Trip to Valdez

[ebertkmk]

We'll be in Anchorage around Memorial Day and would like to do something different then I've seen on CC. Valdez and the Copper River Valley look like a nice drive and destination for the holiday weekend.

Any special recommendations for things that can't be done in Anchorage or Seward or Homer?

[aussie jb]

The scenery on the drive from Anchorage to Valdez is awesome! We had to make a lot of photo stops! Matanuska Glacier, great food at Chickaloon, stop to check out the pipeline, have a look at Worthington Glacier, driving through Thompson Pass and Keystone Canyon and see the Horsetail and Wedding Veil falls. If you are looking for something to do in Valdez, try and do the Prince William Sound/Columbia Glacier trip on the Lu-Lu Belle with Captain Fred, it was one of the major highlights of our trip to Alaska, plenty of wildlife and sailing up to the glacier is just unbelievable (and the coldest I have ever been in my life!) It cost about $80 p/p, we left at 2pm and got back into port about 9.30pm - length of the tour depends on the wildlife. While in Valdez we stayed at the Keystone Motel, a little unusual in that it is actually built from the disused ATCO sheds after the Exxon Oil spill - very comfy and great breakfast.

[Yukon]

Anchorage to Valdez on the Glenn and Richardson Highways is THE most scenic paved route in Alaska by far - good choice! A guided hike on the Matanuska Glacier is very good, as is an independent hike at the Worthington Glacier. Eureka Summit Roadhouse has, IMHO, the best food on the route - I've been stopping there regularly for 15 years now. Keystone Canyon is a photographer's dream! In Valdez, there are some great hiking trails/roads - http://www.valdezalaska.org/maps/mineralCreek.html is my favourite. There are longer tours of the pipeline terminal, but the college has a multi-media show about the terminal that is excellent. The best accommodation is the Best Western or Aspen Lodge - the Downtown B&B Inn in particular is to be avoided (valdez has a few oil-spill-remnant hotels that are quite low standard - be alert if you're room-shopping. More Valdez info at http://www.explorenorth.com/library/communities/alaska/valdez-links.html and http://www.valdezalaska.org/

 

Murray

[Budget Queen]

I too agree- excellent road trip- be sure to BUDGET enough time. Consider an overnight at the Copper Center Roadhouse- great meals too. Look into a fly in Kennicott Mine? MICA guides on Matanuska Glacier- is a bargain compared to fly in trips. Valdez is very worthwhile. Be sure to stop in their small museum on Egan. Stan Stephens is in the toursaver book for their boat trips. Great vender.

[ebertkmk]

I thought I'd put this thread back up for anyone interested.

I ordered the milepost book last Thursday, and it came in on Saturday! Great resource. http://www.milepost.com

Also got the bearfootguides. http://www.bearfootguides.com Wonderfully presented website. Their three guides for $9.95 is a good value.

[Yukon]

>>Also got the bearfootguides. http://www.bearfootguides.com Wonderfully presented website. Their three guides for $9.95 is a good value.<<

 

You can also pick them up for free once you get to Alaska - available at all visitor centers and many tourism-related businesses.

 

Murray