Alaska- itinerary and general questions

Old May 6th, 2015, 05:32 PM
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Alaska- itinerary and general questions

I'm trying to arrange a trip to Alaska the end of June. We like scenic places, natural beauty (mountains, lakes, falls...) . Wildlife and animals are not our focus, and we don't want to go "flightseeing." this is our tentative Itinerary:

Anchorage to Alyeska- go on the tram
----Is this nice enough or should we skip it?

Alyeska to Whittier for Prince william sound cruise--
----which is better blackstone Bay or Surprise glacier?
----Is it better to drive through tunnel or take train from Anchorage? How long does the tunnel take; is it reliable time wise?

Whittier to Seward- Kenai Fjords NP, Exit Glacier, Harding Icefield:
----Is harding icefield a strenous hike, or can you just get there and see it and leave?

debating if we should then go to Homer?
----Is there anything scenic to do without taking a plane ride (we don't want to take any internal flights)
----Is Kachemak Bay worth going to Homer for? anything else to do?

The last two parts of my trip are Denali NP and possibly Valdez and the Chugach Mountains. I'm not sure where to stick that into our itinerary, maybe at the end?

so next go to Denali NP

And after that drive to Chugach Mountains in Valdez
----Is Valdez scenic enough and worth going to? or too out of the way?
----Is there anythine else besides the Chugach mountains to see? Is Chugach scenic?

----Is there anything to do in Talkeetna? (Is there a closer halfway point between Anchorage and Denali?)

----Are there evening or overnight trains from Anchorage to Denali?
----Are there any other beautiful places I missed?

Please advise, thanks in advance.
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Old May 6th, 2015, 06:17 PM
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First-how long do you have??

I've heard that the views are very nice from the top of the tram at Alyeska.

I opted to book the Surprise cruise but either one should be fine. If you look at the website for Major Marine you can view the route differences.
www.majormarine.com go to PWS
The tunnel should take less than 10 minutes to get through it as it's only about a 2.5 mile drive through the tunnel itself. Can't vouch for reliability as our trip isn't until this August.

I intend to drive to the parking lot-marked turn off Mile 3.7 for Exit Glacier. It's a short walk from the parking lot. The lower trail is around 1/2 mile and easy. The upper trail is harder but has a nice overlook.

From Seward to Homer is around 3 1/2-4 hrs. Lots to do in Homer. Very quaint/picturesque.
Exhibits, short walking trails-www.akcoastalstudies.org Wynn Nature Center
www.islandsandocean.org Free
The Kachemak Bay/Seldovia tour is a good value. www.centralcharter.com
Tour the town, Homer Spit. www.homeralaska.og

Denali/McKinley flight seeing outfits operate out of Talkeetna but there are historic buildings. Also great views of Denali and the Alaska Range. Mahay's Jet Boat Susitna River www.mahaysjetboat.com

The best thing for you to do is to buy The Milepost which is the book for self driving in Alaska. I ordered mine through amazon.com

Lots of info on Chugach in The Milepost as well as Valdez.
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Old May 6th, 2015, 06:19 PM
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For some reason "trails" was made part of the website which won't take you to the correct place.

www.akcoastalstudies.org
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Old May 6th, 2015, 06:20 PM
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www.homeralaska.org

Fodor's really needs to get an edit function like they have on Trip Advisor!
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Old May 7th, 2015, 07:22 AM
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>

That's if you're really hoofing it. Closer on 4.5.

You'd better book a car soon - they're not cheap and they go fast (and be ready: gas prices are about 25-35% higher than in the lower 48). The only decent supply is in Anchorage - there isn't another legitimate city or sizable town anywhere near your itinerary.

And how much time do you have?
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Old May 7th, 2015, 12:17 PM
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>Anchorage to Alyeska- go on the tram< Book dinner at the top (Seven Glaciers Restaurant); the tram ride is free if you have reservations. The view is spectacular. The dinner is quite good, and there is a bar as well for pre- or post- dinner drinks.
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Old May 7th, 2015, 02:16 PM
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thanks everyone for your help. Chris, that was a lot of helpful info

any advice on where to put valdez in my itinerary- beginning, middle or end?
any others who have been to homer and valdez and can comment on whether you would recommend it; is it very scenic?
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Old May 7th, 2015, 02:50 PM
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also, what's the fastest and most efficient route between all the above places?
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Old May 7th, 2015, 03:22 PM
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I didn't realize Kachemak Bay is only accessibly by boat or plane from Homer. and that there is a long hike to see the Grewingk lake. Is it a strenous hike? any other way to see the Lake?
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Old May 7th, 2015, 03:59 PM
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Your questions regarding the order of things and fastest/most efficient routes are VERY dependent on how many days you have. Distances in Alaska are great and road travel not as fast as in other areas.

If your time is limited, for example, visiting Denali might not make as much sense, given your lack of interest in seeing wildlife. Instead, you might possibly allocate the three days (minimum) needed to visit Denali to driving to Valdez (an exceptionally scenic trip) then returning by ferry across Prince William Sound to Whittier, creating something of a "loop" instead of having to drive back from Valdez on the same road you took to get there.
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Old May 7th, 2015, 07:53 PM
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haven't booked tickets yet, so don't have exact days
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Old May 7th, 2015, 09:43 PM
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I think Valdez is stunning, and am about to go back for the 4th time, from Australia. The drive from Anchorage itself is great almost all the way. The first time we went was in late May, and we did a mammoth return trip in just one day - somehow including a boat trip to Columbia Glacier as well. I wouldn't recommend this, unless it's the one and only chance of seeing Valdez,but it was well worth the 4 am start from Anchorage.

Wandering around the small boat harbour in Valdez at sunset, and watching the colours change on each mountain in turn is unforgettable.

