Let's go eat in Girdwood

Our anniversary has rolled around. Two whole years of marital bliss! We must celebrate - how about a nice dinner and bottle of wine out on the town. Sounds like a good idea. Since we haven't been in town long but due to circumstances have tried a lot of the local restaurants, how about we try something new out of town.

We keep hearing about various restaurants in Girdwood, Alaska. Several years ago, the Anchorage area bid for the winter Olympics and in the process, they either built or improved (I haven't looked it up) the Alyeska Ski Resort. While they lost the Olympic bid, there is now a world class ski/alpine sporting venue. At the resort, there is a restaurant called Seven Glaciers. To get to the restaurant, you must park at the resort, climb on the tram and go to the top of the mountain. The views of Cook Inlet and the mountains around are described as world class and the food is supposed to be exquisite. Glaciers is a very popular place for business functions, parties, etc and I decide to make reservations. Off to the trusty internet - sweet - I can make reservations on-line. Let's see - what are their hours? Closed for two months. What's up with that? How can they close for two months and still keep customers? Hurumph...

Plan B.

Other friends recommend the Double Musky Inn . It is a Cajun restaurant and is supposed to have fantastic food with a Cajun flare. It isn't on the top of the mountain so the views won't be as spectacular but it will still be a nice drive South. Unfortunately, they don't take reservations and if you aren't there by about 5pm in the evening, you need to be prepared to wait. No worries - it is a nice relaxing evening and we are in no rush.

Friday is here and we are off to dinner. As forecasted, the sun is shining and it is a beautiful evening for a drive down Seward Highway along the Cook Inlet. We see the mountain goats in their normal spot, the tide is out and all of the mud flats are showing. As we near Girdwood, it appears they have had more snow that we did - everything is white with the appearance of being clean.

Turning off of the highway going towards Girdwood, the Double Musky is off of the main road a little way. We find the gravel road and turn on to it. The car is getting dirtier by the minute but that is fine. We are ready for a relaxing evening trying out a new restaurant. We can always clean the car in the spring. Finally, there is the sign for the restaurant drive way. Gee - not very many people here for 5:30pm. Not very much activity. Wonder what the sign on the door says. Closed until December 17th. Good grief - how can these people make a living closing like this?

Plan C.

Now where are we going to eat? By the time we get back to Anchorage, there will be a line in every restaurant. Guess we could have fast food. That's romantic. What about the Turnagain House Restaurant? It is on the way back. We have already eaten there once and the food was good plus there is a rather nice view of the mountains across the Inlet. There shouldn't be too much of a line yet. We will aim towards there.

Turning the car around we drive back along Seward highway for about 10 miles. Coming up on the restaurant, once again, not many cars in the lot for a Friday night. Guess we beat the rush. Pulling into the parking lot, we spy a little piece of paper on the door. Robert hops out, walks to the door, turns around, walks back, hops in - they are closed until February. Glad it was a nice night for a drive and I wonder what their other job is that gets them through the winter.

Plan D.

Driving back into Anchorage, we decide to try the Kincaid Grill. Upon arrive at about 6:30pm, we are set to wait for a table. Luckily, it hasn't really reached busy yet and we are seated immediately. Food was excellent as well as the service. We thoroughly enjoyed our anniversary dinner and learned an important lesson. Some places not only have the sidewalks roll up in the evenings but sometimes for several months....I am sure more lessons are to follow.