rubigayle

I posted this in the wrong place so i am reposting here:
Message: We just got back this morning and had the best experience of our lives!
We traveled with our two kids girl, age 11 and boy age 9. here goes:
We use the toursaver book for many attractions:
July 26/27- Hawthorne suites (coupon) nice accommodations with great free breakfast. Poked around anchorage and used coupons for free gifts and shows
July 28-30-stayed at Lands End on Homer Spit. Homer is a really fun relaxing place to be and we enjoyed it to the max. We went kayaking, took a lunch cruise to otter cove,(coupon) Flew on a restored 1920 cessna (I think) with Bill on Katchemak bay air and just had a general blast!
July 31-Aug2- Seward, we stayed at Hotel Edgewater (coupon) and Sea Treasure Inn . We kayaked at Miller's landing (coupon), visited Exit glacier, the Sealife center(coupon) Did the 3pm 6 hour National Park tour(coupons)and the ididaride tour which i highly recommend. The young guys who run that tour are entusiastic mushers who share their love for the sport with you in a way that makes you want to join them. You get to go on a sled cart on wheels pulled by a team of 12 dogs, sit down to a session on dress and life on the trail, handle the puppies and in our case there were two that were a day and a half old. It was the best 118 I ever spent. There are other tours which take you up to the glacier to do the ride in an hour at a cost of 330 per person, but these guys are so enthusiastic that they suck you right in.We didn't need the snow to get the idea and the dog run was two miles long.Great value for the money.
August3-4-Took ferry from Whittier to Valdez- ferry took us by the columbia glacier with icebergs everywhere and sea lion rookery which was cool- We stayed in the valdez aspen on the coupon. We went whitewater rafting with Keystone adventures and had lunch on thompson pass. The small boat harbor is really nice as well. We also visited the fish hatchery and watched millions of salmons spawning in streams- an amazing sight.
August 5-7- Drove the Richardson, stopped at the Worthington glacier. We stayed at Copper River Princess in copper center- New hotel really nice just a nice place to relax .We Flew into Wrangell-St Elias national park with Wrangell Air into McCarthy and then hired a guide from St. Elias alpine guies to take a half day trip on the root glacier near Kennicott. Our half day trip was basically a whole day trip. They fit us with crampons and it was like being on another planet, probably the most amazing experience we ever had. Price was extremely reasonable for a tour at 50 a person. So that whole tour cost us 200 for a private tour. If we chose to share the tour with others it would have been 50 less, but we felt that we didn't want to be pressured since we were bringing the kids. The whole Kennecott-McCarthy town thing was unbelievable, out of another place in time.It's a jewel that hopefully will retain it's charm as more and more people find out about it.
The next day we went atv'ing near kenny lake with Scotty's ATV tours. He gives a nice tour and is very hospitable.We had a great time.
August 8-our anniversaty! We drove the beautiful Glenn Highway, stopped at Sheep Mountain for lunch and tooked a ride to hatcher pass which was breathtaking. We didn't stop at the Matanuska glacier because of road construction and the fact that we were kind of glaciered out by this point. Stayed again at the Hawthorne suites and had dinner at Benihana next door. The next morning we checked out of our hotel and spent the day at the Saturday market until it was time to fly home.

The only thing is now I have to pay the bill! I will say that i wouldn't change anything about the trip. My husband and children said it was the best trip of their lives. Of course it didn't hurt that the weather was drop dead gorgeous every day but the two days that we happened to be traveling long distances.

Carrabella

Thanks for a great report, Rubigale.
We can tell your family really enjoyed it - I can hardly wait till we go next month.

Nena

Hi! Do glad to hear that you had an awesome time. Do you remember the name of the mushers? We would like to do that.

Thanks.

rubigayle

The Ididaride tour is run by the Seavey family. It is on the way out to Exit glacier. They have a good website. Tyrell Seavey and Jim Gallea were our guides. They are young and very enthusiastic and it was a great educational and fun tour.

irmgard_schaugg

You keep mentioning coupons - where do you get them? We're going to Alaska next May and they might come in handy.
Have been to Alaska twice already, never had any coupons.

BudgetQueen

www.toursaver.com for the coupons, but you need to purchase them next year.

Pat2003

Rubigayle, please tell me more about your August 5-7 visit to Wrangell-St Elias National Park. Where did you fly from? Did you book your flights in advance? Did you hike in the park besides your glacier hiking? Please tell me! Also what about Thompson Pass? What's there? Thank you

Pat2003

Rubigayle, are you still around?

Jacquie

We're planning a similar trip June-July 2004. We want to take the ferry from Whittier to Valdez, but wondered about the tunnel to Whittier. Was it a problem? Did you have to wait long? Any recommendations as to how much time we should allow to make the ferry on time?

BudgetQueen

The tunnel is open at certain times and clearly posted. Is coordiated with the ferry, BUT the toll is only eastbound- the ferry (Whittier-Valdez) will run over $200 with a compact car and 2 passengers. Toursaver usually has a coupon. Just look at the Alaska marine highway site, also there's a site for the tunnel.