joe b.
Florida
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Joined: 08/24/2002
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I can see why Valdez is not on everyone's favorite list. It is the most "non-tourist" ocean fronting community that is available, to the south central Alaska road system. Chena Hot Springs, on the other hand is set up to cater to tourist and does a great job of doing so. (it is for sale at $4 million the last I heard) Valdez is somewhat out of the way, not a great deal to do after the boat rides, unless you are into fishing. The years we lived in Alaska, we didn't spend much time in Valdez either, but since we moved outside to the lower 48, it has become one of our favorite places in Alaska. Just a laid back place, IMHO. Of course the only place with worst weather in the area is Whittier.
Just as I have claimed in the past that the drive to Alaska is not for everyone, neither is Valdez, or Nome or Point Hope, or Kotzebue, or Anchorage. LOL The last two trips up to Alaska, 2006 and 2009 we have spent a week or two in Valdez and may spend more time next summer. It reminds me of the way Homer used to be, before it became a playground of the urban dwellers and other groups. I think Valdez affects some people the same way that Fairbanks does. You either enjoy them or you don't. I do.
joe b.
Stuart Florida
Formerly of Colorado and Alaska
Dodge/TCD - Rockwood 8281 SS 5th Whl & 2008 Lance 845 TC
www.pajbcooper.com web site
Alaska Trip 2011 - now posted.
Alaska-Colorado&others, photos
"Without challenge, adventure is impossible".
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lanerd
Ridgecrest, CA
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Joined: 03/03/2003
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Two weeks? Boy, you must have been on the road every day with lots of driving hours. Annnd 156 degree water? What are you, lobsters?
We took 5 months to do our trip and even then did not have enough time to see and visit every place we wanted. Valdez was great...along with every other place we hit...never found one that we didn't like or wouldn't visit again.
Return trip is planned for 2012 or 2013.
Ron
Ron & Sandie
Maggie May, Rescued Wonder Dog
'08 Safari Simba SBD35
Toad: 2011 GMC Terrain SLT
Tow Bar: Sterling AT
Brakes: Unified U.S. Gear
TPMS: Pressure Pro
RETIRED!! How sweet it is....
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sue.t
Ibex Valley, Yukon
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Joined: 08/05/2004
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Valdez was very expensive this year. Groceries were silly costs ... $8 for a big bag of chips that would cost $4 Cdn at home. The place was too busy and dusty when we were there and we hit it on sunny hot days.
Whittier was favored by us by far over Valdez. And the 2.5 mile drive through the rail tunnel was a hoot! Great fun! Really enjoyed the Whittier area, and it's just a boat ride away from Valdez. But then we like the quieter out of the way spots that don't cost an arm and a leg to enjoy.
sue t.
Pictures from our many RV Adventures to Yukon & Alaska
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jlawless
Coldfoot, AK
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Joined: 07/23/2007
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My opinion was not based on weather or tourism. After spending an entire summer at Mile 33 of Chena Hot Springs Road (and being evacuated 2x due to forest fires) - I seriously doubt the Chena Road area has a tenth of the tourists Valdez sees. And you may be surprised just how empty that resort can be. Indeed, I regularly meet people visiting Alaska that have no clue where Chena Hot Springs Road is (and even less interest in going when I tell them - LOL ).
It was beautiful the day we visited Valdez so I can't blame that - in fact the campsite at Blueberry Lake was beautiful. But there is natural beauty all over Alaska so I wouldn't be drawn to Valdez just for that. People who love "the setting" of Valdez - watery, mountainous, snowy peaks - halibut fishing - pipelines - are unlikely to be drawn to the scraggly - swampy - interior - isolation of Chena Hot Springs Road even if there are more moose, beavers and lynx. We just tend to go back to places we had fun. We've had fun in many parts of Alaska and in all kinds of weather - just can't think of any fond memories in Valdez.
Most people either like Seward or Homer - but not both - for some reason. Who can make sense of it? I always look forward to visiting Seward and have a zillion great memories - but after several trips to Homer (in all weather)- I think it is a real nice place to catch a float plane.
