Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, The 9 Best Northern Lights Viewing Spots Near Anchorage, How to Travel to Alaska in January and February, The Best Large Family & Group Vacations in Alaska, How to Get from Anchorage to Your Cruise Port in Whittier or Seward (or the reverse! We are so appreciative (especially in a Covid year like this!) All this packed into with a square mileage that rivals some mid-sized states in the "lower 48" but by Alaskan standards is considered conveniently small. But our group got lucky! The reviews of these trips from people in camp were absolutely "gushing." The boats have a flat deck for more comfortable fishing. Great Alaska Adventure Lodge 33881 Sterling Hwy, Sterling, 99672-9510, AK. 6. (We do offer things like extra charters, overnights to BearCamp if you choose, but you can do this at the time of booking the trip.) During our road trip, we stopped at Palmer, a city northeast of Anchorage. Dear Folks: Thanks so much for choosing Great Alaska and for taking the time to share your experience with others. We loved having you, and it is very gratifying to know that you appreciated the experience so much! Great Alaska Adventures is for sale! A sustainable camp that limits our demnds on the beas but provides and amazing one-of-a-kind experience. We especially loved the outdoor pavilions to sit and take in the scenery. After 39 years, Great Alaska has closed its doors, and it's travelers like you that helped us make that decision. We also discovered a stunning desert environment with teal and rust-hued slopes on the Richardson Highway. You might also choose to relax on the expansive river view deck with a glass of wine or hot coffee or take in one of our evening slide shows or wildlife , or learn to cast a fly rod over waiting salmon right in front of your cabin door. Sign-up for any of the following email series to help plan your Alaska trip. You can call our office for support and to get questions answered at 866.411.BEAR866.411.BEAR FREE or of course email us at any time. 1 Room / 2 Adults. Lead Safari Guide Johnny: Johnny and Caprice are married (one of the many Great Alaska romances over the years) and enjoy their new home, along with the music, history and culture of the Chatanooga area. My Great Alaska Adventure I can't say enough about how thoroughly I enjoyed this northern lights tour -- it was truly beyond belief! But on the other side of the fjord, sea lions were getting an even better pick of the salmon. Let us help you keep your motorhome or travel trailer running smooth for years to come. On frequent occasions, Great Alaskan Holidays receives customer inquiries with regards to RV-compatible campgrounds in Alaska. 1 Add one room. It was during these travels they met Kathy's mother Laura, and first saw the amazing location the Lodge now sits on. At Mile 102, turn toward the river at South Glacier Park Road and enter the privately owned Matanuska Glacier Park Resort. An amazing, humbling Alaskan experience with wonderful people and guides!! Currently, we reside on Douglas Island near Juneau, the state's capital. Thank you, Steve! Trips available from Whittier, Homer, Seward, Juneau, and Sitka. over 7 pounds, and we were able to limit out on the Coho's all but 2 days. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. We joined the throng of professional (and not-so-professional) photographers taking pictures of the massive animals as they hunted for their prey. Our Kenai Multi-sport will get you breaking a sweat, but most of our trips have just the right amount of activity for youwhatever that is! Finally, it's calling me and my team dishonest that got you this full unvarnished reply to your review. Daily maid service is included and we offer a 24 hour laundry service for a small fee, so our guests my pack as lightly as possible. Alaska Airlines Expands Texas Service With Seattle-Austin Flights Starting 8/3/09. We know that your time off the water or trail is an important component of any vacation experience. Critical information regarding fishing: BRING WARM CLOTHING. That being said, Great Alaska Adventures has the experience, local knowledge, facilities, and a special staff to make your Alaska Adventure Trip a success, and the trip of a lifetime. I strongly recommend it. From the beginning it was a pleasurable experience with Steve and Rochelle who have excellent communication with their clients and ensure you are fully accommodated for your tour. But our road trip showed us that the state also has some of the most impressive vegetation and flowers that we've ever seen, from enormous heads of broccoli to eye-popping poppies. Folks have been coming to fish the Kenai river off our banks since the late 1940's. We added non-fishing Adventure travel packages and called it Great Alaska Safaris. Of course, this was an excuse to make more money, but they covered it up as a COVID thing and that "that is what all the major hotels are doing". Open today: 6:00 AM - 8:00 PM. There are 3 queen beds to a room for families, and there were a number of families in camp. Laurence had explored the state in the late 60's on a Caribou hunt in the Fairbanks area and his heart never completely left Alaska. What about