Might seem weird, my giving a dinky airport like this 5-stars, but let me explain…read more Airports this small in Alaska often have ZERO amenities. Usually a bathroom, and that's it. If you're lucky, you'll get an ATM. This airport has a restaurant/bar! It too, is super-dinky, but it's shockingly good! This airport also allowed the Valdez Ice Climbing Festival to use its space, which is pretty rad! I really can't imagine any other airport being so community-driven! They also have some books that the kids can pick from, for free! I guess I should've said this at the top but: I've never actually *flown* into here. I actually *enjoy* the 6 hour drive to the 'deez!

Eh, small town, small airport. It is really old and kinda grungy. Only saving grace are the drama…read moremagazines someone brings in for reading material, and the corner bar that used to be called landing lights but is now puddle jumpers. There is a little gift shop with some local flavor. Across the street is the man camp, so you'll see the workers walk to the bar for an nightcap more often than not.

I spent 3 nights and 4 days exploring around Valdez, Alaska. And I had a really good time…read more Valdez, AK is located 300 miles away by road from Anchorage. You can pair it with visiting Wrangell St. Elias National Park. I'd like to rundown a list of the sights, sceneries and attractions from my visit...to maybe help others interested in coming to this beautiful seaside town and what to expect. For a few days, it's more than enough time to get acclimated here and to appreciate another under the radar town that truly exudes a vintage Alaskan setting. Before I relay what I did...yes, Valdez, very well known for its world class fishing trips, and sitting among statuesque mountains all within a charming harbor at the end of Richardson Highway Drive. - Stan Stephens Glacier Tour - I did the Meares Glacier all day tour and had a wonderful time. They offer a shorter excursion to Columbia Glacier as well. - Solomon Fish Hatchery - I could never grasp the whole concept of a fish hatchery, but here during early August, I got to witness how they catch salmon during spawning season and help in the cycle/process of continuing the incubation for future salmons...if that makes any sense. But...the whole process and watching salmon swim upstream surrounded by seagulls was pretty impressive. Doesn't take long to stop on by. - Glacier View Park - very quiet atmosphere to be among a glacier in the background. More importantly, the lake is quite pristine and reflective with floating icebergs situated in the waters. People had their kayaks here to enjoy paddling. You can even have a picnic. Located maybe 10 miles outside downtown Valdez, Glacier View Park is a great hidden escape. - Civic Center Overlook Trail - situated right in town. To find it, just plug the trail into Google Maps. The pathway is as short as it gets, around 3/10's of a mile, but it gives a quick glimpse from high above into the scenery on the opposite side of downtown Valdez. Maybe you need 15 - 20 minutes here, but still, it's an activity, nonetheless. - Homestead Trail - this is located on the left-hand side as you're driving Homestead Road. You'll see a parking area for you to leave your car and then it's a 1/2 mile walk to the Valdez River waters where you'll be surrounded by nothing but refreshing air and currents from boats passing by. At the end of the trail, or sort of the pinnacle...it's really an interesting sight to see especially on a sunny day. You feel liberated, or at least I did, lol. - Dock Point Park and Trail - good spot for barbecuing and having lunch/dinner by the waterside. Plus, when walking the trail, it gives you an inside perspective into the cool mountainous backdrop of Valdez. - Walking around the Downtown Harbor - this is a MUST to get a real feel understanding of how this small town of Valdez can leave a lasting impression on your visit and time here. Though the downtown length is not even 1/3 of a mile long...you can still eat at some amazing restaurants and Food Trucks. Plus, the harbor will offer you opportunities to watch completed fishing trips return with their catches where professionals will wash, rinse and filet the fresh catches right in front of your face. If you stop on by, say, starting at 5pm...you should be able to see what it's all about. Tourists, guides and fishermen brag about how they journey out on Prince William Sound, and you get to view their rewards being some monster fish. The Restaurants - I ate at the famous Potato and the Fat Mermaid. I got a cheesesteak at The Potato with fries and a drink. Yeah, it was expensive...$27 with a drink and gratuity. The cheesesteak was fine. The Fat Mermaid I had heard was well known for their pizzas. I got a small 12" pie, and it was very good with a crispy crust. I noticed 3 Food Trucks in town as well... They were Glacier Grind - BBQ, Nat Shack - tacos, Aunty Yum Yum's Thai Food. I never got a chance to eat at any of the food trucks, unfortunately. For buying little knickknack souvenirs, I recommend Captain Joe's Gas Station. Plus, here, they're open 24 hours and include a laundromat, public showers, snacks and drinks. There's a Safeway Grocery Shopping Store for any foods/extras you may need. There's RV Parks for camping/tenting out in nature. A few include...Bear Paw RV Park, Valdez RV Park and Eagles Rest RV Park. Lastly, don't forget to take a photo with the Valdez, Alaska Sign as you're entering town to officially announce that you have arrived! Valdez, Alaska is a rustic and charming, fishing port town that was one of my favorite places to stop along my summer journey through Alaska. Hope others out there put this place on their itineraries.

