Vacation Anchorage or Fairbanks (Homer: dangerous, airport, oil)

[akravenlady]

I just google maped the route and it sure goes thru right into Anchorage. Glenn HWY/Alcan, all in the same according to google maps.

route of the alcan highway - Google Maps

[akravenlady]

Google maps are confusing, I just googled another one and this was says it is not. Whatever.

[tigre79]

Alcan joins the Richardson at Delta Junction. We pass the sign for the end of the highway every time we go to Fairbanks. Just don't want anyone to get confused as they're planning a trip.

[mitgreb]

If you want to see people go south central. I you want to see Alaska go interior.

[tigre79]

Originally Posted by mitgreb

If you want to see people go south central. I you want to see Alaska go interior.

There are a lot more people in Fairbanks (Interior) than out here (Southcentral), so that's not necessarily true. Southcentral isn't just Anchorage and the Valley.

[bmw335xi]

Originally Posted by lgt

I'm going on vacation in August and I'm debating on weather I should stay in Anchorage or Fairbanks. I'm leaning toward Fairbanks since it seems closer to the things I want to do, but I wanted to hear any pros or cons of either and any other suggestions. Some of the things I want to do in order of interest are.

Denali national park
Aurora Borealis
Glaciers
Whales watching (I can do this kind of near where I live though)

Thanks

I would choose neither city. I'd rent a car or rv and drive from Seward to Denali National Park and stop in places in between. This will allow you to see whales, numerous glaciers, wildlife and many other sites. Fairbanks is a horrible city in my opinion and Anchorage is just another city in the lower 48s.

[Frostnip]

Aww, I like Fairbanks. It's not a super awesome epic vacation destination, though.

Anchorage blows, but as others have posted, it's a much better jumping-off point for most of the good tourist stuff.

[lgt]

Thanks for all the suggestions I will research all of them. I did decided to go to Anchorage since I'm only there for a week.

[lgt]

So I want to make the most of my time there and day one is only a half day. I was wondering what ideas any of you have as far as things to do in or near Anchorage? For the rest of the time I plan to check out Kenai Peninsula, Matanuska Glacier, and Denali.

Thanks

[RayinAK]

Originally Posted by lgt

So I want to make the most of my time there and day one is only a half day. I was wondering what ideas any of you have as far as things to do in or near Anchorage? For the rest of the time I plan to check out Kenai Peninsula, Matanuska Glacier, and Denali.

Thanks

A day and one half is not long enough to see Alaska, but since that's the only time you have, your idea sounds good...just barely. You won't have enough time to see every one of the places you have listed. For example, the Kenai Peninsula will take you several hours just to drive. So, I would spend the day and one half driving from Anchorage to Homer and back, while stopping here and there to take photos or just look around.