the fresh salmon that comes out of the river a few meters away? If you visit Denali, binoculars are an absolutely crucial item to pack my husband and I wouldn't have been able to see many of the animals without them. 228 reviews #1 of 16 Specialty lodging in Sterling Location 4.7 Cleanliness 4.6 Service 4.7 Value 4.4 Travelers' Choice GreenLeaders Bronze level Founded by adventurers, Great Alaska Adventures features our renowned riverfront main lodge and incredible fly in Bear viewing camp. Where else can guests see 1,000-pound Alaskan Coastal Brown Bears in a remote wilderness one day, and then be fishing in waters teeming with wild salmon the next? Yes, free parking is available to guests. Which one is right for you? Experience the best parts of the Seward Highway, scenic Turnagain Arm, and Anchorage with a local guide. Sincerely, Kent. Kathy and her husband John retired a few years ago and spread the gospel of the Kenai Peninsula all over the state of Alaska and the southland each winter. Get expert advice, handpicked recommendations, and tips for your family all year round! This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. After the salmon season ended in August, Kent connected with Laurence on the Kenai Peninsula and spent a couple great weeks fishing, traveling and exploring the amazing Kenai. Then to the Glacier Cruise, where we saw Orca, numerous different breeds of seals, those funny buggers Puffins, Sea Otters and a Humpback. Use our calculator to find out, Stay casual, dress in layers, and get proper footwear, View All Southcentral & Interior Towns on a Map, Cruises depart Juneau or Sitka. So yes, we did pay for it, but we had not noticed it as it was not itemized and we never agreed to purchase this and it was optional from the start, and even mentioned to them our plan. Does Great Alaska Adventures offer any business services? End each great day with our "nearly world famous" happy hour among friends, followed by an excellent meal that will make breaking that sweat all the more rewarding! When he sets up your trip, know that he has run the trips, booked the trips, sold the trips and delivered the trips on the ground for over a decade. We were able to catch lots of fish--many of them very large: 12 pound Coho's, 15 pound Sockeyes, 10 pound Rainbows, 8 pound Dolly's, 50 pound Halibuts, Specular Rock Fish--some varieties. It's a chance to meet with the managers and see the plan for your next days activity, and meet with your guide to be sure you are all set for your adventure. Its so massive that the equally impressive Matanuska River boils right from its snout. 16 Incredible Movies About Alaska You Need To See - Only In Your State The 6-million-acre national park is known for its wildlands and wildlife. We are also able to handle Vegetarian, gluten-reduced and some other dietary needs - however there are others we are not able to accommodate. The chopper ride to the dog camp was incredible!! Inlet Charters Across Alaska Adventures - Tripadvisor Not honest people. We loved having you with us and appreciate you choosing Great Alaska Adventures for your incredibly important celebration! Adventures Phillips Cruises The 26 Glacier Cruise by Phillips Cruises ( phillipscruises.com) out of Whittier, Alaska is known worldwide for its magnificent marine tour taking you on an intimate journey with Alaska's largest tidewater glaciers. Alaska's wildlife blew us away, and the World Eskimo Indian Olympics were a major highlight. Guests can enjoy free breakfast and a lounge during their stay. You are sitting around the fire at a lodge in Dillingham, Alaska Great Alaska Adventures is for sale! We invite you all to connect with us by sharing, liking and tagging. I absolutely recommend this tour company they are amazing! When Midwesterners settled down there during the Great Depression, they established it as the state's agricultural hub. That being said, my husband and I didn't expect to have to pump it from the ground ourselves. Boats and equipment were excellent. BearCamp, Kenai Fjords, Denali and much more, Adventure Travel Web Design by Canyons Digital. A massive shout out to Caprice, Steve, Ben, Bronte and Alex at Bear Camp who made the experience incredible and left me wanting more!! amazing!! May your future travels be fun, safe & full of adventure. They tailored the trip to our active style. I have wanted to make this trip for over 25 years, but other trips and priorities simply got in the way of fitting it into the schedule. We also have been creating custom, world class adventures for large family and corporate groups for over three decades. The Matanuska spills from mountains that rim Prince William Sound to the head of the Matanuska Valleya colossal, rippled, silt-scoured river of ice more than 20 miles long. So please let our expert and friendly staff create the perfect trip for you. Visit Family Vacation Critic on Facebook! Dear Folks: Thanks so much for taking the time to share your experience! Walt was a crafty guy and he chose the greatest property of allthe confluence of the Moose and Kenai RIves where Great Alaska Adventure Lodge now sits, and where we have spend the last 37 summers sharing it all with our amazing guests. Return to Anchorage on day 10 via the historic Alaska Railroad. Head north from Anchorage up the Glenn Highway, past Palmer and Sutton, into the Chugach Mountains. Great Alaska Adventures Laurence, Kathy, and Kent (and their families) all formed the basis for the Great Alaska Fish Camp in 1982. 