Alaska Travel Blog by Princess Lodges

Community Profile: Cooper Landing

The derivation of many Alaska towns belongs to gold. And with the fantasy of fortune in the 1800s, came waves of adventurers, dreamers and lots of schemers to the last frontier, leaving behind a legacy of captivating tales. But before the time of Soapy Smith and Joe Juneau, it all began in a picturesque setting along the banks of the Kenai River. Here in 1848, the first Alaska gold discovery occurred, and the area soon became a rustic outpost for miners, hunters and traders eager to carve out a slice of success and a new destiny. Named for one such prospector, Joseph Cooper, the small town of Cooper Landing was born.

Today, Cooper Landing is home to a different kind of fever: fishing. Containing the confluence of the Russian and Kenai Rivers, Cooper Landing is the epicenter for anglers looking for sockeye and coho salmon, Dolly Varden and rainbow trout. Even if you have no interest in baiting a hook, it’s a good place to visit and easy to get to along the Sterling Highway. Located at the north end of the Kenai River, several rafting companies have taken up shop and offer trips ranging from gentle floats to thrilling Class III whitewater in the Kenai Canyon. It also lies near trailheads, perfect for nature hikes and horseback riding. If you’re into sightseeing, the heart of Cooper Landing is a five-building national historic district consisting of an old post office, a schoolhouse from the 1950s and a homesteader’s cabin that today houses the Cooper Landing Historical Society Museum. Travelers can visit the kennel of dog musher Lorraine Temple and hear tales of the trail and see a dog harnessing demonstration. The gold rush might be over, but if you visit Cooper Landing in the summer, it’s easy to see why people still flock here more than 150 years later; we’ve just traded in our rock hammers for rafting ores and our gold pans for fishing poles.

All of these experiences can be booked at the Tour Desk at Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge.

“Community Profile” is a blog series that provides a closer look at the towns, history and events near Princess lodges in Alaska.

Tags: Alaska, fishing, gold, hiking, horseback riding, Kenai, Princess, rafting
Posted in Alaska Activities, Guest Experiences, Kenai Princess, Where to Stay on July 2nd, 2010
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Activity of the Week: Cast a line with plenty of elbow room

Com-bat fish-ing \ˈkäm-bat ˈfi-shiŋ \: Alaskan phrase: to stand elbow to-elbow with fellow anglers in the hunt for the state’s most sought-after fish.

While this kind of heart-pumping adrenaline rush is one way to fill the freezer — and have a blast in the process — combat fishing isn’t the only type of fishing experience you’ll find in Alaska. If you’ve had your fill of the crowds, Alaska’s Copper River Valley is the perfect destination. The river is located in an area of about 3.5 million acres, with mountains in every direction, several volcanic peaks and is the gateway to America’s largest national park, Wrangell-St. Elias. The opportunity to fish for, arguably, the most prized and best tasting salmon in the world is right outside the door of Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge. What makes the salmon from this river particularly tantalizing? Like a good steak, they have a slightly higher fat content, packing them with flavor. Take the taste-test for yourself with the full- or half-day Salmon Fishing by Raft trips traveling to the scenic tributaries of the Copper River. King salmon season in the Copper River is from mid-June to mid-July and the Copper River red salmon can be caught from June through August.

If you go:

You can book this adventure from the Tour Desk at Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge. The Salmon Fishing by Raft full day trips are eight to ten hours. Half-day trips are four to five hours. Prices start at $249 per person.

“Activity of the Week” is a weekly blog series that profiles adventures, destinations and tour operators from across Alaska.

