>>1923820There are also some inland areas worth checking out.
>Talkeetna2.5 hours from Anchorage, most people get here by train. The town is hippy central but has some historic buildings and a 30% chance of great Denali views. The train is scenic between talkeetna and denali, and between anchorage, whittier, and seward. It can be expensive, but if you are interested in riding it, the hurricane turn out of Talkeetna goes north 50 miles and back 5 days a week. The route is totally off the road system and is the only access for the people who live off the tracks. The train is flagstop, so it will drop you off or pick you up anywhere along the route. I have camped off this train several times, it is pretty fun since you can take as much gear as you want and still be miles from the nearest person.
>Denali ParkYou can try to find a hotel in Healy, but the hotels in the park are boomer central. They are not cheap, but are in a very scenic area. You can go on rafting trips here, but the most popular option is riding a bus into the park. This is your best chance at seeing wildlife in Alaska, including bears, moose, sheep, caribou, and the occasional wolf. You can also hike here, but I would look into the regulations before doing so.
>SpencerThis place is train access only. You can ride from portage for about 20 minutes to save some money. You can book tours including glacier hiking, kayaking, and rafting, or go hike and camp by yourself. The trail is flat gravel for 3 miles (mostly alongside the lake) to the glacier, which includes 80 foot walls of ice and icebergs floating all around the lake. It has some people around due to tour groups, but you can hike off the trail a bit to find some seclusion. I have to warn you that there is an unusually high concentration of bears here and a constant cold glacier breeze, so beware.
>GirdwoodAlso a hippy town. It has a ski resort with its own hiking and biking, but there are lots of public trails too.
