Danielle: beautiful, very laid back, nature-loving, lots of hunters/fishers, low style, great fall colors.
Alex: beautiful environment/surroundings, much colder than thought for beginning of September, not as much wildlife as expected.
Food: great bbq Alex found, salmon was good-not too different but I guess less fishy tasting and more butter melt in my mouth taste.
People: very nice, friendly, like to talk about AK, very proud of their state, treat AK like its own country.
Saturday, February 1, 2020
9/10-Copper Lake to ANC-Airport
We got up, went to the common space where the kitchen was, made oatmeal and use the restrooms before taking off. Right before leaving, we met Alex, an old man who was the owner. He had 2 dogs with him and was very friendly---just a different kind of people, very old school, simple, apologized about the internet, but didn't fix it.
We headed back to Anchorage, 90-100min or so. We stopped at Carrs = same as a safeway to use to the bathroom and finally get some wifi. Then we got gas, went to Ihop (had free pancake certificate), then went to the mall--huge 4 story mall and just walked around. We found a verizon and went in to ask some questions about our bill which was explained to us, went to olive garden for my free bday dessert, went to harvest bread company for some samples and a cooking store next door to waste some more time.
Then off to the airport, returned the car. We had a couple hours so caught up on emails, ate starbucks (their sandwich was cold bc their heater was being cleaned so Alex kindly asked another vendor to heat it for us and she did--she said she would have to do it quickly while her manager left for a break). It was luke warm after that but better than cold.
Then it was off to SEA (3hrs)-I slept and read. And then in SEA airport we had a layover for a few hours. Bc it was the middle of the night there was nowhere to sleep but the floor which was gross so we didn't really sleep any. Then a drunk man came close to us and we had to move so little to say very little sleep.
Next flight was 6AM to DIA-about 2.5 hr flight, we boarded quickly and finally made it back to Denver. We of course then had two trains but made it back safe and sound and went to bed really early that night.
We headed back to Anchorage, 90-100min or so. We stopped at Carrs = same as a safeway to use to the bathroom and finally get some wifi. Then we got gas, went to Ihop (had free pancake certificate), then went to the mall--huge 4 story mall and just walked around. We found a verizon and went in to ask some questions about our bill which was explained to us, went to olive garden for my free bday dessert, went to harvest bread company for some samples and a cooking store next door to waste some more time.
Then off to the airport, returned the car. We had a couple hours so caught up on emails, ate starbucks (their sandwich was cold bc their heater was being cleaned so Alex kindly asked another vendor to heat it for us and she did--she said she would have to do it quickly while her manager left for a break). It was luke warm after that but better than cold.
Then it was off to SEA (3hrs)-I slept and read. And then in SEA airport we had a layover for a few hours. Bc it was the middle of the night there was nowhere to sleep but the floor which was gross so we didn't really sleep any. Then a drunk man came close to us and we had to move so little to say very little sleep.
Next flight was 6AM to DIA-about 2.5 hr flight, we boarded quickly and finally made it back to Denver. We of course then had two trains but made it back safe and sound and went to bed really early that night.
9/9- ANC to Seward to Copper Lake
I got up early and went and took an OTF class--felt good to be working out.
Then back to the airbnb to shower, ate, Tracy gave us bread, peanut butter, and strawberry rhubarb oatmeal thing--then off to Seward. The drive was only about 2 hrs-fast drive and very pretty along the water, very similar to the views of CO.
We made it to the boat, parked a ways away to get free parking and then hopped on board. We brought bagels and salmon spread (other guys in the airbnb gave us) for lunch and then the boat left. The ride was 3.5 hours on water. The boat was pretty big, bottom covered area, top mostly covered area, and sides and the front uncovered. We had maybe 40 people on it.
We saw glaciers, sea lions first sun-bathing, it was 60 degrees and sunny so felt nice, chilly on the front or outer sides of the boat. I kept to the covered lower part bc I didn't feel that great and was afraid the vertigo might come which I had the month prior.
Then we saw more nature birds, seals, puffins--just lying on the surface like fishing bobbers.
