Things to do at Princess Lodges in Alaska

I will be visiting alaska and will be staying at the following Princess
Lodges

(http://www.princesslodges.com)

Denali Princess
Kenai Princess
McKinley Princess

While each of these lodges offer guided hikes, I prefer to do my own
self-guided hikes. What can people tell me about the hiking trails which
are nearby? How would I reach the trailhead? Taxi? Would any good ones
be within walking distance of the lodges?

What kind of other activities are available in the surrounding area?
(Reachable by Taxi I assume)

On Wed, 17 May 2006 04:27:32 GMT in rec.travel.usa-canada,
(Eric) wrote:

I will be visiting alaska and will be staying at the following Princess
Lodges

(http://www.princesslodges.com)

Denali Princess
Kenai Princess
McKinley Princess

While each of these lodges offer guided hikes, I prefer to do my own
self-guided hikes. What can people tell me about the hiking trails which
are nearby? How would I reach the trailhead? Taxi? Would any good ones
be within walking distance of the lodges?

the evil princess empire will try to keep you captive. after
all, you've already demonstrated that you'll pay about 4 times
the reasonable price for a mediocre room, when you could get a
homey bed & breakfast room for half the price. that means that
you're a great prospect for their overpriced gifts, souvenirs,
and "art auctions", and excursions to their captive
"attractions".

they want to fleece all the sheeple on their cruise ships and
land "excursions" to their lodges in the middle of nowhere
(designed to keep you away from locally owned independent gift
shops and restaurants).

they locate their lodges more than reasonable walking distance
from anywhere else. alaskan taxis (often vans) aren't cheap,
either.

may the force be with you.

================================================== ===========
If you want to see the real Alaska, don't come on a
cruise ship! See the cruise industry rogue's gallery
at http://www.cruisejunkie.com/#Environmental_Issues

Dennis P. Harris

Dennis P. Harris wrote:

On Wed, 17 May 2006 04:27:32 GMT in rec.travel.usa-canada,
(Eric) wrote:

I will be visiting alaska and will be staying at the following Princess
Lodges

(http://www.princesslodges.com)

Denali Princess
Kenai Princess
McKinley Princess

While each of these lodges offer guided hikes, I prefer to do my own
self-guided hikes. What can people tell me about the hiking trails which
are nearby? How would I reach the trailhead? Taxi? Would any good ones
be within walking distance of the lodges?

the evil princess empire will try to keep you captive. after
all, you've already demonstrated that you'll pay about 4 times
the reasonable price for a mediocre room, when you could get a
homey bed & breakfast room for half the price.

Thanks for the information you did provide.

However, the insulting attitude isn't appreciated.

In article . com,
Bill wrote:

I don't live there and basically don't have a dog in this fight but I
can see the Alaskan's point of view as well as that of the tourist.
But that's why you won't be welcomed with open arms when you tell real
Alaskans you're taking a cruise on a mega-ship and staying at Princess
hotels ...

Any visitor who manages to break away from the touron hordes will get a
reasonably friendly welcome. They don't manage to break away that often,
but every now and then it happens.

--
---
"Wake up, everybody."--McFadden/Whitehead/Carstarphen

Bill wrote:

I've stayed a few nights at the Denali Princess in the fall when rates
drop to $99 per night when no cruise tours are there


Thank you. All of the information you provided was quite useful.

Eric wrote:
I will be visiting alaska and will be staying at the following Princess
Lodges

(http://www.princesslodges.com)

Denali Princess

I stayed there once, though not as part of a cruise (they rent their
rooms out to non-cruise passengers as well). You can walk to hiking
right from the lodge. I forget where we hiked, but it was not far from
the train tracks, close to the river, and there was a small lake, and we
walked to the trail head. There was a pedestrian/bike route under
construction three years ago, so I'm sure that it's done by now. They
also have a shuttle over to Denali headquarters, which IIRC was free.
There was quite a bit of wildlife on that hike.

We did a rafting trip from a place across the street from the lodge, and
there are restaurants within walking distance.

Oh, and I did laundry at the coin-operated laundry at the Denali Princess.

Bill wrote:

I don't live there and basically don't have a dog in this fight but I
can see the Alaskan's point of view as well as that of the tourist.
But that's why you won't be welcomed with open arms when you tell real
Alaskans you're taking a cruise on a mega-ship and staying at Princess
hotels ...

I was rather embarrassed to be staying at the Princess hotel in Denali,
for those reasons, but I hope that Alaskan's realize that not everyone
staying there is a cruise ship passenger.