AFS 135th Annual Meeting - Plan Your Trip

Maps of Downtown Anchorage, Southcentral Alaska and other areas

For other trip planning, try Logistics, LLC

A big question when visiting Anchorage, Alaska is regarding the weather. When you say you are visiting Alaska, everyone immediately says, isn't it cold up there? Doesn't it snow all the time? Well, in reality, it does not snow all the time and our temperatures in the summer and fall are very comparable to the Midwestern United States. In September, when the American Fisheries conference is in town, you can expect temperatures with highs around 57F/14C. Of course, as in most places, it is cooler in the mornings and evenings, so be sure to bring a jacket to put on.

We suggest that when you visit Alaska, you be prepared to dress in layers; such as a shirt with a fleece vest or jacket and a windbreaker type of jacket. That way as the day progresses, you can put on or take off layers, as needed. You may also want to pack a raincoat or waterproof jacket, just in case.

For shoes, comfortable walking shoes are great for all seasons. Of course, if you are an avid hiker or fisherman, feel free to bring your favorite shoes/footwear for this adventure.

If you are worried about the dress codes in the restaurants when you are visiting, you will find that casual wear is accepted virtually everywhere.

Alaska is a very beautiful state and also a very large state. Most people will not have the time to explore everything during their time in Alaska, but we can assist you with making the most of your time in Alaska. Listed below are estimated driving times between Anchorage and some of the popular destinations in Alaska. Also given are the websites for the local Chamber of Commerce to assist with questions regarding the area:

Talkeetna, Alaska is located closer to Mt. McKinley than the official Denali National Park entrance and offers an unsurpassed view of the largest mountain in North America.

The Kenai Peninsula is known for it's awesome fishing; the Silver Salmon will be running in September!

Girdwood is home to the Alyeska Prince Resort, a beautiful getaway that is a short drive from Anchorage. Girdwood has wonderful hiking trails, as well great restaurants.

For more information on driving times between Anchorage and other Alaska cities, please go to www.anchorage.net .

Denali National Park is one of the most sought after destinations when traveling to Alaska . Everyone wants the chance to see Mt. McKinley! The shuttle bus services to Denali actually end their summer operation on September 15, 2005. So if you are wanting to visit Denali, you will want to make sure that you plan the trip to take place before your conference. The link to Denali National Park website is http://www.nps.gov/dena/. This has all the information you will need. If you have questions or would like assistance in booking tours to Denali , please contact Logistics at 907-276-6060 or tours@logisticsllc.com.

An option for seeing Mt. McKinley after the conference is to travel to Talkeetna, Alaska. Talkeetna has a wonderful view of Mt. McKinley, as long as the weather permits and it is a small Alaska town. It is also the starting point for the majority of climbers that come to Alaska to ascend Mt. McKinley.

Most of the national rental car companies have offices in Anchorage, Hertz, Thrifty, Budget, Avis, Enterprise and Payless, so there are many different options for car rentals. You will also be able to utilize their on-line services for better rates and discounts.

One note for rental cars is there are two roads that most of the companies will not allow you to take their vehicles on. They are: 1) the Denali Highway, which runs between Paxton and Denali National Park and, 2) the road between Independence Mine and Willow, Alaska.

Beautiful Drives During September

There is only one main highway leading out of Anchorage, heading North and South. In either of these directions you will find very scenic drives with beautiful destinations.

If you head north, you will want to take the time to drive to Matanuska Glacier. This is one of the glaciers in Alaska that you can walk to the base of. There is also a beautiful view of the glacier as you are driving along the Glenn Highway. On your way to Matanuska Glacier you will pass through Palmer, Alaska 's first agriculture-based community. Also in this area is the historic Independence Mine State Historic Park. The drive to Matanuska Glacier from Anchorage is approximately 2 ½ hours. You will want to give yourself plenty of time to explore and enjoy the day!

Heading south, a great day tour is to visit Girdwood and Portage, which is also one of the optional tours that is offered on your conference registration. Another option is to head farther south to Seward, Seward is a 2 ½ hour drive from Anchorage and the drive is very beautiful. You will drive along the Turnagain Arm and see hanging glaciers throughout the mountains surrounding Turnagain Arm. There are numerous scenic pullouts, as well as hiking trails along the highway. In Seward, you can visit Exit Glacier, which is another glacier that you can walk to the base of, and the Alaska Sealife Center . The Alaska Sealife Center is a research and rehabilitation center in Seward. They have above and below water viewing of Sea Lions, numerous Water Birds and Harbor Seals.

Either direction you head, you will enjoy a day of beautiful scenery and adventure in Alaska!

For the fishermen in the group, most of the guides in the area will provide the gear needed for fishing: bait, tackles, waders (if you are a larger size, be sure to check and make sure they do have your size), etc. It is also acceptable to bring your own gear if you would like. Your fishing pole can be checked as baggage. The one thing you are responsible for is making sure you have your driver's license with you because you will need this to purchase your fishing license. The guides will also clean your fish and offer you options for taking them home if you like. There are companies here in Anchorage that will process and ship your fish home at your request.

Hunting Information

Just a note: Make your reservations early. September is a very busy month for conferences, so flights do book up. Also, September is when the flight schedules change from Summer to Fall Season, so be sure to book your flights now to get the times and dates you are wanting, and register for the conference!