Anchorage, Alaska - The summer is sweet. The base is spread out so get a U-drive from AMCC or get a rental. No U-Drives for AMC crews less than 24 hrs on the ground. We got horrible support from the base (since it's PACAF). The aircrew billeting is barely within walking distance of the shoppette. Northstar Inn is a decent hotel. The BX and Commissary is shared with Ft Richardson and sits between the two on the other side of the flight line. While the F-15s are flying, good luck trying to sleep (STAY OFF BASE IF POSSIBLE!). Downtown is pretty cool with plenty of restaurants. Make sure you hit any of the following places: Humpy's (order the Halibut Tacos), Snow Goose (excellent brews and on the water), Moose's Tooth (excellent pizza and beer), Chilkoot Charlie's ($1 beers before 10, no cover before 8), Hot Rod's, and the world famous Alaskan Bush Company (a right of passage for 135 crews). Only way to check email on-base is at Base Ops, off-base try Oscar's cigar bar. See ITT for discounts on fishing and cruises. Hike Flattop Mtn or Eagle River Park. Also, check out Piper's by the airport and watch seaplanes land while you sit on patio sucking down beers. If the weather is nice, drive 2 hours north to Talkeetna and rent a flightseeing tour of Mt. McKinley in a ski plane (cost is around $150, bring advertisement from local magazine 'Coast' and get $10 off). It was one of the most beautiful flights ever (and I've been on a lot) - well worth the money for this once in a lifetime opportunity. If you want to see a real Moose up close and personal, drive 10 minutes to Chugach Park overlooking all of Anchorge and walk on the trails, lots of Moose and an awesome view. The Peanut Farm (sort of katty corner to the Bush Company) is a dumpy sports bar where you can go to watch your favorite team play football while you eat a great breakfast (diner food). Get there before 8:30 am or you'll get a lousy seat. Note: During the summer off-base hotels and rental cars are expensive as well as everything else. ~A fantastic place to stay downtown is the Voyager hotel. It only has 38 rooms, but they are extremely large with kitchenettes. It is also located right downtown, so you are conveniently located to the main avenue of Anchorage and the shops and restaurants. Avoid the Days Inn downtown like the plague. I actually felt as though I was in danger going to and from the place. Honestly, the police and drunks spent more time down in that end of town than I did. If you get some extra time, get a vehicle and drive out to Seward, Alaska. The drive takes about 2 hours through some of the most beautiful scenery you'll ever see. The Portage Glacier is along the way if you have an extra hour to spend on the trip. Once in Seward, rent a space on a tour boat and go out and see the Alaskan nature. The boat trips all include sea lions, seals, otters, birds, mountain goat, Bear Glacier and if you're really lucky you'll see killer whales from 25 feet like we did. Definitely the most awesome picture taking "memory" experience I've had in Alaska! A great place to eat in downtown Anchorage is Sullivan's which is located on the corner next to the big mainstreet mall. The food was a bit pricey, but the bar, service and food are out of this world. I will not make a trip back to Anchorage without stopping here!

~Winter rules apply in Elmendorf! They gave us a UDrive (appreciated, but not requested) and set us loose. The map that they provided was worthless unless you knew what building number was which. I recommend getting a map from the gate guard if you can, apparently they need the terrorists to have more info than us. Be aware, if you show before 6 AM, there is nothing on base and they WILL NOT open the dining hall. The Denny's close to downtown close at 2 AM, so we had to head down Seward Highway about 12 mi to find one. Terrible service (1.5 hrs for Breakfast), but standard Denny's otherwise.

~Bombay Deluxe Restaurant (907) 277-1200 was a Terrible! Don't waste your time eating here. The food was good, if you can ever get any. We had a crew of 5, going out to eat on a Saturday night. Out of 20 tables, only about 5 were already occupied when we arrived at 20:00. After being seated immediately, it took 10 minutes for the waitress to just bring us water, then another 15 minutes to come back to take our order. 50 minutes later the food finally arrived, but only for 4 out of our 5 people. When we asked the waitress about it, she claimed it would be right out, then disappeared for another 15 minutes. Apparently she'd learned her trade from the manager, because he ignored us also, despite everything short of tackling him to get his attention. Finally, 1 & 1/2 hours later, and after the rest of us had finished eating, the waitress put in another appearance. We told her to cancel the missing meal, and just bring the check. Apparently adding up a check wasn't one of her skills either, because 10 minutes later she still hadn't returned. Our only solution was to just throw down enough cash on the table to cover the check and leave, hoping that no one ever wastes their time by going to this place again. Cook Inlet was an okay hotel. Went to Humpy's after reading the suggestion here...the beer selection was good, but the Fish Taco's sucked. If you're looking for a good place to eat and don't mind the price, The Glacial Brewing Co.(?) was extremely good and right downtown. Piper's is overrated, but the Halibut in the dining room was excellent. ~Mile 103 on the Seward hwy. Stop at the Brown Bear Saloon. Good selection of Micros, pool table and friendly locals. Reminds me a little of the old "Birdhouse Bar" that used to be just down the road.

