ALASKA 2010 Trip Log

Alaska, May – June 2010

Travel Agent:
Travel Pavillion - Gladys - 732-290-1025
Gladys has gotten us 50% off the best Car rental deals that were available on the best Net consolidators.

ANCHORAGE

- Downtown Hotels: Sheraton, Marriot, Captain Cook, Hilton 

- Restaurants:

·      Simon & Seaforts   907-274-3502 – great seafood plus a great view.  A MUST

·      Sacks Café  907-276-3546 or 274-4022  INVENTIVE

·      Orso - 907-222-3232  “Mediterranean cooked with as many Alaskan ingredients as possible” 

·      Marx Brothers

TALKEETNA  2 – 3 hrs north of Anchorage, southern base of Denali National Park

·      Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge  907-733-9500  Nice accommodations, GREAT Restaurant and wine list, really THE ONLY GAME IN TOWN.

·      K2 Aviation   (907) 733-2291  Several flights around Mount McKinley with or without Glacier landing. FANTASTIC.

·      Talkeetna River Guides   800-353-2677

HOMER – 4 - 5 hours south of Anchorage

·      Land’s End Hotel   907-235-0400   At the end of the 4 mile Homer Spit.  GREAT RESTAURANT and Wine List.  QUIRKY Resort, nice rocky beach and view of Kachemak Bay / Mountains.  THE ONLY GAME IN TOWN other than B&Bs and fishing cabins.  Homer is the “Halibut fishing capital of the world.

·      Bald Mountain Air   Astute and knowledgable Bear Viewing flights to Katmai National Park  800-478-7969 or 907-235-7969


-  Smoke Salmon (the BEST):  Tustumena Smokehouse 907-262-0421  on the road to Homer, six miles south of Soldotna.

WHITTIER – 1.5 hour south of Anchorage

·      Whitter is separated from civilization by a 2.3 mile long tunnel straddling railroad tracks (toll).  Check the schedule carefully we almost missed the boat because of tunnel timing (Alternating one-way traffic)

·      The Inn at Whittier  907-472-3200 THE ONLY GAME IN TOWN.  Great architecture and view of the mountains.   Mediocre restaurant.  Not well managed.  No competition.  One hour from Anchorage.  Try to avoid staying here.  Make the drive after a tour of Prince William Sound.

·      Alaska Heritage Tours 877-777-2805   Day Cruises on Prince William Sound: Otters, Whales, Dolphins, Sea Birds, Glacier calving, Seals, Eagles, etc.  Boat name: Glacier Explorer.  Nobody in town knows the name Alaska Heritage Tours.  Get very explicit directions.  Boat & crew is very good.  Alaska Heritage Tours is clueless, they put us on a boat in Seward and gave us incorrect times.  It all worked out fine however.

From 2005 Trip
COOPER LANDING - about 2 - 2.5 hours from Anchorage
-  Tours: Alaska River Adventures  - George Heim   907-595-2000 or 888-836-9027   Very well run Kenai River Tours. Perhaps the best river trip we have done.  Saw so much wildlife in a concentrated setting.  Eagles, Grizzly Bear cubs, birds galore, running salmon and "combat fishing."
-   Lodging: Riverhaven - Cabins on the River  907-595-2222  


SEWARD - about 3 hours from Anchorage
-  Lodging: Hotel Seward (907) 224-8001 Nice place, good restaurants nearby such as Rays or Chinooks.
-  Resurrection Bay Tours: Kenai Fjords Tours      1-888-ALASKA-8
-  Alaska Sealife Center: good Aquarium
- Hiking EXIT Glacier