Guys,

I would like to take the wife to Alaska in late May or early june for a vacation. Purpose: get a tase of Alaska and see potential hunting areas (and show her a good time).

Any general advice for a first time visitor? Where to go-stay what to see?

Thanks very much;
Brett

Brett: I am not a resident of AK, but these are some of the things I enjoyed during my visit there in 2005:

The scenic drive from Anchorage to Seward.

The breathtakingly beautiful scenic drive from Anchorage to Valdez.

The glacier tour boat cruise out of Valdez.

The museum at the Univ. of Alaska, Fairbanks.

The Musk Ox farm (part of the university) in Fairbanks.

The NPS tour bus trip into Denali National Park.

The scenic airplane flight out of Talkeetna (we used a floatplane).

The reindeer sausage found in several restaurants.

An excellent book I can recommend for this trip would be the Moon Handbook for Alaska:

http://www.moon.com/books/moon...alaska-ninth-edition

I am planning on going back someday ..........

Thanks so much Pagris, I have homework to do.

Brett

Brett: Another good info source if you decide to do some driving around the state:

http://milepost.com/

Have a great trip.

The tips given so far look good.
THE HAUL ROAD Fairbanks to Prudoe bay might be good for a look.
ALSo if you go to fairbanks and head down to Anchorage take a couple days foe Denali. Take a tour into the park.
OUT of Denali heading to Anchorage take the Paxon highway across. A wonderful drive. Watch for moose in the willow flats. You should see plenty of moose. Once across the Paxon you are fairly close to Valdez. GO there. TAKE THE CRUISES, THEN THE state ferry across to Seward ON THE kenai. OUT TO homer, back to Anchorage.
Have a great trip. Another idea for hunting.
Consider the Yukon Territory, Canada, No roads to speak of and no hunting pressure and way less people.
Watson Lake

Watson,

Thanks so much for the ideas. I like the sound of the Yukon! Less people is a very good thing.

Best regards;
Brett

Your time frame sounds good. Don't delay the mosqutio's start hatching in force by mid june.
Any road trip out of Anchorage is well worth the price of gas with lots of fishing holes along the way.
Drive up hatcher pass from the palmer side. You won't be able to go over the top till July but the mine may be open then. It would be worth a charter out of Seward you probably would be able to fill a good part of you freezer with one day out of resurection bay. And it is a beutiful drive as well.

I like the train trip between anchorage and fairbanks. Thats a relaxing trip.

Brett
The Yukon is twice the size of California and filled with 32,000 people. 24,000 of them live in one town.
Watson Lake has 850 people.
Check out Ceaser Lake Outfitters.
We have the scenery too.
Watson LAKE

+1 on the Alaska Railroad trip from Fairbanks all the way to Seward. Spend at least 2 days in Denali where the wildlife tour (take the long 7-hr trip) is a must. If the day is clear, consider a breathtaking (and pricey) flight around Mt McKinley. Also in Denali, you can raft the Class III/IV rapids of the Nenana River. If you like sled dogs, 3-time Iditarod winner Jeff King lives there and you can enjoy a sled dog demonstration, and maybe a ride, even in the summer.

Weather's a little nicer in July and August if you have flexibility, but May and June the kings are running!

I'd second the drive through the Kenai pen. The north part south of Anchorage is a beautiful drive. Past Cooper Landing gets a little flat and boring until you get to Homer. When you peak the hill before you head down into Homer you're greeted with one of the most beautiful sights I've ever seen. The bay around Homer is stunning! The Fur Exchange or whatever its name is on Old Seward and Tudor in Anchorage is always a cool place to see. Lots of trails to hike if your wife's into the outdoors. Plenty of touristy shops in downtown Anchorage. Stop at the Antique Gallery on Fourth? It's down town at any rate. They have lots of great things. The Roosevelt Room in the back of the Antique Gallery has guns and all sorts of neat things. The one time I stopped in they had several things from John Wayne's estate including an ivory capped elephant tail from his safari after the completion of the movie Hatari. I've never wanted to waste $2,300 more in my entire life! You may also want to look into bed and breakfasts instead of traditional hotels. I stayed in a few around Anchorage and had very good experiences. Generally very pleasant people and you get a flavor of Alaska in the decor and the people. B&Bs are usually cheaper too especially in tourist season.

