Hi All,

The wife and I are going to the gathering up in Palmer Alaska! I've only been to Alaska a couple times. Looks like we will fly into Anchorage, rent a car and head over. Plan on flying up commercially on Wednesday and staying through the following Monday. Any pro tips on where to stay and cool things to do would be appreciated

Thanks

What’s the status of quarantining when arriving in Alaska? Anyone know?

MTV

Seem to change by the week, I think the test results are 2-3 days out. https://covid19.alaska.gov/travelers/
DENNY

I Have not stayed there but the Valley hotel has a cafe attached. It is an older hotel so expect Alaska charm in the rooms.
DENNY

DENNY wrote:I Have not stayed there but the Valley hotel has a cafe attached. It is an older hotel so expect Alaska charm in the rooms.
DENNY

The Valley Hotel and restaurant is as old as it gets in the valley, in a good way. Been eating there for 50 years and have stayed there a few times as well. Downtown Palmer has done a good job of staying the same as it's always been. You'll have no shortage of places to eat or drink.

When you travel up you're affirming you haven't been exposed to someone sick and that you don't have any symptoms. I don't see anybody quarantining.

If folks are up here on May 1st my 2nd Annual Fly out/Boat out Birthday Party is being held up at the picnic strip by the Knik Glacier.

Lucky wrote:Hi All,

The wife and I are going to the gathering up in Palmer Alaska! I've only been to Alaska a couple times. Looks like we will fly into Anchorage, rent a car and head over. Plan on flying up commercially on Wednesday and staying through the following Monday. Any pro tips on where to stay and cool things to do would be appreciated
Thanks

There are many things to do depending on your level of adventure and tolerance for driving. The days are long in May. If it were me, I would find a place in Anchorage and take advantage of the restaurants and activities that the city offers that Palmer doesn't. I would drive to the tradeshow and back. If you are looking for an adventure, you could drive to Girdwood down Turnagain Arm. That is a beautiful drive. If you are looking for more adventure (would be a lot of driving), you could check to see if the sea life center in Seward is open and make a trip there. Seward is beautiful. If you are really adventuresome and want to potentially make a two day trip before the show, you could drive to Homer on Thursday and overnight there. Return to Anc on Friday.

You could go stomp around Talkeetna to the North for a day.

Lake Hood might be out by then and you could walk around the lake and watch airplanes.

Test and or quarantine No longer required

Thanks for everyone's replies and please keep them coming. I've been checking it out while at work today and t I'm thinking the following for where to stay.

Fly in Wednesday and stay the night in Anchorage
Thurs & Friday Girdwood with the wife
Sat & Sunday Palmer for the show
Monday fly home

We are seeing if we can volunteer at a vaccination site and then get vaccinated before the trip, so hopefully we will get this covered as I don't want to get anyone sick or get sick.

Thanks again

Squash wrote:

Lucky wrote:Hi All,

The wife and I are going to the gathering up in Palmer Alaska! I've only been to Alaska a couple times. Looks like we will fly into Anchorage, rent a car and head over. Plan on flying up commercially on Wednesday and staying through the following Monday. Any pro tips on where to stay and cool things to do would be appreciated
Thanks

There are many things to do depending on your level of adventure and tolerance for driving. The days are long in May. If it were me, I would find a place in Anchorage and take advantage of the restaurants and activities that the city offers that Palmer doesn't.

And me being a country boy if I NEVER went into Anchorage I'd be happy.

akaviator wrote:And me being a country boy if I NEVER went into Anchorage I'd be happy.

You're forgetting that the best thing about Anchorage is that you're only 30 minutes away from Alaska.

If I need to stay in the Valley- normally for hockey tournaments- I usually just look for a nice Airbnb. Blue Ice Aviation Lounge is a great one.

-DP

pipeliner wrote:

akaviator wrote:And me being a country boy if I NEVER went into Anchorage I'd be happy.

You're forgetting that the best thing about Anchorage is that you're only 30 minutes away from Alaska.

Truth!

There is some great eateries in Anchor town, but the valley has a lot to offer too. Palmer Alehouse and Matanuska Brewing Company are both close by the airport and have great food. Many, many, others too.

akaviator wrote:

pipeliner wrote:

akaviator wrote:And me being a country boy if I NEVER went into Anchorage I'd be happy.

You're forgetting that the best thing about Anchorage is that you're only 30 minutes away from Alaska.

Truth!

There is some great eateries in Anchor town, but the valley has a lot to offer too. Palmer Alehouse and Matanuska Brewing Company are both close by the airport and have great food. Many, many, others too.

Turkey Red has the best food in Palmer in my experience. And Bleeding Heart is their best brewery, though Arkose is great as well.

Agreed with the AirBnB idea - plenty of options in Palmer. Head up the Glenn Highway one day and check out Matanuska Glacier - definitely worth a visit.

Got a room for us at the Valley Hotel for Saturday and Sunday of the show. Figuring out the rest this weekend

If I had your itinerary and was going to spend two days somewhere I wouldn't spend them in Girdwood. I'd go to Talkeetna instead. MUCH MUCH MUCH MUCH (did I say much) nicer place and better food. And closer to Palmer. One place to stay is the Talkeetna Road House. Tricia the owner is a friend and super nice. Rocket, also a friend and is here on BCP, is her boyfriend and is also a great person.

Here's a little video I shot that includes a brief glimpse of Talkeetna.

I agree with skipping Girdwood. It will be mud season and not much at all going on in town. Still a bit early for Talkeetna also, but lots more to do/see than Girdwood at that time of year. Go land on the glacier with TAT, Fly with floats and skis, ECT. DENNY

DENNY wrote:I agree with skipping Girdwood. It will be mud season and not much at all going on in town. Still a bit early for Talkeetna also, but lots more to do/see than Girdwood at that time of year. Go land on the glacier with TAT, Fly with floats and skis, ECT. DENNY

Best part of Talkeenta is being there before the touristas arrive!

While you might not want to spend a lot of time in Girdwood, the drive down Turnagain is spectacular, particularly on a sunny day. Double Musky is a good dinner too.

Ross

Girdwood is absolutely good for a drive, but probably not as good for a stay unless you are looking for some R&R. However, as another has mentioned, the drive is beautiful. The tram ride to the top of the mountain is a touristy activity but good if the weather is cooperative. In addition to the Double Musky, Jack Sprats is also a good restaurant. I actually prefer Sprats. The Bakeshop has been around for a long time and has a loyal following for breakfasts and lunches. I can recommend the sourdough pancakes, sweet roll, farmers omelette, and beef barley soup. For any of these things, check to make sure what is open and running since COVID has messed up a lot of things. There is mud in Alaska, but the mud season in my opinion is in April and not as much in May at the sea level altitudes of south central AK. And if there isn't much going on in Girdwood as was mentioned, I'm not sure there is a whole bunch more going on in Palmer after the trade show hours.