Alaska Itinerary

 

ALASKA Itinerary

February 26 to March 6, 2017

I took my nephew to Alaska for a week to see the beginning of the Idtirod Race.  Clay was only a freshman in high school and I think he loved the idea that he was going to skip a week of school more than anything else about the trip. It was a cold, fun week.

 

2/25 Saturday- pack

 

2/26 Sunday- leave for DC

·       Spend the night @ Sheraton Reston Hotel Dulles Airport

·       Leave the car at the hotel

·       Dinner

·       This hotel may have a pool.

 

2/27 Monday- Seattle bound

          breakfast at the hotel

·       Flight to Seattle- IAD 8:55 AM- United 0389

·       Layover in Seattle- noon arrival

·       Meet up with Heather

·       Tour Seattle for the day

·       dinner

·       Spend the night at Heather’s house

 

2/28 Tuesday- Anchorage

·       Early flight- 7AM- Alaska Airlines Flight 0099

·       Bring something for breakfast

·       Check on status of checked luggage

·       Arrive in Anchorage- 10 AM

·       Pick up car- Economy Car Rental

·       lunch

·       Grocery shopping

·       Go to hotel- 3PM check-in @ Creekwood Inn

·       City tour: ice/snow sculpture competition; Alaska Native Heritage Center, Anchorage Museum at Rasmunson Center, the Coastal Trail, Cook Inlet, the Chugach Anchorage, Spring Carnival, the Fur Rendezvous.

·       Dinner

·       Possible Evening event: They Don't Talk Back (Three generations of Tlingit men face the challenges of a summer of change.  When 17-year-old Nick takes a floatplane from Juneau to his grandparents’ village, his arrival means changes for his fisherman grandfather, his cousin Edward–who hasn’t spent much time away from home–and his Desert Storm-veteran father. Just as these Tlingit men are adjusting to their new lives together; the boys’ grandmother delivers shocking news. A world premiere portrait of a 1990s Alaska family. A World Premiere produced in Association with Native Voices at the Autry and La Jolla Playhouse, They Don't Talk Back is presented by the Perseverance Theatre.)

·       Northern lights- Tony Knowles Coastal Trails, Cook Inlet or Taikeetna Mountains. (Aurora Forecaster Alaska.com)

 

 

3/1 Wednesday- Anchorage

      Breakfast at the hotel

      Ice fishing: noon-2PM Alaska Lake Guide- Jason Perrego 254-291-1516

      Late afternoon- Spring carnival activities

      Northern lights

      Dinner- The Bubbly Mermaid Oyster Bar- 417 D Street

      Possibility- Curling Club

      Hotel: Creekwood Inn

 

3/2 Thursday- Anchorage

·       Breakfast at the hotel

·       Dog sledding- Alaska Mushing School- afternoon-3221 Spalding Circle        907-793-0647

·       dinner

·       Northern lights

·       Hotel: Creekwood Inn

    

3/3 Friday- Anchorage

·       Breakfast at the hotel

·       Glaciers- Seaward

·       Portage Lake Loop- Girdwood

·       Seven Glaciers Restaurant 800-880-3880

·       Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center

·       Northern lights

·       Hotel: Creekwood Inn

·       Dinner

·       Maybe a movie

3/4 Saturday- Anchorage/Willow/Wasilla

·       Breakfast at the hotel

·       10:00 AM- Iditarod race takes off

·       race festivities

·       4:00 PM- Reindeer Run through town

·       head up to Willow- 50 miles

·       dinner

·       Northern lights

·       Hotel: Grand View Inn and Suites- Wasilla- 2900 E Parks Hwy

 

3/5 Sunday- Willow/Anchorage

·       Breakfast at the hotel

·       Bring snacks

·       Official start of the race

·       Race celebrations all day

·       Late dinner

·       Northern lights

·       Head back to Anchorage airport

·       Return car

·       3:00 AM flight home

 

3/6 Monday- Home

     Arrive in DC at

     Arrive home around

 

Ten Iconic Foods in Alaska 

1. Reindeer Dogs- Reindeer Dogs are truly the infamous Alaskan street food, minus the fact that you can buy reindeer sausage in many states. I suggest trying the "sled dogs" the next time you're in Carcoss, just stop in at the Authentic Sourdough Bakery! You'll be handed a delicious reindeer sausage baked and wrapped in sourdough.

2. Smoked Salmon Anything- We all know salmon in Alaska is fresh, mouthwatering, and very popular. But let’s face it, you can get salmon anywhere, so I suggest spicing it up a bit and trying a smoked salmon chowder bowl at Gwin's in Cooper Landing. 

3. Black Cod-You haven't lived if you haven't tried this fish. Fresh Black Cod is more delicious than you can ever imagine, especially if you head down to the J-Dock Seafood Company in Seward. They marinate it in soy sauce and lemon juice and then grill it to perfection.

4. Chocolate Bread- any baked good at Two Sisters Bakery in Homer (particularly the mouthwatering, dark chocolate chunk filled Chocolate Bread) is an iconic Alaskan food experience. And yes, your mouth WILL water.

5. Gumbo- Alaska has some great gumbo, and we mean that. I suggest stopping in at the infamous Double Muskie in Girdwood and trying their spectacular gumbo dish.

6. Any fresh jam or dessert with berries-We have a slew of decadent wild berries in Alaska. We have everything from wild blueberries, cranberries, salmonberries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries and much MORE. So don't hesitate to order anything "berry," and I strongly suggest High Bush Cranberry Jam, or, of course, any wild berry cobbler.

7. Crab- Fresh King and Dungeness Crab is our area of expertise in Alaska. But if you want the best of the best, then there is only one place to go... Tracy’s King Crab Shack on the docks of Juneau. Who doesn't love waterfront dining and insanely fresh crab legs?

8. Eskimo Ice Cream- A real Alaskan treat that few get the opportunity to enjoy is called "Eskimo Ice Cream," or more accurately, "Aqutak" or "Agutuk." It is about as Alaskan as you can get in the dessert category. To make this dish you whip together seal oil, reindeer (and any other animals) fat, snow and wild Alaskan berries.

9. Muktuk- Another native favorite is Muktuk, it's the combination of whale blubber and skin frozen together and eaten raw. It's a pretty dish, but you'd have to be pretty brave to try it!

10. Any other wild game-There are plenty of wild meats to try when you're dining at new places in Alaska, like this Indian-Alaskan fusion dish topped with moose meat! From bear and moose to endless Alaskan aquatic delicacies,