Alaskan Weekend

Alaska, the largest state in the United States (coming in at more than twice the size of Texas), is one of the final frontiers for travelers seeking adventure, unparalleled natural beauty or just a chance to get away from it all. It has more coastline than all the other U.S. states combined, and along with Hawaii is the only other non-contiguous state in the union.

There are myriad options for the family or individual planning a trip to Alaska. Gaze at glaciers and wildlife while cruising the Inside Passage, visit Denali National Park (home of Mt. McKinley), or revel in the history and culture of Alaska’s cities and small towns.

Anchorage is the largest city in Alaska, located in the south-central region. Anchorage is a cosmopolitan port city with a population of nearly 300,000. 

The Anchorage area is home to moose, brown and black bears, Dall sheep and many migratory bird species. A visitor should be able to find moose fairly easily by driving any neighborhood on Anchorage’s Hillside (actually the foothills of the Chugach Mountains).

The Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage maintains and provides information on numerous nordic (cross-country) ski trails around town. Alyeska Resort located in Girdwood about 40 miles south of Anchorage is Alaska’s largest alpine (downhill) ski resort. Alyeska has a wide array of intermediate and expert terrain. Expert skiers and snowboarders can enjoy helicopter and snow-cat skiing in the Chugach Mountains with a professional guide.

Comprising three towers, Hotel Captain Cook is located approximately three blocks east of the scenic Tony Knowles Coastal Trail along Cook Inlet and six miles from Anchorage International Airport. This location is also three blocks west of the convention center, four blocks from the 5th Avenue Mall, six blocks from the Anchorage Saturday Market, eight blocks from the Anchorage Museum of History and Art, one mile from the Alaska Railroad, five miles from Lake Hood, and 11 miles from Flat Top Mountain/Chugach State Park. The hotel is owned by the family of Walter Hickel, former governor of Alaska and US Secretary of the Interior. Hotel amenities include the Captain Cook Athletic Club & Spa (with swimming pool, sauna, racquetball court, and massage treatments), beauty salon, 24-hour business center, and 14 lobby shops (including clothing, jewelry, and art). Crow's Nest Restaurant, on the 20th floor, offers views of the city, mountains, and Cook Inlet, as well as sophisticated New American cuisine. Guests may also dine at Fletcher's (with seafood and Italian fare), Whale's Tail (with specialty coffees and pastries), and the Pantry (a casual cafe). Room service is available 24 hours. All rooms feature premium linens, feather duvets, wooden headboards, Gilchrist & Soames toiletries from London, bathrobes, hairdryers, irons and ironing boards, complimentary wireless Internet access, TV Internet access, multi-line phones, voicemail, evening turndown service, mini-fridges, satellite TV, and in-room movies and video games.

Walnut paneling and copper piping are present throughout the two floors and the effect is warm, classy and polished. The top floor also has a wonderful sun deck for the summer days; it offers a view of the Alaska Range. Try its coconut prawns (dipped in an ale batter and served with a sweet and sour sauce) they're a favorite from its list of appetizers. Preferred entrees include the blackened halibut caesar salad and the wild mushroom fettuccini. The beer is exclusively made at this brewery.

The main attraction at this multi-galleried museum is the Alaska Gallery with more than 1,000 pieces of history, artwork and photography by Alaskans. Five other galleries are housed in the downtown-area museum, showcasing a variety of temporary exhibits from all over the world and a Children's Gallery. This is a fascinating museum to visit. During the months of June through August, see educational evening programs at 7pm.

When the "Good Friday" earthquake rocked Anchorage in March of 1964, the area that is now the park was an affluent residential area on the bluffs above Cook Inlet. The 9.2 earthquake dropped these homes into 30-foot crevasses and destroyed this entire area. Developed as a park years later, it carries monuments and reader boards with information on the great quake. The Tony Knowles Coastal Trail winds through the park.

Just a half-hour drive from Anchorage, this mining site still portrays mining techniques as they were during the 1920s and 1930s. It is near an old roadhouse, built in 1909, formerly serving the many mining travelers that crossed the Indian Pass route of the Iditarod Trail. There were only two mines on this side of the Turnagain Arm. Try your hand at panning for gold and look through the museum at recorded events.

Opened in 1998, it became Anchorage's "Favorite New Restaurant" in its first year. Breakfast entrees such as the Tofu Scramble ($8.95) and Eggs Benedict ($8.95) are available until 5pm. Lunches include the Greek Pita and the Salmon Cake Hero (both $8.95). Fresh soups and sandwiches are also made daily.

With more than 100,000 of these ice masses, many in retreat, Alaska’s glacial wonders are hard to miss—for now.

A real Alaskan experience, this restaurant has scads of memorabilia on its walls and in displays. President Carter and the first lady once ate here while passing through Anchorage. Down-to-earth, friendly Alaskans - who are happy to share what they know of Alaska - operate this restaurant. Meals are served all day, and you may expect large Alaskan portions. Have your omelet with reindeer sausage, or a grilled halibut sandwich for lunch. Dinner options include barbecued salmon, and wine and beer is available.

Alaska’s Denali National Park is not short of superlatives. Best known as the home of towering Mt. McKinley, which at 20,300 feet is the tallest peak in North America, Denali is the largest park in the United States. Comprising 6 million acres, the park is bigger than some states—Massachusetts, for instance.

Rising from the lowlands surrounding Wonder Lake to its peak well above the clouds, Mt. McKinley has one of the most extreme vertical rises in the world. The challenge of the assent acts like catnip for serious mountaineers, drawing so many during the brief Alaskan summer that the Park Service had to cap their numbers beginning in 2007. Nearly 100 people have lost their lives on the way to the top of the continent.

But Denali has gentler pleasures as well, including an incredible wilderness full of grizzly bears, caribou, moose, wolves, and other animals. Travelers can tour the park by bus, small plane, car or, for the hardy among us, on foot. The Park Road is the only vehicle access to the park.

Since opening in 1970, this bar has grown in size and notoriety. With sawdust floors, three stages, three dance floors, eight bars and tree stump bar stools, it has hosted: the Romantics, Megadeth, Aerosmith, Journey, Bad Company, Crosby Stills & Nash, Ratt, Blues Traveler and the Steve Miller Band. This bar has been discussed by David Letterman, used as a backdrop for the MTV Street Party show, noted on ESPN and highlighted on the Johnny Carson Show. Onsite Sal's New York Grill offers reasonably priced bar fare. The doors open at 10:30a daily.

Alaska, the largest state in the United States (coming in at more than twice the size of Texas), is one of the final frontiers for travelers seeking adventure, unparalleled natural beauty or just a chance to get away from it all. It has more coastline than all the other U.S. states combined, and along with Hawaii is the only other non-contiguous state in the union.

There are myriad options for the family or individual planning a trip to Alaska. Gaze at glaciers and wildlife while cruising the Inside Passage, visit Denali National Park (home of Mt. McKinley), or revel in the history and culture of Alaska’s cities and small towns.