will be spending the july 4th wknd there, need info about best place to stay and eat...
also, we arrive 11:30p.m., may be should just stay one night near the airport?
thanks in advance...

Just returned from a 3 week trip to the Last Frontier....it was wonderful! If you are staying near the airport, I would recommend the Marriott Courtyard. Very nice and less than 10 minutes from the airport. They run a courtesy van round the clock if you don't have a car. There is also a new Marriott downtown, the Hilton, and the Sheraton. The Hilton is a tad nicer than the Sheraton and I believe it has air-conditioning (if that is important), whereas the Sheraton does not, but it is overrun by package tour groups. You may have difficulty getting reservations at any of these hotels at this point as rooms in Anchorage are hard to come by in summer....expensive too.

If you are travelling with kids, Sourdough Mining Company is a good bet for dinner as they have a show afterward....make reservations. Food is decent and plentiful even if not with kids.

I think you'll be somewhat surprised by Anchorage's high cost of accomodations during the summer high season. The Hilton, Sheraton and Regal Alaskan all command prices upwards of $200 a night. Less expensive alternatives are B & B's, of which there are plenty, or motels, many of which are a little less than well kept.
As many flights arrive in ANC at night, the tourism industry is set up for the "late" arrivals and the airport car rental and hotel shuttle services are offered well past midnight.
July 04 will be just a little after summer solstice, meaning that daylight will extend well into the wee hours of the morning. July 04 fireworks will be later than you are used to.
As Anchorage is a relatively small city, the airport is but a few minutes away from any given hotel in the downtown area, and usually no more than a half hour from most suburban B & B's.

Restaurants on the recommended list include:

• Simon and seafort's on L St.
• Jen's Restaurant on 36th Ave.
• Crow's Nest atop the Captain Cook Hotel on 5th Ave.
  

Hope this is of use.

The Hotel Captain Cook is very nice. It has a sort of clubby feel to it. Its also quite expensive.

I'm unaware of the new hotel...where is it??

Hilton is great, especially upper floors with a view.

"F" Street Station is an aircrew hangout, military and civilian, the beer selection rocks, and the daily chef specials are well worth it.

Humpy's plays to a younger crowd, but I had a good time as a gray beard. Live music, food is reasonable. You will meet lots of locals.

Both within walking distance of the Hilton.

Have fun.

This exact same questions was answered in some depth on the Alaska board last week. I hope that helps!

I have been to Anchorage in excess of 35 times or so. I have stayed at the Sheraton at least 10 of those times. Pluses... Easy free parking, nice views. Minuses ... not "quite" as close as you might want to walk to eat and such... but I prefer it over the Hilton. I don't like staying by the Airport. You may want to spend one of your nights down in Seward (about 100mi s), or at least at Girdwood (Alyeska Resort - about 45 mi s). Hotel prices are outrageous for what you get, but often the nice hotels (ie, Sheraton) are only $20 more than the Days Inn, which in ANC is a dump right across the street.

I am also going to be in ANC that weekend I am staying at the westin. maybe we can hook up for a drink

would love to NJ-Flyer...
at this writing, there has been at least three friends urging us NOT to go to anchorage for the july4th fireworks display, but visit them instead : san francisco, LA or New York City???

what do yall think?

As a San Francisco Bay Area resident, I have to put in a plug for San Francisco, of course. We residents often forget how beautiful the area is until a visitor we're taking around reminds us. And there's no lack of things to do, that's for sure.

I am already booked for the weekend at the westin(wouldn't change it). I have never been there and it is the last state that I haven't been to. But I will be back home for the fireworks july 4th. My flt leaves anc on the 3rd at 9:30pm.
If you want to meet just send me a email

If you go to Anchorage, keep in mind, it could rain. We discovered, in the rain, that the art museum was quite wonderful. If the sun shines over Denali, take a fly-by. It is worth every penny. We stayed at the Hilton and used Mileage Plus certs to get the price down. It is well located for browsing the streets. Lots of micro-brewery cafes. Palmer, home of the huge veggies, is nearby for a drive. Or, better, drive to the glacier - wonderful scenery near Anchorage. Town itself is not a killer.

nj flyer:
<<But I will be back home for the fireworks july 4th. My flt leaves anc on the 3rd at 9:30pm.>>
You could catch the fireworks in Alaska in Juneau and still get back to NJ for the fireworks there. Fly to juneau the night of the 3rd, catch the fireworks at midnight the 3rd/12am the 4th and then continue on to seattle and back to NJ. In Juneau, the July 4th fireworks are the night of July 3rd, or rather, actually at 12am July 4th. They are billed as the first 4th of July fireworks in the country. They are quite spectacular with the mountains as the backdrop.

I understand they got started the night before because with the parade and other celebrations on the 4th people were too tired to stay up til it gets dark enough for the fireworks (past 11pm). So the fireworks start the celebration up here instead of capping the celebration as in other places.

Jerry

The whole Anchorage hotel thing has me confused. Looking for something in mid-July within walking distance of downtown with some space and a refrigerator. Any suggesions?
Had the new Aspen booked but it burned down on me. Holding a reservation at the Inlet Towers but hear it is quite mediocre.

My favorite Anchorage hotel is actually one hour south of the city -- the Alyeska Prince. The drive along the inlet is spectacular.