But it may already be impossible to get accommodation in June. Good luck and happy travels!
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Old May 8th, 2015, 07:03 AM
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We have not been to Whittier since 2004 and it's the only place in AK we would not like to see again. The tunnel is fine and on time. Whittier is a former military base and we didn't think there was much to do but it is popular for fishing, cruises, etc.

Homer was possibly my favorite town. It's artsy and funky with fishing. Nature cruise over to Seldovia was ok but not as interesting as Kenai Fjords glacier trip. There's a viewing spot before you come into town that is a beautiful overlook plus you can drive up to the Skyline Drive (it's a lot of switchbacks from one end of town) for a wonderful overlook. I thought the Pratt Museum was outstanding. Small but lots of information.

I agree to get the Milepost. Alyeska tram was nice with great views at the top. Girdwood Forest Fair is July 3, 4 and 5. Great craft fair, music, food vendors and possibly curious bear. End of June is a beautiful time in AK with wildflowers blooming.

We also liked visit to Independence Mine which is north of Wasilla. Very nice historical restoration of an old mining town in the mountains.

If you are short on time I would skip Denali since you are not interested in wildlife and it's a long drive north of Anchorage. The drive south of Anchorage to Seward is breath taking. Keep in mind traffic is going to get heavier when salmon start running in the Russian River and for 4th of July. Kenai has a great 4th of July parade. Seward has a very popular race and might be too crowded.
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Old May 8th, 2015, 11:30 AM
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If you intend to go this June, you should be making reservations yesterday. Alaska has a very short tourist season and things book up months in advance. At this point, it may be too late to stay some places. Hurry.
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Old May 12th, 2015, 09:38 AM
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You are late in planning and should book your car ASAP. Prices for the car will likely be high and 'preferred' accommodations difficult to get.

As for your itinerary, I've looked at what you put down and tried to arrange it into a logical/timely sequence. You didn't state how many days you would come for; so I fit in everything but Valdez and put the minimum time I'd stay at each. If you have less time available, then drop Homer. If you have more time available (e.g. 2 days), then you might be able to fit in Valdez.

Good luck


Day 1 - arrive in ANC
Day 2 - drive to Seward with a stop at Alyeska for tram
Day 3 - Seward activities (HArding Icefield is very strenuous. The hike isn't technically difficult, but it is steep - 4,000ft gain over 4 mile one way)
Day 4 - drive to Homer
Day 5 - Homer activities (Kachemak Bay, etc.)
Day 6 - drive to Whittier for a glacier cruise (tunnel is very punctual), head to ANC after cruise for the night (maybe head up to the Glen Alps trailhead parking lot for amazing views of ANC, the inlet/arms, and surrounding mountains
Day 7 - drive to Denali
Day 8 - Denali activities
Day 9 - drive back to ANC (& fly home?)
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Old May 12th, 2015, 10:19 AM
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The Alaska Railroad train to Denali and Fairbanks leaves a little after 8AM every morning. http://alaskatrain.com/information/s...FdCTfgodllIAjw
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Old May 17th, 2015, 11:53 AM
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thanks sdpryde for putting it into a sequence and thank you everyone else for advice
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Old May 18th, 2015, 12:20 PM
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The drive from Anchorage to Homer is very scenic and I would think going from Anchorage to Seward and then Seward to Homer would give you the scenery you're after. www.alaska.org/guide/seward-highway
Here's Anchorage to Homer www.alaska.org/guide/anchorage-to-homer

In Homer www.akcoastalstudies.org
Has short walking trails..Wynn Nature Center..That's a repeat of my earlier post!
East Skyline Drive-bluffs overlooking Homer-scenic.
I know you're not into wildlife but this might be of interest. www.islandsandocean.org

Anchorage I don't think you mentioned having any time here but...

Flattop Mountain I'm going to hike the easy Blueberry Loop scenic area
Chugach State Park Eagle River Nature Center Lots of hiking trails. I'll so the easy 1 km Rodak Nature Trail but there are others that are longer and harder. www.ernc.org
www.dnr.state.ak.us/parks/units/chugach Click Resource Center for trails maps
North of Eagle River is a 1 mile trail to Thunderbird Falls going through a birch forest to get to the 200' waterfall.
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Old May 28th, 2015, 02:25 AM
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we decided to cut out homer and valdez. Homer because Kachemak bay park- is a long hike and not the easiest to grewingk lake (at least thats what it seems. tell me if im wrong), and valdez- because we only wanted to see bridal falls and keystone canyon, but it's an extra 6-8 hours of driving from anchorage one way, so probably not worth the hours?

So we'll see: Denali NP, Seward- harding icefield, kenai fjords NP with cruise, Whittier- Prince William Sound Cruise, and Anchorage-Flattop mountain.

Are there any other scenic places we should include that are in or near Denali, Seward, Whittier?

Thanks
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Old May 30th, 2015, 04:02 PM
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"So we'll see: Denali NP, Seward- harding icefield, kenai fjords NP with cruise, Whittier- Prince William Sound Cruise, and Anchorage-Flattop mountain.

Are there any other scenic places we should include that are in or near Denali, Seward, Whittier?"

FYI...
Harding Icefield is a difficult hike. It's not technically difficult but it is a 6-8 hr (round-trip) hike where the gain is 4,000 ft over 4 miles. It's extremely scenic/beautiful.

Flattop is also not an easy hike. It's medium to difficult. The closer you get to the top, the more difficult it gets. Many people are scrambling on hands & knees on the rocks/boulders towards the top.

Girdwood/Portage/Whittier. Here's a link to a bunch of cool stuff to do in the area:
http://goo.gl/dPvuEJ

If you've time/desire; head to the Matanuska Glacier and do a guided trek on it (see www.micaguides.com)
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