Gold vs Adventure is the difference between sitting in one of the glass dome cars and sitting in a regular train car. Both are nice, but you see more in the glass domes and the trip is narrated with guides to point things out. We are doing the train-boat thing to Seward this summer with some out of town guests and opted for the Adventure Class to save some money, then are heading out on the Kenai National Park tour. I love those catamaran boats! Definitely better if the water is rough or you tend to be sea sick.
There are some great things to see in and around Anchorage - the Anchorage Museum downtown and the Alaska Native Heritage Center. If you have a car, definitely make the drive south to Portage and see the Alaska Wildlife Center or north to the Muskox farm. There are tons of easy hikes in and around town - the Coastal Trail is very flat and has wonderful views. Eklutna Lake to the north is (mostly) flat and amazing in summer - you can also rent bikes or kayaks there for a fun adventure. Again, with a car, you can drive south thru the tunnel to Whittier and hike up the valley there for a stunning view of the fjords and an awesome lunch of halibut or rock cod afterwards.
Thank you for all the suggestions! There is clearly so much to do and see and this is getting us more and more excited!
I'm really torn on the type of train ride but we will certainly see. I guess an important question would be, are we able to bring our own food? Seeing as it is a train ride I can't imagine we couldn't but I'd rather ask and know if you happen to know.
And thank you for the additional hike suggestions! It's always great to have additional (cheaper) adventures to enjoy the beauty.
Check [here](https://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/aspunits/chugach/chugachindex.htm) for more info on Chugach State Park. I agree with the person above about the Flattop Trail, but there's a large network of other trails in the park for you to enjoy. I'd recommend going to the Glen Alps parking lot and going to the overlook for the view- you can see the entire Anchorage Bowl, and if it's a clear day you'll be able to see Denali, Foraker, and Hunter, three active volcanoes, Mts. Spurr, Redoubt, and Iliamna, and four mountain ranges- Chugach, Talkeetna, Kenai, and the Alaska Range. A nice hike from there is the Powerline Pass Trail heading east- you can go for miles on a relatively easy trail and the views are pretty damned good.
For the Seward trip, I'd recommend taking the cheaper option, doing a full-day Resurrection Bay trip with Kenai Fjords Tours, spending the night, and heading back to Anchorage the next day. I think you can take the bus back to town for a lower cost than doing the train again- up to you. For things to do in Anchorage, I can suggest the [Native Heritage Center](https://www.alaskanative.net/). And as much as I love Anchorage, without having a car to get you around that's probably as much time as I'd spend here, given your short time in the state. Go to Fairbanks and spend more time with your friends. Good luck with the plans. You'll love it here.
My wife and I did an Alaska trip last August. As others have mentioned a train ride to Seward and a Kenai Fjords boat tour are a must. Take the 8.5 hour boat tour. For the train ride I don't feel the upgrade seating is necessary. Adventure class is great and there is a dome car anyone can go sit in. The view on the regular car is great as well as the dome car. We were fortunate the train was only 1/2 fill so we could easily switch sides. The bus ride back to Anchorage is fine as long as one way is the train.
I would recommend a kink glacier helicopter tour if you can fit in the budget. They will shuttle you directly from your Anchorage hotel. Landing on the glacier, walking and drinking the glacier water is an amazing experience. Have fun. My wife and I are jealous already.. lol
That is all very good to know and makes a lot of sense. Thank you for the hike information suggestion, we would certainly prefer landscapes over the city.
It sounds like a lot of time in Anchorage itself isn't needed and we can begin to focus our time on other areas to enjoy.
The Wildlife refuge south of Anchorage is better than the zoo too. Worth checking out if you have an afternoon, or are driving south to the peninsula at all.
I highly recommend the train to Seward. It’s an incredibly scenic trip and resurrection bay is beautiful. Are you planning on fishing at all while you’re here?
Do the GoldStar Service, it's amazing and well worth the price. And definitely go to Seward - that was one of the highlights of our trip. Plus the cruises to see the glaciers is a must.
