Alaska Travel Questions Answered | ALASKA.ORG - Ask Bob

Alcan Driving in Mid-Sept: What to Expect

Q: We’re moving to Anchorage on about Sept 15th. We’re driving all the way on the Alcan and I'm pretty weather-scared. Any suggestions for this fraidy cat? --Jeane

A: Jeane, congratulations on the big move!

Don't worry about the Alcan—or, more officially, the Alaska Highway or Alaska-Canadian Highway. Built rather quickly during World War II, the highway starts in Dawson Creek, British Columbia, and ends near Fairbanks—and it definitely used to be something to worry about, with large parts unpaved, as well as some narrow winding sections.

RV Rental Alaska: Parking Options

Q: My wife and I are planning rent an R.V. to see all the sights south of Anchorage. I would also like to drive up the Richardson to see some sights we’d missed on our last trip. What's your opinion of parking the R.V. on the side of the road when we get tired, or should we always use an R.V. park? --Larry

A: Larry, renting an RV is a great way to see Alaska: You get a lot of freedom in terms of how you pace your trip and how much money you spend on food (most RVs come with fully-loaded kitchenettes and perhaps even fishing gear or a BBQ grill). And, of course, there’s no stress in ever finding a restroom along the highway.

Advice for Moving to Alaska

Q: I'm planning to make Alaska my new home. I would like to be in an area with good waves (for surfing) and good mountains (for climbing) not too far from each other. Here's the catch, I'm not independently wealthy so I either have to live in the woods or near a town (or city). Can you point me in the right direction? --Da Haj

A: Da Haj, Welcome! It's great to hear you're moving to Alaska. The truth is probably no place in America offers the quality of life you can find in Alaska. So I commend you for figuring out what only a fraction of a percent of Americans have figured out--Alaska's the place to be!

Kenai River Rafting Options

Q: I am flying to Anchorage and renting a car, so I'm going to cities I can drive to. I want to take a Zodiac inflatable boat trip in Kenai but don't know who does this kind of small boat trip. --Pav

A: Pav, Thanks for your question. Good choice on flying into Anchorage then renting a car. One of the places you can drive with a car (but not access by train) is Cooper Landing, in the middle of the target=_blank>Kenai Peninsula. It's right on the Kenai River. You can take float trips or fishing drift trips down the Kenai. The river is a gorgeous turquouise blue color.

My recommendation for the right operator to use for either the float or fishing trip would be Alaska Wildland Adventures. They are considered one of the top ecotourism operators in the world--out of thousands of companies. In addition to being able to take you down the river, they also have some great riverside cabins you can rent. Don't know what your budget is, but if it's ample, you might also consider doing a combination raft trip / wilderness lodge stay with them. They offer a trip where you can float the Kenai River all the way down to Skilak Lake, where they have a remote cabin with no neighbors for miles in any direction.

One thing to note is that we use Zodiacs in Alaska mostly on the ocean, because it's easy to throw a small outboard engine on them. When it comes to floating rivers, most places use other types of inflatables, including self-bailing rafts. Pretty much everyone provides the rubber boots and other specialized gear you would need.

 

Wearing white slacks or capris in Aug/Sept in Alaska?

Q: Is it acceptable for a woman to wear white slacks or capris in August/September? --Gloria

A: Gloria, absolutely! Alaska is a casual place. You can wear whatever you want up here. We don't judge people based on their appearance in Alaska. It's probably the least conformist culture of any state in the country.

If your question has to do with temperature, you will also need warmer layers that time of year. If you want more information about the weather in any Alaska town, I encourage you to try the Alaska.org Weatherplanner. It allows you to compare the temperature, rainfall, and daylight hours for any Alaska town to your hometown. Give it a try and let me know whether this helps.