O.K. I've been to Alaska!

[A Johnson]

Was told by work I would go to Alaska. Hit Anchorage Sunday night, and to Denali Park on Monday, back home Thursday so it was a short trip.

Observations:

1- Anchorage is like most any concrete town except it is easy to get out of and you can catch fish 30 seconds away from your motel. (Ship Creek)

2-Saw a lot of old hippie types, Alaska must be the best place to get back to nature.

3- Higher percentage of women don't wear bra's, This isn't necessarily a good thing. (Must be the nature connection)

4- Denali Park was awesome, saw bears , wolves, caribou, moose, sheep,and ptarmigan and some of the most incredible rivers scenes I could imagine.

5- No bugs in August, not sure what would be bad months.

6- Dry year and big fires did not allow me to see Mount McKinley due to smoke.

7- Bubs Subs just outside the park makes excellent sandwiches, enough for two big meals, in one.

8- Fred Meyer in Anchorage had a pretty good gun selection for a department store, something you don't see down here.



All in all I enjoyed the short stay. I may be going back in a couple weeks.



Anything I should take in if I have a few hours to kill, such as museums or such, close to Anchorage/Wasilla area?



A Johnson

 

[WDaniels]

A,

try going the other way. Take in Girdwood and the ski resort. Go on down to Homer. Beautiful views to kill for. No bugs because it has been a very dry summer. Water=bugs. Palmer is a nice little town that time has pretty much forgotten, but is catching up fast. Is the other way from Girdwood. Lots of people who have a problem leaving the 60's and 70's but no one makes them regret it. People up here are an independant bunch. Anchorage is Seattle's northern most suburb. Is a small city with big city problems. Next time your up get ahold of one of us TDR types.

WD

 

[Cummins Pilot]

Maybe next time the smoke will be gone. You need to go on a flight seeing charter or find someone with a plane that will take you up. No other way to see Alaska if you ask me (born and raised here). Valdez has good fishing, Kenai River in Soldotna is really pretty. Silvers are in now. Homer has good fishing also.



If you like hiking you can go up to Flattop which over looks Anchorage, good view of Sleeping Lady (mountain) across Turnagain & Knik (pronouced K-Nik) Arm. Good hike, not even really out of town.



If you were coming up to Fairbanks I'd offer to fly you around McKinley. But Anchorage has a lot of flight seeing companies.

 

[Bob Wagner]

I used to travel to Anchorage and Valdez, beautiful area. Love it!

 

[Jengle]

Man, I am jealous. I'll get there one of these days. When you go back, definitely get a seaplane ride. It will be worth every penny it costs.

 

[GFrance]

Has Homer changed much? I was there while on leave before heading to my next duty station to see some friends. That was back in 1972. Sure did like that area, but this is as far as I could get the wife away from the city life in Grand Rapids Mich.

 

[WDaniels]

GF,

Homer has changed a bit. Still the sleepy, homey, artsey fishing community that it always has been. But it's changing. Big stores coming into town. But it is still nice.

WD