We live a good distance away from downtown Anchorage so when we have evening functions on weekends we like to stay in town at an Anchorage hotel.  One of our most favorite hotels and probably the one we stay at the most is the Sheraton Anchorage Hotel and Spa.  The Sheraton is 16 stories tall, making it one of the taller buildings in downtown.  The hotel is located at 401 E. 6th Avenue, which is towards the east side of downtown.  (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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Often I’m asked what I think would be the perfect tour if I was visiting Alaska.  Fortunately, I’ve found that each client I work with has different interests and we’re able to customize each trip to meet their unique interests in travel and adventure.  But since I’m asked so often, its easy to imagine the tour I would customize for myself if I was taking an Alaska trip – based on my experience living in Alaska, and working in tourism here. All our packages can be modified to either travel by rail, motorcoach or rental car.  I think the best of option would be to travel in combination of all three modes.

My perfect tour would start out with a visit to Anchorage and then the Kenai Peninsula.

Day 1, Arrival Day! Pick up a rental car in Anchorage and check into the Sheraton Anchorage Hotel and Spa.  What better way to adjust to a long day of travel then to take in a spa treatment before enjoying dinner in downtown Anchorage.  My favorite for dinner is the Glacier BrewHouse in downtown Anchorage just up the street from the Sheraton. They have great food and plenty of fresh Alaskan seafood options. (more…)

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This past summer my family from Maine was up visiting so naturally we took them on a day cruise into the Kenai Fjords National Park. There are many cruises to choose from but based on my experience, I recommend the 3:00pm departure. Since many visitors to Seward are only passing through for the day, or are busy taking one of the many fishing charters, they take one of the earlier departures which covers the same route but offer a more basic meal on board. Combined with an overnight in a Seward hotel the evening prior, the afternoon tour give’s you the opportunity to explore Seward in the morning, and then spend the rest of the day enjoying Kenai Fjords National Park while dining on prime rib and salmon. There are also fewer vessels touring the fjords in the afternoon which makes it a nicer experience as well.

What makes the mid-afternoon departure at 3:00pm unique is that they stop at Fox Island enroute to pick up freshly cooked barbeque salmon. For 2009, we hear they are adding prime rib to the menu. This is the same menu that is served for the 10:00am National Park Cruise which stops for a visit to Fox Island. The difference is that having the dinner on-board adds an elegant touch to a fine evening in Seward on a cruise. (more…)

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When the opportunity arises, I spend a lot of time in Talkeetna Alaska and enjoy visiting with friends at the local restaurants and pubs. For the size of Talkeetna they have a lot to offer a hungry appetite.

Whether you are in Talkeetna on a fishing excursion or perhaps visiting overnight at a Talkeetna lodge, a typical morning in Talkeetna should start with a trip down to the Historic Talkeetna Roadhouse on Main Street. The Roadhouse offers a standard breakfast which comes piled high with eggs, potatoes, and bacon or reindeer sausage (traditional Alaskan sausage made from caribou meat). If that’s not quite your fare they also offer biscuits and gravy, breakfast burritos, and of course blueberry pancakes. These options are quite delicious and portions are huge so come hungry. If you don’t have time to wait, they offer a large selection of delicious pastry’s to go. Everything from a selection of homemade pies to my personal favorite the raspberry cinnamon rolls. Tables are all family style so you may find yourself seated next to a fellow tourist, a long time Talkeetna local or one of the many mountain climbers. Climbers come to the small town of Talkeetna in pursuit of the highest point in North America, Mt McKinley. The Roadhouse is sure to offer an eclectic Alaska atmosphere and a hearty meal. This is sure to be a one of a kind Alaska dining experience. (more…)

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We have been helping folks plan their perfect Alaska vacation for well over a decade, and we started this blog during the summer of 2008 to share some of the insights and tips we have picked up along the way. Our staff of Alaska travel experts are busy creating ongoing posts on topics like places to stay, things to do, how to get around and where to eat. We will focus on many of Alaska’s most popular destinations like Anchorage, Seward and Denali National Park. We also hope to answer any questions you may have about our great state and hopefully entice you to come visit us in the near future.

Of course, Alaska Tour & Travel is here to help you plan your Alaska vacation of a lifetime. Whether you are looking for just a hotel or train trip, or a complete custom vacation package, we have you covered. Visit our main site at www.AlaskaTravel.com or email us at info@alaskatravel.com or give us a call today at 800-208-0200. We would love to hear from you and assist you with your Alaska vacation plans.

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