Tags: Alaska, Copper River, fishing, Princess, salmon
Posted in Alaska Activities, Alaska National Parks, Copper River Princess, Guest Experiences, Where to Stay on July 1st, 2010
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Knowing the facts: Denali

Denali, Mount McKinley, The Great One. There’s no shortage of terms Alaskans use to refer to the tallest mountain in North America and its surrounding six million acres. But if you want to talk location, when you visit Denali National Park and Preserve, you’re not staying in Denali at all. In fact, there is no such town as Denali. Instead, where you’re likely to base your adventure is a strip along the Parks Highway between Cantwell and Healy known as the Nenana River Canyon. This area contains not only the entrance to the actual park and the visitor center, but also the majority of visitor services for park exploration. Just one mile from the park entrance, the Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge sits on the banks of the Nenana River, ideally located to access whatever type of Denali adventure you’re looking for — from flightseeing and glacier landings, to rafting trips and hiking.

You’ve likely also heard the mountain itself referred to as Denali, but the official name of the 20,320-foot peak is Mount McKinley. The misconception stems from the state Geographic Names Board renaming the mountain Denali, but the federal Government has not adopted the change. Denali National Park and Preserve was established in 1917 and was originally called Mount McKinley National Park, but was renamed Denali in 1980. No wonder we’re confused.

So who could allow such an oversight, delivering almost 100 years of misdirected fame and publicity to a town that doesn’t even exist? Well, as long as Alaskans and the rest of the 400,000 visitors to the park each year continue to find our way there each year to explore the wildlife, panoramic views and recreation that “Denali” delivers, no one is mincing words about what we’re calling it.

Tags: Alaska, denali, environment, McKinley, National Parks
Posted in Alaska Activities, Alaska National Parks, Alaska Travel Tips, Denali Princess on June 25th, 2010
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Climbers on The Great One

Today's white board update at the Ranger Desk at Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge

You can’t quite see the mountain climbers from the great room at Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge, but the view of the mountain is pretty spectacular.

Posted in Uncategorized on June 23rd, 2010
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Activity of the week: Four-wheeling through history

The term “up before sunrise” isn’t even applicable in Alaska, with the sun hanging over the mountains for most of the night, only teasing darkness. But getting up early while staying at the McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge is not for nothing, as you’ll share the dawn with some of the resident wildlife, including bears, moose, caribou and fox. Not to mention, you’ll get the first dibs on the daily delicacies over at the Talkeetna Roadhouse, such as sourdough hotcakes, gigantic cinnamon rolls, hand-rolled bagels or the Roadhouse Standard (scrambled eggs, home fries, bacon, toast, juice and coffee). If the original gold miners had access to this magnitude of a meal, they would have never made it up to the gold fields. Luckily, I’m taking the ATV.

The South Denali 65 Mile ATV Tour allows you to get behind the handlebars of your own ATV and drive behind a guide into the backcountry of south Denali. After a quick safety briefing, you’re on the open trail, riding along old coal mining roads carved out by the area’s first prospectors and onto a river bed where Athabascan Indian artifacts have been discovered. The scenery over the Healy Valley is fantastic, with cascading waterfalls, lush vegetation and plenty of wildlife. While drivers do need to have a valid drivers license, there is an option for children over six or those wishing to just enjoy the vistas to ride along on a four-person ATV. You have the chance to pan for gold in Peters Creek and enjoy a box lunch before returning. If the Roadhouse coffee doesn’t get your blood pumping in the morning, the jolt of cool air blowing your hair back may just do the trick.

If you go:

You can book this adventure from the Tour Desk at the McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge. The South Denali 65 Mile ATV Tour is six hours with a 1.5-hour roundtrip transfer. Prices are $149 for a passenger and $299 for a driver.

Tags: Alaska, denali, lodge, McKinley, mountain
Posted in Alaska Activities, McKinley Princess, Where to Stay on June 22nd, 2010
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Weekend at Base Camp: Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge

Fairbanks has been a coveted destination since its very beginning — first by miners struck with gold fever at the turn of the century and then by travelers and residents alike as the beloved Golden Heart City. Located at the edge of the Chena River, the Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge is just minutes from all this history that is still very much alive — active gold mines, dog sledding, the Arctic Circle and a sternwheeler that carries travelers along the Chena River exactly as it once carried the early settlers. And of course, one attribute that has remained constant since the very beginning: the midnight sun casting a glow over the landscape and creating an endless lure for exploration.