108 Reviews. Executive chef Bobby: Bobby is in his 3rd year as executive chef and he delights in adding wonderful food to your Alaskan experience. 2) They do not offer any room cleaning because of "COVID". In addition- the folks you talk to on the phone will be the ones you meet at the resorta comforting feeling when setting up a custom family reunion for a group of 30 or a once-in-a-lifetime fishing trip for you and your college fraternity brothers. From the wake-up knock on the door (with a cup of hot coffee), to the hot breakfast), professional piloting on the fast moving river, stalking of the early morning hot spots, all the way to the amazing dinners, the staff and management of Great Alaska made sure we had a great time. My husband and I celebrated our 35th anniversary by taking a two-week road trip through Alaska. Our Alaska Adventure Trips have been designed to be YOUR trip to Alaska.every trip is unique! Volcanism has caused the Polychrome Overlook a stop on our Denali National Park bus tour to turn into a rainbow of colors, making it the perfect backdrop for our holiday-card photo. Great Alaska Adventure Lodge is a unique destination that is a great fit for 24 hour a day fishermen, wildlife and sightseeing enthusiasts, family and friend groups and corporate or business groups- because we'll fine tune any of our all inclusive itineraries to be the perfect fit for you! Combine a stay at BearCamp with Whitewater Rafting, End of the Road Sea Kayaking, Chugach Forest Mt. This lodge is quite close to Anchorage. It is a wonderful and beautiful flight. All of us in our party could not believe how little/no seafood we were served (it's Alaska!). This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC. 2 Map Website. Experience Alaska like never before with Greatland Adventures! Service Appointment Request Fields marked with an * are required First Name * Last Name * Phone * Email * This scenic lodge sits on 25 acres of riverfront wilderness, right at the confluence of the Moose and Kenai Rivers, roughly 12 miles from the town of Soldotna. Spirit of the Wind imdb True life story of George Attla, the famous Alaskan musher. Choose a round-trip Inside passage or one-way Gulf of Alaska Cruise. Katie Bausler. As a solo traveler I usually veer towards group tours and make my decisions based on ratings. Inlet Charters Across Alaska Adventures. You will not regret booking your Alaska adventures with Great Alaska. Thanks again for choosing Great Alaska, and may your future travels be fun, safe, and full of Adventure! Along with at least 100 other audience members, we got down from the stands and grabbed a piece of a large seal-hide canvas. Loved it. The Great Alaskan Adventure with Mary Beth and Steven Curtis Chapman July 21-28, 2023 Mary Beth and I have a big announcement that we're super excited to share with you: we're heading to Alaska in 2023 for an epic cruise and we want YOU to join us! Traveler: This review literally defines the saying that you can't please everyone. The scale and abundance in these fisheries is remarkable. Inlet Charters Across Alaska Adventures. Here's your chance to experience some of Alaska's true "bucket list" activities- all in 3 great big days. Our guide Nick the final morning was great as well. The days are filled with hiking, whitewater rafting, world class fishing, mountain biking, flat water paddling, hiking, scenic floating and unique "end of the road" touringplus wild Bear Viewing, glacier cruises, and much, much more. Laurence then discovered another homestead (that is another story for another time :)that became BearCamp in 2002. Unless equipped and experienced for glacial travel, its best to hire a guide or join in a tour. Smaller groups also let our knowledgeable, experienced guides focus their attention on your unique needs, preferences, and questions. As soon as we arrived, the green hues started firing up and the sight was beyond one's imagination. Make sure you plan to go in 2020. Adventure Travel Web Design by Canyons Digital. One of our most popular and also affordable trips, and designed just for families, but doesn't scrimp. Thanks to long hours of daylight in the summer, plants are able to make food through photosynthesis from sunrise to sunset. Shari also manages our Safaris program and spends the winters in the mountains of Idaho. I have booked several tours with them. Our motivation is to provide value for our customer, a high quality of life for our guides, and to be an active part of a vibrant local community. We are so pleased to have him and know that you will feel the same. Click here for more info. Would recommend to anyone. These vendor partnership Alaskan adventures are sure to make your Alaskan RV vacation a memorable one. He'll help explain your options, help you with how to dress and any other question you might have. Read more about Walt and the Homestead history here. 7-10 days is the most common. If you dont want to