| Tips and photos of Alaska tourist attractions and tourist traps, posted by real travelers and Alaska locals. Map |
 | Alaska Tourist Traps | Tips 1 - 10 of 39 |  |
 Hiking near Savage River by Matyas
Can be seen on postcards, advetisements, web sites and actually everywhere...except in the park itself. In an avarage year the Mount McKinley peak can be seen just a few times. You have a high chance to miss this highlight...
On the other hand I didn't expect such a big mass while planning my trip to Denali. It was so crowded and busy even during weekdays.
If you want to visit popular spots like Wonder lake then previous reservation is essential (2-7 days in advance depending on the period) Leave a Comment
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At the Iditarod headquarters you can go on a short trip with some dogs. it costed 10$ in July 2005. For that 10 $ per person you are loaded in a cart on wheels, with 4 to 6 people and are driven around for exactly 1min and 15 seconds..........
The dogs seemed to like to draw the cart though.
Go into the headquarters and see the film about the world famous dog sledge race. See some of the dogs that are outside and try to capture apicture of the blue dog eyes. There were some pups too when we were there.........cute. Leave a Comment
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Talkeetna is advertised as 'beautifull downtown Talkeetna'. But we could not find the beauty of downtown. It was filled with tourists, either on their way to Denali or returning from it. The town is supposed to be historical because of the railroad. But the few historic houses we saw were turned into commercial buildings.
We didn't think it was worth getting of the main road for.
There is a museum in Talkeetna in a one-room schoolhouse built in 1936.
Stay on the mainroad to Denali and spend some more time in nature. Leave a Comment
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 A roadside view on Kenai
Peninsula by AKtravelersLeave a Comment
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I know a lot of people are going to hate that I'm putting this into the tourist trap category but so be it. I was not impressed. Denali's frontcountry is crazy in the summer and while I do like that people really can't drive themselves into the park, the insanity of the bus system to the sled dogs was irritating. First, you'd think they would have a counting system down but no, we had to wait for the bus to fill up, to be over capacity, to get the extra people off and then drive about 1 mile an hour to the demonstration. No big deal, really...on the travel channel, the whole thing looks pretty cool and well worth this public transportation confusion.
But then you get there, you can visit with the dogs (if they want to visit with you) either in cages or outside of a fenced area until the presentation starts. Then you go over to the bleachers and listen to a man talk about the dogs and what they do for about 95% of the program. The last couple minutes are devoted to showing you how the sled and dog team operate. I've been to many national parks, I've been a national park ranger who's given programs...this guy did not have public speaking qualities. It wasn't just me who noticed this...it was hard to ignore that his speech was monotonous--yet, he still managed to end each sentence or thought in question form.
I'm not sure what we were expecting, it just seemed a bit more involved and interactive than what we got. Oh yeah, and halfway through the program, a man of high self importance got a phone call and rather than silencing his phone, he talked loudly about something work related. Everyone told him to be quiet but he didn't care...it was completely rude and disrespectful. Not the parks fault, but it did take away from the program and because it's the most popular of sled dog demonstrations, you have a higher chance of running into someone like this guy.
Try to get to the first presentation...I think both the ranger and dogs will be in better form. By early afternoon on the day we went, the dogs wanted to rest and it just seemed like the ranger hit play on a prerecorded talk. Also, there were 3 whole buses of people attending this particular demonstration.
If you're traveling individually...not with a tour group...try out some of the other locations for sled dogs--they're smaller, more personal and all over the state. You may even be able to take a ride. Both on the Denali Highway (at Crazy Dog Kennels) and in Seward (just as 2 examples), there are kennels that let you hold the puppies. Better yet, come in the winter and see the dogs in their element.* Leave a Comment
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The cruise liners try to trap you into doing their recreational activities when on land ... they are very expensive and often you can do the same thing on your own for half the price without all the crowds of people that tag along. dont be fooled into thinking their tours are the only option, they are not ... its just another way they try to maximise themselves ... you are better off doing your own thing without all the people, you enjoy the experience much more.
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It's a pity coz i cannot use my personal local knowledge here to describe this trap since I've never been in Talkeetna. What i do know is that reliable locals don't really recommend Talkeetna as a destination. Brochures go into raptures over this place however it's crowded and expensive like hell. Leave a Comment
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 by PA2AKgirl
I have no idea what the prices are here but considering areas right outside of parks always jack up their prices and Alaska is already on the expensive side, I can only imagine. If you have to stop here, it's probably going to be crowded and expensive. Just don't expect to get a good deal on something.
You can get gas just up the road in Healy. Lodging is available there, in Cantwell and farther south in Talkeetna where you can also arrange for flight tours of the Park. There are a few places to eat in these towns as well. Leave a Comment
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 Turnagain Arm, Alaska by cruisingbug
If you do nothing else outside of Anchorage, at least drive south on the Seward Highway along Turnagain Arm. You'll see bird sanctuaries, rockclimbers, whale watching stations (and maybe a beluga!), and experience a taste of true Alaska's scenic beauty.
You might as well go to Seattle, or Portland, or Denver, or any other city in America with mountains around it. Anchorage has a Wal-Mart with a McDonald's inside. 'Nuff said. Leave a Comment
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 by enigma58Leave a Comment
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