Anchorage RV Park Close Its Doors

I visited the website for Anchorage RV Park and it says they closed their doors September 30, 2006 to make way for their parent company to begin their next investment opportunity. Bummer...It looks like it was a great place to stay and I have seen it recommended on several posts.

I wonder what will take its place....Anyone know?

Anchorage RV Park Close Its Doors

NO, NO, NO...say it isn%26#39;t true !! If so, it sounds as if the SOB%26#39;s realized that they had a prime piece of property and are going to turn it into an expensive something-or-other. Too bad.

Thanks for the heads-up. I will stop recommending it. sheesh.

Anchorage RV Park Close Its Doors

When we did a 10 day RV trip around the Kenai Peninsula, we wanted our last night to be close enough to Anchorage to return the RV by 9am the next morning We camped at Williwaw Campground just off the Portage Road, about an hour from Anchorage. We loved it, and some of my best Alaska photos are from hiking around this area. The Portage Glacier visitor center is just down the road. It was a perfect ending to our trip!

Hi, yes, it%26#39;s closing. The land is owned by one of the Native corporations and part of it (i don%26#39;t know if it is the part the RV park was on) is being developed for a Target and, I assume, some other shops. Because we have so little land left to develop around Anchorage (we are surrounded by mountains and water), the value is going up nearly daily and I wondered how long the park would last. Now we know. It was a great park!

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Intra-Alaska Flights

I am looking at a March trip to Alaska - Anchorage and Barrow. The tentative itinerary is:

PHX - ANC 3/1/07 arrive ANC 3/2/07 (overnight airport hotel)

ANC - FAI 3/3/07 (connecting flight)

FAI - BRW 3/3/07 (overnight King Eider)

BRW - SCC 3/4/07 (always wanted to see Prudhoe Bay)

SCC - ANC 3/4/07

ANC - PHX 3/7/07

I am told that the Alaska Airlines flights between Fairbanks and Barrow, Barrow and Prudhoe Bay and Prudhoe Bay and Anchorage are on 747s? This seems strange - can anyone confirm this?

Also, is there any way besides flying to get from Anchorage to Unalaska in a reasonable amount of time - say 8 hours?

All help and advise is appreciated. Thanks.

Intra-Alaska Flights

BRW-SCC-ANC is done by 737-200C. This is a unique jet that carries both cargo and passengers on the main deck. They adjust the amount of seats based on the number of cargo contaners they load up front.

The seating is 3 by 3.

Enjoy Barrow and make sure to say hi to Fran at Pepe%26#39;s for us all. She%26#39;s a hoot! Look up the book ';Tacos on the Tundra'; for more details.

Glacier Bay or Tracey Arm/Twin Sawyers??

First trip to Alaska. Looking forward to seeing ';Classic'; huge wall of Glaciers. I have narrowed to two intineraries. One goes to Glacier other Tracy arm?

Which to do? Can%26#39;t do both What s the difference

Let me know if you have seen both ?

Thanks

Glacier Bay or Tracey Arm/Twin Sawyers??

Definitely choose Glacier Bay. Tracy Arm ( www.explorenorth.com/articles/tracy_arm.html ) is incredible for those who get into it far enough, but few of the big ships get even within sight of either of the glaciers due to ice. Have you looked at College Fiord and Hubbard Glacier itineraries? - both are equal to Glacier Bay, and on a good day, Hubbard is even better due to very active calving.

Murray

Glacier Bay or Tracey Arm/Twin Sawyers??

Thanks Explorernorth,

I have seen been leaning toward Glacier although it%26#39;s pricey. Now you have intruguied me with Hubbard.

Thanks again Much appreciated.

Tracy Arm offers pretty much the same scenery as Glacier Bay. If you%26#39;re staying in Juneau, it can also be a lot cheaper and can be accomplished as a day trip for $147. Meanwhile to get to Glacier Bay (from Juneau) you must fly and a day trip would be nearly impossible.

The one problem with Tracy Arm is that calving is rarer than Glacier Bay, but if you want to save hundreds of dollars, I still suggest Tracy Arm.

%26gt;%26gt;Tracy Arm offers pretty much the same scenery as Glacier Bay.%26lt;%26lt;

Well, there is water and ice in both, but the scenery is dramatically different.

I just can%26#39;t hold my tongue on this thread... The difference between the two is seeing the Eiffel Tower in Paris vs Las Vegas.

