Day of fun in Anchorage?
Professor
enjoy?
Dan Foster
> What is your favorite thing to do in Anchorage that a traveler might also
> enjoy?
Enjoy an hike in Chugach State Park. 1/2 million acre state park that's
about 1/3rd the size of Delaware.
http://www.dnr.state.ak.us/parks/units/chugach/
There are several marked trails that usually involves hills, each with
their own varying levels of difficulty. Not recommended for folks with bad
knees or shoes/boots without *firm* ankle support (to avoid sprains).
(To get to these trails, one way would be drive to the McHugh Creek
entrance of Chugach State Park, park, and then walk up and pick a
particular trail.)
At McHugh Creek, near the entrance, you can also see the red berries that
bears are *so* fond of eating... and sometimes may see bald eagles
overhead.
If one just enjoys easy, flat hikes then you can hike on the Turagain Arm
Trail in the park which is right by the water and is 9.4 mile one way
although you don't have to do the entire trail. It has nice interpretative
displays that explains the scene before you -- such as the belugas at
Beluga Point or how trees responds to forest fires by putting up tough and
durable trees such as birch as a natural response. One display talks about
how Bird Creek got its name.
(To get to this trail, go to the Bird Creek entrance of Chugach State Park,
park, then walk eastwards. I think there's more to the trail in the
opposite direction as well but I don't remember anything about that side.)
Either area is especially great to do 'out of season' (Sept 15-May 15) when
there's only an handful of people around. Never been there in season so I
don't know what it's like then. I've done all of the above stuff and found
it to be great fun, and also once stayed for a week and an half crawling
around.
It's a nice way to kill several hours if you have only one day and want to
do other things as well. The McHugh Creek entrance is about 25 minutes
drive south on Seward Highway from Anchorage and would be on your left;
Bird Creek is about 5-10 minutes further away on the same highway and would
be on your right. Both has a small parking lot.
There's also a Tony Knowles Trail along the west side of Anchorage, I
believe, but haven't done it so can't comment on it. It's gotten some rave
reviews from the articles I've read. Supposed to be scenic, and bicycles
can be rented from downtown vendors according to the ACVB (Anchorage
Convention & Visitors Bureau) if interested. 11 mile long trail; one
terminus is by the end of 2nd Ave on the western edge of downtown
Anchorage.
-Dan
Professor
news:slrnbl6qo...@gaia.roc2.gblx.net...
> In article <xSI4b.16054$NC2....@nwrdny01.gnilink.net>, Professor
<vze3...@verizon.net> wrote:
> > What is your favorite thing to do in Anchorage that a traveler might
also
> > enjoy?
>
> Enjoy an hike in Chugach State Park. 1/2 million acre state park that's
> about 1/3rd the size of Delaware.
>
> http://www.dnr.state.ak.us/parks/units/chugach/
> -Dan
Thanks Dan. I guess I didn't realize that such a big State Park was located
so close to Anchorage. We will have spent the entire day before traveling
from the East Coast. The following day we'll take the train to Seward and a
six hours cruise of the Kenai Fjords before getting on the cattle ship. We
were thinking more along the lines of a day or rest and relaxation. We know
about the Alaska Zoo and the Museum of History and Art. What else is there
to do in Anchorage that we might enjoy?
Scott Ruby
Professor <vze3...@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:SvK4b.16107$NC2....@nwrdny01.gnilink.net...
Take a short walk along the coastal trail, if you do it in the evening, you
can watch the geese fly into anchorage from across the inlet. Chance at
seeing moose and black bears. Good place to access it is either Earthquake
park or Kincaid park.
The zoo is not much, if you have been to other zoo's. They do have musk-ox,
reindeer, and I believe a Yak. Things you aren'tlikely to see at other
zoos.
Native Heritage center is an option, it is near the corner of Muldoon and
Glenn Highway.
Scott
Robert Bolton
different Indian and Eskimo dwellings. There is a live experience
theatre near the bus station. I haven't been there in 20 years but it
was like a 30 minute film on a big curved screen that culminates in a
flyby of Denali. The Alaska Zoo is nice to.
Go to the Anchorage Daily News adn.com and find the events part.
Robert
Bpyboy
home town football team one day in Anchorage.
Good native AK beer, small place.
Professor
news:20030902091736...@mb-m03.aol.com...
I saw Darwin's theory on Dave Attel's Insomniac. We were planning to check
it out.
Jan Flora
> What is your favorite thing to do in Anchorage that a traveler might also
> enjoy?
My favorite thing to do after flying back into Alaska from anywhere
else is to grab some snacks, walk down the Tony Knowles Trail to a
nice spot on the beach and hang out.
Jan