Rebecca

My boyfriend and I have 7 days to take a vacation. We would like to go to Alaska. However we have never been there before and don't really know much about it. Can someone give me some ideas of where to go. Are there ie.. 3 places/cities we should definatley hit? We are looking to go end of May. Any suggestions would be appreciated.(we aren't campers)

thanks

sluggo

With only 7 days, you won't have time to take in much of this huge state, but you probably can't go wrong wherever you go because it is so gorgeous. I'd suggest spending time along the Inside Passage - Ketchikan or Juneau perhaps -- then flying to Anchorage. From there you can drive south to the Kenai Peninsula (a stunning drive) and from Seward take a day cruise and see some wildlife and glaciers.

Given your limited time, I would not drive up too Denali as you can't predict what wildlife you might see or how much, and "the" mountain is usually not visible.

Wear layers and be prepared for rain.

I strongly encourage you to search the Internet for Alaska websites so you can get the most out of your visit.

JD

Greetings! You will enjoy most any area in Alaska -- though the locals do refer to Fairbanks as "Squarebanks!" As far as South Central Alaska, time spent on the Kenai Peninsula is always fantastic. And near Anchorage, Hatcher Pass outside of Palmer is an amazing place to hike (without being expedition-ready). The very best resource -- even when you are flying into the state -- is the Milepost. Go to: http://www.milepost.com And try some Alaskan Amber beer!

John

Rebecca, where are you starting from?

With only 7 days total, and assuming you're not starting in Seattle or somewhere else in the Pacific NW, you'll really only have 5 days in Alaska, counting travel time. I don't want to be a party pooper, but with only 5 days "net," I question if Alaska is your best shot in late May. Many of the major tourist destinations (interior of Denali Park, for example) are barely open if at all, and often many of the roads are still in "recovery" from break-up and the end of winter. Or, in warmer springs, late May can also be the time of first mosquito hatchings, so poking around the woods or lakes can be aggravating.

So now with those caveats, with 5 or 6 days, I'd fly to Anchorage, rent a car, head for Seward, take a Kenai Fjords tour, then down to Homer, day visit to Seldovia, maybe go on a fishing trip (salmon or halibut), then back to Anchorage. Stay near salt water, book ahead if you're traveling on Memorial Day weekend, and save Denali and the rest for a longer trip later in the year (late Aug. or September) some other time.

cd

While in Anchorage, we went to Lake Hood and took a sea plane to Mt Mckinley. It was a highlight of our trip! Your pilot is a bush pilot and he will fly you over the mountain, the view is fantastic! He then will land on a glacier lake which is crystal clear before you return to Lake Hood. We also took a day cruise out of Seward and a dog sled ride. We also enjoyed Paradise Cove which is a private island you reach only by boat. The scenery is some of the best!