Tracy Arm is famous for it%26#39;s sheer cliffs and intimate fjord setting. It is however a mediocre glacier in terms of size. If it%26#39;s the only one you see, you%26#39;ll love it. If you see any other glaciers mentioned, Hubbard, or the Johns Hopkins Glacier inside Glacier Bay you will forget you ever went to Tracy Arm.

Hubbard is 4-5 miles wide at the face. It%26#39;s massive. It%26#39;s hundreds of feet tall and as mentioned above is very active.

Glacier Bay has multiple glaciers, more frequent wildlife sighting and has a great story being a National Park.

Whether on the day cruise from Gustavus/Juneau or a multi-day cruise itinerary on a large ship, do Glacier Bay.

Regardless of your choice, remember you will see a lot of glaciers in Alaska and will have an awesome time just for making the trip.

Great visit to Skagway

7/25/06 We loved our visit to Skagway, last week, via Island Princess. By lucky chance, our White Pass train ride (which was excellent, as predicted) was stopped as we got back into town, we were able to get off on the other end of town from the ship and walk around the town, on side streets where we saw lovely Victorian homes and beautiful gardens. Skagway is not just one street full of shops and restaurants, it turns out real people live there too!!! AND they have nice homes and lots of flowers. Skagway is Alaska%26#39;s Garden City, and for good reason. You will see this when you go one or two blocks over. We also went on a walking tour by the National park service, Carisse was great, and we saw the great NPS video giving the gold mining history of the area. Also one of the first homes in the town. Then, we were very lucky and bumped into Dyea Dave (Dbigfoot here) who showed us a few sites we may not have found. Thanks Dave!! His advice is correct, you don%26#39;t need an excursion in Skagway ( or the other Alaskan towns you can visit) just get off the main street and wander... we found friendly people every where we went in Alaska. DO NOT choose cruise tour, you can do it on your own if you can drive!!!!! By the way, if you are in the market for magnetic stones, the best buys are in Skagway, on the main street, at the end away from the ships. My sweetheart is playing with his now. Love2

Great visit to Skagway

Thank you, Love too, this is what I like to see for feed back on this site, a real visitor who saw more than they expected and left happy, all without spending a fortune!?!

It was also very nice to meet someone from this site in person and banter a bit re. this little corner of the world!?! Thank you for the visit, Love 2! DD

Great visit to Skagway

Thank you, Love too, this is what I like to see for feed back on this site, a real visitor who saw more than they expected and left happy, all without spending a fortune!?!

It was also very nice to meet someone from this site in person and banter a bit re. this little corner of the world!?! Thank you for the visit, Love 2! DD

Do you have the addresss and hours of the ';National park service';? Thanks.

The National Park Service is located at the corner of Second %26amp; Broadway, which is about the first building that you will see from your ship other than the Tshirt store. from the deck of your ship look to the right of the Alaska shirt Co, and you will see the Park Service on the other side of Broadway. It is the old train depot and the new train depot is right next to it on Second. Every ship docks within five blocks or less of these places!?! The Park Service opens promptly at eight oclock every morning and closes at five or six, depending on the number of ships that are in port. You should at least try to get in to the Park Service by eight, when they open and see the video, ';Days of adventure, dreams of gold'; which plays on the hour and is probably the most enlightening half hour that you will spend in this town and certainly the least that you can spend for anything here because it is free!?!

Thanks again for the nice mention Love2! DD

Thanks.

Hi Love to travel:

I just put a deposit down for the Island Princess, Southbound from Whittier to Vancouver with 3 days before the cruise in Fairbanks, Denali %26amp; Mt. McKinley. I know you said not to do the cruise tour, but it%26#39;s a package deal. My main question is, how was the Island Princess? The land tour is from 7/27/07 to 7/30/07, and cruise from 7/30 to 8/6. We are in AB minisuite, Dolphin deck. I am travelling with my husband %26amp; 16 years old son. I appreciate any information you can give me.

Thanks in advance,

Esther

Dear Esther,

This trip to Alaska was my first cruise, so I cannot give you a comparison, but we had a great time on the Island Princess. We also had a mini-suite, but there were only 2 of us. I guess someone in your group will sleep on a loveseat type couch?

There are lots of activities for all. Your 16 year old could become a photoshop expert in classes offered probably 5 out of 7 days, or could make great friends in the teenagers area, or learn yoga, etc. I have no doubt that grownups can keep busy, of course. It was a bit cold to walk the promenade deck, but you can do it if you bundle up.

Hope you have a great time, and feel free to ask anything else. Remember to listen to dbigfoot for Skagway advice, he knows it all.

