Things to Do

Map of Anchorage to Seward
Click to see larger version. Map courtesy of DOT&PF, Scenic Byways.

Here you'll find links to several possibilities for sightseeing. The good folks at the Hotel Alyeska will be happy to help with ideas and logistics. But first, check out this list of activities organized by Sea Grant Week planners.

SGW directed activities

Tips for activities on your own

Resources

Activities by place

Anchorage

Your plane will land in Anchorage, Alaska's largest city (by far!). Learn more about activities in Anchorage.

Whittier harbor
Kayaks in Whittier.

Girdwood/Portage Glacier/Whittier

Our venue is in the small town of Girdwood, within easy reach of the Portage Glacier and the harbor town of Whittier. Learn more about activities near Alyeska Resort.

Seward

The harbor town of Seward, destination of the SGW field trip, is just 2 hours south of Girdwood. Learn more about activities in Seward.

Kenai Peninsula

Kenai Convention and Visitors Bureau

Fishery conservation efforts for the Kenai River

Denali National Park

Denali and park road
Nic McPhee (CC BY-SA 2.0)

The home of Denali (Mount McKinley), the highest mountain in North America, is located 240 easy highway miles north of Anchorage. The fall shoulder season, when all private vehicles may drive up to 30 miles into the park (weather permitting), begins September 18 and goes until snow closes the road. Contact the park to get an update on conditions before traveling to the park, 907-683-9532.

Fun facts: Denali's base-to-summit rise of 18,000 feet is the largest on Earth. Also, Denali National Park is roughly the size of Massachusetts.

Getting to Denali from Anchorage by car

Activities by type

Hiking

Why don't you just go take a hike? At Alyeska Resort, four trails start right from the hotel, including one of the trails Terry Johnson will use. See the hotel's Hiking & Trekking page for trail maps and more information.

There are many other hiking options along the Seward Highway. A popular one is the Turnagain Arm Trail in Chugach State Park. To find out about other great options, visit AKtrailhead, an online reference for hiking trails in Southcentral Alaska.

Here are some useful resources from Alaska Sea Grant and others that will help make your sightseeing adventure even more memorable.

Common Goldeneye
Common Goldeneye by T. Kline.

Birding

Audubon Alaska has birding maps for Anchorage, Fairbanks and Kodiak.

The Potter Marsh bird viewing area is located along the Seward Highway just outside of Anchorage. Potter Marsh is part of the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge.

Flightseeing

Alaska Helicopter Flightseeing Tours offers trips in the Chugach Mountains around Girdwood, and they offer free pickup service from the Hotel Alyeska. In Seward, book a flightseeing plane ride with Scenic Mountain Air out of the Seward Airport. Google to find other flightseeing companies.

Fishing on Your Own

Freshwater Fishing

For roadside fishing for grayling, trout, salmon, and other species, check your Milepost and visit the Alaska Department of Fish and Game Sport Fish Run Timing website. For sportfish species available within easy driving distance of the Alyeska Resort, select “Kenai Peninsula, fresh water,” from the drop-down menu. Also see the Kenai area Sport Fish Area Fishing Report.

Ocean Fishing for Halibut and Salmon

If getting out on the ocean and going for barn-door-size halibut or 30-pound king salmon is more your thing, Google for the many charter boat operations in Whittier, Seward, and Homer. Some companies will have shut down for the season by then, so make sure you contact your preferred company to confirm they’ll still be operating and make a reservation.

Whittier is about 24 miles from Alyeska Resort. Seward is next closest at about 70 miles, and Homer—the Halibut Fishing Capital of the World—is a picturesque four-hour, 180-mile drive from the hotel on the well-maintained, two-lane Sterling Highway, which branches off from the Seward Highway south of Girdwood.

Golf

Anchorage and nearby towns offer a number of high quality golf courses. Three more courses are located at the neighboring towns of Kenai and Soldotna, roughly 3 hours by car from the Alyeska Resort. September is the “shoulder season,” so contact these courses before you go to make sure they are open.

Anchorage Area

Kenai-Soldota Area

Located about three hours by car from the Alyeska Resort, check out these courses within 20 miles of each other at Soldotna and Kenai.

Road trips

Step 1: Buy the Milepost.

Step 2: Research driving times, then add in extra for distractions, detours, and unexpected delays.

Glenn Highway

Take the ultra-scenic, ultra-long route to Alyeska. From Anchorage, head north (in the opposite direction from Girdwood) on the Glenn Highway, which heads northeast. Highway 1 (which the Glenn is part of) takes you all the way to Glennallen on the Richardson Highway. From there, head south to Valdez, then take the ferry to Whittier and thence to Girdwood. It will take you at least an entire extra day to get to Girdwood, but the scenery is guaranteed to be spectacular.

Be sure to check the September ferry schedule for the M/V Chenega from Valdez to Whittier.

Sterling Highway

Head to Homer before or after Sea Grant Week on the beautiful Sterling Highway.

Tips for activities on your own