Eielson AFB, Alaska - Billeting is across the street from the chow hall - which serves a nice hot breakfast on a cold morning. There is a great exchange and commissary (connected together by a covered, heated walkway) to buy some sundry items, snacks, and a few Alaska items to bring home. The chow hall puts together damn good in-flight meals, but they are slightly slow providing them on short notice, so get your orders in early. For lodging, the Captain Bartlett Inn located in downtown Fairbanks is relatively nice. The rooms are spacious and the whole place has a "log cabin" feel to it. The bar which is attached to it makes for a nice evening of fun after flying. They don't offer any breakfast deals, though, and you are 30 minutes from base (which sucks). Sadly, your best bet at Eielson is to stay on base so you can avoid the drive into base from Fairbanks. The base is situated about 5 minutes from North Pole, Alaska (great place to have your Christmas Cards postmarked from!) and about 20 minutes away from Fairbanks. If you have some cash in your pockets and don't mind spending it all on dinner, get a vehicle from TRANS and eat at Pikes Landing in Fairbanks. They have Alaskan King Crab legs (they're no cheaper there than they are here, unfortunately) and excellent salmon. The entire meal is upscale, but you don't have to dress up. Great food, excellent service and highly recommended! Another "neat" dining experience is the "Alaskan Salmon Bake" at Alaskaland. This dinner is seasonal, so you have to time your trip to get it. It is all outdoors (be sure to bring a jacket if it's cold out) and is great food and atmosphere. The salmon is grilled and marinated so that it ranks as a true "outdoor Alaska" experience. A "Don't Miss" while at Eielson is heading out to the little airstrip in North Pole and getting an ultralight ride. Actually, they are microlights (basically a hanglider attatched to a seat/engine system. For $40.00 you get 1/2 hour of instruction by one of Alaska Sky Systems IPs. Bring a video camera, a set of gloves, and a jacket and you will have the time of your life. Contact them at (907) 488-9100 or goto their website. ~DO NOT get a box lunch at Eielson!!!!

Gold Rush Inn was decent. Billeting offers wireless internet in the lobby's cyber cafe if you are so equipped. If not, there are four computers at your disposal. When getting a vehicle from Trans, tread softly! They have a deal with the local police to report vehicles in unauthorized location and then they tow them. Our crew chiefs had a vehicle towed while trying to pick up their buddies from a local bar. Even the ski resort at Ft Wainwright is off-limits. However, on some days if you show up in uniform you get free lift tickets (you are allowed to change before you ski). Food-wise, be sure to check out the Food Factory in North Pole or Fairbanks. Near the airport is a place called The Pumphouse which has descent food and a great selection of booze. Geraldo's on the main drag has pricey pizza and calzones. ~Be sure to visit the "Silver Gulch" brewery. They have free beer tasting in the summer months and it is well worth the experience. You can find directions somewhere there. We did so you can.

~Do not let them try to put you in the Klonodike Inn. Cigarette and blood stains on the comforter in one room, enough said. If you have time off, and don't mind the drive, Chena Hot Springs is 1+30 away, and is a great place to relax. We had nice rooms, a bar, and the hot springs. It was only for one night, but it was worth it. I think the only way you will get lodging there is if you beg and plead, we were there during the Eskimo Olympics and all rooms in Fairbanks were completely booked.

~Captain Bartlett Hotel was a dump, best bet is to stay on base. ~Stayed at the Westmark Hotel in Fairbanks. Nice rooms and free breakfast every morning. It's a little better than the usual 'continental breakfast', but not an all out hot breakfast. Food in the downstairs hotel/bar is also quite good.

Ladd AAF, Ft. Wainwright, AK - Springhill Suites by Marriott (phone: 907-451-6552) was a nice hotel. The army billeting situation at Fort Wainwright is the nicest I've ever seen on an army post. The rooms are newly constructed and one block away from the PX. Fort Wainwright is about five minutes from Fairbanks as opposed to Eielson's 20 minute drive, but beware there is very limited ground support at Ladd AAF. Springhill Suites was very nice. Large comfortable rooms with a nice bar in the hotel and a decent breakfast in the morning. Con the hotel shuttle driver into taking your group out to Alaskaland as it is a bit of a walk. After the Salmon Bake you can jump on a free shuttle there to get back to the hotel.