Anchorage?

[EZEtoGRU]

I'm doing a mileage run heading up to Anchorage on Thursday and then back on Saturday. Any suggestions on anything interesting to do there? Escort options seem very limited, so I guess I will occupy myself with tourism related things. Any help would be appreciated.

[Doe Be Doe]

Pretty town. I think it'd be worth while to head up to Denali. It's about 3 hours north of Anchorage. The best thing to do is to go up one evening and then get up to take the bus tour into the park. It leaves the hotel at Denali around 6am but it's worth it.

[+ Charlie]

Have you checked the weather forecast? It is currently 21 in Anchorage, and -9 in Denali. Similar temperatures, with snowshowers, are forecast for the rest of the week.

[orbital sander]

I'm doing a mileage run heading up to Anchorage on Thursday and then back on Saturday. Any suggestions on anything interesting to do there? Escort options seem very limited, so I guess I will occupy myself with tourism related things. Any help would be appreciated.

 

sorry to be nosy, why Anchorage? Is it an Alaska Airlines special?

[+ purplekow]

Anchorage is a nice town. The Captain Cook Hotel downtown has a few shops and two nice restaurants. There is a small gay bar nearby though i forget the name. Try the salmon while you are there. Vacuum packed salmon tastes almost as good once you are back home. I was there for 5 days last November and just enjoyed wandering around the area but I am easily entertained.

[jackboy48]

I've been stuck in Anchorage a few times over the years. It's really more like a small town, easy to walk about with most everyone being generally friendly and helpful. It really is too late in the year for guided daytrips, but there is a tourist trolley and a free bus connecting the Anchorage Museum to the Native American Cultural Center. There is a zoo and tons of tourist shops. There are also quite a few good galleries. I did find a few that featured Native American art, but were outrageously overpriced. There are 2 or 3 gay bars where it was easy to mix in with the group. You might want to consider bringing some heavy socks, gloves and long underwear (everyone wears it). Also, some ski clothes as there is access to a Nordic trail from downtown and you can rent equipment at the local REI. There are at least 3 or 4 Nordic ski parks just outside of the city if you have a rental car, or maybe your hotel can arrange something. I think there are 5 kinds of salmon in Alaska, so don't forget to stuff yourself on lots and lots of fish, and actually go shopping for some smoked fish to bring home!

[Diverdan]

I too have been to Anchorage a few times and always had a GOOD time there. Everyone I met was very friendly and had a great time with a couple of guys I met at the bars. The Museum and galleries with Native American Art are well worth visiting, and even though it may be cold and snowy, if the sun comes out, a trip to Denali can be spectacular... the Bears, Mountain Sheep and Goats and Eagles don't mind the weather!

Have fun and give us a report when you get back.

[rossthebosssf]

When I was there I had some success placing an ad in the M4M section of Craigslist. I just mentioned that I could be generous and got a few good replies. Nothing mind-blowing, but it did the "trick."

[EZEtoGRU]

Wow. Thanks for all the feedback. I really didn't expect to hear much. Who knew so many people had been to anchorage??

 

To reply to some of the comments:

 

I chose Anchorage as it gave me the biggest bang for the buck to hit my goal on Continental.

In terms of Denali, I don't think my schedule will allow for this. I will need to plan better for the next trip. Yes, I have seen the weather report. Really no worse than Chicago or Toronto this time of the year.

 

I think I will stick pretty much to Anchorage proper. I plan to see the museums and eat lots of fish. Yea...I'll probably run a craigslist ad to see what that shakes out of the bushes.

 

Again thanks to all for the great feedback.

[bluboy]

Have had success with grinder while in anchorage. Download it if u don't have it before u go. U can offer $$$ for play. Looking to give generously type wording can domthe trick...

[Guest clearvoice]

Been there twice. I hope you have clear weather or else you won't see anything

 

If it's sunny, it's beautiful. If it's hazy... not a good travel destination. Hope this helps.

[EZEtoGRU]

Well I am leaving Anchorage now. I thought it was an interesting place with lots of really hot guys with beards. Weather was not particularly cold hovering around freezing the whole time I was here. It alternated between snow and freezing rain the whole time. I only got a quick view of the mountains once for about 10 minutes when the clouds sort of cleared briefly.

 

Anyway, I started getting a cold when I left Houston for Alaska and it blossomed here which put the kibosh on doing much whilst in Anchorage

(I head to Montreal on Tuesday and wanted to try and get healthy for that trip). I do plan to return however....perhaps in May or June. I really want to do the train trip up to Fairbanks.

 

Thanks to everyone for all the input. I was really surprised at how many folks from the forum had been to Alaska. We really are a well-traveled bunch!