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New Years in Anchorage, Alaska

xsedrinam

xsedrinam

macrumors 601
Original poster
Oct 21, 2004
4,345
1
Has anyone spent Christmas and New Years in Anchorage? Or maybe someone who lives there could tell what it's like? I'm thinking of taking our family there for the last week of December. Airfare specials? Places to go or see? Restaurants, recreation and interesting things to do? Thanks.
 
Abstract said:
Oooh, having no responses is a good sign. It means not many people will ever experience that.

Maybe you should be the one telling US how it's like on January 2nd. ;)
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It looks that way. If all the snowbirds are in Florida, maybe we'll have the city to ourselves. :p
 
No Alaska experiance, but my aunt lived in Juno for 8 months...now she lives in California (with a brief stint in Australia) and has never looked back. Something tells me it may be rather cold up there. Bring a parka! :D
 
My two cents!

I lived in Anchorage for 17 years and just moved in the past couple of years to Colorado. So anyways, 1st bit of advice, don't go in the winter, go in the summer, you'll enjoy it a million times more. Now that that is out of the way, here are some winter attractions that you'll love.

Restaurants:
Anchorage-
*Kaladi Brothers Coffee Co. (any coffee you get you must get it from Kaladi's, great roasts and awesome people.)
*The Moose's Tooth (great pizza, fish tacos, etc.)
*The Bear's Tooth (same company as Moose's Tooth, expanded menu, and also has a dine-in movie theater. Moose's Tooth Brewing Co. makes some outstanding beers.)
*Orso's (little fancier dining)
*Snowgoose Cafe

Girdwood (30 miles south of Anchorage)
*Double Musky (rated as one of the best restaurants in the whole nation)
*The Bake Shop (go in before lunch for a great breakfast)

Things to do:
*Ski/Snowboard at Mt. Alyeska (in Girdwood, stay at the resort too, you will not regret it. They have a lot of activities down there as well.)
*Sled dog rides/tours (look online or phone book when you get into town.)
*Watch the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) if it's a clear night.
*Snowmachine Tours
*Ice fishing
*Hike "Flat Top" but if it is cold, that's a very long and tiresome hike if there is fresh snow.
*Cross-country ski. Endless miles of trails in the Anchorage bowl.

So in the winter there is not a lot of other indoor recreation, but if you want to stay warm, take some drives (Rent a SUV or AWD) north and south of town and enjoy the magnificent scenery.
Any ocean activities are out of the question because it will most likely be iced over (unless you love scuba diving in 40 degree water.)
I'm trying to think what else. In the winters everyone goes into their own little hibernation and unless you love the outdoors, you usually do indoor activities. If I think of other suggestions, I'll add!

Ryan Walker
 
akboarder24 said:
I lived in Anchorage for 17 years and just moved in the past couple of years to Colorado. So anyways, 1st bit of advice, don't go in the winter, go in the summer, you'll enjoy it a million times more. Now that that is out of the way, here are some winter attractions that you'll love.
Ryan Walker
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Great help, and thanks, Ryan. This is precisely the kind of information I'm looking for.

Schedule(s) and circumstances make it so that this is the only time slot. I know it sounds ridiculous, but we're actually looking forward to the cold and snow contrast.

Now, if we could just get Abstract to join us. :D
 
Actually i just came back from a vacation to alaska myself.

Another great restaurant that he didnt mention is The Glacier Brewhouse, I had the best Pizza in my life there (sounds weird right?)
Anyway, i would deffinately reccomend going in the summer, it was 40-50°F when i was there ~ a week ago, and that's cold for me, and it rained most of the time (but that doesnt bother me).
I flew into Anchorage and stayed there for 1 night, and then i went to the HUGE town of Whittier:rolleyes: ;) (anyone who has been there will know what i'm talking about) where i took a cruise around Prince William sound. AMAZING!!!! we saw a bunch of Glaciers, whales, a bunch of wildlife, then we went to Denali National Park and went on a tour their, also amazing, saw a lot of bears.

I would reccommend going to alaska, just not in the winter, (i heard it gets to like -60°F in Fairbanks sometimes.
 
I saw this thread and immediately thought -- is he planning an MR meetup in Anchorage for New Years? Cool! I'm soo there!

But seriously. Don't even tempt me when you're not tempting me.
 
Unless there's just been fresh snow, Anchorage is pretty ugly in the winter. Nasty brown and grey snow, very dirty road spray if it's a bit warm... I swear I go through about a gallon of washer fluid just driving around town for a couple days in the winter. Oh, expect Anchorage to be pretty hectic around the holidays.
 
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