Airline Pilot Forums

Going to ANC soon for the first time. Will be there for 2 or 3 days. What should I see/do?

Humpy's, ABC, Koots...not the place to be this time of year unless you know someone with a couple of snow machines. If you have wheels, I'd ski Alyeska for a day or two.

Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum (http://www.alaskaairmuseum.org/)

Alaska Zoo Home Page (http://www.alaskazoo.org/index.htm)

Welcome To Glacier BrewHouse (http://www.glacierbrewhouse.com/)

Anchorage Winter Activities - Alpine and heli-skiing, northern lights viewing, nordic skiing, ice fishing and more! (http://www.anchorage.net/629.cfm)

The Great Alaskan Bush Company (http://www.akbushcompany.com/) (the "ABC" Geddy Lee referred to, legendary strip club, some would say)(If you are female you can probably buy a fur bikini there)(that is not a euphemism)

"People Mover" -Bus line
People Mover (http://www.muni.org/departments/transit/peoplemover/Pages/default.aspx)

If you've got the time and a car, a drive to Homer is always cool, and is a very scenic trip, although that and drive time will definately depend on the weather. You'd probably want to plan on spending the night there. Driving the other direction you could head on up through Wasilla to Talkeetna. Not quite as scenic a drive, but on a good day you will be able to see Denali (Mt McKinley,highest mt in North America). Pretty quiet up there in Talkeetna this time of year, but some of the air tour outfits fly tours around Denali year round if the weather cooperates. Look into Talkeetna Air Taxi, K2, Talkeetna Aero Service, and Hudson Air Service (make sure to call and see if they are flying, the first two outfits are pretty big and may be a better shot for a winter flight). Like Homer, probably best for an overnight trip. Check online for Homer and Talkeetna accomodation. If you do go to Talkeetna have a beer at the Fairview Inn for sure (notice the windsock on top, there's a gravel strip across the street). Lots of history there sitting on barstools on the right night. Also great live music sometimes, and they have rooms upstairs, although it's pretty loud from the bar noise.

If you can get away from city lights in Anchorage on a clear night look up and you may see the Aurora Borealis. You may even see it through the city lights.

Aurora Forecast The Geophysical Institute Auroral Forecast Page (http://www.gedds.alaska.edu/AuroraForecast/)

Have fun. There's also some companies that do tailwheel endorsements if you need one or are interested. If you drive please beware of moose crossing the road. If you fly any there you may like this site Aviation Camera Home - Federal Aviation Administration - (Wednesday, 01/27/10) (http://akweathercams.faa.gov/)

Driving to Homer in the winter....bad idea.

Probably right Fishfreighter, I think I mentioned in my above post it's going to be very weather dependent but did not emphasize that and the likelihood of poor road conditions, short daylight hours, and super intense snowfall. If time is limited, and one has deadlines, a rental vehicle not suitable, poor outdoor clothing, no survival gear, and little winter driving experience a winter drive anywhere in AK might not be a good idea and can definitely be dangerous.

I guess I got too ambitious with that recommendation. Thanks for the reality check. My gauge has been calibrated by many winter drives between Anchorage and Skagway, and also slightly skewed after a Cub flight from Juneau to Kalispell one January. My experience driving to Homer was in the spring, and is a poor comparison to what one may encounter in the winter on the road.

Be careful out there.

Yeah, I only mentioned that because the road between Cooper's Landing and the Portage Glacier is pretty dark and lonely at night in the winter.

Fishfreighter,
Do you have any ideas of stuff to do in Anchorage? I listed some of the things I've done while there, I really enjoyed the zoo, and like eating at that Glacier Brewhouse, but it's been a while since I spent more than a couple of days as a civilian in Anchorage itself. I did my last Guard AT at Fort Rich in August, the only fun things that happened during that visit was that we got pepper sprayed and tazed for training. Definitely enjoyed the tazering more than the pepper spraying.

Just wondering if anybody else has ideas, Anchorage is a big town, and I can't afford the Bush Company visits, not sure if the original poster can either.

Wow guy's what about eating at Moose's Tooth or heading to The Bear Tooth? Those are really good places to eat.

Yeah, I was going to suggest the Moose's Tooth. Great pizza and microbrews. If you're there on a Friday/Saturday night, check to see if UAA is playing hockey at the Sullivan Arena. If you're lucky you might get to see North Dakota or Minnesota play.

Horseradish Crusted Halibut at Humpy's Great Alaskan Alehouse (http://www.humpys.com/)


The Peanut Farm (http://www.wemustbenuts.com/)


The Ulu Factory, Inc. (http://www.theulufactory.com/)


Midnight Sun Brewing Co. (http://www.midnightsunbrewing.com/)


free Bread at Great Harvest Bread Company (http://www.greatharvestanchorage.com/)







.