Brett

It may not yet be open in May, but the farmer's market and craft fair on weekends in downtown Anchorage is worth a visit. Also, a drive of the Copper Highway.

Brett- If you are going to take a side trip, consider Cordova. I have been traveling to Alaska most every year scince 1981, seen much of the state, and it is, IMHO, the BEST.

Don't forget Chena Hot Springs. About mile 53 (the end of the road) on Chena Hot Springs Rd. out of Fairbanks. Everything is natural hot springs including an outdoor rock pool, a conventional indoor pool and hot tubs (2 indoors & 1 out). The road is good all the way & it makes for a nice 1 day trip. You can even get bathing suits there.
As to driving the Dalton Highway (Haul Road). I'm pretty sure that only one car rental agency will allow you to drive it and I THINK they require you to rent one of their pickup trucks. Personally, I would advise not trying to drive it in a rented vehicle. There are virtually NO facilities and you can forget about using your cell phone there - no coverage. You can get gas at Coldfoot and just north of the Yukon River bridge (I think). Except for facilities near Livengood & Prudhoe - that's it. You're gonna want at least 2 spare tires, perhaps an extra fan belt & tools as well. Weather on the north side of the Brooks can be literally anything including below freezing & snow.
I just don't think you can realistically bring what I think you should take up there with you on the plane.
If you really want to see the Dalton Highway, I would suggest you contact "Northern Alaska Tour Company" here in the Fbks. area. They conduct tours up the Dalton and back. I do know they have one in which they go to Coldfoot by air one way and then drive the Haul Road back to Fbks. I believe (not sure) they also have tours to Prudhoe & back. You'll have to contact them to find out. I have nothing to do with them but only know of them thru friends. They should be in the Fbks. phone book or maybe you can Google 'em. I would strongly advise you not to drive the Haul Road yourselves tho. Just my 2 cents. Bear in Fairbanks

Anchorage best kept secret and it's free.....go to the hospital!! I know that sounds weird but visit the Alaska Native Medical Center on Tudor Road. It's the IHS flagship hospital newly build in the last 10+ years and they had been storing Native Art for decades waiting for the build.

Take the elevator to the top floor and slowly walk down the lobby stairs. The Native Arts & Craft collection is unbelievable.

Also there is a craft store in the hospital that sells on consignment and has some of the best prices in town but call ahead....it has weird hours.

May/June is perfect timing in my estimation. The hordes of tourists haven't amassed and there's a good chance for some great weather.

Rental cars and lodging will already be at the summer rates and you might want to call ahead some reservations. Later in the season, tourist services can be booked pretty full.


The State Marine Highway system is another option for some coastal access instead of cookie cutter tourist cruise boats.

One of these days my wife and I are going to make the run to the lower 48 via the Inside Passage.

///// Everything that has been mentioned is almost an absolute must see ... And there are several thousand other places to see and spend time and effort .. The Haul road is pretty major .. It is still below zero here in Prudhoe Bay so Tho by june ithe road might be dry but might not be .... The haul road really isn,t for beginners ..... There are so many stupefying places in Alaska ,if you are on vacation you may want something that isn,t garrenteed to break your windshield ....

Thanks again for all of the great suggestions!

All the best;
Brett

Does your wife like to dance? If so there are several dance nights around Anchorage that have lessons and then you apply. Salsa, tango, waltz, Charleston, etc. PM me if you are interested and want details.

Brett

Brett,

She does. I'm not so enthusiastic.

Thanks for the thought.

Best regards;
Brett

The Great Alaskan Bush Company.

Namibiahunter

Was wondering how long it was going to take before someone mentioned the GABC!!
His wife might not appreciate such a fine establishment though.