Alaska!

[marshd1000]

Well guys, I am going to Alaska for the first time on Thursday.  I am flying into Anchorage on the 30th and flying from Fairbanks on July 5th.  My best friend, who also happens to be sly and lives in Fairbanks, is going to tour the state with me.  We pretty much have our schedule made up.  But are there some noteworthy sights that any of you would recommend.  I will say at the start, I will be going to Denali, Prince William Sound and norh of the Arctic Circle on the Dalton Highway.

[tomgallagher]

Watch out for those truckers and if you meet Lisa Kelly give her a friendly little pat on the butt for me.

[Tyler]

Have fun Marsh!

[mrzed]

Hope you enjoyed your tour of Alaska. I lived there for 23 years!  Really liked it. But the darkness of winter was tough.

Dan

[marshd1000]

I absolutely loved my trip to Alaska.  I will give you a quick rundown of where I went.
Day 1:  Drove from Anchorage to Whittier and took a glacier cruise on Prince William Sound.  Besides the glaciers, also saw sea otters and a humpback whale!
Day 2:  Left Whittier and drove to Anchorage.  Stopped at Alyeska Ski Resort and went on the tram ride.  While there, saw people base jumping and enjoyed great views.  While driving to Anchorage, saw a bald eagle (or is that a Sly Eagle?) and got some great pics.  Upon arrival in Anchorage, went to our hotel room, then got souveniers at the mall and took a city tour.   Had dinner and went to Chilcoot Charlies and had a brewsky.
Day 3:  Went to Denali National Park...home of Mt. McKinley.  Did not see the mountain as it was cloudy.  Rode ATVs and toured the coutryside near Denali for about 2 hours.  When the ATV tour was over, went to the Alaska Cabin Night dinner show, which is about a pioneer woman named Fannie Quigley.  Food was great and it was very entertaining!  Drove the remaining 3 hours to Fairbanks, where my sly buddy, Lou, lives.
Day 4:  After going to church hit the road and headed north.  Drove up the Dalton Highway (aka the Oil Pipeline Haul Road) and crossed the Arctic Circle...even took a picture at the sign marking the Arctic Circle.  Went 60 more miles and stayed at a bed and breakfast in Wiseman, Alaska...the only permanently in habited village along the Dalton.  Stayed up past midnight to see sunlight at midnight.   Could not actually see the sun.
Day 5:  Had breakfast and headed back towards Fairbanks.  Stopped for lunch along the Yukon River.  Took pics of the river and the bridge and touched the Yukon River.  Arrived back at my friend's house and rested.  After resting, we drove 50 miles to Cheena Hot Springs.  Had dinner and then got into the Hot Springs about 10:45 PM.  At this time, finally got a picture of a moose!  Then went back into the springs and soaked for about a hour!  Around Midnight, we left.
Day 6:  Went to the suburb of North Pole, outside of Fairbanks.  While there, enjoyed the candy cane shaped streetlights, Christmas street names.  Also went to Santa Claus House and got a picture with Santa Claus and other pics for my Christmas cards.  Also ate lunch at the "Christmas Wendy's".  This Wendys was featured on The Travel Channel's show about the most unique fast food places around.  This is because it has Christmas decor every day of the year.  After this went to Downtown Fairbanks and then to Pioneer Park.  This park has Alaska pioneer style buildings and a grounded paddlewheeler boat.  After this, we went to the Fairbanks Airport and I got on a plane and went home.  So there is my whirlwind trip to Alaska.  I hope you all enjoyed it
 

[tow]

sounds like a trip of a lifetime.glad you enjoyed alaska

[mrzed]

That was a whirlwind tour of interior Alaska. I've been to Denali five times.  Yes, sometimes it is cloudy (often).

While you did not see the sun at midnight (probably cloudy?), the sky was still light, I bet.  I really liked that part about Alaska.  Realizing that it was midnight and looked like about 8 p.m. in terms of skylight.  And the LONG sunrise/sunsets. 

Next time, give yourself three or four weeks for your visit to Alaska. There is so much to see.

Friends are taking a Southeast Alaska cruise next week. 

[tomgallagher]

I hear a lot about the darkness of winter impacting the indigenous population as far as the suicide rate is concerned. Any truth to that Dan.

[mangosink12572]

Have a wonderful time  - -Alaska is really nice at this time of year  - -you will get a few hours of light  - -

I had a wonderful time there  - -a few years ago

Enjoy it

[mrzed]

I hear a lot about the darkness of winter impacting the indigenous population as far as the suicide rate is concerned. Any truth to that Dan.

Very much so.  The suicide rate in Alaska is much higher than the rest of the country.  Winter depression is a major problem.  That is one reason that I left Alaska. I love all the sun of summer, but you pay for it in the winter. The darkness is difficult for SOME people, not all.  SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) is common. I discovered 'light therapy' and that helped. I took an anti-depressant seasonally, and had to adjust my work schedule in the dark months.