Anchorage Questions
01-27-2010, 08:03 PM
#3
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2008
Position: Livin' the dream
Posts: 626
Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum
Alaska Zoo Home Page
Welcome To Glacier BrewHouse
Anchorage Winter Activities - Alpine and heli-skiing, northern lights viewing, nordic skiing, ice fishing and more!
The Great Alaskan Bush Company (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
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
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)
Alaska Zoo Home Page
Welcome To Glacier BrewHouse
Anchorage Winter Activities - Alpine and heli-skiing, northern lights viewing, nordic skiing, ice fishing and more!
The Great Alaskan Bush Company (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
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
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)
Last edited by Kilgore Trout; 01-27-2010 at 11:22 PM. Reason: Removed incriminating Bush Company reference
01-28-2010, 09:42 AM
#5
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2008
Position: Livin' the dream
Posts: 626
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.
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.
01-28-2010, 10:38 AM
#7
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2008
Position: Livin' the dream
Posts: 626
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.
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.
01-28-2010, 12:48 PM
#9
Banned
Joined APC: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,480
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.
01-28-2010, 06:27 PM
#10
Organizational Learning
Joined APC: Nov 2005
Position: Directly behind the combiner
Posts: 4,948
Horseradish Crusted Halibut at Humpy's Great Alaskan Alehouse
The Peanut Farm
The Ulu Factory, Inc.
Midnight Sun Brewing Co.
free Bread at Great Harvest Bread Company
.
The Peanut Farm
The Ulu Factory, Inc.
Midnight Sun Brewing Co.
free Bread at Great Harvest Bread Company
.
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