Then we got the best call ever!! A fisherman spotted Orcas a good distant away. But our captain, she was all game to go! So we took off across the waters, way out in the waves. But we got to see a pod of Orcas---mommy, baby, big daddy. We saw about 5, so cool!!!
Then we saw another glacier (it is so sad, all the glaciers are hard core melting that they are rather sad looking). We stopped close and picked up a piece of ice out of the water to feel it and look at it on the boat. We then headed back to the harbor.
We ate the sandwiches we packed in the hotel lobby which was where the boat checkin was and then headed to our airbnb.
Took us about an hour to get to the airbnb--it was in Copper Lake and a horse farm with adorable personal cabins. Of course had a lot of flies bc of the animals. Such a cute cabin for us, but really no wifi and the owners were not there tonight bc they were at a horse show far away so we took a walk to a nearby cafe but they had to wifi either so headed back to the cabin. We got into another fight that night about our marriage and future and that took the entire rest of the night.
9/8 Talkeetna to ANC
We got up and had cereal and an apple (again supplied in kitchen) and then off to Anchorage. We stopped at a Walmart--very cloudy, hazy, rainy, lots of clouds sitting among the mountains along the drive.
We we went to OTF to check it out (only one in Alaska), went to Target close by, went to Red Robin (I had a free bday burger to use--ended up having the restaurant sing to me lol), got gas, and then off to next airbnb. This place was someone's home. It was a huge house, middle age man Tracy met us as we arrived and showed us our room and his place. There were 3 other guys who rented two of the other rooms upstairs too---Tracy said he was a very busy host, lots of people in and out all the time. We then went to Flat Top Mountain---it was very overcast and we were climbing we would get rained on a bit and then it would stop when the cloud moved and so on. It was a much longer and intense hike then I thought. Just kept going and going and going. At the top if was very chilly and damp--could feel the moisture since the clouds were among us. The climb took about 2 hours up---super high and hard, very slippery bc of was the weather. The scramble at the top was very difficult and we had to use our hands. The view unfortunately was not great bc of all the clouds--very wet and cold at the top and all the way down. Going down is the scariest---it was so slippery. But we made it back (we fought basically the whole way up and were not speaking much on the way down---which made for an interesting time between the two of us).
Then we headed back to the airbnb and made oatmeal for dinner in the kitchen and went to bed.
Alex smacked his foot into a post in the house and he actually ended up breaking his toe that he hit. It was so discolored by the night and next morning!! Yikes it looked painful!
We we went to OTF to check it out (only one in Alaska), went to Target close by, went to Red Robin (I had a free bday burger to use--ended up having the restaurant sing to me lol), got gas, and then off to next airbnb. This place was someone's home. It was a huge house, middle age man Tracy met us as we arrived and showed us our room and his place. There were 3 other guys who rented two of the other rooms upstairs too---Tracy said he was a very busy host, lots of people in and out all the time. We then went to Flat Top Mountain---it was very overcast and we were climbing we would get rained on a bit and then it would stop when the cloud moved and so on. It was a much longer and intense hike then I thought. Just kept going and going and going. At the top if was very chilly and damp--could feel the moisture since the clouds were among us. The climb took about 2 hours up---super high and hard, very slippery bc of was the weather. The scramble at the top was very difficult and we had to use our hands. The view unfortunately was not great bc of all the clouds--very wet and cold at the top and all the way down. Going down is the scariest---it was so slippery. But we made it back (we fought basically the whole way up and were not speaking much on the way down---which made for an interesting time between the two of us).
Then we headed back to the airbnb and made oatmeal for dinner in the kitchen and went to bed.
Alex smacked his foot into a post in the house and he actually ended up breaking his toe that he hit. It was so discolored by the night and next morning!! Yikes it looked painful!
9/7- Denali National Park
Got up and used the beautiful bathroom--it was very nice out, about 55 degrees-felt warm, very cloudy so unfortunately no northern lights on our trip.
We went to Rose's Cafe just down the road for breakfast-we split a cheese omelette with hashbrowns and homemade sourdough. It was a small, family-run joint. Very average tasting.
Then we were off to the park--wow just beautiful! So gorgeous while driving there. Reading about the park, it said we had to pay $5 per person so we decided we would put Alex in the trunk and not have to pay for him. Hahaha I was laughing so hard I was crying driving into the park--I could barely see where I was driving.
