Summer in Alaska

[BraveSirRubin]

I will be in Alaska for the next month basing myself in Anchorage for the first week (Starting today). What great things are there to do in Alaska in the summer-time, where should I go, what should I see?

Any lovely people around who would like to meet a kind stranger? :)

[freeinalaska]

Welcome to the land of the midnight sun! I'm not overly fond of Anchorage, but you certainly have access to plenty of outdoor activities from there. In the city you should check out some of the native art places. Also, there are plenty of scenic trails around Anchorage. Check out historic downtown, have a few beers and wander around with a buzz with some of the natives that often have a buzz all day.

To the south you have the Kenai Penninsula which is worth a visit to some of the coastal towns and maybe going for a kayak ride. Make sure you see a glacier.

Head north to Denali and check out the mountains. Head furthur north to Fairbanks. Fairbanks north to the Brooks Range is my favorite part of Alaska with it's vast wilderness and unscathed vistas. There are plenty of hotsprings and camping to be done in the interior. Getting north to Fairbanks you will notice that even though Anchorage seemed to never get dark right now it is even more extreme up here (I have a homestead an hour north of Fairbanks). Drive the Dalton Highway across Yukon River to the arctic circle or camp on Finger Mountain. If it were winter I would offer you a dog sled ride under the aurora.

If you find yourself in Fairbanks for long check out the area around the university. There are plenty of hang outs (coffeeshops, books stores, pubs etc.) where hip young folks can be found. Also in Fairbanks go out to Goldstream valley and have lunch at Ivory Jacks or check out local music there on a weekend.

It's a great place. You will be happy you have a whole month up here.

[dirtybongwater]

Summer in Alaska can be a lot of fun. Bring lots of mosquito repellent though, they will eat you alive.
You should definatelylook into a bus tour of Denali national park. 6 million acres of basically untouched wilderness. You wont regret it.

A white water rafting trip is always a lot of fun.

go panning for gold

Go to one of the hot springs for a definition of relaxation

Just a couple ideas, hope it helped

[BraveSirRubin]

Thank both of you very much :)

I am now in Anchorage walking around downtown all day. I see why you are not too fund of the city, it is truly nothing special... but it is nice to see all the natives and the local art... even though it is rediculously overprized. I will try to get out of here in a day or two... tomorrow I will just spend my time in parks sitting around.

Much love to all,

Pavel

[WayfaringStranger]

hike on up to Homer bro! have fun.

[theshaman]

Check out Seward, and go to the Aquatic Life Center. It's also fun to watch when the fishing boats come in for the day, as they unload their catch. There's a little restaurant, next to a pizza place, has a yellow sign, I believe. Best halibut and chips in the world.
Homer is fun, too, walking down the spit. Talkeetna is a good town, eat some sourdough pancakes at the Roadhaus. Flight around Denali and landing on a glacier is fun, too.
Exit Glacier is a lot of fun.



I can't wait to go back.....

[BraveSirRubin]

I'm in Seward right now. Worst weather in the world, but I still went to the Aquatic Life Center... it saddened me. I got into a discussion with a guy there about the seals. I say that every animal needs freedom... so they are not happy to be enclosed there, while he says that every animal only needs food and safety... so they are happy to be there.

I shalt try that little restaurant out... I passed by it today, sitting in the internet cafe now.

I'll go to Homer sometime next week.

I went to Denali earlier this week... saw some grizzlies and lots and lots of Carribuo... but the weather was yet again shitty. The tourist traps sickened me, but I am running out of t-shirts, so I bought some nice naturaly clay made ones in a shop there... it was the only nice one... the rest sold Alaska shirts made in third world countries I used to visit often... Didn't make me too happy.

It is a lovely state, I am enjoying my visit.

[HoneySuckleBlue]

If you get the chance on the way donw to Homer check out Sals diner, we used to go there for breakfast in the mornings after being up all night cleaning fish, they have excellent pie:)





Sal's Klondike Diner


44619 Sterling Hwy, Soldotna, AK

Cuisines: Diner
Tel: 907-262-2220
Also near soldotna just as you are coming in by the river they have a canoe rental place, we went up the river and saw moose standing out in the middle of it and lots of other wild life, a black bear and some eagles.

Alaska Canoe & Campground
35292 Sterling Highway
Sterling, Alaska 99672
907-262-2331

Homer is crazy with all the golden eagles all perched on the light posts ripping apart salmon.




There are some nice hiking trails on the right hand side of the road heading south to homer, you can hike up to a lake and the views are incredible. I think it's about two hours down the road from Anchorage.


If you are still in seward might wanna check out a glacier...wish I was able to make it up this summer, but I am sure glad some one else is doing it!!!:)

[BraveSirRubin]

Ate at Sal's... it was tasty!

Talked to whales, saw a volcano erupt... Homer was lovely :)

Now I'm in Kenai... looking out for Belugas!

[BraveSirRubin]

Ate at the little restaurant with the yellow sign at Seward today... the Halibut was wonderful and the Musk Ox burger was really good too.

2 more days left in Alaska... I shalt miss this place.

[HippieAdrien]

if you come back, totally go hiking, man. the scenery is so gorgous. me and my bro spent the night up an some mountain by a lake somewhere. it was awesome.