Girdwood (Anchorage, Seward: condos, home, income)

[1984]

Can someone please tell me what it is like to live in Girdwood? There aren't very many threads on this town.

[stiffnecked]

It's a long commute if you work in Anchorage.

[Glitch]

Girdwood is a resort town. There are a lot of people who own cabins or condos, but only use them during the winter months when they go skiing. Think of Vale, CO, only much smaller and more expensive.

stiffnecked is right, it is a long commute if you work to Anchorage, and over dangerous roads during the summer which becomes even more treacherous during the winter. Assuming you can get to Anchorage or back home from Anchorage. The section of the Seward Highway between Anchorage and Girdwood is prone to avalanches during the winter months. Those avalanches have been known to close down the highway from a few hours to several days. There are no other roads into Anchorage from the south.

[Rance]

My brother and his family lived there for many years. They finally moved out this fall. He has been commuting to work in Anchortown for years. The savings in fuel since moving has already made a huge difference in their income and he is kicking himself for not making the move years ago. In thier yonger years they were heavy into skiing so living there was worth it...but now that they are older and ski much less, it was just too expensive to live there. It is a beautiful little town, but if you have to travel every day to work, it is going to cost you.

[AKStafford]

As mentioned it's a small ski town. They have a small grocery store and a post office and some good restaurants. At the highway junction is a gas station, a bakery and an ice cream place. Oh, and a Subway. It's about 45 minutes to 60 minutes south of Anchorage on one of Alaska's busiest highways. It's a beautiful area.

[AKStafford]

It was just named as a top ski destination:
World's Best Ski Towns - National Geographic

[Glitch]

Originally Posted by AKStafford

It was just named as a top ski destination:
World's Best Ski Towns - National Geographic

I like their classification: "Best For: Off-the-beaten-path powder hounds with an aversion to glamour"

I do not ski, but I am a foodie, and one of the best restaurants in all of Alaska has to be the Seven Glaciers Restaurant on top of Mount Alyeska. Not only is the food great, the view cannot be beat.

[Rance]

I actually love the little bakery underneath the old lodge. They have the best soups. In bread bowls!

[AADAD]

Jack Spratts is charming and quite romantic in the snowy days.

Girdwood is magical, with or without clothing.

[bongo]

Originally Posted by Rance

I actually love the little bakery underneath the old lodge. They have the best soups. In bread bowls!

And the world's largest begonias on the patio in the summer!