Pouring rain in Talkeetna as well. :( But we're hopeful for better weather next week when we go into Denali.
Just wanted to add a few suggestions for Anchorage for those still around or for anybody planning for next year:
Gorgeous sunsets - take Northern Lights Boulevard all the way to the end (Point Woronzof). On the way out, stop at Earthquake Park and the Airport Overlook (both on your right) for nice late evening views of Anchorage's skyline. A possible added sight while you are waiting for the sunset is wildlife viewings. We saw several young bull moose one evening half-heartedly practicing pre-mating behaviors.
Go out of town to Eagle River Nature Center and at least walk a few of the easier trails for some beautiful views of Eagle Peak and possibly a bear (we didn't see any).
If you're into architecture and/or churches, just beyond Eagle River there is an interesting geodesic dome church (St. John Orthodox Cathedral) which has a beautiful interior. Even more interesting is their little chapel which is about a 1/2 mile moderately strenuous hike through the woods. It has beautiful gold onion domes on the top and a grounds keeper at the church will give you a key if you want to peek inside.
If you travel out this way, or have time to stop on your way over from Glenallen, definitely do not miss the Eklutna Historical Area. It's about $3 to get in and there are a couple of small Russian Orthodox churches plus some very interesting "spirit" houses over the graves in the cemetery out back.
It's also well worth the drive up to Eklutna Lake. It's a beautiful, glacier-fed lake surrounded by mountains and some distant glaciers. If you have bikes, you can ride about 12 miles on the lakeside trail. We hiked it for several miles on one of the few sunny days last week.
For a fun dinner out, try City Diner at Minnesota and Benson. Typical diner decor (checkered tile, lots of neon and stainless steel), and good food. The Reuben sandwich was huge and the corned beef was pretty decent (not the Carnegie deli in NYC, of course, but not bad and almost as large). All kinds of milkshakes, sundaes, banana splits, etc.
Great breakfasts at the Alaskan Bagel on Northern Lights around C Street.
Not sure if it will be there next year but if you're still in town, consider the Aurora movie at the AK Center for the Performing Arts Sydney Laurence Theatre. Beautiful photography and enjoyable music. Probably not for kids.
We camped at Golden Nugget and loved the location. Besides being across from Costco and near Northland Mall, there are some great walking/biking/running trails at Russian Jack Springs Park one block away which connect with a whole network of trails which mostly take you through wooded areas and make you forget you are in a city.
If you're looking to cut back on expenses and don't mind boondocking, check out Alyeska Ski Area parking lot at Girdwood (5 night limit but hardly anybody was there so we stayed longer). No facilities except a trashcan but if it's relatively clear, the views are spectacular and you can run your generator 6am to 10pm. We were fortunate to have the Blueberry Festival taking place during our stay, which was a fun event with lots of interesting food, crafts and some entertainment. You can dump and fill up with water at the Tesoro gas station just at the turnoff from the Seward Highway. Good cell phone and broadband internet connectivity as well as a few TV stations off the antenna. Couldn't get the satellite to work, though. Convenient for trips to Portage, Whittier and the Wildlife Conservation Center.
It's been said before, but I just want to reiterate that you should definitely see the Wildlife Center. The new bear area was very cool and if you get in the right locations, you can get some great moose, bear, musk ox, elk and caribo shots that don't betray the not-out-in-the-wild location.
