Which train stop between Anchorage and Fairbanks is the most scenic? (Metlakatla: hotel, live)

[RayinAK]

A family friend is visiting Fairbanks in a couple of weeks, leaving from Anchorage via train. However, he also wants to take another train ride a couple of days before coming to Fairbanks, and was asking me if I know which one of the following stops would be the most scenic (he wants to take photos and things like that). I have no idea relating to which stop area would be scenic or not, but if you happen to know, would you please let me know on this thread?

Leaving Anchorage, and stopping at the destinations below:

a. Talkeetna, 226 miles
b. Chase, 236.2 miles
c. Curry, 248.5 miles
d. Deadhorse, 248.7 miles
e. Sherman, 257.7 miles
f. Gold Creeck, 263.2 miles
g. Canyon, 268.4 miles
h. Twin Bridges, 270 miles
i. Chulitna, 273.8 miles
j. Hurricane, 281.4 miles
k. Denali Crossing, 348.2 miles
l. Healy, 358.7 miles


Your help would be most appreciated.

[Music_Man]

Depends on the weather. If clear you cant beat the view of Denali. Have him stop in Talkeetna and walk around town and pet the mayor if it's not to cold. Or he could just park his self in the dinning car and eat and drink all the way to Fairbanks. And if he is as talented as you, he could sit in the dome car and take pictures!

[RayinAK]

Originally Posted by Music_Man

Depends on the weather. If clear you cant beat the view of Denali. Have him stop in Talkeetna and walk around town and pet the mayor if it's not to cold. Or he could just park his self in the dinning car and eat and drink all the way to Fairbanks. And if he is as talented as you, he could sit in the dome car and take pictures!

Thanks, Music_Man.

I lived in Anchorage back in the late '70s, but never took a train ride anywhere out of Anchorage. I haven't been in Anchorage probably for a couple of decades

[Metlakatla]

I'm not sure the train stops for very long, if at all, at many of these places.

[RayinAK]

Originally Posted by Metlakatla

I'm not sure the train stops for very long, if at all, at many of these places.

What he was to do is to spend a day or so (with his wife) looking around and taking photos. They are from Florida, and have no experience driving in Alaska during the winter. Once they are in Fairbanks for a day or two I will do the driving for them

I have been in Alaska for quite a long time, but I have never participated in any of the tours or tourist's hangouts. Have to do a little digging around to see if I can find something for them to do between Anchorage and Fairbanks.

I figured what AK RR page he was looking at (the page with Winter Travel). He asked about Talkeetna, so I imagine he can find a hotel to stay at for the night.
https://www.alaskarailroad.com/ride-...aurora-winter?

[Metlakatla]

Well, places like Curry aren't really tourists' hangouts. There's nothing there -- no train depot, nothing. A very small number of local residents (but I don't know if anyone still actually lives out there) might still use the train for trips to town. Same with a few others. Gold Creek is just...a creek. If they got dropped off in a place like that, they'd have to spend the night waiting for the train to come back. They should go to Talkeetna, maybe Healy. Not sure if anything's open in Denali for them to stay during winter.

[RayinAK]

Originally Posted by Metlakatla

Well, places like Curry aren't really tourists' hangouts. There's nothing there -- no train depot, nothing. A very small number of local residents (but I don't know if anyone still actually lives out there) might still use the train for trips to town. Same with a few others. Gold Creek is just...a creek. If they got dropped off in a place like that, they'd have to spend the night waiting for the train to come back. They should go to Talkeetna, maybe Healy. Not sure if anything's open in Denali for them to stay during winter.

I imagine that Denali is closed for winter. It would be a lot better for them to visit during the summer, but he wants to spend a few days in Alaska hoping to see the Auroras among other things. My niece and fiancé visited us a couple of years ago during the summer and had a great time. They spent a couple of days in Anchorage, then flew to Fairbanks to spend a few days with us. I drove them down the Richardson toward Summit Lake, and took a bunch of photos of wildlife (caribou, moose, and so on). Then I drove them to Healy where they spend a day or so on a tour to the park. From Healy they traveled to Anchorage via the AK RR Denali Star and had a blast with the scenery.

I am going to tell him to scratch all of those stops, except for Talkeetna. I really think that a short helicopter tour out of Anchorage would be a better idea for them, but in reality I don't know much about such things.

[Metlakatla]

What about going up to Chena Hot Springs for a couple of days?

I think there are one or two small lodges in Denali that stay open for winter guests. I want to say Earthsong, but that was several years ago so who knows.

Talkeetna in the winter is a great experience. They'll be able to see the real town without the layer of summer tourists. Climbing season starts in Feb., so there will be a few visitors, but nothing like during summer.

[Metlakatla]

Here's the link for the Earthsong place. It looks pretty nice, and they could go on a dogsled trip.

Stay at EarthSong Lodge for comfortable Alaska cabin lodging near Denali National Park, Alaska.

[heathen]

Talkeetna, fo sho.