be tied to their transport schedule, rent a car in Anchorage and drive to Dear Clemson Tiger: Thanks so much for your great review - we loved having you and hope the memories you made will be with you always. Click here for more info. document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Greatland Adventures provides the finest private and custom tours in the industry. Whether you choose to multi sport, relaxed touring or even a little of our famous fishing, we can customize most itineraries to make them just perfect for you. For a family of four, one of the best is a room inside the lodge that features an upper loft, with spiral staircase for the kids. Not what we were expecting. The experience we had with Great Alaska Adventures was incredible. Visits to Seward, Homer and a few other local towns rounded the trip out. Brother Bear (2003) Brother Bear Movie Official Facebook Add to all these hundreds of miles of coastal shoreline and one of the most incredible rivers on earth, the Kenai! Room configurations are simple - we have queens and doubles in most rooms perfect for a couple or 2 folks who are not sharing a bed. The most intimate multi-day cruise option. One unique feature of these Alaska Adventure Vacations is their exclusive nature. We offer no one size fits all itineraries, but rather an adventure that is tailored to your Alaskan dream. Laurence and his family were in Los Angeles California in the late '50's and early '60's living the beach life. Ive gone 4 out of 5 stars simply due to the fairly basic accomodation. The team out there are super professional and know how to ensure interactions are safe for us and the bears! Kathy's father, Walt had spent his years on the peninsula operating a air taxi company from the homestead, flying Super Cubs (Alaskan Bush Plane Par excellance) and flying folks from Anchorage looking for property to homestead. We took a two-week summer tour of some of Alaska's most famous highlights for the first time. We went to Great Alaska for our honeymoon and we had a great time! Great Alaska Adventures is for sale! Click here for more info. Your room will overlook an incredible view and you'll be hosted by an incredible team whose goal is simple - to provide you and your group the Alaskan adventure of a lifetime. SCHEDULE SERVICE Call, Text, or Fill out the form below to request service today! Also they make you take a flight with all people at the resort, no matter your flight time out of anchorage back home (again, we realized later they did this to make money and did sacrificed their customer's convenience for this $) Anyways, this flight back was "optional" and you could find your own transportation back if you wanted. It was wonderful to rectify that error. This is an all-inclusive lodge, so the only thing you need to worry about is what amazing activity youre going to do each day. Competitors stationed themselves in the center of the canvas and jumped as high as they could. I was heartbroken when COVID closed them down last year as it was like missing a family reunion. The only point upon which I would expand is the competence, attitude and customer orientation demonstrated by each individual we interacted with (fishing guides, office staff and dining staff). Deciding to close our doors was made harder due to all the great folks like yourself that meant so much to me, and the whole Great Alaska team. (Return flight not included) You'll arrive back home with a whole new Alaskan outlook! We drove a retrofitted van through Anchorage, Palmer, Valdez, Fairbanks, and Denali National Park. They made me and my friend's trip to Anchorage one of the most amazing experiences ever in our lives We were all well educated about the lights before we got there and even had a chance to have a pitstop at a gas station to use the toilet and grab a coffee. We strive to be honest, fair, and fun in everything we do. The lodge offers cabins, rooms and suites of all sizes. About us | learn more about Great Alaska Adventures In our bill, they never itemized this expense, but INSTEAD they hid the expense into the total of our bill. Reservations can be made up to seven months in advance, and prices for most cabins range between $35 and $100 per night. Anchorage, Alaska Tours - Single Day & Multi-Day - Greatland Adventures GREAT ALASKA ADVENTURES - Lodge Reviews (Sterling) - Tripadvisor We had three different guides and all were great, very instructive and patient. Laurence, Kathy, and Kent (and their families) all formed the basis for the Great Alaska Fish Camp in 1982. RV Service, Parts & Accessories - Great Alaskan Holidays Alaska's Best Roadside Adventure Lodges My sole complaint or maybe I should say suggestion would be the food at camp.. of folks choosing Great Alaska to experience Alaska.and to know that it meant so much to you is very gratifying. I am and my team are very proud that the overwhelming majority of our guests absolutely loved their trip with us, and that you won't be making a return trip. Our Kenai River Lodge is at the very core of all we do. After a day of hiking on a glacier, you can come back to the lodge for a lesson in fly casting. These types of trips are never cheap and you need to plan for the heavy tipping