Uploaded September 2025 | Updated September 2026, 6 days ago
RV Alaska: Valdez - Best Places to Camp, Eat, Drink & Explore (Wildlife Tips)
Welcome back to our RV Alaska series! After one of our worst travel days leaving Canada (10.5 brutal hours), we tackle the terrifying Thompson Pass in white-out conditions to reach beautiful Valdez, Alaska. Spoiler alert: it was absolutely worth it!
What You'll Discover in Valdez:
🏕️ Where We Stayed:** Eagles Rest RV Park - $53/night for full hookups, walkable to everything downtown
🍽️ Best Place to Eat:** The Fat Mermaid - Amazing deep-fried cod basket ($21.99) with waterfront views
🍺 Best Place for Drinks:** Valdez Brewing - Local craft beer, mountain views, and yes... Wisconsin cheese curds in Alaska!
🐋 Best Experience:** Whale watching with Captain Fred on the Lu-Lu Belle - 7+ hours of incredible wildlife viewing ($181)
🥾 Best Hike:** Easy, Maya-friendly trail with stunning city views
🏛️ Best Local Find:** Valdez Museum - Local history and culture
🦅 Bonus Wildlife Tips:** Free eagle viewing at the harbor (2 PM daily) + fish hatchery during salmon runs
Joel's Route Rating: Thompson Pass
Find out if this 2,600-foot mountain pass gets Joel's approval (spoiler: it involves white-knuckle driving and zero visibility!)
Pro Tips:
- Check cruise ship schedules before visiting restaurants
- Book Eagles Rest RV Park 2 days ahead (we got lucky!)
- Bring your own snacks for the whale watching tour
- Book a dog walker for the whale watching tour if you have a dog
- Time your visit during salmon runs for incredible wildlife viewing
**Next Episode:** We're heading to McCarthy to visit Deb's uncle - but our RV can't make it there! Find out how we tackle one of Alaska's worst roads.
We're trying a new format for our Alaska series - let us know in the comments if you like getting the same helpful categories for each location!
**Planning your own Alaska RV adventure?** We'd love to hear about it in the comments below!
👮♂️ Don't forget True Blue Tuesdays - wear blue to support law enforcement!
👍 LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE for more full-time RV adventures!
🔔 Hit the notification bell to catch our videos every Sunday at 4 PM Central
📱 FOLLOW US:
Facebook: facebook.com/chasingoursunshine
Instagram: instagram.com/chasingoursunshine
Email: info@chasingoursunshine.net
Website: chasingoursunshine.net
Video Timestamps:
00:01 - Opening & Series Introduction
05:33 - Joel's Route Rating: Thompson Pass (NOT Joel Approved!)
08:50 - Eagles Rest RV Park - Where We Stayed ($53/night)
09:56 - Best Place to Eat: The Fat Mermaid (Deep Fried Cod $21.99)
11:16 - Best Place for Drinks: Valdez Brewing (Wisconsin Cheese Curds!)
13:15 - Best Hike: Dock Point Trail (Maya-Friendly & Easy)
15:27 - Best Experience: Whale Watching with Captain Fred ($181)
18:44 - Best Local Find: Valdez Museum (Local History)
19:55 - Bonus Wildlife Tips: Fish Hatchery & Harbor Eagles (FREE!)
22:07- Closing & Next Episode Preview (McCarthy)
**ABOUT CHASING OUR SUNSHINE:**
We're Joel & Deb, retired law enforcement officers living full-time in our RV since 2021. We believe in supporting local businesses, staying positive, and helping others find their own sunshine on the road! 100% of all proceeds from our channel are donated to local law enforcement causes!! 💙
Disclaimer: 1) We are not experts in the RV or travel industries. Everything on this channel is for entertainment value and is not to be considered legal or professional advice. Information in the video was located on web pages for the places we visited, the internet of things, and personal experiences.
*We are formally known as Chasing RV Sunshine and the name change was done on Nov 1, 2022.