Friday

2 p.m. Northern delight

There are few places I make a point to stop in every time I visit a particular location. The Museum of the North is one of them. If offers a dramatic dose of Alaska’s history, with 1.4 million artifacts and specimens including art, the state’s largest display of gold, an ever-changing sound and light installation and the most distinctive attraction: Blue Babe, a 36,000-year-old mummified steppe bison. If you haven’t visited in awhile, you will notice the dramatic architecture of the building immediately, evoking images of alpine ridges, glaciers and a diving whale tail. You can arrange your visit to the museum through the tour desk at the lodge.

5 p.m. Christmas all year round

It’s not exactly beginning to look a lot like Christmas with almost 24 hours of daylight in Fairbanks, unless you make a visit to North Pole where it feels a bit like the holiday season all year round. Book an evening in Santa’s hometown and check out the Interior’s largest gift shop, the Santa Claus House. You can snap pictures with members of the reindeer team and share the holiday spirit by sending home a few letters from Santa. The 3.5-hour adventure includes a city tour of North Pole highlighting the history of the themed city and dinner at North Pole’s most popular restaurant, the Pagoda.

Saturday

7 a.m. Up with the sun

Start your day with an early breakfast so that you may enjoy as much of the extended daylight hours as you can fit in. Overlooking the river, The Edgewater restaurant has a lot of enticing choices with menu items like Raspberry Stuffed French Toast, Alaskan Smoked Salmon Benedict and the Chena Medley with reindeer sausage, bacon, mushrooms and cheese.

10 a.m. Follow the travelers

Even if you consider yourself a seasoned pro at experiencing the highlights and off-the-beaten-path of your home state, every once in awhile you simply must go by way of the tourist. After all, thousands of travelers a year can’t be wrong. The Riverboat Discovery Cruise is often thought of as a treat for out-of-towners, but if you haven’t experienced the authentic sternwheeler for yourself, there’s more than one reason not to wait for the in-laws to come to town. The fully narrated cruise along the Chena and Tanana rivers highlight all the reasons you love the 49^th state — from a bush pilot demo to a working fish wheel. You’ll cruise by a mushing show by Susan Butcher’s famous Iditarod sled dog team and even travel to shore to an authentic Athabascan village to experience Native lifestyles and art.

6 p.m. Salmon Bake

Take a break from the restaurant scene with one of Fairbanks’ most treasured culinary experiences: the Alaska Salmon Bake. You can enjoy the extended daylight outside at historic Pioneer Park while filling up on all-you-can-eat halibut, prime rib, fire-cooked king salmon and Bering Sea cod and a selection of sides. Like everything in Alaska, this meal is big. Afterwards, walk it off with a stroll over to the Palace Theatre for some entertaining renditions of Fairbanks’ history.

Sunday

11 a.m. If you teach a man to cook a fish

If you’re like me, you have the bounty of the Great Land coming out your ears — halibut from a friend, a freezer of blueberries from a hike last fall and some bison steaks received as payment for dog sitting. With unlimited access to mouthwatering cuisine, it’s a shame not to learn how to cook it. While you’re up in Fairbanks, spend an evening at Chez World Cooking School for some hands-on instruction on preparing all that fabulous food that’s right at your fingertips. If taking home some great recipes wasn’t reason enough, they don’t call it the Taste of Fairbanks tour for nothing, so be sure and arrive with an appetite.

