How rad is Alaska?

I'm thinking of going on an Alaskan tour this summer. Who here has been there as a tourist/not as a tourist and what have your best/worst experiences been? Is this a good use of precious vacation time or should I spend the money on hookers and firetrucks instead?

went there a few years ago to see my brother get married. didn't really do tourist stuff but it was fantastic. got to travel around a bit and see some amazing stuff. my vote would be to go.

Why not have your cake and eat it too? There are lots of hookers in Alaska (but I don't know about the firetrucks).

Everything I know about Alaska I learned on SG. It's not a flattering picture.

I went to Denali State Park as a little kid, and I had a blast camping. The wildlife was awesome, but I did have a close encounter with a moose or some sort large deer-like creature. I don't remember what it was, but according to my grandmother, it apeared to want me dead.

My sister was one bitten by a moose.

I've been to Alaska three times. Twice in January, once in May. In the January trips I saw Moose, Meese, whatever....mulitple Mooses, walking down the main drag in Anchorage--and a fuckload of snow. And darkness.

May--on the other hand was unfuckinbelievable. Daylight for about 18 hours. Perfect weather--the most incredible natural scenery you could imagine. I saw bald eagles, beluga whales, dolphins, more meese, otters, humpback whales..the list goes on. There are also several great microbreweries. I met a crazy old Russian fisherman dude named Ivan, who looked like he was still living in 1865--he actuallly was wearing a "union suit". You gotta love the outdoors though I think to really have a good time up there.

[Edited on Apr 08, 2005 by bravhrt]

yes, the microbreweries up there make some great beer. the wildlife is incredible too.

Why the hell do you think we hide it way the hell behind your country? We're embarrased by it. It's like a mutant kid you hide in the attic and feed a bucket of fish heads once a week.

Look who's talking. That's how Oregonians feel about California.

For a second I thought you'd replied to your own comment... Your profile pictures are freakishly similar.

Notneymore!

Alaska Ads

[Edited on Apr 08, 2005 by cordy]

Denali......................word.
Landing is a fucking bummer.............lots of wing flapping turbulance. <--sp?

The cops there are old school rad. They are cops because they shoot and speed. Their holiday card was a cop snowman who shot a bad guy snowman, and smiling about it. Summer is probably the best.

i grew up there and it is an AMAZING place to visit, but not live.
i hate it when i'm there but miss it terribly when i'm not.
i don't even have any words to describe how beautiful it is in the summer.
but you only have 3 short months without snow and lots of tourists!
anchorage booms in the summer time but there is tons of stuff to do.
i highly suggest you visit.

Alaska?

Yeah, she's hot

It all depends. You can do the cruise ship thing through SE Alaska with all the old people. They have smaller ships through this company, which are a lot better, smaller scale. I really love southeast AK. Cruise packages are definitely the comfy way to go.

If you have a motorcycle license, I personally would use my friend's motorcycle tour service. He's one of the coolest friendliest guys I've ever met. He can either point out good places to check out or fish, or he can guide you. Check out the photo galleries on his site, they're really good.



[Edited on Apr 08, 2005 by stockula]

My sister lived in Anchorage for a year.....
She said walking alone on the streets....even @ day time...she would get harassed for sex....
This was also in winter time: she was wearing giant puffy parkas down to her ankles? with a hood ....I never knew it was such a 'mecca' for prostitutes....but anyway supposedly the locals say you either hate it or love it....and those that love it usually end up local...

i'm going to agree with the fact that you should really enjoy nature if you're going to go up there. i spent almost a week in southern alaska in october, and it was a blast. my profile pic is from there, as well as one or two others in my folder. i've been itching to get back there from the second i left. not that nature is the only thing to do...i met some awesome people and took years off of my liver's useful life as well.

No, although that's another worthy cause. I've been a couple times; the last time it was just me and my backpack. Southeast Alaska is pretty easy to get around between the ferry and hitchhiking... stay in hostels, make some friends. Hiking is EXCELLENT in most towns and often accessible without a car. People are friendly, and it didn't cost as much as I thought it would. A+ vacation.

P.S.: best hostel ever.

Yep, all I think when I hear "Alaska" is Stockula.

I think of salmon, delicious delicious salmon, then I think of stockula.

Haha! Our campaign to hide Alaska away from the rest of you barbarians worked!

But, yah, having lived there on and off for most of my life, Alaska is like liquid awesome.