| Tips and photos of unusual, out-of-the-way Anchorage attractions, posted by real travelers and locals. Anchorage Map |
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 Amazed during helicopter ride
in Alaska by jumpingnorman, 4 more photos
I am scared of helicopters and VT Friends Yaqui and Slapshot encouraged me to ride it. My sister already reserved a helicopter in Girdwood to take us to a glacier and land us on one! The trip was going to take 90 minutes and also promises to show some wildlife like seals, birds, and possibly bears.
I was hesitant - but my sister already paid the $425 per person trip ($850 for the two of us! Quite expensive! Will it be worth it???)
So, we drove to Girdwood which is about 45 minutes away from Anchorage and saw the red plane which looked so new (it has been used only a month). We had two pilots Marcus and Jordan-- the latter was applying for a job there and was from New Zealand - landing on islandsin NZ. But it was reassuring that just in case Marcus had a heart attack, Jordan can take over, hehehe...I'm the one who will probably collapse though from fear!
But when we finally took off, I did not even realize it, it was so smooth and the ride was great! The only scary part is when the pilot lets the chopper hover at the edge of a mountain and it was kinda turbulent...but landing on the glacier was awesome and we have pictures to prove it! Amazing views and a great experience to be cherished forever.
Thanks to my generous sister, VTer jumpingwithnorman!:)
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When in Alaska, you will see all these tours for seeing the Fjords - but one of the best is that one which leaves Seward. So we drove to Seward which is about two hours away from Anchorage and just reserved our tickets by phone -- there is a FULL day tour and a HALF day tour. We were going to make it to the half-day one which leaves at 1230PM
The docks at Seward had great looking boats and we qwere getting excited about the trip -- we also had a Park Ranger on board (who by the way was very nice, took a pic with him and then he refused to have a tip from us - he really just loves doing this tour).
But seeing the Fjords and the wildlife by Resurrection bay was awesome!! We saw seals, lots of mountain goats (sop much that nobody even cared about them by the end of the tour), and dolphins and killer whales in the wild! It was nice seeing everybody very very very silent...waiting for the killer whales to pop out of the water and then everybody goes "ooohhhh"... I got it on one of my videos here on VT!
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 Seward Highway on the way to
Girdwood by RickinDutch
The Seward Highway has many scenic turnouts to see the sights as you head south along Turnagain Arm. The bore tide is great to watch. Usually some windsurfers out enjoying the breeze. Beluga whales can usually be seen. Trailheads all along the way to get back into the Chugach range.
If you see a lot of cars pulled over and folks looking up at the cliffs, pull over yourself because there lots of dall sheep on the cliffs.
Turnagain Arm was named by Captain Cook on his third voyage. He anchored off present day Anchorage and thought he had found the northwest passage. He sent Lt. Bligh up this arm thinking it was a navigable river. Lt. Vancouver was sent north to explore what also appeared to be a great river. Both returned empty handed. Had to turn again - darn it! Leave a Comment
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 Canning Reds by extremistLeave a Comment
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 Beautiful King by extremistLeave a Comment
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 hatcher pass by extremistLeave a Comment
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 squirrel by extremistLeave a Comment
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The mountains east of Anchorage, known as the Chugach Range, are chock full of great trails of all degrees of difficulty. A favorite walk of mine is up Flattop Mountain, a short, steep hike that end with a stunning view of Anchorage and the Alaska range beyond, including Denali. Leave a Comment
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Ship Creek runs between Elmendorf Air Force Base and North Anchorage flowing down into Knik Arm near the entrance to Anchorage's deep water ship port. A special viewing area at a dam over Ship Creek is fenced for safety and is ideal for viewing salmon spawning in the shallow of the fast water gravel bed creek. While I was there, a Japanese group from a Tour Bus were gathered watching the romantic fish action; the Voyeurs!! just kidding!
Salmon spawning is a serious business because adult salmon return from the ocean to the waters where they originated from fertilized roe in the spawning process. They mate to produce new salmon, and then die; carcasses of dead salmon were in the creek and flycasting fishermen were fishing downstream. In late August the red salmon (with humped backs) were actively spawning and easy to see in the shallow waters. I took a number of pictures of several males attempting to mate with single females. The males are brighter in color and the female red salmon are drab. (Please, no email about this-it is just the way Mother Nature is here). Please enlarge the pictures to better see the fish.
From downtown Anchorage, Go on A Street north down hill becomes Loop Road, cross Ship Creek and turn right on E. Whitney Road a short distance past the upscale Bridge Restaurant spanning Ship Creek to the dam and bridge viewing area. Do this ONLY in daylight hours. This area is a free exhibit with some interpretive panels to view and read. Park right at the exhibit area and make a careful U-turn to return to downtown Anchorage in the reverse of the directions. Do NOT try to turn right into the commercial port area on Port Road-this port entry is controlled and off-limits to tourist vehicles. Leave a Comment
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 Dall Sheep above Turnagain Arm by Stephen-KarenConn
Just south of Anchorage along the Seward Highway, #1, you will come to Potter Marsh. Here there is a boardwalk which provides a very good venue for spotting waterfowl.
Continue just a little further south to where the highway parallels Turnagain Arm you will see high rock cliffs to your left and a wide pullout area along the highway to your right. Stop here and scan the cliffs just above the highway and you have an excellent chance of spotting Dall Sheep, as the one pictured here. I have seen the sheep several times in this area. They seem to enjoy hanging out and catching a few warm rays of the sun on this south facing rock wall, and they are used to humans stopping to watch them. A good pair of binoculars or a telephoto lens will help.
Be careful and pull completely off the highway before you stop. People have been run over here. Leave a Comment
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