Posted: 02/09/2007--25/11/2008 || Rate this Article: 3 || Views|| Sign In || Register ||Hello Guest
Cordova Alaska, a six hour trip by ferry from Valdez, is an untouristy fishing town, touted by some as Alaskas Hidden Treasure. All around you youll find the qualities small towns are supposed to have, unspoiled by World progress. The crime rate is practically zero. Keys are routinely left in car ignitions, locks on homes arent commonly used, and in some cases, they are non existent all together. There is an underlying sweetness about Cordova that will make you feel as if you have walked into Sicily Alaska, backdrop to the television programme, Northern Exposure. The residents are generally helpful and are glad to be of help. I particularly like finding an elderly person and just sitting about listening to their version of town history.
To the West of Cordova is Prince William Sound where you can spend endless hours kayaking, hiking, hunting, and camping. Cordova offers quite a few activities, more so than I thought would be offered in such a small town. They also have floatplane tours, hunting trips, fishing charters, and berry picking areas.
To the East is Copper River Delta Habitat Area, one of the Western Hemispheres most important tidal marshes and wetlands. Over 20 million seabirds and a large variety of waterfowl migrate there each spring and autumn. You will find a vast array of wild life in the delta east of Cordova off the Copper River Highway. Bears, seals, river otters, bald eagles and even a few moose can be spotted. To the North you can reach, by aircraft charter from Cordova, the grand Chugach Mountains, wild and majestic. Hunting, fishing and camping is allowed.
Cordova boasts the usual variety of shops including a small old fashioned grocery store, not unlike the corner stores of yester-year, Sterns Gift Shop, run by the same family since 1909, and the Fishermans Union Hall are all conveniently located on 1st Street.
If youre looking for a sense of the towns history, The Cordova Museum offers a wide variety of native artifacts, a 1840s lighthouse lens, a stuffed 800 lb leather back turtle, and many other relics from the days of the pioneers. Walking tours of the towns local historic buildings are also available.
Million Dollar Bridge, off of mile 48 of Copper River Highway, a former route to the Kennicott Copper Mine, is a fantastic place to see one of Cordovas more awe inspiring attractions, Childs Glacier. Unfortunately, no visitors centre exists, but they do have a covered area where you can watch the glacier, read the informational plaques, and become drenched to the skin when a huge piece of ice falls into Miles Lake, dousing you with cold water. Personally I recommend wearing rain gear as a precautionary measure if you wish to keep your clothes unspoiled.
Million Dollar Bridge is an event in itself. Damaged in an earthquake in 1964, its been partially repaired, but for all intents and purposes, is still a bit slanted. You will have to brave this wonky bridge if you want to see the icebergs on Miles Lake or Miles Glacier both of which lie on the other side. I have been assured that this bridge is quite safe, but I will leave it up to your own personal judgment, as they also state the bridge has only been temporarily fixed.
Cordova has a few restaurants, some fast food, and some family style. Two of the most interesting are The Reluctant Fisherman Inn and the Powder House. The Reluctant Fisherman is located in town on Railroad Avenue. and is quite modern, not at all what you would expect from such a small town. The Reluctant Fisherman has an excellent dining room with a lovely view of the fishing fleet in Cordova Harbour. Fresh salmon and halibut are served as well as a variety of popular dishes.
If you are searching for something for a bit more informal, somewhere youll find a few locals, The Powder House would be your best bet. The Powder House is located at mile 2.1 of Copper River Highway, not terribly far from town. It serves a surprisingly wide variety of food including freshly caught fish, soups, salads, barbecues, sandwiches, and shockingly enough, sushi.
After a long day of sight seeing, fishing, and what have you, youll need a comfortable place to lay your weary head. Cordova offers a few hotels, bed and breakfasts, motels, rustic cabins, and campgrounds for its tourists. You will also find that the staff of the Chugach National Forest Service office are quite knowledgeable about the local accommodations, and are a wealth of knowledge about area activities. If you are lucky to arrive in January, the staff can inform you about the Mount Eyak Winter Sports Area just east of Cordova. In February you can attend the Ice Worm Festival, in May is the festival celebrating the migration of the shore birds, and in June is the Copper River Salmon Days.
All in all you will find Cordova a splendid place for a bit of relaxation and peace of mind. You may even be tempted to stay indefinitely, and who in their right mind would blame you?
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