For anyone who has visited Alaska, where should I visit when going there next August? I will be staying in Anchorage, and would like to know what there is near there (drivable range), and how important it would be to hire a flight or boat while visiting Alaska.
JUNE IS THE BEST TIME. START IN ANCHORAGE WHERE YOU ARE "ONLY 30 MINUTES FROM ALASKA." THERE ARE MORE CLEAR DAYS DURING WINTER!
I had nothing but clouds and drizzle in June. Never saw the sun.
worldtop wrote:
JUNE IS THE BEST TIME. START IN ANCHORAGE WHERE YOU ARE "ONLY 30 MINUTES FROM ALASKA." THERE ARE MORE CLEAR DAYS DURING WINTER!
Japakomom
Loc: Originally from the Last Frontier
Will you have a vehicle to travel outside of Anchorage? Out in the Valley is Hatcher Pass and Independence Mine, the Matanuska Glacier, Talkeetna is a great little town to visit, Thunderbird Falls out past Eagle River, Alyeska and Girdwood south of Anchorage - if you are willing to go farther outside of Anchorage, Portage Glacier, Whittier, Seward. Personally, some of the best places are not in the Anchorage area. The Kennecott mine out at McCarthy has always been a favorite of mine, Thompson Pass heading down to Valdez....
Honestly, there is so much everywhere.
Japakomom
Loc: Originally from the Last Frontier
worldtop wrote:
JUNE IS THE BEST TIME. START IN ANCHORAGE WHERE YOU ARE "ONLY 30 MINUTES FROM ALASKA." THERE ARE MORE CLEAR DAYS DURING WINTER!
Personally, I like July the best. And clear in winter just means cold.
orrie smith wrote:
For anyone who has visited Alaska, where should I visit when going there next August? I will be staying in Anchorage, and would like to know what there is near there (drivable range), and how important it would be to hire a flight or boat while visiting Alaska.
Anchorage has a couple nice places to eat, and Stewart's Photo is available if you need something. Otherwise, don't drive anywhere... just take a cab to the airport and go someplace really interesting. Nome if you like history, Barrow if you like culture, Bethel or Kotzebue if even more culture will help. Dillingham if the fishing industry is interesting. Kaktovik to see polar bears. The list is long.
If you can drive there from Anchorage everyone else already has. That means it will be just like the Lower-48.
Alaska is beautiful place with an almost unlimited photographic opportunities, what is your definition of a "drivable range"?
Potter Marsh is no more than ten miles south of Anchorage. It features a boardwalk with potential for viewing birds and wildlife. Great photographic possibilities whether you're lucky seeing critters or not.
We went to Alaska in July 2014. We started in Fairbanks and rode the train system to Anchorage stopping for 2-3 day trips along the way. The trains are a must!! By far the best way to see the real/wild Alaska. Denali was worth spending 2-3 days at and the Glacier boat tours were absolutely awesome!! We hope to back and tour the Juneau area sometime. Forget the big cruise lines, by land is the best way to see Alaska.
The Kenai Peninsula is awesome. You can spend a day driving along the Russian River, where, depending on the time of year, you'll have lots of photo ops of the salmon run, bears and two-legged critters fishing (the water is aquamarine in July). Cook Inlet is a good place to spot killer whales (again, depending on the time you travel). Portage Glacier is an interesting stop. Drive over to Seward for more photo ops of everything from quaint shops to (more) salmon spawning to Kenai Fjords. Or forget Kenai Peninsula and go up toward Denali - the entire drive is splendid. In summer, fireweed explodes in washes of color in every direction, painting an already impossibly beautiful landscape.
The only unattractive place I've seen in Alaska is Deadhorse at the end of the Dalton Highway (aka the Haul Road), but that's certainly more than a day's drive, and even Deadhorse is interesting in its own way.
Just re-read the OP. August is autumn in Alaska, and the birches are simply brilliant! You won't be disappointed, no matter where you decide to go.
Orrie, I visited Alaska for two weeks in 2011 with my brother in law to do a photo tour. We rented a car and drove all over Alaska and it is still one of the best trips I have done. I am attaching a spreadsheet of what we did, which included driving to Valdez and back to Wasala in a day, the only modification we made while there. We stopped along the way to shoot and saw some very unique things. If you have the time and can drive for two weeks, it will be very rewarding. Let me know if you want any additional information. Gary
orrie smith wrote:
For anyone who has visited Alaska, where should I visit when going there next August? I will be staying in Anchorage, and would like to know what there is near there (drivable range), and how important it would be to hire a flight or boat while visiting Alaska.
You can't drive to the best parts of Alaska; you can only fly to those places.
There is no place on the road system even close to visiting Wales, right at the Bering Straits. Or Eek on the Kuskokwim River. Or try a few days in Alatna or McGrath or Point Lay or Eagle or Anuktuvuk Pass. See Alaska! Skip North Seattle...
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