Anchorage in early April
 

I'm thinking of making a trip up to Anchorage for a few days this coming weekend. Right now, the weather forecast doesn't look the greatest (some chances of rain on Saturday and Sunday) and I am a little concerned that there will not be much to see/do in and around Anchorage due to the time of year.

Can some of the locals (or others who have been to Anchorage in early-April) comment on whether or not I'd find enough to keep me busy? If there is enough decent scenery to see during this time of year, I could potentially keep myself occupied driving up towards Denali (or as far as the road closure will allow me to go) and down to Sweard or the Homer area. Would there be interesting things to see on these drives during this time of year? Are there enough indoor activities (I see that there are some museums...) in Anchorage to do if the weather takes a further turn down?

Any insight you guys can provide would be appreciated.

A few days....well you've laid out enough for a few weeks. For a short visit I suggest a drive along Turnagain Arm and down to Seward. It's a nice drive on good highways. Homer would be a nice drive but is further. You could do both.

How long will you be there? I am going to Alaska this weekend myself - I thought about the trip last week when I heard the Denali park road might be open to mile 30 so early. I am a huge Denali fan. My plan is to drive the 30 miles into the park a total of 4 times between Sat afternoon/evening and Mon morning. There should be a decent chance of seeing some wildlife - moose, caribou, fox, wolf, ptarmigan, hare, sheep, porcupine, owls? I have seen them all and more at Denali in the past. You just never know. A contact who lives in Healy said they saw two owls in Healy yesterday.

Probably still too early for bears, but I saw two bears on that stretch of the road in mid May last year.

And just to clarify - the road from Anchorage to Denali National Park (the Parks Highway) is open all year and well-maintained. What just opened last weekend were the first 30 miles of the road that goes inside the park. It starts (mile 0) at the intersection with the Parks Highway and goes 91 miles west.

The drive to Seward is beautiful. Just be prepared for some snowfall over the pass south of Turnagain Arm. And dress warmly. It WILL be cold. The Sealife Center in Seward is worth a visit. And the 15 mile each way "detour" to Hope (between Anchorage and Seward) is well worth the drive.

Anchorage itself is not bad either but I prefer being outside the city. North of Anchorage is nice but also could have some snow. Eagle River (check to see if the nature center is open yet), Palmer, the Muskox Farm (probably no tours but the animals are usually visible, at least in the distance), Matanuska Glacier past Palmer is visible from the road. The Iditarod headquarters in Wasilla might be open.

Lodging is relatively cheap in Alaska this time of year, though I was amazed at how difficult it was to find lodging near Denali this coming weekend. Two or three places were full (not closed, just full!). Found a really nice B&B in Healy for about $70/night.

I think it will be a fun time to go. Extremely few tourists and a perspective of the state that few get to see. Bring binoculars.

If it is nice weather, flightseeing from Talkeetna is a possibility though it is not cheap. I didn't do it last May when it was beautiful weather and I regret it (I was back in Talkeetna 6 weeks later with a relative and we had planned to do it. It was great but only so-so weather).

Lots of pulloffs along the Parks Highway for nice views of Mt. McKinley if it is "out."

John

Thanks for all of the info so far - it's giving me a lot to think about!

Is it crazy to think that a round trip drive to Seward or Homer (not both, of course) can be done in a single day? What about the areas north of Anchorage? I'm not sure I want to get in to staying at different hotels for such a short trip, so I was hoping I could do a lot of scenery viewing (with lots of stops) while I drive around. This would be my first trip to Alaska, so I'd like to take in as much as I can before returning in the future to take my time...

I don't think getting to both Seward and Homer would be reasonable with just a weekend. I would choose one or the other. Depending on when you arrive on Friday, you could drive to Girdwood or Hope the first night. Or even Moose Pass (just past the junction where you decide whether you to to Homer or Seward).

The Pratt Museum in Homer is nice as are the views once you are close to Homer. But personally, I think the drive to Homer is not nearly as impressive as the drive to Seward.

Maybe drive north toward the Matsu Valley Friday when you arrive and return to Anchorage or Girdwood Friday night. Then Saturday drive to Seward, spend the night and return Sunday evening to Anchorage.

Or just head north to Denali. If it were my first time in Alaska, I would drive to Denali. Make a stop in Talkeetna for sure (funky town, great views), Talkeetna Roadhouse is a great place to eat. At Denali NP, the winter visitor center is open (great film), the sleddog kennel is open though no demos, some walking/hiking trails will be available and of course that 30 mile drive.

Tough choices!

Well, depending on what might happen over the next few days, maybe Homer could be an interesting place to be:

http://www.avo.alaska.edu/activity/Redoubt.php

Mt. Redoubt is experiencing some earthquakes on April 5th. It might or might not be a precursor to an eruption. Homer is relatively close to Mt. Redoubt, as is the road along the coast on the drive to Homer.

The weather has been great in Anchorage last couple of days. I've been able to see McKinley several times the last week or so.

From Anchorage, you should be able to drive to Seward and back in a day. It's an incredible drive. There have been several avalanches that have closed the road this year, I'm not sure if it gets better or worse as it starts warming up. Also tends to be quite a few car wrecks that can cause delays, so plan accordingly.

Whittier, along the same road, is also a unique place to go. Really not much to do there, probably especially now, but it is scenic and the tunnel that gets you there is neat.

In Anchorage itself, weather is hard to predict. The weather forecast can change often. One thing I do always recommend people to do is hike up flattop mountain. There are some nice hiking trails in that area too that are popular with locals. Even if you're not up for a hike the view next to the parking lot is pretty good. I always enjoy heading to a spot near Anchorage International and watching airplanes takeoff and land. That can be an all weather activity. There is also the coastal trail which is nearby which can give good views of downtown Anchorage and the inlet. There are tons of hiking trails in and around Anchorage, but many of them will probably still be covered in snow.

Is Flattop snow-free now? I have never hiked up there in my many trips to/through Anchorage. It might work out on Monday when I return from Denali if it is relatively snow-free.

I haven't been up there yet this year, but it sounds like it was partially free. We just got a bit of snow last night so probably not the case any more.

Another option for the OP is the gray whale watch tour in Seward:

http://www.majormarine.com/alaska-da...-watch-cruise/

I have not been on that tour but it sounds excellent. I have taken the 6 and 9 hour Kenai Fjords tours in the past.

If you do end up going this weekend, keep an eye out for the Northern Lights. They have been extremely active the past few nights. Many hotels will offer a wake-up call if they are visible. I am bringing my tripod but the activity forecast is not nearly as good for this coming weekend as for the past few days.

Flattop won't be snow-free until sometime in May.

Thanks. I was wondering, since I didn't think it would be snow-free. But my plans have changed a bit and I am not returning to Anchorage until time to check in for my 9pm flight on Monday evening.

I am looking forward to a great (but short!) trip.