I met an Army Guard guy from Ohio who was doing some training with my AK Guard unit a couple of years ago. He had spent some off time eating at different places in Anchorage. Told me one time his wife in Ohio called him up very late at night in Alaska after checking their credit card statement online when she woke up that morning in Ohio.

She was super upset that he had been hanging out at a place called "Humpy's".

Wow guy's what about eating at Moose's Tooth or heading to The Bear Tooth? Those are really good places to eat.
Agreed. I just had dinner there the other night with a friend who was on a layover.:)

2-3 days in winter...if you have the transpo get to Girdwood/Alyeska (only 30-40minutes south of ANC. Stop in at the Girdwood Ski and Cyclery (it's on the left side almost hidden by huge snowdrifts in winter, on the main road going in--before you get to the townsite and before the signs for Double Musky (which is the place to eat if you can get in (and have the $$$). Haven't eaten there in a long time because the wait is 90-120min--guess you have to get in early. But the steak au poivre is worth the wait and even worth the price).
The guy who runs the Ski/Cyclery shop is very cool and nice. I've rented telemark equipment many times here but he has XC, downhill, and probably even studded-tire mtn bikes for rent. Reasonable rates. I get the whole schmear (telemark) for 30$ a day.

While you're waiting for him to wax the skis the girl you brought from the ABC can get a cappuccino right next 'door' at one of the million java huts up here.

If Double Musky is booked, try Chair 5 in town for good eats/atmosphere/locals, and the only real late nite spot (live music/eats/full bar) the Sitzmark

If I were staying in the Anchorage area and couldn't get to Alyeska, I'd rent some xc skis and hit the many groomed trails. 100s of km of groomed trails here. But that's me, that's my winter sport. The trails connect between the hillside and kincaid park (by the airport) so you can access the trails almost anywhere.

eating/drinking in ANC. where to start.
Moose's Tooth...midtown
Glacier Brewhouse....downtown
Humpy's Alehouse...downtown
F-street...downtown. just find the street
Bear Tooth Theatrepub/Grill....west midtown

Fine dining $$$$--
Jens' ... midtown.
Marx Bros...downtown
Southside Bistro...very south of town but worth it
Haute Quarter Grille...Eagle River. extra 15-20 min drive but worth it also. only open for dinner Tues thru Sat.

http://www.girdwood-ski-and-cyclery.com/

Jens' Restaurant (http://www.jensrestaurant.com/)
Haute Quarter Grill - Eagle River, AK- Homepage (http://www.hautequartergrill.net/)
Southside Bistro - Anchorage, Alaska (http://www.southsidebistro.com/)

Winter time? That's pretty easy...all of the above. ^^^^

During the warmer months though, you should get a car and go walk around on the Matanuska Glacier. We spent most of a day on that thing and it was amazing watching what the melting water does.

As long as we're necroposting ...




[His wife] was super upset that he had been hanging out at a place called "Humpy's".




Hopefully he was up to speed on his fish knowledge.

Wikipedia: Pink Salmon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pink_salmon)

Pink salmon or humpback salmon, Oncorhynchus gorbuscha (from a Russian name for this species gorbuša, горбуша), is a species (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Species) of anadromous (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fish_migration) fish in the salmon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salmonidae) family (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_(biology)). It is the smallest and most abundant of the Pacific salmon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oncorhynchus).

During their spawning (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spawn_(biology)) migration (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fish_migration), males develop a pronounced humped back, hence their nickname "humpies".


Humpy's in Kona, Hawaii, plays off the anatomy of the whale.






.

Eilert Pilarm and others offered some good suggestions. The bike/walking paths become cross country ski paths in the winter, the trip to Kincaid park is pretty fun and used to do it all the time; just watch out for moose and ocassional bears. See if anything is happening at the Sullivan Arena. I saw ZZ Top there once. For more usavory entertainment you could take a trip down Spenard and visit Chil Coot's then stop off at one of the ***** houses on the way back. Driving to Homer would be inadvisable in the winter; but great in the summer. There is alot more to do in the summer like hang at the Regal Alaskan at the end of the lake, or any where around the lake, and watch the float planes. Don't pet or get near the moose. Have fun.

Hey, at least the ABC wasn't on the invoice...

Hey, at least the ABC wasn't on the invoice...

It shows up as "The Last National Bank of Alaska" and the ATM kicks out nothing but ones,...or so I've been told.:eek:
fbh

Rent a bike from the shop on 4th street or one of the other vendors. Bike the Coastal trail and loop back through town. Or grab a summer shuttle that takes you to Flattop for a quick and easy hike (no gear required except decent shoes) Great views and photo ops from up there.