Mount McKinley Information & Ideas Please...and how bad is resort ???

[Louand66]

We are staying at Princess Mount KcKinley Lodge for 2 nights. I am looking for any thought or ideas of things to do whilst there either with Princess or Independently.

 

Also I have just been on Trip Advisor and there are page after page of negative reviews with 1 or 2 stars. Is it really that bad.

 

Many thanks for any help.....

[Northern Aurora]

Through the years we have stayed at the Princess McKinley View Lodge a number of times.  We stay there when we are returning home to Fairbanks, Alaska from either Seward or Homer.  We don't like to spend a very long day driving, and the McKinley View is a convenient stop.

 

It is located up a rather steep hill off of the George Parks Highway.  While there is Alaska state park land in close proximity the McKinley View Lodge is positioned so that folks can't easily walk to any attraction.  Many people see it as essentially a "holding pen" for those on cruise tours, hence the poor reviews.  

 

The guest rooms are in various lodge buildings across the property.  Rooms are rather basic with no air conditioning. There is a restaurant and more casual dining facility on the property.  From reading reviews throughout the years some folks find it a convenient location to do laundry (there is a guest laundry).  There are some walking paths along the property, but I would not characterize them as "hiking trails."

 

Expect a shuttle to run from the McKinley View to the community of Talkeetna.  Depending on road construction expect to be on the shuttle ride to last from 45 minutes to an hour.  In Talkeetna you might consider booking a jet boat trip with Mahay's Jet Boats; very reputable company which has been in business a very long time.

[wolfie11]

It’s weather dependent. On clear, warm days it’s nice.  On cold, rainy days you’re stuck in the middle of nowhere with nothing to do.

[Louand66]

Thank you for all of your helpful information.

 

Is there much to do at Talkeenta. Is this east to get to?

 

 

23 minutes ago, Northern Aurora said:

Through the years we have stayed at the Princess McKinley View Lodge a number of times.  We stay there when we are returning home to Fairbanks, Alaska from either Seward or Homer.  We don't like to spend a very long day driving, and the McKinley View is a convenient stop.

 

It is located up a rather steep hill off of the George Parks Highway.  While there is Alaska state park land in close proximity the McKinley View Lodge is positioned so that folks can't easily walk to any attraction.  Many people see it as essentially a "holding pen" for those on cruise tours, hence the poor reviews.  

 

The guest rooms are in various lodge buildings across the property.  Rooms are rather basic with no air conditioning. There is a restaurant and more casual dining facility on the property.  From reading reviews throughout the years some folks find it a convenient location to do laundry (there is a guest laundry).  There are some walking paths along the property, but I would not characterize them as "hiking trails."

 

Expect a shuttle to run from the McKinley View to the community of Talkeetna.  Depending on road construction expect to be on the shuttle ride to last from 45 minutes to an hour.  In Talkeetna you might consider booking a jet boat trip with Mahay's Jet Boats; very reputable company which has been in business a very long time.

 

Edited May 3 by Louand66

[Northern Aurora]

6 minutes ago, Louand66 said:

Thank you for all of your helpful information.

 

Is there much to do at Talkeenta. Is this east to get to?

 

 

 

 

To go to Talkeetna you will need to take the Princess shuttle.  Through the years there have been some posts that the shuttle to Talkeetna is free if folks are on a Princess cruise tour.  I have no idea.

 

Talkeetna is this "funky" little community.  I liked it much better years ago as it now has a somewhat tourist trap feel to it.  This is the community from which many of the Denali mountain climbers are flown to the mountain to begin their ascent.  There are some restaurants, pubs and so forth.  Some folks find it enchanting, other not so much.  Just goggle the name for more information.

[Louand66]

8 hours ago, Northern Aurora said:

Through the years we have stayed at the Princess McKinley View Lodge a number of times.  We stay there when we are returning home to Fairbanks, Alaska from either Seward or Homer.  We don't like to spend a very long day driving, and the McKinley View is a convenient stop.

 

It is located up a rather steep hill off of the George Parks Highway.  While there is Alaska state park land in close proximity the McKinley View Lodge is positioned so that folks can't easily walk to any attraction.  Many people see it as essentially a "holding pen" for those on cruise tours, hence the poor reviews.  

 

The guest rooms are in various lodge buildings across the property.  Rooms are rather basic with no air conditioning. There is a restaurant and more casual dining facility on the property.  From reading reviews throughout the years some folks find it a convenient location to do laundry (there is a guest laundry).  There are some walking paths along the property, but I would not characterize them as "hiking trails."

 

Expect a shuttle to run from the McKinley View to the community of Talkeetna.  Depending on road construction expect to be on the shuttle ride to last from 45 minutes to an hour.  In Talkeetna you might consider booking a jet boat trip with Mahay's Jet Boats; very reputable company which has been in business a very long time.

 

[Louand66]

A couple of people on another forum have mentioned a wagon ride excursion.

 

Has anybody done this one ?