We flew into Anchorage and spent a couple of days exploring the city. Riding the “People Mover” (public bus) we really got to meet some very interesting Alaskans. We took trolley tours of the city of Anchorage and the environs.

ANCHORAGE
Alaska Native Heritage Center - This is a must visit. Native storytellers and natives demonstrating the arts and ways of their people.

Alaska Zoo – a natural wooded vista that showed the bears, caribou, moose, seals, otters and the fantastic polar bear exhibit.

Flattop Mountain – excellent view of Anchorage.

Lake Hood – Lake Spenard 190 floatplanes take off and land on these lakes every day. It was fun dining and watching all the planes. (Regal Alaskan Hotel restaurants)

Glacier Brewhouse Restaurant – great food.

ALASKA RAILROAD
We really wanted to experience Alaska so we took the Alaska Railroad Millennium Tour. No, we never slept on the railroad. It was organized into segments.

ANCHORAGE TO SEWARD
This four-hour trip was unbelievable. The scenery all around was fantastic. The guide in the domed observation car gave us fantastic information on the sights we were experiencing. We even managed to see some wildlife on this excursion.

SEWARD
Mountains surround this city and it is quite a beautiful setting.

Boat cruise on Resurrection Bay. Interesting tour of the sea life (sea lions, puffins, etc.). Take this cruise when the waters are calm!

SEWARD SAMPLER TOUR - ****

In southcentral Alaska near the town of Seward is the Exit Glacier at Kenai Fjords National Park. We climbed up the mountainside to touch the glacier. Very interesting.

Sled Dog Mushing – Seavey Family kennels. They encouraged us to hold the young pups and it was hard getting away from the cuddly five-day-old huskies! Great explanation of the ardors of the Iditarod Sled Race. The sled ride and tour were great.

TALKEETNA – Base station for assaults on Mt. McKinley
DENALI NATIONAL PARK
We saw a lot of wildlife on this eight hour tour. Binoculars are a must to spot the grizzly bears, moose, caribou and other wildlife who roam free in this preserve. If you are lucky you can see Mt. McKinley (we only saw about 35%).

FAIRBANKS

Riverboat Discovery – Great boat tour that summarized our entire trip. ****