IPDPS 2011 Travel Tips & Activities

Travel Alert Regarding 26-Glaciers Cruise Bookings
This is proving to be a VERY POPULAR local destination, so if you book for one of the designated days (see below), you will be sure to find other IPDPS attendees on the same cruise.

Things to know when booking a cruise:

• When booking online, be sure to use ALL CAPS when entering the IEEEA discount code.

• About transportation: The railroad option is not available before May 21st, so if you have selected the motor coach (bus) option, note that we have arranged to make the Sheraton the pick up point (rather than the one listed).
  

Attendees are advised to book early for travel to Anchorage. See list of airlines at bottom of page.

We encourage IPDPS 2011 attendees and their families and guests to spend additional time in Alaska to experience the world's most spectacular mountains, glaciers and wildlife. All of this is possible via conducted tours by bus, boat and plane. In addition, Native culture, abundant wildlife, easily-accessed fishing, hiking, biking and expansive views offer endless activities right in the heart of Anchorage.

This page was prepared with assistance from the Anchorage Convention & Business Center

This page provides links for planning your time and activities in and around Anchorage when you are not in meetings. There are many one-day excursions North, South and East of Anchorage. Using your own transportation is easily arranged, but there are also many options for coach, rail, and air transportation. To start planning your trip and activities, go to the links at local businesses and Itinerary Planning Guide.

Explore scenic drives from Anchorage, and be sure to include Seward Highway and Glenn Highway day trips and Alaska Mountain Running. No trip to Anchorage would be complete without touring or hiking in Chugach State Park in the foothills of East Anchorage and Denali National Park & Preserve, home of Mount McKinley, the tallest peak on the continent at 20,320 ft.

We will regularly update this page with "hot tips" and new links, but already we have arranged a special discount for a highly recommended day cruise to experience glaciers and the associated wildlife. Below is information for booking with 26-Glaciers. Go to Website for details, including transportation from Anchorage.

Spend a day among the world's most spectacular glaciers and wildlife aboard the fastest, largest and most luxurious catamaran in Alaska, the Klondike Express.  You'll cruise through the calm, protected waters of Prince William Sound and come face to face with towering masses of ice, migratory whales and breathtaking Alaska scenery. Professional narration is provided by US Forest Service Rangers on every cruise. Passengers on the 26 Glacier Cruise will have the choice of either rail or motorcoach transportation to Whittier if they are not driving their own vehicle. Go to the 26-Glaciers website to book your cruise and use the discount code of IEEEA to receive 20% off published ticket prices. This discount is available three days before and after IPDPS 2011.

Dates listed below have a single 26-Glacier cruise departing at 10 AM and returning at 7:30 PM. This is to help coordinate with colleagues, so that groups of IPDPS 2011 attendees may book the same day for their cruise. Friday, May 13th Saturday, May 14th Sunday, May 15th IPDPS 2011 May 16th through 20th Saturday, May 21st Sunday, May 22nd Monday, May 23rd

A hot tip while you are in Anchorage is the Anchorage Museum which just completed a major expansion and now includes the Smithsonian Arctic Studies Center, Thomas Planetarium and Imaginarium Discovery Center as well as the original Alaska Gallery. During IPDPS 2011 in May, they will be hosting the traveling exhibition Mammoths and Mastodons: Titans of the Ice Age. 

Airlines To Anchorage
The table below lists all of the airlines that fly into Anchorage.