that is expected. His current gig is General manager and head of fishing operations. Enter Your Trip Dates Select Dates. With a quarter-mile of the finest wade fishing on the Kenai River. Your must-have activity guide + map while in Alaska. plus direct access to great calm water kayaking and wildlife viewing of the Moose river as well. During the winters she enjoys her new home and family in Tennessee and guides mountain trips for women and other groups all over the world. While at the lodge, all your meals, lodging, nightly happy hour, evening activities and of course every-day guided activities are all included. Earlier in the day you received a fax from the president of BlueNote, Inc. Day to day client operations are handled by Kent and his wife Julie and the amazing Great Alaska Adventures staff. #22 of 63 Boat Tours & Water Sports in Homer. Hair dryers are available for those who request them and all showers have bulk use toiletries to reduce the amount of waste from small disposable toiletry containers. Again, for the price we paid we were expecting to enjoy and look forward to the food each night, you will not get this experience here. We met new friends that will last a lifetime, great people like James and Amy, Frank and Joann, Pat and Larry. After living in Alaska for 30 years, my husband and I took a two-week road trip through the state. Anchorage Get a perfect introduction to the greater Anchorage area on this 3-hour tour. Yes, Great Alaska Adventures offers airport transportation for guests. Our location is perfect for sharing all those things and moreall for 3 days or 3 weeks. Our RV Rental comes standard with the basic outfitting you need for your trip. I'm anxiously awaiting my 2022 trip for fantastic meals, fishing and friends. The atmosphere created by the GAT team facilitated that kind of meeting of people who, in the normal world, you probably wouldnt meet. Want a free brochure? Although the Kenai area was experiencing a major fire that occasionally cut off the main road from Anchorage, they never let that issue impact our trip. And on our way to Valdez, the towering alpine peaks in the Thompson Pass reminded us of our home in Southeast Alaska. Alaskan Cruise with Steven Curtis Chapman | Lifeway My husband became pretty skilled at bringing up well water, using his body weight to pump the steel handle like a human seesaw. Homer, AK. Travelers from all over the globe have come to share the wonders of the Kenai Peninsula with Great Alaska Adventures. If you are looking for a great, easy way to experience the real Alaska, you've found it! Starr and the rest of the The Lodge staff made the experience amazing, as did Cherie, Vicki and Kathy. Half Day Season Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall Departure Location Anchorage Get a perfect introduction to the greater Anchorage area on this 3-hour tour. Some of the more popular amenities offered include free breakfast, a lounge, and free parking. The The main Lodge where happy hour and all meals was once the dream house with the finest view on all the Kenai. This means you don't pay unless you go! Great adventure, great staff, great fish, great location. GREAT ALASKA! One trip - one bill - whichever itinerary you select, Anchorage pickup on day one is included with our daily sightseeing van transfer. Each evening at happy hour our fishing, adventure travel and bear viewing guests from around the globe come together with the guides and management to share the days activities, post photos and plan for tomorrow's adventure. Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more. Plan your journey with this gorgeous printed map. Yes, send me expert advice, handpicked recommendations, and tips for my family. The film chronicals the life of Attla from a young Athabaskan trapper living in the bush to a hospitilization for tuberculosis. Our Chef and his staff serve up authentic and fresh American favorites that everyone can enjoy. Its easy to spend a couple days out here, thanks to the great lodgesnot the big, cruise-circuit lodges, but intimate, family-run places that attract independent-minded travelers. Pickup at your Anchorage hotel (or right at the dock in Seward) is included- plus 3 days of Glacier cruising, sport fishing and Bald eagle floating..and on day three fly back to Anchorage via either commuter aiir from Kenai, or charter float plane direct from the lodge. The Great Alaskan Adventure Cruise 2023 - RezMagic Bearcamp Mgr/Lead Bear Guide Caprice: Caprice has been with us over 12 years keeping our clients safe and informed, and interacting with National Park rangers in the most professional way possible. The only reason I am giving this 4 stars rather than 5 was the lack of quality fishing gear (specifically reels) supplied by GAA. Mark your calendars for July 21-28, 2023 and come cruise with us on a Great Alaskan Adventure. Most trips include an overnight at our one of a kind Bear Viewing Camp in Lake Clark, National Park along with the balance spent at our renowned riverfront main lodge on the world famous Kenai River. Click here for more info. The food was good and the chef did a excellent job However, the general feeling was we left each meal feeling a little hungry ie.