My wife and I are going to Alaska in May (second half). We’re looking at visiting Anchorage, Seward and Cordova. We will rent a car so we’ll be driving around, though apparently not on gravel roads. Any recommendations on what we should do/what activities will be available during our stay given weather conditions? We both like hiking. want to do at least one canoe/kayak trip, visit a glacier, and avoid getting eaten by bears.
Anchorage isn’t Alaska. Head for Kenai.
I started a thread (“A day in Anchorage, Alaska! What to do?”) a few years back when I was doing regular business trips to Anchorage.
Lots of good advice, plus what I ended up doing. As already alluded to, you’ll want to head out of Anchorage for all the fun stuff, but you don’t actually have to go that far.
cool, thanks! We do plan to spend most of our time outside Anchorage.
To say Anchorage isn’t Alaska is disingenuous. More than half the population live in the Anchorage bowl and surrounding Matsu borough. It’s an urban environment, with it’s own vibe and culture. Lots to do and see there.
I grew up in Anchorage and have traveled most of the state for work and play. If you can be more specific about your wants, I can give more concrete suggestions. For Anchorage in no particular order
Hiking- Chugach state park borders the Anchorage bowl with lots of existing trails. The most popular hike by far is Flattop. It is a approximately 2.5 hr climb to top with views of Anchorage and Cook Inlet. ( not sure if you want multi day hikes?)
Museums- The Natural Museum of History and Art - good exhibits on Alaska and the Pipeline
The Aviation museum at Lake Hood is cool if you like planes and Bush flying
There are lots of lakes in Anchorage and Matsu if you want to Canoe. I think the Anchorage REI rents them.
The downtown Saturday Market is fun
Portage glacier is 50 or so mile south of Anchorage, you have to take a boat ride to see the glacier due to it retreating. ( good informational building.)
Also Anchorage has some great restaurants and brew pubs if you are into that type of thing.
Seward-
This would be your best bet for ocean kayaking. I think there is a place that rents them.
The Alaska Sealife aquarium is cool (expensive)
The museum is small but interesting about the 64’ earthquake and the history of the town.
Exit glacier is approximately 15 miles north of town. You used to be able to walk up and touch the glacier. Not sure if this is allowed any more.
Never been to Cordova so can’t help you there. You probably already know this but you can’t drive there. Boat or plane only.
Weather. By late May all the snow will have been melted. Historically May and June are the best weather months in South Central. Temps are probably 50 to 60s but could hit 70. Night probably around 40s. Seward will be a slightly colder and windier.
Thanks!
We’re probably not looking for multi day hikes, but I don’t mind dedicating a full day to a single hike.
We did pick a nice restaurant in Anchorage for a nice meal (don’t remember the name at the moment).
Regarding Exit Glacier, we were warned the road may be closed due to snow, but we did find a company that will get you up there in a tracked vehicle, which sounds cool all on it’s own.
I am aware of the lack of roads to Cordova, and honestly that’s a good part of why we’re going there. It sounds about as picturesque as you could ever hope for.
As to our wants, I can’t be very much more specific. This is actually our honeymoon (got married back in October, but that seemed like a poor time to travel to Alaska) so we’re looking for fun activities as well as seeing some of the local color. For instance, I think the Saturday market was already in my wife’s radar, but the aquarium wasn’t and that sounds interesting. We were also thinking of an airplane tour over Denali.
Best glacier by far is the Matanuska Glacier. You can drive right up to the terminus, and it’s a short hike out onto the glacier itself. The turnoff is about an hour and a half north of Anchorage on the Glenn Highway. There is a turnout/overlook prior to the actual road to the glacier. It’s a dirt road, but don’t sweat it.
If you start your day early, you can first visit the above glacier, then on the way back, take the turnoff to Hatcher Pass and visit the historic Independence Mine, then have lunch at Hatcher Pass Lodge (yes, those are real views from the lodge). There are hiking trails all over the place up there, and you could probably spend an entire day, if you wished, but half a day will do the job.
Drive down the Seward Highway, south out of Anchorage. It’s a gorgeous drive. Stop at Mt. Alyeska Ski Resort in Girdwood, or visit Crow Creek Mine, which is an historic gold mine that was once owned by a friend of mine.
Continue down the highway to Portage and drive back to the Portage Glacier. You won’t be able to see the glacier, as it’s receded around the point, but there are boat trips out to the terminus. To me, it’s just as much fun to hike on the trails and look at the many hanging glaciers in the area.
Continue south to Turnagain Pass, which is very scenic, then either take the Hope cutoff to a picturesque little town with a good restaurant, or continue south to Seward.
Sorry, had to take a break.
Seward: there are many charters out of Seward. The larger boats have on-board salmon buffets (mediocre) and take you out to the seabird nesting areas. Lots of puffins and other waterfowl. You may see whales spouting, and glacier termini. I wouldn’t recommend this on a windy day, as the seas can get rough (unless you have a strong stomach). The Alaska Sealife Center is there and worth a look. Stop for drinks at the Salty Dawg Saloon. It’s pretty much a tourist trap now, but worth a look. Alternatively, drive to Homer instead. There are charters that go out on Kachemak Bay, and it’s an attractive little town with lots of ‘artsy’ types.
Cordova: A nice little fishing town, very picturesque area. There is (or was) a very good restaurant there called The Reluctant Fisherman, where they did a hell of a king salmon steak. If you hit it during open season, it’s the best fish you’ll ever eat. I’d suggest stopping at the Prime Select Seafood office and picking up some canned smoked salmon to take with you. The jars of smoked sockeye are some of best I’ve ever had.
There is a road out of Cordova that used to be the rail bed for the Kennecott Copper Mine ore trains that once came down the Copper River from McCarthy. The road only goes as far as Miles Glacier now, but you can no longer get that far. You can cross the Million Dollar Bridge, but one of the bridges further on has been closed because of erosion to the supporting structure. There are plans to try to repair it, but that won’t happen for some years. My suggestion would be to hire a charter pilot and aircraft in Cordova and have him fly you up the Copper River. It’s a gorgeous river valley. He can either land you in McCarthy, where you can visit the old mining town and the mine itself, or just fly up and back. The Cordova area is home to some of the largest moose in Alaska, and has it’s fair share of grizzly.
I agree with Flattop area just out of Anchorage. It’s part of the Chugach National Forest and is full of trails, from easy to difficult. The easiest trail is the old Powerline Pass road that leads you back into the valley. It’s common to see moose and other wildlife along the way. While bears are always a possibility in Alaska, so many people frequent these areas that it’s unlikely to have an encounter of the bruin kind. There’s a great overlook of the Anchorage bowl, and of both the Turnagain Arm and Knik Arm of Cook Inlet. On a really clear day, you can see Mt. McKinley to the north, the entire Alaska Range, Sleeping Lady Mountain (Mt. Susitna), and the string of volcanoes stretching southwestward.
In Anchorage itself, there is the Coastal Trail for hours of hiking or biking, and Campbell Creek trail, which is a pleasant hike. A nice place to stop just outside of Anchorage (about ten miles, I think) on the Seward Highway is McHugh Creek, which has a trailhead and a picnic area. Climbing up those trails is cautionary. There are a lot of bears along that mountain side. A little farther down the highway is Beluga Point where on the one side you may see whales, and on the other side Dall sheep.
Most of the things in my two posts are day trips, with the exception of Cordova.
Thanks, that’s extremly useful info!