Alaska State Fair

[chrismch]

Our cruise starts in Anchorage with an overnight stay. How hard would it be to get to the State Fair from the port?

[AKStafford]

Your cruise will actually depart from Seward or Whittier, depending on the cruise line.

The state fair is in Palmer, an hour north of Anchorage. If you rent a car it's an easy drive out. On the weekends the Alaska Railroad runs a special fair train. The rental car is probably your best bet.

[Budget Queen]

You need a car rental.

[AlohaPride]

Our cruise starts in Anchorage with an overnight stay. How hard would it be to get to the State Fair from the port?

 

We were able to rent a car for about $60 for the day at Avis Car Rental Downtown (it's pretty close to the pier) in Anchorage and were told the fair is about a 30-45 min. drive. We are VERY excited to spend the day there.

[melodyina]

We were able to rent a car for about $60 for the day at Avis Car Rental Downtown (it's pretty close to the pier) in Anchorage and were told the fair is about a 30-45 min. drive. We are VERY excited to spend the day there.

 

Some of the cruise ships did depart from Anchorage port last year, but most don't. The cruiselines do say 'Anchorage' but its not in reference to the Anchorage port. So please double-check.

 

The State Fair is an easy drive out to Palmer. 45 min from downtown is a good reference pending on the day. If you finish the fair early, use your car and visit Hatcher's Pass outside of Palmer, and then on the way back pull into Eklutna to see the 'spirit houses' (google it).. at least a drive-by look anyways.

 

Enjoy!

[AlohaPride]

Some of the cruise ships did depart from Anchorage port last year, but most don't. The cruiselines do say 'Anchorage' but its not in reference to the Anchorage port. So please double-check.

 

The State Fair is an easy drive out to Palmer. 45 min from downtown is a good reference pending on the day. If you finish the fair early, use your car and visit Hatcher's Pass outside of Palmer, and then on the way back pull into Eklutna to see the 'spirit houses' (google it).. at least a drive-by look anyways.

 

Enjoy!

 

I think the second part of your comment was for me? We aren't departing Anchorage. Our cruise is out of Seattle. Anchorage is just a VERY long port day for us :)

 

Thanks for the recommendations about Hatcher's Pass and the "spirit houses"!!

[Chenega]

I think the second part of your comment was for me? We aren't departing Anchorage. Our cruise is out of Seattle. Anchorage is just a VERY long port day for us :)

 

Thanks for the recommendations about Hatcher's Pass and the "spirit houses"!!

 

Are you on the Holland America Amsterdam on a fourteen-day round trip from Seattle? If so, yes, Anchorage is your port.

 

Holland America runs shuttle buses from the port of Anchorage. If you arrive on a Saturday or Sunday, the Alaska Railroad runs special trains to and from the fair from their depot very close to the cruise docks. Otherwise, a Holland America shuttle can take you to the downtown area where you can rent your car to get to the fairgrounds.

[mapsmith]

On our last cruise to Alaska, we wound up finishing in Whittier and then stayed a day in Anchorage before heading north to Denali. We did make it to the State Fair and had a great time. the State Fair is known for displays of amazing Matanuska Valley Vegetables, like 36 inch carrots and 90 pound cabbages. But the fun thing was actually meeting and seeing true Alaskans. We enjoyed the State Fair environment and the stereotypical sourdoughs that were wandering around.

 

We also got to meet the artist that draws the "Tundra" Cartoons. http://www.tundracomics.com/

 

Really nice guy and funny cartoons. We also found an very interesting carving of salmon in a river. But the size was too big to easily transport back to Tucson. (Still kicking myself for not buying it.)

 

The Alaskan State Fair is a typical State Fair, but it is a smaller footprint. The people are also a lot nicer and friendlier than some Fairs that we have been to.

 

If you can, take the trip.

[AlohaPride]

Are you on the Holland America Amsterdam on a fourteen-day round trip from Seattle? If so, yes, Anchorage is your port.

 

Holland America runs shuttle buses from the port of Anchorage. If you arrive on a Saturday or Sunday, the Alaska Railroad runs special trains to and from the fair from their depot very close to the cruise docks. Otherwise, a Holland America shuttle can take you to the downtown area where you can rent your car to get to the fairgrounds.

 

Yes :) Thanks.

[AKStafford]

One word of warning....

If you are at the fair on a nice day when there's a popular concert, at the end of the night there is will be A LOT of people headed back to Anchorage on the Glenn Highway, which is the only road. A car accident could turn your 45 minute drive into a two hour ordeal. So just give yourself plenty of time...

[AlohaPride]

One word of warning....

If you are at the fair on a nice day when there's a popular concert, at the end of the night there is will be A LOT of people headed back to Anchorage on the Glenn Highway, which is the only road. A car accident could turn your 45 minute drive into a two hour ordeal. So just give yourself plenty of time...

 

Thanks for the warning! I'll be sure to check the band list. I think we'd like to just go in the morning. Our three girls still nap.