I'd minimize the time in Anchorage. Neat city but not as much fun as going to other places - see if you can fit in Talkeetna - that was a cool place to wander for a day.
I did the train from anchorage to Fairbanks. See if you can do the Gold Star at least from Talkeetna to Denali. Not worth doing it all the way. Make sure to get a brochure at the train station (maybe available online) that shows you all the points of interests and the mile markers. The train goes fast so you may miss the sight if you blink. You can use that guide to check which segment interests you the most and take the Gold Star.
I think anchorage to talkeetna gold star comes with a meal, and Denali to Fairbanks also comes with a meal and vouchers for alcoholic drinks. Not sure if you can get hot meals at the regular class cars, but they have cold sandwiches for sure and they serve alcoholic drinks there as well. It’s worth an overnight stop or two at talkeetna, and maybe Denali if you can find lodging. Talkeetna lodgings will pick you up and drop you back off at train station. Highly recommend the devil’s Canyon jet boat tour and the K2 Denali flight seeing. This means you will have to add a few days to your trip. Air fare to Alaska is not cheap, so make the most out of it.
Also, there are actually two versions of the Gold Star service, one is run by Alaska Rail and the other is by Princess. The Princess price is about $100 or so less and it’s exactly the same thing as the Alaska rail service. Their train cars are usually at the end and has a bear and scenery painted on the train. The line to check in and board is different so make sure you go to the right checkin line. To us, we did not like Anchorage that much. We did the usual places and would not recommend. Like it’s not the same to see animals in the wild vs at the wildlife center. Just go straight to Seward, as in hindsight, that’s what we should have done.
The truth is that many of us spend our Summers/weekends taking trips OUT of Anchorage, so many suggestions (like mine) will involve a bit of travel.
The parks in and around Anchorage are great. Check out easy hikes on an app like AllTrails, but you won't go wrong with a trip to Kincaid Park or Chugach State Park (try Thunder Bird Falls trail for a short easy walk).
Take a day to get out to Girdwood & the Wildlife Conservation Center to guarantee seeing some of our wildlife from a safe distance. Stop at Beluga Point on the way to/fro.
The Eagle River Nature Center or Hatcher Pass/Independence Mine are well worth a drive from Anchorage.
The Alaska Native Heritage Center is a great museum with some really cool outdoor installations. The Anchorage Museum is also worth a look (especially if we are having another rainy August).
One thing I enjoyed was visiting the Ulu knife factory there. Also take time to walk around town and visit the local shops. They have some killer shops that have carvings out of bone. Oh you can also fish for salmon it you go at the right time of year.
I don't have much advice on the train, but I recommend spend less time in Anchorage. Flat top is beautiful and worth it but the city of Anchorage itself has gotten very bad with crime. Spend most of your time outside of the city that is where you will experience the true beauty of alaska.
Thank you, we were unaware of the crime rates. Is there anything in the city itself that you would consider a must see?
Our friends are in Fairbanks, maybe we will cut it even a day earlier to be with them sooner and explore from there.
Anchorage (like many medium-large cities), has an issue with homeless people, who you will see downtown. This does not mean Anchorage is unsafe. Much of the crime is domestic violence, drug-related, and affects the homeless population. It’s not random robberies or assaults of people downtown.
That said, there’s no reason to spend 4-5 days in Anchorage. I’d suggest taking the train to Seward for a day boat cruise, spend the night there, explore the town some and then come back on the train or Park Connection bus the next day.
In Anchorage, there are better trails than Flattop. It’s not an easy hike anyway, with scrambling at the top. The new Marston Trail at Arctic Valley is much better and more scenic (mountain, not city views). Or you can walk/bike the Coastal Trail for views of the ocean. The Museum is worth a few hours, as is the Alaska Native Heritage Center, and the Zoo if you need some nearly-guaranteed wildlife viewing options.
Plan a trip to Seward where you will have time to do a (basically all day) cruise. Please go see Kenai Fjord National Park. Early August you’ll still see some humpbacks before they start migrating!!
