Land tour/ Port Review

[PharmacyRx]

Back yesterday, June 5. Flew to Fairbanks a day early and rented a car. Must see the University of Alaska Museum, the Large Animal Research Station ( the musk ox are very curious looking creatures) and the pipeline. We also drove to North Pole, AK to the Santa House to send letters home to the grandkids. Stayed at the Princess Lodge and it is very nice and exceeded our expectations. Ate at the lodge ( Trappers and had good fried halibut) and Pike's Landing
both of which I would recommend. We also ate at an Italian place called Geraldo's. They kept the doors open so we dined with every mosquito in a 50 mile radius, the food was mediocre and don't look too close at the floor, the kitchen or the tables -- there is an infection control issue waiting to happen. I think this place has had its heyday.
The train was great and the food wonderful. Saw bears, moose, eagles and the scenery is without compare. The Denali area is beautiful and the Princess Lodge is undergoing construction and the rooms are clean but "Holiday Inn like". We floated the Nenanna River and enjoyed the Husky Homestead tour. Mt McKinley Lodge is remote and rustic but the rooms are very nice and spacious. The staff here are great.
Skagway - my least favorite of towns; all t-shirt shops and diamond brokers. The White Pass Railway trip is a MUST SEE!
Juneau - whale watching excursion was fabulous as we saw many whales, eagles, seals,ect. The Roberts Tram was fun and a great view of the area. Nice shopping choices and friendly people!
Ketchikan - nice, nice town with good shopping and good food. The Lumberjack Show is another MUST SEE as it is very entertaining and the audience participates. We did the Misty Fjords Seaplane Excursion and that is beautiful. If you are clastrophobic or have air sickness, you might want to reconsider. It was fun but very small with many dips and sways.
Please let me know if you have questions and I will do my best to help. It was the trip of a lifetime and I will go again. The Alaskan people are gracious and kind and their land is
breathtaking!

[me@sea]

What a great review! Makes me even more excited to think about my trip in July [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

Can I ask you some questions about Mt McKinley Lodge. How remote is the lodge...I keep hearing about a shuttle between the common area and the rooms. How far away between the two/multiple buildings?

Does the room have a fridge? and dare I ask, a TV...its Amazing Race night during our stay.

Lisa

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=000080&cdt=2004;7;19;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0800[/img]
July 19 - Dawn Princess

[PharmacyRx]

The Mt McKinley Lodge does have golf carts to carry you back and forth and we were in the rooms farthest from the lodge and walked back and forth each time. It is uphill ( a small incline to the rooms located in the back) and about 100 yards to the main lodge. My husband is 60 and had no problem making the walk. But they will tote you in the carts if needed [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]. There are TVs in the room and they get several cable channels. We spent our time in the lodge watching the moose and viewing Mt McKinley. ( It never got dark there). It is remote and there is a shuttle for 15.00 back to Talkeetna and there are excursions,but we chose to walk the trails there at the lodge and just savor the views and remoteness of this beautiful place. Hope this helps! Hanna

[me@sea]

Thank you for the speedy response! From reading the brochure, I thought the lodging was miles away from the common area which seemed like an odd way to build a lodge. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]

Now I'm really looking forward to this portion of our trip.

Lisa

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=000080&cdt=2004;7;19;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0800[/img]
July 19 - Dawn Princess

[Genessa]

Hanna,

it was great to read your review!
My visit to Alaska was last year, but thanks to your review, I feel as if it was more recent [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

Agnes

[PharmacyRx]

You are certainly welcome! It was a trip of a lifetime and we enjoyed it so. No place is perfect and we always go with the idea to have a good time, come what may!
Hanna

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Genessa:
Hanna,

it was great to read your review!
My visit to Alaska was last year, but thanks to your review, I feel as if it was more recent [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

Agnes<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>