From Fairbanks to Anchorage to Kenai - September

[ebatch20]

Hey Everyone...

I've been reading the boards for quite awhile now but finally have something to post about. I'll be heading to Alaska the week of September 8th on a Business trip that will take me all over the place.

I will be visiting:

Fairbanks
Anchorage
Wasilla
Kenai
Juneua
Ketchikan

I opted to drive instead of flying from Fairbanks to Wasilla-->Anchorage--->Kenai with a night in Anchorage.

Just looking for any tips/suggestions on places/things to see while in route. I'm looking forward to this trip (although short and on Business) I will definitively be making time to see the sights.

-Ed
Chicago

[AZBuck]

Welcome aboard the RoadTrip America Forums!

The drive from Fairbanks down to Anchorage is along AK-3. You have no other choice. But a few of the places I enjoyed stopping on that route were: Nenana, just a typical small Alaskan town with no pretensions but it's worth a stop to see the buoy used for the annual Ice Out lottery. Healy, you'll hopefully have a couple of days to spend here and see Denali and do some white water rafting. Talkeetna, unique in all the world, supposedly the inspiration for Cicely in Northern Exposure, jumping off point for climbs of Mt. McKinley.

After Wasilla you'll be on AK-1 to Kenai: Girdwood, southeast of Anchorage, an upscale ski town, the main point going here would be the drive along Turnagain Arm, hopefully timed to witness the tidal bore. Whittier, ever share a tunnel with a train? No - then make the passage to Whittier and take one of the charter boats out into Prince William Sound.

AZBuck

[greg in ak]

that's a lot of ground to cover. AZbuck's suggestions are all solid. Other thoughts are Hatcher Pass which is 30-40 minutes from Wasilla. It’s a beautiful scenic area with an old mine you can tour. Wasilla isn't anything worth stopping for in itself( i lived there for 5 years). In Girdwood you can take the tram up to the top of the ski area. There is a good restaurant and a fantastic view if the weather is decent.