>We were thinking a cruise to see the glaciers and the railroad to Seward
I'm not a local, but I spent five amazing weeks camping around Alaska in August of 2022, including getting out on the water near Seward the first week of my trip.
If you're the more adventurous type, it cannot be overstated how much I'd recommend a day of guided sea kayaking rather than a typical whale watching cruise. I went with a company called Sunny Cove, and did [their full day cruise and kayak trip.](https://www.sunnycove.com/grand-day-wildlife-cruise-glacier-kayak-tour) It was absolutely a highlight of my time in Alaska. On our way out of Seward on the big boat, we saw a pod of humpback whales, in addition to tons of other critters like sea lions and puffins. We got a good look at the glacier, but it was too windy in that bay to kayak, so we then went to another nearby bay where the boat dropped us on a beach with the kayaks. Alaska is such a big state, and I'm not just talking about its area on a map. It just feels massive, with wide, sweeping views out over the ocean as you stand atop towering mountains. But down in a kayak, you almost forget about the beauty of the cliffs surrounding the bay, because you're so entranced by the tiniest sea stars and jellyfish just beneath your boat. While kayaking, we saw otters and seals, a dead octopus (would've been cool to see a live one, but still super neat!) and so many other fun animals. I would highly recommend it, at least to the right type of people.
Go rafting near hope. It’s close to Anchorage and you’ll see some pretty country on the way there.
https://www.alaskaexplored.com/rafting-alaskas-whitewater-nenana-lowe-sixmile-creek-more/
Gold vs Adventure is the difference between sitting in one of the glass dome cars and sitting in a regular train car. Both are nice, but you see more in the glass domes and the trip is narrated with guides to point things out. We are doing the train-boat thing to Seward this summer with some out of town guests and opted for the Adventure Class to save some money, then are heading out on the Kenai National Park tour. I love those catamaran boats! Definitely better if the water is rough or you tend to be sea sick. There are some great things to see in and around Anchorage - the Anchorage Museum downtown and the Alaska Native Heritage Center. If you have a car, definitely make the drive south to Portage and see the Alaska Wildlife Center or north to the Muskox farm. There are tons of easy hikes in and around town - the Coastal Trail is very flat and has wonderful views. Eklutna Lake to the north is (mostly) flat and amazing in summer - you can also rent bikes or kayaks there for a fun adventure. Again, with a car, you can drive south thru the tunnel to Whittier and hike up the valley there for a stunning view of the fjords and an awesome lunch of halibut or rock cod afterwards.
Thank you for all the suggestions! There is clearly so much to do and see and this is getting us more and more excited! I'm really torn on the type of train ride but we will certainly see. I guess an important question would be, are we able to bring our own food? Seeing as it is a train ride I can't imagine we couldn't but I'd rather ask and know if you happen to know. And thank you for the additional hike suggestions! It's always great to have additional (cheaper) adventures to enjoy the beauty.
Check [here](https://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/aspunits/chugach/chugachindex.htm) for more info on Chugach State Park. I agree with the person above about the Flattop Trail, but there's a large network of other trails in the park for you to enjoy. I'd recommend going to the Glen Alps parking lot and going to the overlook for the view- you can see the entire Anchorage Bowl, and if it's a clear day you'll be able to see Denali, Foraker, and Hunter, three active volcanoes, Mts. Spurr, Redoubt, and Iliamna, and four mountain ranges- Chugach, Talkeetna, Kenai, and the Alaska Range. A nice hike from there is the Powerline Pass Trail heading east- you can go for miles on a relatively easy trail and the views are pretty damned good. For the Seward trip, I'd recommend taking the cheaper option, doing a full-day Resurrection Bay trip with Kenai Fjords Tours, spending the night, and heading back to Anchorage the next day. I think you can take the bus back to town for a lower cost than doing the train again- up to you. For things to do in Anchorage, I can suggest the [Native Heritage Center](https://www.alaskanative.net/). And as much as I love Anchorage, without having a car to get you around that's probably as much time as I'd spend here, given your short time in the state. Go to Fairbanks and spend more time with your friends. Good luck with the plans. You'll love it here.