Anyway we found out that there was no spot to actually pay-it was a suggested donation but not mandatory so I quickly let him out at the visitors center when no one was around. Again was laughing so hard Hahahaha!
We went into the visitor's center, got a map, used the bathrooms, filled up our water and then realized we left our gloves at the airbnb. However, the sled dog bus was leaving in 15 so we just toughed it out with no gloves and went to visit them. They were so cute!! We got to pet some and see them run a short course with a sled, they are such smart and trained hard animals. We found out we can adopt one when it retires which is around age 9. We asked about CO and they said they send a lot of dogs to CO--woohoo!!
Then we went back to the visit center and had to wait 90 min for the next bus tour so we then decided to go get our gloves. One the way back to the park, we stopped by another gift shop where I got my parents a stained glass gift. So we drove all the way back to get them and entered the park again (this time Alex not in the trunk).
We took the bus to mile 15--last spot where cars can go without an expensive paid tour. They drove us there and back and then we took our own 30-40 min hike where we saw the bridge that the sled dogs helped bring the supplies for which they shared in the sled dog tour. Then we went back to the car and headed to Talkeetna where our airbnb was.
I wish we had more time in the park, but the tours were so long and so expensive--so we didn't want to sit for 6-8 hours on a bus but we also didn't get to see any animals either which was a bummer.
Once we arrived at the airbnb--this one was a house (2nd floor) with many bedrooms that can be rented and a shared kitchen. We made pancakes for dinner since there was pancake mix in the shared kitchen and I taught Alex how to play manicala. We read and just relaxed for the night.
We went to Rose's Cafe just down the road for breakfast-we split a cheese omelette with hashbrowns and homemade sourdough. It was a small, family-run joint. Very average tasting.
Then we were off to the park--wow just beautiful! So gorgeous while driving there. Reading about the park, it said we had to pay $5 per person so we decided we would put Alex in the trunk and not have to pay for him. Hahaha I was laughing so hard I was crying driving into the park--I could barely see where I was driving.
Anyway we found out that there was no spot to actually pay-it was a suggested donation but not mandatory so I quickly let him out at the visitors center when no one was around. Again was laughing so hard Hahahaha!
We went into the visitor's center, got a map, used the bathrooms, filled up our water and then realized we left our gloves at the airbnb. However, the sled dog bus was leaving in 15 so we just toughed it out with no gloves and went to visit them. They were so cute!! We got to pet some and see them run a short course with a sled, they are such smart and trained hard animals. We found out we can adopt one when it retires which is around age 9. We asked about CO and they said they send a lot of dogs to CO--woohoo!!
Then we went back to the visit center and had to wait 90 min for the next bus tour so we then decided to go get our gloves. One the way back to the park, we stopped by another gift shop where I got my parents a stained glass gift. So we drove all the way back to get them and entered the park again (this time Alex not in the trunk).
We took the bus to mile 15--last spot where cars can go without an expensive paid tour. They drove us there and back and then we took our own 30-40 min hike where we saw the bridge that the sled dogs helped bring the supplies for which they shared in the sled dog tour. Then we went back to the car and headed to Talkeetna where our airbnb was.
I wish we had more time in the park, but the tours were so long and so expensive--so we didn't want to sit for 6-8 hours on a bus but we also didn't get to see any animals either which was a bummer.
Once we arrived at the airbnb--this one was a house (2nd floor) with many bedrooms that can be rented and a shared kitchen. We made pancakes for dinner since there was pancake mix in the shared kitchen and I taught Alex how to play manicala. We read and just relaxed for the night.
9/6-ANC to Denali
We slept in and watched more Blue Bloods. We then drove to Reindeer farm (50min). It was a very small farm but cute. Had reindeer, wart pig, chickens, horses. We just walked around for a bit, the tour was very expensive to walk closer so we left like 15 min later.
We kept driving on to Denali (3.5hrs). We stopped at a gift shop along the way and stopped for dinner at 49th State Brewery-we split a salmon burger and huge pretzel with cheese--so delicous!! The restaurant was very laid back and had a table around their fire pit and we sat there---so toasty!
