DrewE's Alaska Trip Travelogue
I returned about a week ago from a marvelous ten-week trip to and through Alaska (and back) with my dear mother. I went in a 32' class C, actually about 35' overall with a bicycle rack on the back, w...
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August 11th -- after leaving Denali National Park, we continued south down the Parks Highway. The impressive scenery continues on. (There don't seem to be very many unscenic roads in Alaska or northern Canada, come to think of it.)
Click For Full-Size Image.
Click For Full-Size Image.
We camped for the night at South Rolly Lake Campground in Nancy Lake State Park, in Willow. As I recall, many of the sites were not altogether level or a bit on the small side, but there were plenty to choose from and we got one that was suitable. It was a rather damp and drizzly night. We did enjoy seeing one or two families with quite young children walking about on the campground road, in their rain slickers, the kids being careful to step in every last puddle.
August 12th
The weather was a little nicer in the morning--still rather overcast, but generally drier.
Click For Full-Size Image.
A view of South Rolly Lake from an overlook in the park; the campground is a bit out of sight to the right (in the nearer inlet). Nancy Lake state park is a pretty large park.
We had a reasonably short drive to Anchorage, and spent much of the afternoon and early evening exploring the city a little bit. We parked in the pay lot near the 4th Avenue Market, which can accommodate RVs, at least ones that aren't too long.
Anchorage didn't have a tremendous amount of appeal for me, to be honest. It's a nice enough city, but at least the portion we saw was pretty much like most other decent size cities that attract tourists. Given more time, I think I would have explored the waterfront and parks more; I suspect that would be more to my tastes.
There were a few coupons in the TourSaver for free gifts at some souvenir shops in Anchorage. I think these shops are likely all under the same ownership. Not surprisingly, the free gifts are far from the nicest or highest priced things in the stores.
We did poke around the (4th street) market some, and generally stretched our legs and enjoyed the day.
For the night, we stayed at Centennial Park, run by the city. It was another rainy night. The park itself looked very nice and neatly kept, with restrooms that are very institutional. (They seemed to give everyone a spiel when checking out to the effect of please give a good review of the campground online so they would get more visitors and have more cash flow and be able to afford to renovate the restrooms....)
August 13th
We started down the Seward Highway. This is a beautiful road, hugging the edge of the Turnagain Arm and sharing the narrow shoreline with the Alaska Railroad. It would likewise make for a beautiful train trip.
Click For Full-Size Image.
I think this was at the Bird Point overlook.
For dinner, we ate at the Seven Glaciers restaurant at the top of the tramway at Alyeska Resort. This was a really special treat. The views were somewhat obscured, with clouds rolling in and out, but at least at times we could see across the arm and up into the mountains. The food was delicious, too. I have no trouble recommending dinner here, at least as a splurge. Reservations would be a very good idea; we failed to make them, and fortunately were able to get a table in the bar area as they were entirely booked for the evening.
Click For Full-Size Image.
Ascending via the tramway. (It is possible to hike or bicycle up the mountain, rather than take the tram, if one feels rater energetic and has plenty of time.)
Click For Full-Size Image.
The view from the complex at the terminus of the tram; besides the Seven Glaciers restaurant, there's a grill, a very little museum (which wasn't open when we were there), some hiking trails that go further up, etc. Of course, in the winter, there's plenty of skiing.
Click For Full-Size Image.
Glaciers and mountains a little further down the Turnagain Arm; also, the new desktop background on my home computer.
Click For Full-Size Image.
I chanced upon this fun looking homemade truck camper in one of the pull-offs along the Seward Highway.
Click For Full-Size Image.
We camped for the night at Williwaw Campground, one of a few at Portage. The setting for this campground is pretty, with a couple spots that give glimpses up of glaciers. Most or all of the sites don't have much of a view because of trees. There are some trails that connect the various campgrounds and the Portage Glacier visitor's center; it would be a fun area to spend a day or two, I think.
(I probably won't be able to post an installment tomorrow.)
We camped for the night at South Rolly Lake Campground in Nancy Lake State Park, in Willow. As I recall, many of the sites were not altogether level or a bit on the small side, but there were plenty to choose from and we got one that was suitable. It was a rather damp and drizzly night. We did enjoy seeing one or two families with quite young children walking about on the campground road, in their rain slickers, the kids being careful to step in every last puddle.
August 12th
The weather was a little nicer in the morning--still rather overcast, but generally drier.
A view of South Rolly Lake from an overlook in the park; the campground is a bit out of sight to the right (in the nearer inlet). Nancy Lake state park is a pretty large park.
We had a reasonably short drive to Anchorage, and spent much of the afternoon and early evening exploring the city a little bit. We parked in the pay lot near the 4th Avenue Market, which can accommodate RVs, at least ones that aren't too long.
Anchorage didn't have a tremendous amount of appeal for me, to be honest. It's a nice enough city, but at least the portion we saw was pretty much like most other decent size cities that attract tourists. Given more time, I think I would have explored the waterfront and parks more; I suspect that would be more to my tastes.
There were a few coupons in the TourSaver for free gifts at some souvenir shops in Anchorage. I think these shops are likely all under the same ownership. Not surprisingly, the free gifts are far from the nicest or highest priced things in the stores.
We did poke around the (4th street) market some, and generally stretched our legs and enjoyed the day.
For the night, we stayed at Centennial Park, run by the city. It was another rainy night. The park itself looked very nice and neatly kept, with restrooms that are very institutional. (They seemed to give everyone a spiel when checking out to the effect of please give a good review of the campground online so they would get more visitors and have more cash flow and be able to afford to renovate the restrooms....)
August 13th
We started down the Seward Highway. This is a beautiful road, hugging the edge of the Turnagain Arm and sharing the narrow shoreline with the Alaska Railroad. It would likewise make for a beautiful train trip.
I think this was at the Bird Point overlook.
For dinner, we ate at the Seven Glaciers restaurant at the top of the tramway at Alyeska Resort. This was a really special treat. The views were somewhat obscured, with clouds rolling in and out, but at least at times we could see across the arm and up into the mountains. The food was delicious, too. I have no trouble recommending dinner here, at least as a splurge. Reservations would be a very good idea; we failed to make them, and fortunately were able to get a table in the bar area as they were entirely booked for the evening.
Ascending via the tramway. (It is possible to hike or bicycle up the mountain, rather than take the tram, if one feels rater energetic and has plenty of time.)
The view from the complex at the terminus of the tram; besides the Seven Glaciers restaurant, there's a grill, a very little museum (which wasn't open when we were there), some hiking trails that go further up, etc. Of course, in the winter, there's plenty of skiing.
Glaciers and mountains a little further down the Turnagain Arm; also, the new desktop background on my home computer.
I chanced upon this fun looking homemade truck camper in one of the pull-offs along the Seward Highway.
We camped for the night at Williwaw Campground, one of a few at Portage. The setting for this campground is pretty, with a couple spots that give glimpses up of glaciers. Most or all of the sites don't have much of a view because of trees. There are some trails that connect the various campgrounds and the Portage Glacier visitor's center; it would be a fun area to spend a day or two, I think.
(I probably won't be able to post an installment tomorrow.)
