Anchorage hotels tend to double in price on June 1; however the off-season before then and after the US Labor Day weekend can be cold and many attractions don't gear up until June. Fun bike paths and moose in town. B&Bs can be a happy medium between the $$$ hotels and some of the less attractive hostels (~$80 in '05), For rest of state, Denali fills up early so plan ahead for that park if you can. Backcountry camping is usually available. If you bus to Denali, the train back is fun. McCarthy/St. Elias is uncrowded; more difficult to get to w/o a car. Small boat day tour to glaciers in Seward is recommended and easy to get too and a night there is fun.
Seward is a nice little town. The hike at Hardings ice field is a damn good day hike. Reasonably strenuous and we saw a bear and 2 cubs. We had a great lunch at Harbour Dinner Club. Surprisingly, sea food is expensive in Alaska. Expect to pay $20 per head. Another thing to do in Seward is the resurrection Bay Cruise. We went all the up to the Aialik Glacier. Lots of wildlife enroute... bald eagles, puffins, killer whales (we saw about 20!), humpback, lots of other birds, and also sea lions... many :).
Petersburg itself is a real gem, if only because it has not been ruined by the hordes of suspicious day trippers that the cruise ships disgorge, ruining Juneau, Sitka, and other places. Petersburg retains its isolated, small town feel and is surprisingly Scandinavian, even today.
Anchorage is a world class city. One of my 5 favorite cities in the US.
The harbor in Juneau has the feel of a movie set -- it has been ruined by the big cruise ships.
Denali Mountain Morning Hostel & Lodge in Denali Park … This hostel is beautiful! It's especially impressive when it is taken into account that your hosts built most of it themselves. The cabins give a nice, homey feeling, and there's always food in the fridge. Your hosts, Ben and Becky, are the friendliest people you'll meet in Alaska, and they do all they can to make your stay as enjoyable as possible. It's a must-see place!!
Sheep Mountain Lodge in Palmer … The Sheep Mountain Lodge & Hostel is made up of a number of small log cabin lodges and a log restaurant. Most of the cabins are rented out to at regular prices, but one or two are reserved for hostellers. The one I was in had 3 sturdy bunk beds in it. I had two roommates. The cabin was clean and warm. The restaurant was fantastic! Nothing like sitting down to a good meal after driving all day. The hostel also had a great view of the mountains (of course!).
Alaska Island Hostel - Petersburg in Petersburg … Like the Eagle View Hostel in Ketchikan, the Bunk and Breakfast is a great example of what makes small-scale home hostels so nice. The dorms and living room are comfortable, and Ryn, the owner, provides fresh-baked goodies for breakfast and plenty of information about things to do in Petersburg. (As a side note, I thought Petersburg was by far the nicest of the Southeast Alaska towns; it doesn't get much cruise ship traffic, so you're spared the crowds, and the mountains are gorgeous.)
HI - Ninilchik, The Eagle Watch Hostel in Ninilchik … My brother and I stayed at this hostel in 2002. The owners were very friendly.
Ketchikan Hostel in Ketchikan … I worked here for six weeks as a hostel manager. I had an absolute ball! I met really cool and wonderful people, and ate crab and fresh fish constantly. The weather was fabulous most of the time. Because the hostel is located in a church, "shady" folks seem to shy away from staying here, so it remains a warm and welcoming place for adults and children alike. (And though you may be politely asked, no one makes anyone go to church) The hostel is clean and the church folks loved to visit, always bringing tons of cookies and homemade treats for the hostelers. I found there to be more American than international hostelers. Most say they always wanted to visit Alaska. Working here was one of the best experiences I had of hosteling in my life. I definitely would recommend this hostel (especially considering the "not so wonderful" hostel alternatives in the area). The only thing I did not like is that the premises close during the day. It makes it a bit easier to clean when no one is around…
Jana House - A hostel on the Kenai in Sterling … Jana House is unique, clean, modern, and huge. The host is nice.
The bathrooms are incredibly large. I'm not sure about transportation to and from the hostel, since I arrived by car. The host mentioned that some of the oil rig people stay there once in awhile, but that does not seem to be a problem. The lounges are big and furnished comfotably, as is the cooking area. I would stay there again.
Alyeska Hostel in Girdwood … It was clean and comfortable, but not a party place. I never saw the host, but it seemed well run. I would stay again.
Seaside Farm Hostel in Homer … Very laid back and great views from camp sites.
Bear Creek Cabins & Hostel in Haines … I have stayed here on 2 different occasions. I like it because it has cabins and when there are 2 to 4 of you, you pretty much get your own cabin. The facilities are older but they were clean. Staff were great.
Talkeetna Hostel International in Talkeetna … This was a very nice and clean hostel, with a very nice host. There were too many dogs sharing the couches for my taste, but that's Alaska. It was a little walk into town, about 15-20 minutes.
Juneau International Hostel in Juneau … The bad news first: The hostel is open only for limited hours, especially in the winter (10:30 wintertime curfew, inflexible 9-5 lockout year round). They do have a luggage storage shed that is accessible during the day, but it's still rather inconvenient. Otherwise, it's all good -- there are a lot of rules, but the place doesn't feel at all strict or institutional; the common rooms are homey, cheerful places where guests are always ready to talk to one another. Great kitchen, very well equipped with plenty of common food. The whole place is sparkling clean (thanks in part to the requirement that guests do a chore).
Huck Hobbit's Homestead in Slana … The owners are very personable. The hostel requires a small hike to get to, but that was exactly what I wanted. The facility is a traditional Alaskan-style log cabin, with beautiful burl architecture and lots of wood. Skins also adorn the walls. There is no electricity, but there is a gas stove and light, and the owners had a roaring fire in the wood-burning oven with a large pot of hot water waiting for us when we arrived. There is also no running water, but an outhouse and gravity shower are available.
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