OK y'all, Valdez is a lot of fun…read more BUT, you'll have to do your own research and make your own fun. This isn't a town like Seward or Homer where you can just show up and have loads of things to do/places to eat/places to sleep. Being that it's a 6 hour car ride from Anchorage, it's a much more sleepy town. But, if you can unlock its secrets, it has a ton to offer: - World-class ice climbing - World-class backcountry skiing - fat biking - kayaking - (for the wealthy) heli-skiing - 2 glaciers to ogle with easy-ish access - waterfalls to ogle (summer) or climb (winter) right next to the road You'll find much more approachable hiking in the Anchorage bowl and on the Kenai peninsula. Valdez doesn't really have the greatest trail system. If you want to get high you'll probably be doing some intense bush-whacking and/or harrowing stream/creek/river crossing. In the winter many restaurants are closed. The ones that are open, close early, plan accordingly!

Fantastic Service, and nice guys! I had to take this several times when working up there to get to…read morethe Native Islands.

After enjoying the jaw-dropping beauty of Valdez by hiking the Shoup By Trail (Section A), eating…read moreat the Roadside Potatohead, spending a night with Anna's Ptarmigan B&B (awesome, by the way), then enjoying Ms. Anna's complimentary breakfast, I headed over to take the ferry to Whittier (or, as I like to call it, Weirdier). Luckily, the company from which I rented my car was OK with me taking the car on this ferry, or I would have missed a pleasant experience. Although the weather was rainy, the ferry was relatively smooth. It was very spacious, had plenty of seating, & boasted a nice dining area full of yummy options. There was one poor soul with the worst motion sickness I've ever seen, but the rest of us did well for the 4-hour journey from Valdez to Weirdier. We were told by the Captain when Humpback Whales were breaching & dashed out in our raincoats to see them in all of their glory. A very professional, friendly, & accommodating staff, combined with affordable, top-notch quarters, made this a really good experience for me. I would recommend this & do this again.

This was a totally charming B&B with strengths in its location, hostess, and homemade breakfast…read more NOTE: it's very easy to make a reservation, but you have to bring CASH to pay her directly. Good thing there is a Wells Fargo Bank nearby, because out of towners forget this a lot and Anna was nice enough to give me a ride down there! I stayed there 2 nights and Anna was a very sweet hostess who was hospitable and considerate. She asked me about my activities and made breakfast according to our schedules each morning, which was as early as 6:30am for me. I had a choice of a room with twin beds, or a queen bed & a cot. I picked the latter :) The rooms don't have black curtains, but they are shielded from the sun. The room I stayed in was adjacent to the common area via a sliding glass door which Anna locked up for me. The common area had a kitchenette with a table, mini-tv, mini-fridge, microwave, etc. The bathroom was tricky, there were some signs that give you some instructions if you're ok with that sort of thing. I just asked Anna directly about how to use it without messing things up. The breakfast was homemade and fresh from the skillet--a real treat as she makes just enough for the number of people there. You eat at her dining table just like a friend or family member, with other guests. I got scrambled eggs and sausage patties, toast, and fruit on Day 1. I got a veggie omelette, pan-fried spam, toast, and fruit on Day 2. She makes you a cup of coffee in a mug too, and orange juice. I'd recommend this place, it's got character and just as nice as the other places around that area for the price and wonderful host. I met a couple who will only stay at her place.

