I have to go into the office for a while on Saturday, but I can escape for a long lunch. If that sounds good to everyone, then make it so, rwinn! :-) If JSD (or anyone else) needs a ride, let me know and we can arrange something.)

On a different note, there seems to be some interest in a Fur Rondy or Iditarod event. I'll look at some dates and perhaps we can get something in the works . . .

If it works for you guys, lets get together on Saturday. I don't have any plans, so I'm up for just about anything. I'd recommend that we meet for beers in the late afternoon and then adjourn to dinner somewhere, but I'm totally flexible. I just need to get back to airport around 11pm Sat night to catch my flight.

eastwest, as a native, do you have any recommendations for what to do with only 1 day in ANC? Its my first time in the city - I'll be staying at the Sheraton, which I assume is somewhere near downtown. I'll probably rent a car - are there any short driving trips around the city that are worthwhile? Any interesting areas within the city that you would recommend?

(This user wishes she were going!!)

i actually had planned on visiting ANC on my RTW itineary, but decided to do it on my next one. Now I'm regretting it... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

Yep, the Sheraton is downtown. I know you addressed this to eastwest.. but here are a few suggestions:

1. The Alaska Native Heritage Center - http://www.alaskanative.net/
(Not far from downtown)

2. Museuem of History and Art - http://www.anchoragemuseum.org/
(In downtown)

3. Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum - http://home.gci.net/~aahm/
(Near the airport)

4. Public Lands Information Center - http://www.nps.gov/aplic/about_us/aaplic.html
(In downtown)

5. Eklutna Village - http://www.alaskaone.com/eklutna/
(About a half hour north of Anchorage)

Also, if you were going to have another day (or if you dared sacrafice the Mini-Do!) you could go on the 26 Glacier Cruise from Whittier, about 60 miles south of Anchorage by train or car.

-Robert

How about lunch at Humpy's, 1:00pm?

-Robert

I have a feeling that they would love to comp you. Hey, where is Spencer, IN? I'm based in South Bend for the the time being...

mymiles2go: I read about it in an Aviation Now article at http://www.aviationnow.com/avnow/new...s/caul0819.xml

The article says it's their normal seasonal elimination of the flights between ORD and ANC.

-Robert

(edited to correct link)

[This message has been edited by rwinn (edited 08-21-2002).]

I think a Fur Rondy Do would be a great idea!

-Robert

I wish you were coming, too!!!

-Robert

All this sounds great, rwinn! I look forward to seeing you all there.

(and thank you for filling in all those good ANC ideas. i really have nothing to add to them!)

But. . .what about a do for the "rest of us" who are willing to travel north this year?

ldsant.. I think a Fur Rondy Do might be in the concept stages. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

-Robert

Like many others above I'd like to get to ANC again, but really need more notice. Met rwinn (and Jerry A.Laska!) last weekend, and have always wanted to buy eastwest a drink or three, so will make it there again for sure. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

Re ANC Sheraton, stayed there last 2 times, and my only word of warning is that it is NOWHERE near anything else "downtown" if you have no car, so be mindful of that, and IIRC cab prices mount up darn quickly due to distances. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

Someone on chat recently (MissyDarling maybe?) mentioned that there is a NW/AS award that allowed travel within USA including [it appeared] the connecting flight from ANC to Prudhoe Bay which I always wanted to visit and the "stopover" would be ANC. Visited Barrow once, and that was interesting. Have a lot of NW points - does anyone know if that award works that way? IIRC it was c40-50K in First.

------------------
~ Glen ~

Thanks for the warning... I was debating whether or not to get a car and this pretty much made up my mind for me.