Jen & Matt's AK Travel Guide

This is a list of ideas we made for guests that come visit us. So far it includes Anchorage and cool places within a 4 hour drive. We've listed items geographically (original, I know). This document was originally created on GoogleDocs, and you can find the link to the original here. Just email if you have any questions!

Geographic Areas : Anchorage, *Girdwood, Whittier, Seward, Kenai Pennsula & Homer

Key:
*=Highly Recommended by Matt and Jen
LP: in the words of our ever faithful guidebook Lonely Planet


Anchorage

*Girdwood (45 min south of Anchorage along Turnigan Arm)
Our favorite! We haven't explored much yet--has a great vibe. Forest is "temperate rain forest": think ferns and mushrooms and berries and cedars . . .)
  • *Must eat at Jack Sprat (great yam fries, incredible osso bucco)
  • *Hike Winner Creek (cool handcart, lovely woods)
  • Art Co-op is next to the bakery, great art. Babes in the Woods is just down from that and has an incredible selection of jewelry, neat t-shirts, and art.
  • other hikes/bikes
  • gondola up ski mountain (to hike or bike down)
  • could fish here--close to Bird Creek
  • there's supposed to be an incredible Cajun restaurant--but it's spendy.

Whittier (1 hour S. of Anchorage along Turnigan). Cruise ship tours here focus on glaciers--lots of wildlife to see here too, but lots of glacier too. Weather can be if-y in Whittier--it often rains and cruises or kayaking can be canceled due to weather, so be sure to call in advance or have back-up plans (like hiking to Byron glacier) in place! Be sure to bring your rain gear, Whittier is sure to make you want rain pants!
  • Hike (short and long)
  • kayak
    • Prince William Sound Kayak Center
    • Lazy Otter Charters
    • AK Sea Kayakers
    • Epic Charters
  • *eat: Varley's Saltwater Cafe (halibut fish and chips--best ever. seriously.)
  • Tour Boats
    • Major Marine Tours: 5 hr. tour of Blackstone Bay $107 (Jen took this cruise with her students, Blackstone bay is neat because there are 3 glaciers that feed into the bay, all within sight distance. We say gray whales, thought he guides said they are rarely in this bay.)
    • Prince William Sound Cruises & Tours: 6 hr, tour of Esther Passage $129
    • Phillips Tours: 26 glacier "on a speedy boat ride . . . don't blink" (LP). $139
    • Honey Charters: tours of Blackstone Bay $125 and Barry Arm $175
  • they do have halibut charters
  • drive the cool tunnel
  • *Portage Glacier & visitor center (on the way to Whitter)
  • *Byron Glacier (1.5 mi easy hike)

Seward (2.5 hours S. of Anchorage onto Kenai Peninsula)
Bigger than Whitter--more options. Cruise ship tours are of the Kenai Fjords park and tend to focus more on wildlife.
  • wildlife/glacier cruises (cruise to Fox Island)
  • Kenai Fjords Nat'l Park entrance (cruises)
    • Exit glacier nature center
    • Keni Fjords National Park Visitor Center
    • Cruise Ship Tours of the park
      • Kayak Adventures Worldwide
      • Kenai Fjords Tours: Jen's done the one to Fox Island ($90, 4 hrs incl. salmon lunch--it was ok). They also do a tour where you can stay the night on Fox Island, kayak around the next day, and then continue the tour back to Seward ($359/person incl. boarding and meals). they also do a full day cruise and kayak combo: $179
      • Major Marine Tours: Resurrection Bay or Holgate Arm tours (Holgate Arm is the "local favorite"(LP).)
  • Hikes
    • to Exit Glacier: 1 hr guided hikes to the face of the glacier@ 10, 2, & 4
    • to and on the Iditarod National Historic Trail
    • Lost Lake trail: "challenging 7 mi. hike . . . one of the most scenic hikes the Kenai Pen. has to offer" (LP)
    • Caines Head State Rec. Area: contains WWII military facilities, & 3 mi. hike to Tonsia point
    • Mt. Marathon: the big mtn overlooking town--hike 3,000 ft. straight up & back (3.1 miles)
    • Harding Ice Field Trail ("extrememly popular 4 mi. trail" LP)
    • Resurrection River Trail: 72 mile trail system providing "a wonderful wilderness adventure through streams, rivers, lakes, wooded lowlands and alpine areas" (LP).
  • Biking
    • Iditarod trail, lost lake (technical, single track), resurrection river trail
    • rent bikes through Kayak Adventures Worldwide or the Seward Bike Shop (no website)
  • there are guided glacier hikes (ice climbing equipment included--you actually explore crevasses)
    • Exit Glacier Guides: this is the outfit highly recommended by our Lonely Planet guidebook (5 hour ice hiking trip=$120/person)
  • Kayaking
  • Sled Dog Mushing: 2 options $60 or $450. email if you want more info.
  • halibut charters
  • AK Sealife Center: the only cold-water marine science facility in the Western Hemisphere

Kenai Peninsula The drive is incredible. Gorgeous views.
  • On the way to Homer:
    • Hope: this tiny town is pretty off the beaten path; 16.5 mi off the main road. Gift shops, dining, bar w/local music on weekends: NOT TOURISTY. Some good hiking trails start here, great views across Turnagain Arm.
    • Salmon fish the Kenai or Russian Rivers. The ferry stop is the big shoulder-to-shoulder place to fish. Russian River is mostly accessed via hiking but is supposed to have great fly fishing opportunities without the shoulder-to-shoulder vibe of the Kenai. You can charter a guide and a boat to do this or just stand in your hip boots and try to imitate the others.
    • Kenai lake is supposed to be beautiful--hike?
    • Clamming at Clam Gulch or Ninilchick (be sure to check tide tables for low tides).
    • There a little Russian Orthodox (really "Believer") community: ask if interested.
  • *Homer: this is actually one of the biggest art scenes in Alaska. Really neat vibe in the town. Amazing views.
    • explore the spit (cool thin little strip of sand with boardwalk and great shops (art, souvenirs, ice cream . . .) & restaurants: the Salty Dawg anyone?)
    • halibut charters--other fishing charters too
    • kayaking (there's a school too, so you can take some lessons if you want)
    • across Kachemak bay (via charter) is Kachemak Bay State Park (camp, hike, Kayak, explore . . .)
    • camp on the beach/spit
    • there are guided excursions of all types: airplane, kayak, boat, whatever.
    • *take a charter to Seldovia
      • so cool--tiny town, lots of charm
      • kayak
      • hike
      • fish
      • mtn bike
      • few local shops (book, crafts, native store . . .)
      • just hang on the beach (if it's not raining)
      • halibut charters can be arranged from here too--might be more expensive?
      • berry picking in season (late July-August), get a $4 picking license from the local tribe. It's supposed to be epic!
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