Travel to Girdwood for a True Alaskan Experience
Making the perfect mountain escape, Girdwood rocks summer with unbeatable hiking in the summer and world class skiing in the winter. Aside from active outdoor adventures, you can find dynamite dining options, friendly locals and some of the best in wildlife sighting. Plus, you are minutes away from Whittier, where a mini nation of glaciers can be explored.
Where to Stay: Hotel Alyeska
For Entertinment: Conservation Center, Glacier Cruise and Hiking
Where to Dine: Jack Spratt & The Bake Shop
Hotel Alyeska
Stay at the Hotel Alyeska to be situated perfectly between the sea and mountains. Just steps from Alyeska Resort, you will find easy access for both down hill and cross-country skiing during the winter months and forested hiking trails during other seasons. Once inside the hotel, travelers can enjoy the indoor pool, hot tub and fitness center. When it comes to the rooms, expect large windows framing either garden or mountain views. Native elements and themes unique to Alaska are pinpointed throughout the hotel. The hotel is just 15 minutes from Portage Glacier and 40 miles from Anchorage.
Other amenities include: Complimentary Wireless Internet Access, Concierge Desk, Ski Storage, Business Center, Complimentary Ski Shuttle, Fitness Facilities and an Indoor Pool.
1000 Arlberg Ave Girdwood, AK 99587
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
See wildlife up-close at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center in Portage, Alaska. You don’t have to worry about being chased by a bear or charged by a moose, either! Wildlife includes brown and black bears, moose, caribou, elk, musk ox, a herd of 135 endangered wood bison and even an injured bald eagle. Make sure to check out the new boardwalk overlooking the habitat of two black bears. The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center takes in injured and orphaned animals.
Mile 79 Seward Highway Portage, AK 99587
Expect magnificent scenery along the 26 Glacier Cruise from the ship’s deck.
No matter how many times Captain Cody Hanna steers through the Prince William Sound, the views never get old. Captain Cody takes cruise goers aboard the Klondike Express for high-drama views. It isn’t difficult to spot towering glaciers and if you are lucky, some may thunderously calve into the water. You can also expect to see enormous icebergs, glacier-fed waterfalls, snowcapped mountains and vast wilderness. Keep your binoculars close by to catch views of bald eagles and sea otters. If you are lucky you may also spot a whale and even a grizzly.
Aboard a glacier cruise with Phillips Cruises US Forest Rangers as well as Captain Cody talk about the glaciers, land and wildlife. Either fish and chips or a vegetarian option is served to those on board. The 26 Glacier Cruise operates daily May 11 through September 15, 2013 and is about five hours.
- Captain Cody’s Favorite Alaskan Adventures
Captain Cody on board the Klondike Express
Activity: Camping in Hope
Place To Eat: Wild Catch Cafe
Place to Hike: Portage Pass Trailhead
- Winner Creek Trail
Hike to a hand operated tram along Winner Creek Trail
It’s not just the sights of cascading falls, towering gorges and lush rainforest that make the Winner Creek Trail irrestable. Towards the end of the hike, an ultra fun hand operated tram carries you over the thundering Glacier Creek Canyon. Along the 5-mile hike you will cross the narrow gorges of both Winner creek for an added bonus!
The hike is relatively flat and most of the trail is shaded. If you are looking for other a longer trail option you can connect to the National Historic Iditarod Trail for a 7.7-mile loop. Stay on the lookout for bears!
- Hike to the Portage Glacier
Trail to Portage Glacier
For astonishing views of the Portage Glacier, hop into your hiking boots. For an up-close look at the towering glacier take the Portage Pass Trail in the Chugach mountains. After a one mile climb with steep eleveation gains the view opens up! This is the only trail that showcases views of this glacier.
Getting there: You must drive through the Whittier tunnel to land at the trail head. Once you are through, take the first right past the railroad tracks onto a gravel road that is marked “Forest Access.” Trailhead is on the right.
Jack Spratt
This is vegetarian and vegan fare so tasty even meat lovers are enticed. Jack Spratt, in the main hub of Girdwood, focuses on seasonal as well as local and organic ingredients. The head chef, originally from California, doesn’t just serve up tasty vegetable options but also Alaskan seafood and humanely raised meat and poultry. To take in stretching mountain views, opt to sit on the wooden porch for a welcome breeze. For a more intimate atmosphere take a seat inside.
Menu items are anything but run of the mill. Here’s just a taste of an appetizer, entree and dessert. Local and organic beers as well as an extensive wine line up are also served.
Hummus nachos ($8) Feta, olives, tomatoes, za’atar crème fraiche and Serrano peppers are served over crispy corn chips.
Vegetable Curry (&17) Organic red quinoa is covered with chickpeas, vegetables and coconut curry. Add Kodiak Scallops or Chicken for $9
Raw blackberry cheesecake ($11) Made with organic cashew filling, coconut medjool date and almond crust.
Olympic Mountain Loop
Girdwood, AK 99587
(907) 783-5225
Famous for sourdough pancakes, the Bakeshop is a local’s favorite. The recipe for this these sensational pancakes date back to the gold mining days. The owner of the Bake Shop was traveling in Fairbanks when the owner and chef at the Sourdough Lodge passed along the recipe he received from a gold miner years ago. You can also head in for lunch to chow on sandwiches, pizzas and bottomless bowls of homemade soup.
Olympic Mountain Loop unit C1
Girdwood, AK 99587