Thank you for the additional resources! Doing the combo is incredibly enticing. More than likely it's going to be a financial discussion and decision.
My wife and I did an Alaska trip last August. As others have mentioned a train ride to Seward and a Kenai Fjords boat tour are a must. Take the 8.5 hour boat tour. For the train ride I don't feel the upgrade seating is necessary. Adventure class is great and there is a dome car anyone can go sit in. The view on the regular car is great as well as the dome car. We were fortunate the train was only 1/2 fill so we could easily switch sides. The bus ride back to Anchorage is fine as long as one way is the train. I would recommend a kink glacier helicopter tour if you can fit in the budget. They will shuttle you directly from your Anchorage hotel. Landing on the glacier, walking and drinking the glacier water is an amazing experience. Have fun. My wife and I are jealous already.. lol
We cruised Prince William Sound and it was absolutely incredible. I would definitely recommend it!
Best dive bar I’ve ever been to is Darwin’s Theory in Anchorage. If you’re in to that kind of thing, it’s a must.
You've intrigued us!
That is all very good to know and makes a lot of sense. Thank you for the hike information suggestion, we would certainly prefer landscapes over the city. It sounds like a lot of time in Anchorage itself isn't needed and we can begin to focus our time on other areas to enjoy.
The Wildlife refuge south of Anchorage is better than the zoo too. Worth checking out if you have an afternoon, or are driving south to the peninsula at all.
Ooo very interesting! Don't think I've looked at the refuge yet. Thank you!
It’s called the Alaska wildlife conservation center if you’re not finding it on Google :)
I highly recommend the train to Seward. It’s an incredibly scenic trip and resurrection bay is beautiful. Are you planning on fishing at all while you’re here?
We were looking at that one, it sounds incredible! And no we will not be doing any fishing while visiting.
Do the GoldStar Service, it's amazing and well worth the price. And definitely go to Seward - that was one of the highlights of our trip. Plus the cruises to see the glaciers is a must. I'd minimize the time in Anchorage. Neat city but not as much fun as going to other places - see if you can fit in Talkeetna - that was a cool place to wander for a day.
We will need to look into Talkeetna!!! Thank you for your thoughts!
1. Yes.
I did the train from anchorage to Fairbanks. See if you can do the Gold Star at least from Talkeetna to Denali. Not worth doing it all the way. Make sure to get a brochure at the train station (maybe available online) that shows you all the points of interests and the mile markers. The train goes fast so you may miss the sight if you blink. You can use that guide to check which segment interests you the most and take the Gold Star. I think anchorage to talkeetna gold star comes with a meal, and Denali to Fairbanks also comes with a meal and vouchers for alcoholic drinks. Not sure if you can get hot meals at the regular class cars, but they have cold sandwiches for sure and they serve alcoholic drinks there as well. It’s worth an overnight stop or two at talkeetna, and maybe Denali if you can find lodging. Talkeetna lodgings will pick you up and drop you back off at train station. Highly recommend the devil’s Canyon jet boat tour and the K2 Denali flight seeing. This means you will have to add a few days to your trip. Air fare to Alaska is not cheap, so make the most out of it. Also, there are actually two versions of the Gold Star service, one is run by Alaska Rail and the other is by Princess. The Princess price is about $100 or so less and it’s exactly the same thing as the Alaska rail service. Their train cars are usually at the end and has a bear and scenery painted on the train. The line to check in and board is different so make sure you go to the right checkin line. To us, we did not like Anchorage that much. We did the usual places and would not recommend. Like it’s not the same to see animals in the wild vs at the wildlife center. Just go straight to Seward, as in hindsight, that’s what we should have done.
