Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

True, but you don't have to go to Point Lay. However, if you don't go someplace like Point Lay then you haven't actually seen Alaska.

If you really want exotic, and don't mind expensive, try hitching a helicopter ride out to Little Diomede.

Elliern Loc: Myrtle Beach, SC

We took a cruise along the inland passage in early August a few years ago and then stayed over a few days in Anchorage. We rented our car at the airport. We stayed at 2 different bed & breakfasts just on the edge of downtown. The second one was actually a small apartment connected to the main house. It was very convenient, comfortable and clean. We only saw the owners once when we first arrived. Every day the place was cleaned, fresh towels and the fridge restocked with drinks, food and snacks.

There are many things to see and do within easy driving range. First of all downtown Anchorage was lovely. Large flowering plants hanging everyhere. There is a river running thru the center of town and you will see a lot of people fishing for salmon from the banks. There is a nature park just on edge of town that has several walking trails and a large lake. There is usually moose and other wildlife in the area...don't mess with the moose.
You can go to nearby streams outside of town for trout fishing and may see a bear or two.

We took a drive towards Denali for a day trip, but it was so foggy we could not see the mountain right in front of us. So we stopped instead at tiny villages along the way. I can't recall the name, but one was about 1-2 hours or so from Anchorage. It was about 2 blocks long. Had a cafe where you could eat and a general store/post office combined where where we got to talk with several of the locals and the owner of the store. There were a few dog teams lodged there. Great photo ops and very interesting and friendly people.

You must take the scenic drive to Seward and take a boat tour to the Kenai fjords! An awesome trip up close and personal to glaciers, puffins, seals, whales and orcas. There were several eagle nests around the parking lot at the marina in Seward. Almost eye level and close. You can also shoot the fishing boats loading up wheelbarrows full of halibut. You can also buy some and they will filet it and pack it up and ship it to your home. We had a great day there. The Alyeska Resort is on the same road between Seward and Anchorage. Great views from the mountain.

I am sure you will have a great time. Be sure to check Trip Advisor for all the best places to visit and other information.

[aquote=orrie smith]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.[/quote]

Bear2 Loc: Southeast,, MI

So is the food!

Duane

Bear2 Loc: Southeast,, MI

Not trying to hijack this thread, but what about flying to Ankorage and renting a motor home and exploring?
If you want, admin move this to a new thread. Just thought a lot of Alaska experience here.
Considering next September.

Duane

Japakomom Loc: Originally from the Last Frontier

If you really want to explore, make sure your rental agreement allows you to travel gravel roads. Otherwise, you will not be exploring much.

DoninIL Loc: East Central Illinois

Orrie,
As others have said Alaska is awesome. I was there in 2012 with my wife, my daughter and a friend. I wanted to see the big Kodiak bears and I finally talked my daughter into it and we spent 3 days on Kodiak Island. After we got back my daughter said that was the best part of the whole trip. We were there at the end of June, first of July and we had rain only 2 days. Once on Kodiak, but we flew out of it when we flew out to the bear sanctuary. The other days there we rented a vehicle and drove from one end of the road to the other. The beaches were great - no sand, volcanic ash.

Eberhard Brunner Loc: Alaska

RENT A MOTOR HOME.-PARK WERE YOU LIKE SET YOUR OWN PACE AND MEET ALASKANS.
THAT IS THE BEST WAY TO SEE THE MOST SCENIC PLACES IN ALASKA. THE ALASKA HWY SYSTEM IS EXCELLENT.
YOU CAN DRIVE FROM HOMER TO SEWARD TO DEAD HORSE- BACK TO FAIRBANKS-TOK -GLENALLEN- MCCARTHY -VALDEZ.
YOU CROSS 5 MOUNTAIN RANGES AND GO FROM MARiTIME CLIMATE TO THE COLD OF THE ARCTIC.
GO FOR IT
EBERHARD BRUNNER

Bear2 Loc: Southeast,, MI

Thank you!

Duane

BudsOwl Loc: Upstate NY and New England

I won't try to tell you where to go. You've already heard from a multitude. Alaska is so different from Kansas that almost anyplace you go will give you a thrill. I worked there in 1952, first on the Tok-Glenallen cutoff, and then on a location survey at Rampart on the Yukon River. Our job there was to locate a route from Rampart to Livengood. I haven't been back there but I believe the road was built. However my wife and I took two trips, one in August 2003, and the other in June 2006. Both included a flight to Fairbanks (it's changed since '52); a cruise on the Chena River to the Tanana River; train to Denali (village, not the mountain); bus trip into the park; train to Anchorage; on one trip we went to the Kenia peninsula where I fished for sockeye salmon; then on both trips a cruise on Princess lines to Glacier Bay, Skagway, Juneau, Ketchikan, and finally to Vancouver. Each were a great two weeks. One of the highlights was seeing a mother grizzly with three cubs while I was fishing on Chilkoot Lake near Haines. My biggest regret was that I only had a point and shoot Olympus in '03 and I was overzealous with the digital zoom. Anyhow, I strongly recommend the combination land and sea cruise. Enjoy Alaska.
Bud

Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

Hey Bud! That's fascinating!

The Rampart Dam Project would have been the reason for a road survey; however, it never came to be. No actual road ever went from Rampart to Livengood. There is a legal right of way though, that means anyone can use the surveyed path without trespassing on private property. I doubt that it gets much use, but would bet that there is at least a little.

gwong1 Loc: Tampa, FL

OK, We drove all over where there were roads. We had a blast, look at the itinerary that I attached if you are interested. Gary

BudsOwl Loc: Upstate NY and New England

I'm glad they never built the dam. The Yukon at Rampart was quite wide and shallow at least for about 100 feet from shore. I waded out and never got above my waist.
If I ever get my slides scanned as digital, I will post a couple of them here. As far as the right of way, we were tasked with finding a route with grades that did not exceed 6% if my memory serves me correctly.
Bud

Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

You saw what others saw! The Yukon Flats is an environmental treasure. There are millions of waterfowl and other wildlife that would have been lost forever if the dam had been built. In 1980
President Jimmy Carter created the Yukon Flats National Wildlife Sanctuary to protect the entire area from that kind of development.

Something about Rampart that isn't generally known, is the quality of the King Salmon at that part of the Yukon river! Salmon have more oil if they must travel farther in freshwater, and on long rivers King Salmon have too much fat at the mouth of the river and at some point along the migration route they are optimum. Rampart is the place on the Yukon River! (Napakiak, just below Bethel, is where King Salmon are best on the Kuskokwim.)

The largest run of the best salmon in the world would have been destroyed by the Rampart Dam.

Eberhard Brunner Loc: Alaska

I FEEL THE SAME ABOUT PEBBLE MINE.
I dedicated one page in my new book asking people to say NO TO PEBBLE MINE.

Eberhard Brunner Loc: Alaska

I FEEL THE SAME ABOUT PEBBLE MINE.
I dedicated one page in my new book asking people to say NO TO PEBBLE MINE.