging Amraeder, Mr. Raeder to the white courtesy phone, please

 

[OTD]

Stop by The Brick, try to get a date with Shelly.

 

[trifectarich]

Don't go in February. Take a camera; it's the prettiest place on the planet.

 

[MileHigh]

Spent 2 1/2 weeks there five years ago in mid-June (went to the Midnight Sun baseball game in Fairbanks) and it was fantastic. Probably bit off more than we could chew. We went from Anchorage to Denali to Fairbanks to Valdez to the Kenai.

The place is awesome. I loved the Kenai and Denali. Anchorage (I have family there) is a pretty cool place.

And, yes, take hiking shoes. You'll do some amazing hikes and walks.

I can't wait to get back.

My brother took the train ride to Seward and raved about it.

 

[2muchcoffeeman]

Baseball season's done, so you can't catch any of that. I've never made it down to the southeast part of the state, but you might want to hit the Alaskan Brewing Company in Juneau. Other than that, bring something suitable for cold rain, don't buy a sweatshop-made ulu and remember to exchange your dollars for the local currency before you go.

That's not dollars? What do they use, moose antlers and bear teeth?

Oh ... one mandatory item: Extra-strength mosquito repellent.