Talk to the animals. They will talk back to you. If you don't talk to the animals, they won't talk back to you, and you will fear and when you fear animals you will destroy, and if you destroy the animals, you will destroy yourself.
Chief Dan George
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joe b.
Florida
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Joined: 08/24/2002
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Actually a big part of the tourist business in Chena Hot Springs is in the winter time. They have several contracts with Asian tour companies to bring tourists there, usually the younger crowd. It is a popular honeymoon spot with young Japanese newly weds in the winter time. They rent snow machines, cross country skis, take people for Snow Cat rides, etc. and then back to the hot springs indoor and outdoor pools. Excellent restaurants, green houses for growing fresh veggies that they serve, generate their own electrical power off the hot springs water, ice block hotel, in addition to the more traditional hotel on the property, a bar in the ice hotel.
The years we lived in Nenana, we would go up to Chena several times a winter, rent a cabin with my wife's sister's family and spend a few fun days. The current owner has made a lot of good improvements to the property in the last few years since he bought it. We were up there last summer but it was over 90°F outside so the thought of being in hot water, wasn't as appealing, as when we have done it at
-40°F/C (both the same at that temp)
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TEO
Inverness, FL, USA
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Joined: 08/07/2003
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We found Valdez to be one of the better areas that we visited. We spent a week and I thought next time I would spend more time. On a wildlife/glacier tour we met a local family that pointed us to many great places to fish and I often had the river to myself. People were great. Bears showed up on time. Salmon were plentiful. Fantastic scenery on the way in and out. Yup, we'll visit again.
Paul
Paul & Helen
2002 Winnebago Journey DL
1999 Jeep Cherokee toad 
Yellow Lab, Jodie, Chocolate Lab, Coco  , and Lab/Golden mix, Sandy.
FMCA 98905
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Deb and Ed M
SW MI, USA
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Joined: 06/07/2004
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jlawless wrote: People who love "the setting" of Valdez - watery, mountainous, snowy peaks - halibut fishing .
YUP! And I hate to shop - so the lack of touristy-shopping traps gave Valdez bonus points, in my eyes....LOL! Great museum there, too!
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PA12DRVR
Anchorage, AK
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Joined: 09/17/2003
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I find nothing particularly appealing or particularly off-putting about the town of Valdez. (but what to I know, I live in Los Anchorage, LOL). However, the trip to/from Valdez is one of, IMNSHO, the nice road system trips in Alaska.
Depending on one's origin, you get mountains (along the Matanuska & through Thompson pass), a touch of what might pass for the interior (Glenallen), and you end up with scenic ocean vistas.
Valdez is nice enough town in the midst of a nice scenic setting with lots of available activities, but the town itself isn't the attraction. In Chena Hot Springs (personal view here) the resort is the attraction not the stunted growth terrain surrounding the resort. Clearly, if one prefers the attractions of the resort, Valdez would not be a competitor.
CRL
Displaced Alaskan NO MORE!
My RV is a 1946 PA-12
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jpcp3844
Gillespie, Il
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Joined: 09/03/2008
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Just returned from a 3 month trip to Alaska and never went anywhere I would not want to return to icluding the Valdez. The drive there and was fantastic and our week stay there was great. If you don't like mountains and the fishing etc why make the trip to Alaska in the first place. Anyone just staying inland is missing what Alaska is all about, but to each its own.
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logcabinKOR
Conway, N. H.
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Joined: 04/23/2004
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As most of you noted, everyone has their "druthers", but Valdez has always been one of our favorite stops until this year. Number 1, our favorite spot was closed. The Sea Otter RV Park, owned by the city was marked off with yellow tape and not a sole there. Can't imagine them letting something like that happen. To us there isn't another spot in Valdez as nice as this one. Add that to a week of rain, and we pulled up stakes and headed out. The Halibut House serves up a great Halibut sandwich, the Musuem was great, just bad weather and not our campground we wanted.  (
Does anyone know what's up with the city not opening the RV Park?
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