Copper River: Copper River Princess (August 2008)

The only option in Copper River, as far as I’m concerned. We saw the Copper River Lodge, and while I definitely would have eaten there, it seemed to small and rustic a place to stay. (The “town” of Copper Center is adorable, but don’t blink or you’ll miss it. It’s smaller than Talkeetna, and also smaller than McCarthy or Kennicott.) This hotel has a lovely 2-story lobby with great views of the surrounding mountains. There’s a nice deck to sit outside, watching, eating, and drinking on a nice day. The flowers, particularly the window boxes, were the most beautiful and colorful that I saw in all of Alaska. Rooms were nice, sort of chain-hotel like but with a bit better decor. Plenty of free parking. There is free wireless access on the second floor landing, along with two computers for guest use. Two restaurants: one more formal and one more casual (bar-like), plus outdoor dining. The gift shop is small but well-stocked. Would stay here again, for sure. Rates are really reasonable. I don’t think it’s a great location for activities, though. It worked perfectly for our trip from Chitina to McCarthy, but I don’t know what else you would do from here (it’s too far from Denali, but maybe you could use it as a base to see the Matanuska Glacier or a place to stay on the way to Valdez).