What do I mean by "cool" adventures and places? For me that means that you are having a laid-back, do-it-yourself, and uncommercialized experience... where there is alot of unspoiled space around and little or no influence from franchised corporate America. Adventure trips to places of unique character and natural beauty, good people and usually incredible wildlife!

If you only have a week to two weeks, there are three separate road trips based out of Anchorage to consider that each have some of the best of cool Alaska for the lowest cost... Andy Baker, Anchorage Guest House Owner since 1999

1. Head south to the Kenai Peninsula (Girdwood, Portage, Hope, Seward, & Homer)

2. Head north to Talkeetna, Denali National Park & Fairbanks

3. Head east to Whittier, Valdez, Wrangell-St. Elias Nat'l Park, Glenallen, Sheep Mountain, Palmer (its a loop, you can go either direction!)

Arctic National Wildlife Refuge - the crown jewel of Alaska's wildlife wilderness, a truly unspoiled eco-system with the most diverse and abundant population of birds and mammals in the arctic. This is a once in a lifetime journey to the most remote area of Alaska. Experience first hand the life of Inupiat eskimos on Barter Island. For polar bear viewing and/or rafting trips with an Inupiat guide, check out: Kaktovik Arctic Adventures

Katmai National Park - home of the McNiel River fishing bears, Valley of 10,000 Smokes, and alot more, please visit: http://www.nps.gov/katm/

Cordova - a wonderful little fishing town on the Copper River Delta you can only get to by boat or plane, the road less travelled: http://www.cordovachamber.com/