2 p.m. To the land of extremes

From latitude to Fahrenheit, Fairbanks is known for its extremes. You can experience a few of them all in one place with a trip to Chena Hot Springs and Ice Museum. The expedition begins with a 60-mile drive out to the resort, once there you will begin to learn about the history of the 103-year-old property. After a dinner buffet of prime rib, halibut or salmon, you’ll tour the ice museum for your first extreme: a 20-degree year-round ice environment made from over 1,000 tons of ice and snow. Then move to the opposite end of the spectrum by taking a dip in the natural hot springs outdoor rock lake. If renewable energy piques your interest be sure and work in a geothermal energy tour to learn more about the energy savings projects at the power plant, Chena greenhouses and ice museum absorption chiller.

The basics

Set on the banks of the Chena River, the 325-room Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge is located just minutes from the Fairbanks International Airport and convenient to downtown and popular attractions of the area. The lodge combines a riverside setting with modern amenities such as conference and banquet rooms, wireless Internet, fitness center and more.

“Weekend at Base Camp” is a blog series that shares how you can plan a weekend escape full of adventures to enjoy our Alaska-sized backyard.

Tags: Dinner, environment, Fairbanks, lodge
Posted in Alaska Activities, Alaska Travel Tips, Fairbanks Princess, Guest Experiences, Where to Eat, Where to Stay on June 16th, 2010
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The Train Arrives

I’m at the Denali train depot, headed south to Talkeetna and the Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge. I hope the mountain is out!

Alaska Railroad pulls Princess Rail's glass-domed cars south from Denali to Talkeetna.

Posted in Alaska National Parks, Alaska Travel Tips, Denali Princess, Guest Experiences, McKinley Princess on June 15th, 2010
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Weekend at Base Camp: Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge

Denali is the cheese to macaroni; the feathers to a bird and the milieu of summer drives. There is no way around it: Denali is a staple of the Alaska experience. And Mount McKinley — whether it’s seen on a television screen or popping up in the skyline out your window — reminds us of home. If you haven’t been back in awhile, it’s a great time to revisit what you have always loved about Denali and also to check out some of the new ways to explore an old favorite. The Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge is located just one mile from the entrance of Denali National Park and Preserve, with an expansive deck overlooking the Nenana River, a variety of dining choices and guest service representatives to help you delve into the wild. No matter what experiences made you fall in love with Denali to begin with — be it rafting the Nenana River, weaving in and out of McKinley’s peaks in a helicopter or seeing a grizzly bear just off the Park Road — you’ll instantly remember why you keep coming back.

Friday in Denali

5 p.m. Baby it’s cold inside

Alaskans are pretty adept at surviving in below zero temperatures. But if you haven’t felt 40 degrees below zero — or even if you have — it’s fun to step into Denali’s own Alaska’s Arctic Blast. They provide the parka and guide you into the chilled chamber where you can play around with some favorite pastimes like throwing hot water and blowing soap bubbles into the frigid air. It’s especially a treat for visiting out-of-town relatives since it only reinforces your Alaska tales of walking to school through waist-deep snowdrifts, uphill both ways.

7 p.m. Taste of Alaska

If you’re craving a taste of Alaska, try the Base Camp Bistro. They’re serving up some of your homegrown favorites like Bubbling Hot Alaskan Crab Dip, Seafood Mac and Cheese or Alaska-style nachos loaded with king crab and bay shrimp. The restaurant stays open until midnight for late-night dining or you can mosey over to the bar for a nightcap.

Saturday

7 a.m. Tee time

You’ve heard of the old adage about the gopher stealing the golf ball. In Alaska, go ahead and make it a grizzly bear. And when you say that the golf course was in Denali, they might even believe you. Even if you can’t really blame bears for your golf handicap, you will be confronted with the unique challenges of putting around moose prints, the distraction of stunning scenery and an infamous red fox that steals balls of green number two (at least that’s the story around here). Denali Princess can book your Tundra Mountain Golfing excursion on the rugged nine-hole course located just minutes from the lodge.

