Need Alaska Advice

[jdoran]

My 50th birthday present is a trip to Alaska.

My wife and I will be going mid August, and will spend about 2-1/2 days in Anchorage (staying at Millenium Hotel-Lake Hood), and 2 days in Glacier Bay (Glacier Bay Country Inn)

I am scheduled to fly with Heidi Ruess (Arctic Flyers) for three hours-2 days in a row in the T-craft floatplane for some training and sightseeing.

I've never been to Alaska, and want you to tell me if there's anything we absolutely don't want to miss while we're there. (it needs to be near the Anchorage or Juneau though) It can be your favorite bar, favorite sight, nudist colony, Aviation related, whatever.


John Doran (F-19 floats)
Annapolis Md.

[Dick Smith]

Re: Need Alaska Advice

John, 2 1/2 days is pretty short...especially when you are going to be working on the floatplane rating...but just get prepared to be totally immersed in aviation!! You could spend a day just "eyeballin'" around Lake Hood, the largest floatplane base in the world. And while you are working your way around the lake(actually 2 lakes connected by a channel), you will run into the Alaska Aviation Museum ...which could burn up 4 or 5 hours easily if you are any kind of history buff. And don't forget to get over to Merrill Field...scads of bush type and regular planes to see...lot's of planes coming and going....spend a little time at Reeve Airmotive, Stoddard's Aircraft Parts Center, Northern Lights Avionics(pilot's stuff).
Basically, you are going to be short of time, but you should have a great time while your at it...Heidi will be able to help you make the most of it. Basically, you will be setting yourself up to come back when you have at least 2 weeks!
Have at it! If you have a rental car, you might enjoy a drive up Turnagain Arm...anyone can tell you which way to head. Enjoy yourself! Dick

[Steve Long]

Re: Need Alaska Advice

Dick has given you some good advice on sightseeing in Anchorage. A walk on the coastal trail, which gets very near at Lake Hood and the Millenium is a nice place to see the sights. I have a friend who gives tours on Segways that uses that paved trail also. Give me a call and if I'm in town I can get together with you and make some other suggestions also. I have a T-Craft on floats and got my float rating with Heidi. Steve Long 349-3907.

[Dan Mahalak]

Re: Need Alaska Advice

Family business.....Great fishing now..lots of big fishies, and tasty too!

https://www.marlowsonthekenai.com

and, seward is a national park. Its like living at the base of the tetons, only with the ocean!
www.bearlakelodgings.com.

and, we are taylorcrafters of course!

enjoy alaska and come back for longer next time.
danno

[jdoran]

Re: Need Alaska Advice

I'll do that, are you in the Anchorage area ??

John

[jdoran]

Re: Need Alaska Advice

Danno,

Thanks.

John 3728T

[flathorn]

Re: Need Alaska Advice

Don't know if this is feasible: ask Heidi if it's possible to fly down to Big River Lakes to do some bear spotting. It's about an hour flight, and you land in a lake where a salmon/bear stream comes in. There's a lot of tourist traffic there anymore since the charter pilots found it, but it's still interesting, with great scenery. That one is dependent on the salmon run. People spend lots of money for charter tours there. She usually goes to Figure Eight Lake for float practice, and Figure 8 is on the way to Big River. The only problem is it would be a two hour round trip (excluding sightseeing), and it may be more important to do more valuable things with your training time.
Another quicker, but very scenic flight is up to Lake George/Knik Glacier. Heidi may already plan on going there.

P.S. Flathorn Lake is about 10 minutes north of Figure 8 - Heidi knows it well. If you fly over, my strip is the south one oriented 31/13.
Kathy