The sites along the drive--just such beauty, magnificent colors and the heights of the mountains are just breath-taking.
We made it to Airbnb#2: a petite cabin with a bed and dresser and thats about it. There was a wooden port-a-potty within like a 30 second walk from our cabin. The port-a-potty was exquisite, so pristine and had to be brand new. All wooden--smelled great in there!! Now being in the woods basically it was a bit buggy so we went for one walk and then stayed in for the rest of the night. We decided that night to take some melatonin since we are not use to complete silence-Alex had a really hard time sleeping, but I slept ok.
We kept driving on to Denali (3.5hrs). We stopped at a gift shop along the way and stopped for dinner at 49th State Brewery-we split a salmon burger and huge pretzel with cheese--so delicous!! The restaurant was very laid back and had a table around their fire pit and we sat there---so toasty!
The sites along the drive--just such beauty, magnificent colors and the heights of the mountains are just breath-taking.
We made it to Airbnb#2: a petite cabin with a bed and dresser and thats about it. There was a wooden port-a-potty within like a 30 second walk from our cabin. The port-a-potty was exquisite, so pristine and had to be brand new. All wooden--smelled great in there!! Now being in the woods basically it was a bit buggy so we went for one walk and then stayed in for the rest of the night. We decided that night to take some melatonin since we are not use to complete silence-Alex had a really hard time sleeping, but I slept ok.
9/5-ANC
We slept in, made oatmeal which we brought with and then headed downtown Anchorage. We found a free parking spot about 6 blocks away and it was nice out so we walked the distance. Our first stop was Snow City--famous place where Obama said had the best cinnamon rolls, Alex just got a coffee since we were both full from breakfast still. Then we walked the main drag-went to souvenir shops, walked along the water. Our take on Anchorage-not much to do but beautiful scenery on the outskirts, lots of homeless--they are a native american and asian mix kind of ethnicity. There was also alot of weird/off people
The city was very clean though. We returned after the morning back to Snow City and got a world renown Cinnamon roll and ate it outside! Yummy!! Then we went to AK Wildberry products--candy shop with an awesome chocolate fountain like in Willy Wonka.
Then we came back to the Airbnb to relax. We watched alot of Blue Bloods since the place had Hulu. For dinner we went to Spenard Roadhouse and had a seafood pasta dish--shrimp, salmon with sundried tomatoes and spinach--yummy and with ceasar dressing. We watched some of the Bears game on Alex's phone while at the table.
Then we went to Wild Scoops-a famous ice cream shop--so good!! We got the flavor white raven--it was oreos in sweet cream ice cream and we got cinnamon toast munch-which was harvest grain cinnamon chip bread and sweet cream ice cream. Yes, there was a Great Harvest Bread Co in Anchorage and across the complex from Wild Scoop so they partnered with them to take their day old break and make it ice cream with it.
Then we went to this very small mall across the busy road--it had like 10 stores maybe. Then back to the aibnb, watched more Blue Bloods, showered, and went to sleep.
The city was very clean though. We returned after the morning back to Snow City and got a world renown Cinnamon roll and ate it outside! Yummy!! Then we went to AK Wildberry products--candy shop with an awesome chocolate fountain like in Willy Wonka.
Then we came back to the Airbnb to relax. We watched alot of Blue Bloods since the place had Hulu. For dinner we went to Spenard Roadhouse and had a seafood pasta dish--shrimp, salmon with sundried tomatoes and spinach--yummy and with ceasar dressing. We watched some of the Bears game on Alex's phone while at the table.
Then we went to Wild Scoops-a famous ice cream shop--so good!! We got the flavor white raven--it was oreos in sweet cream ice cream and we got cinnamon toast munch-which was harvest grain cinnamon chip bread and sweet cream ice cream. Yes, there was a Great Harvest Bread Co in Anchorage and across the complex from Wild Scoop so they partnered with them to take their day old break and make it ice cream with it.
Then we went to this very small mall across the busy road--it had like 10 stores maybe. Then back to the aibnb, watched more Blue Bloods, showered, and went to sleep.
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