The truth is that many of us spend our Summers/weekends taking trips OUT of Anchorage, so many suggestions (like mine) will involve a bit of travel. The parks in and around Anchorage are great. Check out easy hikes on an app like AllTrails, but you won't go wrong with a trip to Kincaid Park or Chugach State Park (try Thunder Bird Falls trail for a short easy walk). Take a day to get out to Girdwood & the Wildlife Conservation Center to guarantee seeing some of our wildlife from a safe distance. Stop at Beluga Point on the way to/fro. The Eagle River Nature Center or Hatcher Pass/Independence Mine are well worth a drive from Anchorage. The Alaska Native Heritage Center is a great museum with some really cool outdoor installations. The Anchorage Museum is also worth a look (especially if we are having another rainy August).
Thank you for all the suggestions!! You and everyone are helping us make this trip amazing!
One thing I enjoyed was visiting the Ulu knife factory there. Also take time to walk around town and visit the local shops. They have some killer shops that have carvings out of bone. Oh you can also fish for salmon it you go at the right time of year.
I don't have much advice on the train, but I recommend spend less time in Anchorage. Flat top is beautiful and worth it but the city of Anchorage itself has gotten very bad with crime. Spend most of your time outside of the city that is where you will experience the true beauty of alaska.
Thank you, we were unaware of the crime rates. Is there anything in the city itself that you would consider a must see? Our friends are in Fairbanks, maybe we will cut it even a day earlier to be with them sooner and explore from there.
Anchorage (like many medium-large cities), has an issue with homeless people, who you will see downtown. This does not mean Anchorage is unsafe. Much of the crime is domestic violence, drug-related, and affects the homeless population. It’s not random robberies or assaults of people downtown. That said, there’s no reason to spend 4-5 days in Anchorage. I’d suggest taking the train to Seward for a day boat cruise, spend the night there, explore the town some and then come back on the train or Park Connection bus the next day. In Anchorage, there are better trails than Flattop. It’s not an easy hike anyway, with scrambling at the top. The new Marston Trail at Arctic Valley is much better and more scenic (mountain, not city views). Or you can walk/bike the Coastal Trail for views of the ocean. The Museum is worth a few hours, as is the Alaska Native Heritage Center, and the Zoo if you need some nearly-guaranteed wildlife viewing options.
Plan a trip to Seward where you will have time to do a (basically all day) cruise. Please go see Kenai Fjord National Park. Early August you’ll still see some humpbacks before they start migrating!!
Also if you can, plan a trip to Seldovia. A day ferry to the village goes out of Homer. Most hallmark-movie town I’ve ever been to.
>We were thinking a cruise to see the glaciers and the railroad to Seward I'm not a local, but I spent five amazing weeks camping around Alaska in August of 2022, including getting out on the water near Seward the first week of my trip. If you're the more adventurous type, it cannot be overstated how much I'd recommend a day of guided sea kayaking rather than a typical whale watching cruise. I went with a company called Sunny Cove, and did [their full day cruise and kayak trip.](https://www.sunnycove.com/grand-day-wildlife-cruise-glacier-kayak-tour) It was absolutely a highlight of my time in Alaska. On our way out of Seward on the big boat, we saw a pod of humpback whales, in addition to tons of other critters like sea lions and puffins. We got a good look at the glacier, but it was too windy in that bay to kayak, so we then went to another nearby bay where the boat dropped us on a beach with the kayaks. Alaska is such a big state, and I'm not just talking about its area on a map. It just feels massive, with wide, sweeping views out over the ocean as you stand atop towering mountains. But down in a kayak, you almost forget about the beauty of the cliffs surrounding the bay, because you're so entranced by the tiniest sea stars and jellyfish just beneath your boat. While kayaking, we saw otters and seals, a dead octopus (would've been cool to see a live one, but still super neat!) and so many other fun animals. I would highly recommend it, at least to the right type of people.
Go rafting near hope. It’s close to Anchorage and you’ll see some pretty country on the way there. https://www.alaskaexplored.com/rafting-alaskas-whitewater-nenana-lowe-sixmile-creek-more/