When I have family come visit me in Alaska I try to take them to my favorite places in Alaska. A few summer’s ago my aunt came to visit, and I had the opportunity to do a tour I had never done before. My family traveled to Girdwood, Alaska for a day trip from Anchorage.  Girdwood is located about 30 minutes south of Anchorage via the Seward Highway.  The drive is beautiful because the highway follows the Turnagain Arm which is part of the Cook Inlet and is surrounded by the Chugach and Kenai Mountain Ranges.  Girdwood is home to the Alyeska Resort. Our first order of business was to take the Alyeska Tram to the top of Mt. Alyeska for some breathtaking views.  (more…)

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 From Anchorage to Girdwood, Seward to Talkeetna, my perfect tour of Alaska continues after an overnight at the Talkeetna Alaska Lodge -

Day 6, Get an early start with a guided fishing trip with Talkeetna Fishing Guides on the Talkeetna River. Their pick up is at 7:45am directly from the Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge. You can purchase your fishing license at the guide service and they’ll set you up with all the equipment you need to go fishing and they will assist you in shipping home any fish you catch as well. After the 5 hour fishing trip it is time for a break, so explore downtown Talkeetna on foot, and stop by Mile High Pizza Pie for a nice warm pizza or calzone.
 
Top off a great day in Talkeetna with a Glacier Landing flightseeing trip of Mt. McKinley and the Alaska Range with K2 Aviation. This flight is amazing and the knowledgeable pilot will give you all the information you could want to know coupled with the beautiful aerial views of Denali National Park. The glacier landing is a unique experience and the photo opportunities on this trip are once in a lifetime opportunities. After the flight K2 will return you to the Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge where you can relax and enjoy dinner at the hotel’s Foraker Dining Room where they specialize in fresh Alaskan seafood. (more…)

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Its’ hard to imagine coming to Anchorage, Alaska and not exploring the region further to such destinations as Denali, Seward, or Talkeetna but regularly I receive calls from cruise passengers and business travelers that only have one day to spend in Anchorage before departing and are seeking suggestions on what they should do and where they should go with their limited time. For visitors who have less than a full day in Anchorage, there are many great local sites to visit.  The Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center in downtown is within walking distance from many downtown hotels including the Sheraton Anchorage, which is located just two blocks away.   In addition, the Alaska Native Heritage Center is a must see if you are interested in experiencing Alaska Native culture first-hand through storytelling, authentic Native song or dance, and artist demonstrations.  Be sure to budget enough time at the Center to visit the life size native dwellings and meet each village site’s host who enjoy sharing their culture with you. The center offers courtesy shuttle service from various downtown locations during the summer months if you don’t rent a car. (more…)

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