It was a morning of shopping activities, from the shops near the Anchorage port to the open markets over the weekend. The suspension of cruise business has taken its toll on the local shops, the streets were pretty quiet and most shops did not have much going on. From very expensive musk ox yarn, to eating reindeer tacos, to checking out the local artswork, it was an easy and enjoyable stroll, perfectly setting us up for a more relaxing tempo at our next resort at Girdwood.
Girdwood is less than an hour of drive from Anchorage. We have been up and down this highway a few times. It was such a scenic drive and at different times of the day, it shows a different version of beauty. We often stopped for picture moments.
Alyeska Resort, at Girdwood, is among the best resorts we have been to. Its daily rate matches its beauty. At the entrance, a pair of totem poles reminded us of the indigneous history, a polar bear statue overlooked the lobby area from the second floor and the leather sofa at the lobby added further the sense of luxury. During these summer months, the Gondola ski lift and winter activities were mostly replaced with other outdoor activities. We tried to check out the bike rental, only to be told that it was sold out. Our hotel room gave a view of meticulously manicured gardens, stretches of the refreshingly green forests, as well as the quiet gondola stations.
We went to enjoy the indoor rustic swimming pool, where a few families were having a good time. Good restaurants in Alaska equal more than an hour of waiting time. The nearby Jack Sprat restaurant is a hip place. When we arrived, it had a live band playing music at the rooftop and gathered an audience who was enjoying the music while waiting. The restaurant could no longer take any more diners, nor take-out. The other restaurants also had tons of diners waiting – another evidence of more tourists this summer than usual. We ended up getting chicken nuggets, pistachio muffins and other comfort food from a local grocery store and consumed our meal on a bench enjoying the beautiful garden at our resort.
Next day was the 26-glaciers cruise ship day.
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