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Few can resist the lure of the open road once summer rolls around
Seward Highway
An easy way to enjoy a cross section of Alaska’s massive beauty is to traverse the 127-mile Seward Highway that links Anchorage to the tiny portside town of Seward on magnificent Resurrection Bay. This compact swath encompasses boreal forests, mammoth glaciers, and majestic fjords. Starting in Anchorage, where it’s easy to rent a car at the airport, the road leads south across the Kenai Peninsula, hugging the base of the rugged Chugach Mountains and overlooking the Turnagain Arm of Cook Inlet as it winds past waterfalls and wildlife. Try to spot grazing Dall sheep on the cliffs, beluga whales in the waters below, and eagles and numerous seabirds above. The drive can be done in 5 hours, but take two leisurely days and stop en route at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center or pan for gold at Crow Creek Mine. In Seward, tour the nearby Kenai Fjords National Park, a singular wonderland of fjords and glaciers.
Smart Splurge Hotel: Forty miles south of Anchorage, the 304-room château-style Alyeska Resort is remote yet very civilized, with a top-notch spa and a staff that can organize different adventures, from glacier cruising to helicopter tours and white-water rafting. Come winter, it serves as a ski resort. www.alyeskaresort.com
Great Value Hotel: Built in 1936 and located in downtown Anchorage, the Historic Anchorage Hotel has large comfortable rooms with character to spare. www.historicanchoragehotel.com
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