Thanks for the suggestions. We did go to Simon & Seaforts before 5:30 and got the $25 3-course early bird. Very satisfied. The place was like a local McCormick & Schmick’s and at $25, you felt good about getting a deal. On the early dinner menu, I'd particularly recommend the cheese-sauced halibut. The salmon was just good, but by then we'd had a lot of salmon in Alaska, and perhaps were looking for something a bit more unusual.

As is our custom, we tried to eat as much good-value fish as we could in Alaska because, well, it seems like the best stuff to eat up there (in the lower 48, we're much more likely to order beef). If you're doing the tourist route, I'd recommend the following:

In Seward, the Exit Glacier salmon bake continues to deliver an excellent grilled salmon. At $24 (entree only) it's not a screaming deal, but you get an ample portion of great tasting fish.

On the way to Denali, about 12 miles south is the McKinley Creekside Cafe, which offers a good fried halibut entree for $15. Opt for one of their excellent soups as the side and split an order of french fries for $3. A good meal for 2 for $33.

At Denali NP, the best salmon deal is (surprisingly) the Cabin Nite dinner show at the McKinley Chalet Resort IF you use one of the 2 for 1 coupons (like from the toursaver book). Complete meal for 2 then becomes $62 all in, and you get a (somewhat tacky) show too. The salmon (all you can eat) is seasoned and poached and, on our night, extraordinary. You may or may night enjoy your packaged-tour companions but, trust me, the fish is worth it.

Speaking of package tourists, I'm sure most Alaskans wouldn't be caught dead at a Princess Lodge. But they're making a mistake: some of their room specials (on off-peak nights when the cruisers aren't there) are great deals, and their kitchens are usually far more accomplished than their wilderness competitors. And, to my surprise, the prices can be quite reasonable. At the Princess Copper River lodge, you can go to the bar area and get an excellent Copper River salmon entree for $14/person. The menu offers the salmon in a thick bbq sauce which, as my wife says, is probably a "crime against salmon." Still, it was excellent fish, and you can ask for a different preparation. What's often annoying in the Copper River area is that it's hard to actually eat the famous salmon there (the local catch is for locals only). So the Princess solves this problem.

We didn't make it to Fairbanks this time, but 2 years ago we enjoyed their famous all-you-can-eat salmon bake. It's a bit pricey in the $30s, though, so only worth it if you're hungry and want to chow down on a lot of very good salmon.

I thought about bringing some Alaskan seafood home with me, but the prices are so high that it didn't seem worth the trouble. On the side of the road outside of Steward, a guy was selling frozen Kodiak scallops at $15/pound. Ouch! I bet they're good, but I can get premium fresh scallops for that price, so I didn't bother. I was also thinking of bringing back some sliced smoked salmon (lox) but, again, the prices I saw were twice what I'd pay for probably better product in the lower 48. Heck, even fresh salmon at the Fred Meyer was no bargain. I'm thinking most of the locals catch their own, or know somebody who does!