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Anchorage, Girdwood, Whittier & Valdez

Anchorage

Anchorage is a unique, year-round destination with once-in-a-lifetime experiences, a place where young spirits and adventurous souls come to play. Step foot on a glacier, fish for king salmon, hike to a mountain vista, fly out to Mount McKinley, cruise in comfort through Prince William Sound and enjoy hip, metropolitan amenities with frontier flair. Set amid the coastal Chugach Mountains, Anchorage defies popular visions of polar ice caps and frozen tundra. It’s also warmer than you think (averaging 65 degrees in summer), making conditions ideal for sight-seeing or taking on uniquely Alaskan opportunities like arctic biking or touring the fjords of Prince William Sound. In the winter, you can ski, dogsled or do both simultaneously by “skijoring,” which is cross-country skiing while being towed by a dog. Hey, it’s no crazier a winter sport than the biathlon.

Summer sporting activities include biking, dog sledding, fishing, horseback riding, golf, kayaking and river rafting, just to name a few. Dont forget to go bear watching – Alaska is the only US State with three bear species: brown, black and polar. Though you would need to go further north to see the polar bear.

In winter, ice climbing, skiing, snowmobiling, dog sledding are just one of many activities and of course you have to see the Northern Lights!

The wide variety of shops in Anchorage means your suitcase should go home just a little heavier than when you arrive. You’ll find there is something for the most dedicated shopper. No sales tax is an added benefit. Anchorage dining includes some of the freshest seafood in the world, which Alaska chefs offer up in a variety of mouth-watering creations in Anchorage restaurants. From plump, cold-water Kachemak Bay oysters, to Alaska king crab, fresh-caught halibut, and wild Alaska salmon – the staple of Alaska seafood, Anchorage restaurants have it all!

Girdwood

Conveniently situated only 36 miles (61km) south of Anchorage, Girdwood is a small Alaskan mountain town nestled amongst lush forest and surrounded by the peaks of the Chugach Mountain Range.  As Alaska’s only year round resort Girdwood has plenty to offer throughout the seasons. Winter brings snow and ideal winter conditions great for nordic skiing, snowmobiling/machining, dog mushing and more.  The arrival of summer brings excellent fishing, biking, hiking, scenic flights, wildlife viewing, rafting and more.

Whittier

Connected to the rest of Alaska by road, rail, and the Alaska Marine Highway, Whittier attracts a large number of visitors during the summer looking for the unspoiled wilderness of water, forests, islands, and glaciers that lie beyond its shores in Prince William Sound.

Whittier has excellent hiking and access to water sports, and due to the influx of travelers, a fair number of interesting shops can be found along the harbor. Travelers will find fishing charters, sighting tour operators, and water taxis available to take visitors into the calm, wildlife-rich waters of Prince William Sound.

Thanks to its location, day cruises out of Whittier are among the best in Alaska. A variety of boats, large and small, depart from the small boat harbor into the rugged and steep fjords that line Prince William Sound. Visit a kittiwake rookery where you can see hundreds of the black-legged birds nesting on sheer cliffs, then explore further to see Steller sea lion haulouts and migratory birds, whales, and other marine wildlife. The stars of the show in Prince William Sound are the area’s many tidewaters and alpine glaciers, including beautiful Blackstone glaciers and Surprise Glacier.

Valdez

Deep in the heart of Prince William Sound and surrounded by some of the world’s tallest coastal mountains is Valdez, set in a remarkably picturesque setting. The heart of Valdez, like so many coastal towns in Alaska, is its small boat harbour clustered along its waterfront. From there, the town stretches back toward the mountains and Mineral Creek Canyon. Egan Drive, Valdez’s equivalent to Main Street offers a vast choice of restaurants, shops, and museums. Everything you came to see & do in Alaska is all in one place whether you find yourself on land or sea. Mountains, glaciers wildlife, fishing, history, and tours.

Imagine being near the face of calving glaciers, watching huge chunks of ice fall into the ocean as the rumbling crack of breaking ice fills the air. Head out fishing for giant halibut and salmon or simply kayak among icebergs and seals or take a tour and watch the whales. Valdez is also the premier destination for winter sports in Alaska. Challenge yourself on the Chugach Mountains. Experience heli-skiing, snowcat skiing, kite skiing, snowboarding. Unmatched beauty, terrain, and snowfall like no other in the world.

Valdez Museum & Historical Archives
Explore the history of Valdez, the Copper River Valley and Prince William Sound, from the prehistoric past to the vibrant present. Learn about native cultures, gold rush pioneers and the earthquake that changed Valdez forever.

Old Town Valdez
This historic site features some fascinating remaining structures from old town of Valdez such as dock piers that protrude from the sea at low tide and a memorial plaque listing all the victims of the Good Friday Quake in 1964.

Maxine & Jesse Whitney Museum
The Maxine and Jesse Whitney Museum has one of the world’s largest collections of Native Alaskan art and artifacts. 

Mineral Creek Canyon Trail
Located on the north side of downtown Valdez. This gravel road begins near Water Tower Hill and is paralleled by Mineral Creek. A trail as the end of the road leads one mile back to an abandoned gold stamp mill. The Smith Stamp Mill is one of the remaining buildings from 1898-99 Gold Rush. From a historical perspective this is a must see.

Experience & Explore

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