#alaska #RVLife #FullTimeRV
RV Alaska: Valdez - Best Places to Camp, Eat, Drink & Explore (Wildlife Tips)
Welcome back to our RV Alaska series! After one of our worst travel days leaving Canada (10.5 brutal hours), we tackle the terrifying Thompson Pass in white-out conditions to reach beautiful Valdez, Alaska. Spoiler alert: it was absolutely worth it!
What You'll Discover in Valdez:
🏕️ Where We Stayed:** Eagles Rest RV Park - $53/night for full hookups, walkable to everything downtown
🍽️ Best Place to Eat:** The Fat Mermaid - Amazing deep-fried cod basket ($21.99) with waterfront views
🍺 Best Place for Drinks:** Valdez Brewing - Local craft beer, mountain views, and yes... Wisconsin cheese curds in Alaska!
🐋 Best Experience:** Whale watching with Captain Fred on the Lu-Lu Belle - 7+ hours of incredible wildlife viewing ($181)
🥾 Best Hike:** Easy, Maya-friendly trail with stunning city views
🏛️ Best Local Find:** Valdez Museum - Local history and culture
🦅 Bonus Wildlife Tips:** Free eagle viewing at the harbor (2 PM daily) + fish hatchery during salmon runs
Joel's Route Rating: Thompson Pass
Find out if this 2,600-foot mountain pass gets Joel's approval (spoiler: it involves white-knuckle driving and zero visibility!)
Pro Tips:
- Check cruise ship schedules before visiting restaurants
- Book Eagles Rest RV Park 2 days ahead (we got lucky!)
- Bring your own snacks for the whale watching tour
- Book a dog walker for the whale watching tour if you have a dog
- Time your visit during salmon runs for incredible wildlife viewing
**Next Episode:** We're heading to McCarthy to visit Deb's uncle - but our RV can't make it there! Find out how we tackle one of Alaska's worst roads.
We're trying a new format for our Alaska series - let us know in the comments if you like getting the same helpful categories for each location!
**Planning your own Alaska RV adventure?** We'd love to hear about it in the comments below!
👮♂️ Don't forget True Blue Tuesdays - wear blue to support law enforcement!
👍 LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE for more full-time RV adventures!
🔔 Hit the notification bell to catch our videos every Sunday at 4 PM Central
📱 FOLLOW US:
Facebook: facebook.com/chasingoursunshine
Instagram: instagram.com/chasingoursunshine
Email: info@chasingoursunshine.net
Website: chasingoursunshine.net
Video Timestamps:
00:01 - Opening & Series Introduction
05:33 - Joel's Route Rating: Thompson Pass (NOT Joel Approved!)
08:50 - Eagles Rest RV Park - Where We Stayed ($53/night)
09:56 - Best Place to Eat: The Fat Mermaid (Deep Fried Cod $21.99)
11:16 - Best Place for Drinks: Valdez Brewing (Wisconsin Cheese Curds!)
13:15 - Best Hike: Dock Point Trail (Maya-Friendly & Easy)
15:27 - Best Experience: Whale Watching with Captain Fred ($181)
18:44 - Best Local Find: Valdez Museum (Local History)
19:55 - Bonus Wildlife Tips: Fish Hatchery & Harbor Eagles (FREE!)
22:07- Closing & Next Episode Preview (McCarthy)
**ABOUT CHASING OUR SUNSHINE:**
We're Joel & Deb, retired law enforcement officers living full-time in our RV since 2021. We believe in supporting local businesses, staying positive, and helping others find their own sunshine on the road! 100% of all proceeds from our channel are donated to local law enforcement causes!! 💙
Disclaimer: 1) We are not experts in the RV or travel industries. Everything on this channel is for entertainment value and is not to be considered legal or professional advice. Information in the video was located on web pages for the places we visited, the internet of things, and personal experiences.
*We are formally known as Chasing RV Sunshine and the name change was done on Nov 1, 2022.
#alaska #RVLife #FullTimeRV