The gang at VS Helicopters is so awesome. Everyone does their utmost to make sure your helicopter…read moretour experience is the best and one you'll remember for years to come. Ryan and Jackson are pilots extraordinaire, they made our flights so fun. I highly recommend booking a helicopter experience with VS, you won't regret it!

My wife and I had the pleasure of having Leigh as our pilot for a flight up the Valdez Glacier…read more This was my wife's first time in a helicopter, so she sat in the available front seat - I loved watching her excitement as Leigh flew us up along the glacier, pointing out wildlife and other points of interest. I am not a fan of flying in Alaska - Leigh did an AMAZING job of taking my hesitation/ anxiety into consider, w/o negatively impacting my wife's experience. Landing on the Valdez Glacier was a treat - got to see some of the small melt-pools up close, and Leigh brought along cups to ensure we had an opportunity to drink fresh glacier water at the source. Learned a lot during the excursion as well - Leigh is a great pilot AND guide.

Left 2 messages for them and never received a call back!! There are very limited car rentals in…read moreValdez, so your options are very limited; therefore, you have a captive audience, so maybe you can afford to be lax in your customer service??

Got off the plane and keys to a suitable mid size car within 5 minutes. Not too many people in…read moreValdez so it was a snap. Car was clean with minimal scratches. Easy to rent, but limited so make your reservations in advance. One thing got my goat. The morning and afternoon flights were cancelled due to weather so this joint offers a shuttle run if there are enough people to drive. I was 20 minutes away and got a call at 1.10 that the shuttle was leaving at 1.30. I told them to wait for me and I headed over. I got there at 1.34 and was continually harrassed to "hurry up" by the driver and by the lady behind the counter when I was checking in the car. Um, this is a driven shuttle not a plane. Is it really necessary to be so harrassed that even when I asked if I could use the bathroom they said to hurry! It's a 6 hour drive people not a plane ride! Jeez...

We stayed in the "Cottage" and it was adorable! Decorated nicely and very clean. Located right in…read morethe middle of the RV park and near all of our friends staying in the RV hook up area. The cottage was equipped with a full kitchen and dining area with a tv (that we didn't even turn on). The bedroom was in a separate private room that also had a tv & a dresser. The bed was kinda small but the linens were soft and clean. The bathroom was cute and a shower was wonderful after fishing all day. The Cottage came with a complimentary bottle of wine. The only thing I would have improved is a fan of some sort... It got very hot and only one window opens up, so we had to keep the door open so we could have a crosswind.... The staff was friendly and we will definitely return when we make our yearly Halibut fishing trip!

This review is for the cabins only. From a factual perspective the cabins are located on the main…read moreroad into Valdez so there is street noise until 9 and early morning when people start leaving town. The cabins are small and rustic feeling although there is a great heater, microwave and refrigerator. The floral sheets seemed like they were from my grandmother's house but there was a cute bedspread on top. When I attempted to ask for fresh towels from the front desk I was greeted with a very unfriendly host. The WiFi in the cabin does not support streaming as the bandwidth is obviously overloaded which was super frustrating. The housekeeping staff was extremely friendly and helpful. Also need to mention the hot water heater can only support a single shower and then runs out of hot water. Overall a disappointing experience.

Really nice RV park. Spaces to the left on the lot are spacious and the bathrooms were great.read more

Friendly, generous staff, and a clean comfortable place. Donna at the front desk was so flexible…read morewith us when we had mistakenly double booked for a hookup site. Very convenient to town-- walking distance to groceries, the docks, restaurants, etc.