1 p.m. Dogging around

Jeff King is a legend to the Iditarod world — recognized as the “winningest musher in the world” and a kind and familiar face to many. His victories include four Iditarod championships while logging more than 100,000 miles by dog sled. At least to Alaskans and dog mushing fanatics, it feels like meeting a celebrity to visit Goose Lake Kennels and home to the mushing maven himself. The Husky Homestead Tour teaches visitors about the history of the sport and breed of dog used in mushing as well as the necessary equipment and training needed to reach the finish line. If you’re not already convinced to take up the sport of dog mushing, by time you snuggle some pups and see the mushing demo, you might be calculating harness sizes for Fido back home.

6 p.m. A local bite

To dine with fellow Alaskans, you’ll likely find them at Lynx Creek Pizza, a place famous for specialty pizzas, salads, sandwiches, beer and ice cream. If you want to chitchat over a pie — like the Forest Mushroom with pesto sauce topped with four cheeses, mushrooms, artichoke hearts and onions — enjoy dinner at the log-cabin-style restaurant or you can have it delivered to your room.

Sunday

7 a.m. Early start

With a number of dining options at Denali Princess, you can practically eat every meal on site without a bite at same place twice. But since the lodge is so close to the park entrance, the location is perfect to get your food to go. The River Run Espresso serves coffee, muffins and pastries or visit Rapids for some sandwiches to take with you on a walk along the River Walk or while perusing the promenade shopping cabins. If you feel like starting off with a big bite, the Denali Sourdough Expedition Breakfast starts seating at 5 a.m. in the Music of Denali Dinner Theater. If the name isn’t description enough, this all-you-can-eat breakfast served buffet style features Alaska sourdough pancakes, eggs, bacon, reindeer sausage, biscuits with Alaska fireweed honey and more. Consider the buffet your first expedition of the day.

8 a.m. Fly me to the view

Few people are skilled enough to reach the great heights of Mount McKinley, but that doesn’t mean that the rest of us can’t experience it. With the Denali Heli-Hiking Adventure you can skip the first pesky dozen or so miles by taking a helicopter to the most remote areas inside Denali National Park and Preserve. In just 15 minutes, you are above the tree line overlooking the Yanert and Moody River valleys. The 3.5-hour soft-adventure hike is led by a guide who provides information on some of the wildlife and habitat of the area.

2 p.m. Ore power

If you’ve experienced Denali’s views from above, you might enjoy the different perspective by navigating through the Nenana River Gorge. With numerous active glaciers pouring from the mountains of Denali, the terrain is perfect for rafting. The 11-mile Nenana Gorge Whitewater trip travels through a dozen or so major Class III and Class IV rapids. You can choose to paddle or just hang on and enjoy the view, making for a thrilling ride if you’re a seasoned whitewater veteran or a first-time rafter.

The Basics

The Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge is located on the banks of the Nenana River, offering easy access to the 6-million-acre playground of Denali National Park and Preserve. Aside from North America’s highest peak, the park is home to an array of wildlife — from moose, caribou, Dall sheep and brown bears to gray wolves and red foxes. Recent renovations to the lodge increased the room total to 656, making it the largest hotel in the state of Alaska. Reach the lodge via the George Parks Highway from Anchorage or Fairbanks, or on the Alaska Railroad, offering daily services in the summer.

The Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge will be open this summer from May 19 – Sept. 15.

“Weekend at Base Camp” is a blog series that shares how you can plan a weekend escape full of adventures to enjoy our Alaska-sized backyard.

Tags: Alaska, denali, Dinner, Fairbanks, family travel, flightseeing, lodge, mountain, National Parks, wildlife
Posted in Alaska Activities, Alaska National Parks, Alaska Travel Tips, Denali Princess, Guest Experiences, Where to Eat, Where to Stay on June 1st, 2010
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Activity of the Week: Fishing on the Kenai, one for the record books

Few bucket-list items compare to the triumph of tackling a 60-pound king salmon. From the first jerk of your pole to the cry of “fish on!” Your hand cranks the reel. As your heart races and your eyes lock on the bow of the pole tip, following the line into the waves — a silent prayer to the fish gods, pleading for a steadfast hook. Your hand cranks. At the first sight of shiny silver in the water you begin to taste his defeat, and your arm aches from your white-knuckled grip on the reel. Your hand cranks. Finally, he breaks the surface of the water alongside the boat and your cramping hand rejoices. As the net envelops him, you breathe relief, a sensation only bested by the distinct thud of the massive beast hitting the boat deck. Victory.