Love2

Isn%26#39;t DBigFood awesome? He%26#39;s the smartest person I%26#39;ve ever seen post on this site. Beware his spelling... them errors ain%26#39;t mistakes.

Should you get the chance, test him out by asking which bait to use for catching local shrimp. Or see if he%26#39;ll give you a lift to Whitehorse... all it should cost you is a curry dinner - he loves that drive.

We bumped into dbigfoot when he had one hour to spare. He loaded us into his van and drove us around, we ended up in the historical cemetary, where he walked us around and showed and told the history. We were a bit familiar with it, since we had done the NPS movie,and a walk, but the cemetary is not a stroll from downtown, so we were lucky to get there. We also saw a great overlook of the town, and a few other goodies most cruisers did not see.

DD, here in Florida, I mowed the lawn yesterday, wondering what life is like for you in Skagway at this time? The good news is that the days are getting longer. Would like to hear about life in winter Alaska claud_j@bellsouth.net (only Dave please)

Love2

The Arctic Circle

I know this is really crazy, but I doubt that I%26#39;ll ever get the chance again, so I would like to make it to the Arctic Circle when I visit Alaska this summer. I realize it%26#39;s about 125 miles north of Fairbanks on the Dalton Highway, and also realize that the road leaves much to be desired. What I don%26#39;t know, though, is whether or not this route is forbidden by the rental car companies, or if it is allowed, are you required to rent a specific type of vehicle. Also, how long would it take, considering the road conditions, to drive to that point and then turn around and come back to Fairbanks? Thanks is advance for all your help and suggestions.

The Arctic Circle

If you search the Alaska forum here you will find several posts on this. But yes, most rental companies won%26#39;t let you take their cars there. There is at least one company that will but I%26#39;m not sure of the name, Outdoor something I believe. Weather and road conditions will affect your travel speed greatly. When I went this summer we were barely ever able to go over 45 mph. Good luck and have a great vacation.

The Arctic Circle

Yes, I saw the other posts after I had written (was searching Alaska on the Trip Advisor rather than Fairbanks). Thanks so much for the reply, though, because you gave me information that I did not find elsewhere.

jairn,

I felt exactly as you did several months ago. I just had to visit the Artcic Circle while in Alaska. When would I ever have the opportunity to again. No, your desire is not crazy. I have a wondefurl keepsake photo proving that I was at the Arctic circle...and for that, I am extremely greatful.

HOWEVER (there is always a ';but'; or ';however';), be prepared for disappointment. There is unfortunately, no welcome center, no restaurant, no picnic area, no facilities...nothing but a sign that states Artic Circle. The area is no where as scenic as many Alaskan photo stops. I guess I was looking for a magical neon line that ran across the earth. Oh well. At least I have my photo : - )

Here is the link to the story of my Brooks Range trip with a stop at the Arctic Circle sign and even better, Coldfoot.

http://www.cloud9doula.com/brooks_range.htm

Perhaps you could also consider a day trip by plane across the circle... there are options with a company called Northern Alaska Tours and also through Alaska Airlines Vacations.

NAT has flightseeing, driving and combo trips all from Fairbanks.

Alaska Airlines has a day trip to Barrow from Anchorage or Fairbanks.

Enjoy the north country...

1stimestar, what a great review. Thanks for sharing

1stimestar.... Fasinating report ... thanks for sharing.

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Any places to get Swedish/Shiatsu massages in Anchorage?

Can anyone suggest a good (and reasonably affordable) place to get massages in Anchorage? Swedish/Shiatsu or even Thai (although it is probably rare there).

If so, if you could give name, location and approximate price, it would be appreciated.

Any places to get Swedish/Shiatsu massages in Anchorage?

Wow... Deja Vu! I think I just read this same post but I%26#39;d swear it was asking about Juneau....

-Case

Any places to get Swedish/Shiatsu massages in Anchorage?

There are many practioners in Anchorage. Your hotel can recommend one or look in the phone book when you arrive.

I used to use the center near Kaladi Brothers on Minnesota-Spenard-Northern Lights area but can%26#39;t remember the name.

There is also a massage school in Anchorage.

Help with the wrinkles please--

We kind of have an idea of where we want to be, and even have some activites in mind, but aren%26#39;t real sure about the rental car, no rental car, fly-in, train business. This trip will either be in July (party of 3) or September (party of 1)

Day 1--arrive in Anchorage, stay at a B %26amp; B, get a rental car, or fly first to Katmai and not have rental car for first 3 days?

