bryanwallace

thanks-is there much wildlife to see in kincaid parK?(would be visiting in august)

glen alps sounds interesting-where is this?? is it a trip kids could do??


also where do you recommend to eat in anchorage?

jackal

Sure, but you might run into wildlife anywhere in Anchorage. Moose killed a tree in my front yard several years ago. Ugh. (They peel off the bark and eat it.) You might have a 5% chance of seeing something wandering through a residential neighborhood and a 10% chance of seeing something at Kincaid Park (especially along the Coastal Trail in the woods--be careful, though: moose are to be feared, not petted!)--better but not astronomical. You probably have a 90% chance of seeing something in Denali or on one of the Prince William Sound/Resurrection Bay day cruises.

http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/aspunits...h/glenalps.htm
http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/maps/fla...trailguide.pdf
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Gl...b63925eed4a596

Top of Upper Huffman Road. Take O'Malley almost to its eastern end, then turn right on Hillside Dr., and then left onto Upper Huffman. At the three-way split, turn right onto Toilsome Hill Dr. and continue almost to the end (the parking lot is on the left before a small group of high-altitude homes--you can't miss it, especially in the summer where cars spill out of the lot and onto the street, which is technically not permitted).

How young are your kids? I know 8 year olds who hike it several times a summer. I also know 28 year olds who can't make it to the top.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/alask...best-food.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/commu...l#post11558723
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/alask...l#post21078358

And for good measure: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/alask...l#post11624915

bryanwallace

think we wil do flattop-is it about an hr to the top??

thanks for the tip or i would never have known..

jackal

In decent shape, you can do the round-trip in an hour and a half or less. In mediocre shape (like me ) plan on 2-2.5 hours round-trip.

I don't know the one-way time as I've never calculated just that.

bryanwallace

thanks-you have been very informative-maybe you can help with the following..

is the alyeska worth staying for a night or is the price not worth the money?

also-at the other end of the scale are the cheap places in anc like the econolodge and the even cheaper qupqugiaq best avoided with kids>

jackal

I have never stayed at the Alyeska, only walked through it. I have many friends who have stayed, mostly locals who go down for a weekend of skiing, as well as some out-of-state friends who have stayed in the summer. I'm pretty sure I've heard good things about their experiences.

I wouldn't recommend a stay at either of those properties. Anchorage isn't cheap, and I'm a budget traveler who doesn't like paying as much as even the cheapest hotel in Anchorage in the summer (which is why I'm glad I have family there I can stay with!), but that's going a bit below even what I would be willing to do (especially with others/kids).

I've posted an overview of the hotel options in ANC in this post: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/20388098-post5.html. Something there might help you.

bryanwallace

thanks-other ones i was looking at were microtel wyndham,alex hotel and best value inn..not sure if these are ok or not?
thanks again^


and another question-what is gwennies like as a restaurant? good for kids or not?

jackal

Microtel is basic and has small rooms but it's relatively new construction (within the last ~10 years) so shouldn't be dirty/poorly maintained. It's also relatively close to the airport.

Don't know anything about the Alex Hotel.

I know lots of people who have stayed at the Best Value Inn and none of them has made any negative remarks, so I can assume it's acceptable. No idea beyond that, though.

bryanwallace

thanks!-as a restaurant is gwennies good-or not somuch for kids?

tkee99516

Gwennies is fine for kids. Big portions of food, so my hubby & I always split the meal (makes it cheaper too!).