There are a multiple options to land the big one while lodging at the Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge. Located just outside of Cooper Landing, the Kenai lodge provides access to both the upper and lower sections of the Kenai River, each offering a different experience. The Kenai Lower River Sportfishing trip takes guests straight to the hot spots of the mighty king salmon on the lower stretches of the Kenai or Kasilof rivers. The king run is May 15 to July 31 or you can also try a cast for silver salmon — who also put up a good fight — from Aug. 1 through Sept. 16. The Kenai Upper River Sportfishing trip takes guests to the location of trophy-sized fish on a non-motorized drift boat or raft. In the shadow of some dazzling mountain scenery, fish for either sockeye salmon, and Dolly Varden or rainbow trout (depending on the time of year, catch and release only).

The jubilation of a victorious day on the river continues back at the Kenai lodge, for the ritual weigh-in and retelling of the harrowing battle (slightly altered for dramatic effect). It’s a story you’ll tell for years, and one to add to the history books — and bulk to your freezer — of your Alaska adventures.

If you go:

You can book these adventures from the Tour Desk at the Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge. The Kenai Lower River Sportfishing trip is 4 – 5 hours and the Kenai Upper River Sportfishing Trip has a half-day (3 – 4 hour) and full day (7 – 8 hour) options. Prices start at $259 per person.

“Activity of the Week” is a weekly blog series that profiles adventures, destinations and tour operators from across Alaska.”

Tags: Alaska, fishing, Kenai, lodge
Posted in Alaska Activities, Alaska Travel Tips, Guest Experiences, Kenai Princess, Where to Stay on May 27th, 2010
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Activity of the Week: A covered wagon ride north of the border

The Oregon Trail may be the quintessential covered wagon experience, but you don’t have to travel to the Pacific Northwest — or buy a computer game — to take a ride back to pioneer days. Alaska has a rich history in breaking new ground, and with about 365-million acres of land it’s no wonder. In 1905 after gold was discovered in the Kantishna Hills near Denali, several thousand prospectors flocked to the area in hopes of striking it rich and the rush was on. Not too long after, the original national park, Mount McKinley National Park, was established and construction of the park road began.

While buses, RVs and rental cars populate the roads and trail around Denali nowadays, you can take a journey back to simpler times during your stay at the Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge. The Covered Wagon Adventure takes off right from the Denali lodge in a rustic but comfortable covered wagon led by an impressive pair of draft horses. Along the way, the guide shares some fun facts and local folklore you may not have heard before and it’s a nice alternative for viewing wildlife if you’ve already done the traditional bus tour. After the leisurely ride, arrive at a small, covered camp to enjoy the view, exchange a few stories and partake in one tradition that has definitely withstood the test of time: lunch.

If you go:

You can book this adventure from the Tour Desk at the Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge. The Covered Wagon Adventure at Denali is a family friendly 2.5-hour tour that requires a moderate level of activity. Blankets and binoculars are provided for use while on the tour. The Denali lodge will be open from May 19 – Sept. 15, 2010. ($89/adult and $49/child)

“Activity of the Week” is a weekly blog series that profiles adventures, destinations and tour operators from across Alaska.”

Tags: Alaska, denali, family travel, lodge
Posted in Alaska Activities, Alaska National Parks, Alaska Travel Tips, Denali Princess, Guest Experiences, Uncategorized, Where to Stay on May 20th, 2010
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