Posted on 03/26/2014 10:16:42 PM PDT by An American in Turkiye
I am retiring 1 September from the USAF. My wife has 7 years left as an ICU nurse. Just found out she has orders to Elmendorf AFB! We are super excited! Any FReeper hangouts there? Any incoming advice, i.e housing market, awesome places to check out, best salmon fishing, hiking trails, etc? I am currently at Travis AFB, California. So happy to leave this screwed up blue state and move to a red one.
Tidal Wave bookstore the best in the state.
Excellent sporting goods stores, good restaurants (Gwennies has a good breakfast).
Was just there in November seeing family (I live in another part of the state)
I retired from Travis and then spent 25 years at CSP-Solano, on Peabody Road, retiring last year. Time to hit the road.
I did two remotes in AK and they were a blast (Clear AFB in 1984 and Galena Airport in 1988).
Spent a lot of weekends and days off in Anchorage. But that was 25 yrs ago.
I remember I took a charter tour on my second trip. Sunday morning around the whole peninsula of Anchorage. It was 12hrs of sight seeing. Whale watching, spawning salmon, lunch, a million photo ops. It was a great trip. Very touristy and I loved it. Only 12 on the 24 pack bus, normal for a Sunday morning (is what the driver told us).
Fishing was incredible both times. Whatever you think is good elsewhere, when you hit a hot spot in AK, you will cramp up from all the action. Make friends with a reliable local, buy the beer and you will be amazed.
I’m semi-retired now and would love an opportunity to go back for a week in late summer. The winters are a bear, get a hobby that does not involve alcohol and you will do much better! (Mine was hunting, fishing, gunsmithing, a little work with the local PD, weights and training. Lots of gym time. The bar can be a dark hole many never climb out of there.)
All in all, I’m jealous!!
Head south to Homer.. awesome little town with great folks.
Spent 18 months there with the 172nd Inf Bde 1964-1966.
View the TV show Alaska State Troopers. Not like it was when I was there. Crime is on the rise, Anchorage now a big city
Beautiful wet summer’s and long incredibly cold winters, rent is high and so is everything else. My nephew has been cooking in remote fishing camps for 5 years now and loved it until he stayed a full winter. Summer is an amazing time in Alaska but the winters can kill you.
ping.
“The bar can be a dark hole many never climb out of there.”
True words here!
Explore the Kenai Peninsula - beautiful! Cooper Landing is a great hopping off place for camping, fishing, rafting, hiking, bird watching and photography.
Kathy may be able to point you toward some of the things you’re looking for, or people who are in the know.
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