Erin & Patrick
STUFF TO DO
Soldotna
Our stomping grounds. We have three breweries, and 8/10 world record king salmon have been pulled from our river. Need we say more?!
Homer
An hour and a half from our place, Homer is a popular tourist destination. The town sits right on a spit extending into the bay, and is surrounded by mountains. There are tons of local shops, and even more fishermen and hippies. Plus, the food is great.
Seward
Seward is one of the largest cruise ship destinations in the state. It's approximately an hour and a half from our place, and is one of the more scenic places to visit nearby. If you've got some extra time, the day cruises are incredible. Hiking around Seward is fantastic. Consider Exit Glacier/Harding Ice Field as a starting point. Erin will be in town with her family Thursday and Friday, so feel free to contact her.
Anchorage
More than a third of our state's population lives here. Like any city, there's a lot of food and drink here. Unlike any city, it’s in Alaska. If you get outside city limits, there are a ton of picture opportunities, and hikes of any length/difficulty. Since you'll probably be flying in and out of here, here are a couple hot spots we'd recommend: Moose's Tooth. Most popular restaurant in the state. Always busy. Pizza and beer. Get the Diablo sticks. Midnight Sun. Our favorite brewery in the state, typically has a lot of seasonal options. 49th State. Another good brewery, with a lot more food options than Midnight Sun. South. Good food for all meals. Snow City Cafe. Great breakfast. Obama ate here.
Skilak Loop
Skilak Loop’s south entrance is about 20 minutes from our house. There are about a dozen established hiking trails, and a couple beautiful turnouts along the road. This area is highly trafficked by wildlife, so there’s a good chance you’ll get lucky and see something.
Captain Cook State Recreation Area
A bit of a drive, but on a clear day, completely worth it. Pull into one of the two parking lots on your left and walk down to the beach. Turn right, and keep going! Stop by Kassik’s while you’re out there.
Cannery Road
It’s a beach! Probably won’t need your swimsuit, but walking footwear will do!
Tsalteshi Ski Trails
Ski trails in the winter, walking/running/biking trails in the summer.
Cooper Landing
This little fishing town is about 40 miles from us. It sits right in the mountains, and you’ll have to drive through to reach us. Slaughter Ridge, Resurrection, and Russian River are all great hikes in the area. Sackett’s and Gwin’s are good spots to grab food and drink.
Girdwood
Home of Alyeska Ski Resort, a bunch of hippies, and a bunch of hikes. Worth a stop on your drive down. There are a couple good spots to eat in this little ski town, and Girdwood Brewing has good beer. Ride the tram up for an incredible view of the inlet.