Days 2 %26amp; 3--fly in to Katmai, camping at Brooks. If we have a rental car, what do we do with it?

Days 4 %26amp; 5--fly in to Kenai Fjords?, stay at a B %26amp; B in Seward, pick up rental car. Is there a train to Denali from here? I REALLY want to ride a train SOMEWHERE! If there is, what about the rental car?

Days 5 %26amp; 6--Denali--camping at Riley Creek

Days 7 %26amp; 8--still open--prefer outdoor activities, as opposed to museums, shopping, etc. Looking at Valdez and Chugach areas. Would like to camp in one of those forest service cabins! Otherwise, a B %26amp; B, or maybe splurge at a resort!

Day 9--return to Anchorage and B %26amp; B.

Day 10--return to Phoenix, where it will be hotter than hades! Could even be DOUBLE the temperature in Alaska!

Your suggestions would be welcome! I%26#39;m thinking having the rental car the entire time is just far more convenient, and with a party of 3 the cost would be manageable.

Help with the wrinkles please--

I wouldn%26#39;t get the rental car until you come back from Katmai. Use a taxi to get around that first day. Most flights arrive late anyway. Why pay for a car for 3 days when you%26#39;re going to use it for a couple of hours?

In fact, you don%26#39;t need it the first 4 days. This is what I would suggest, hopefully will give you a few ideas:

Day 4 - train leaves Anchorage 6:45 a.m., arrives Seward 11:05 a.m. Either 11:30 to 5:50 Kenai Fjords half day tour or 11:45 a.m. to 7:15 pm. Majormarine full day tour. Store luggage at tour office. Taxi to B%26amp;B to overnight.

Day 5 - Pick up rental car (BTW, there will be a fair-sized drop-off fee to leave in in Anchorage instead of where you rented it. Plus, it costs more to rent in Seward, where Hertz is the only rental agency. However, you can put the 3 return train tickets plus the 4 days you didn%26#39;t need the rental car toward the cost, and should end up ahead. IMO the convenience alone makes it worth while.)

Visit SeaLife Center, walk to the face of Exit Glacier and/or do part of Harding Icefield hike, maybe Ididaride sled dog tour %26amp; ride or kayaking. Then very scenic drive with lots of stops, to either Eagle River or Wasilla (3 or 3.5 hrs) to overnight.

http://alaska.org/driving/seward-drive.htm

Day 6 - See Iditarod HQ in Wasilla, pick up food %26amp; supplies for Denali, then drive the rest of the way to Denali (4 hrs), maybe stopping at Talkeetna for lunch, flightseeing, a jetboat tour or river raft float. Possible activities at Denali: hike an entrance trail, drive the 14 miles into the park that cars are allowed and hike from there, visitor center displays %26amp; film, ATV, see free Ranger sled dog demo at 10, 2 or 4, whitewater rafting, dinner theatre. Overnight Riley Creek (be sure to reserve both campground %26amp; shuttle as soon as your plans are firm).

Day 7 - shuttle to Wonder Lake (11 hrs). You don%26#39;t have to go all the way, especially if McKinley isn%26#39;t ';out';, decide while you%26#39;re on the bus. You can get off almost anywhere to hike, then catch another shuttle to resume your trip or head back to the entrance. Overnight Riley Creek.

Day 8 - morning in Denali, then drive to scenic Hatcher Pass/Independence mine north of Palmer (5 hrs) to explore and overnight.

Day 9 - Visit Musk Ox Farm in Palmer, then drive 1 hr. east to Matanuska Glacier for 2 pm to 5 pm Ice Fall Trek with MICA to explore crevasses, etc. Drive back to Anchorage (2 hrs) to overnight. If you still feel like doing something, hike/bike part of Tony Knowles Coastal Trail.

Day 10 - Return car early a.m.(so you aren%26#39;t charged an extra day--unless of course, your plane doesn%26#39;t leave until late in the day, then you can use the car to explore Anchorage area). Return to Phoenix, where it will be hotter than hades. Board next flight back to Anchorage. ;-)

Help with the wrinkles please--

A couple of thoughts:

If you go in July, be sure to see if the Brooks campground is still available (www.recreation.gov). Most of the July dates are already sold out. September was pretty open the last I looked.

I suggest you consider Savage River campground vs. Riley Creek - smaller, a bit quieter, a chance to see the Mountain from there/near there vs. no chance near Riley Creek. Also some options for hiking at the Savage River checkpoint which would put you closer to there if you stay at Savage River. And in the evening a nice thing to do is to drive along the park road in that area looking for wildlife.

John

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