youngtom2910

I am going to Anchorage on July 24th. my main interest is in seeing wildlife and nature. this is my first trip there. When I arrive (24th in the aft) I am renting a car, driving to seward. I stay there 2 nights, taking the Northwestern Fjord Cruise the next day (25th).

From there the next day I drive to Homer (26th). I spend some time in Homer the next day and begin a drive part of the way back to Anchorage. ON the 28th I need to be at the anchorage airport by noon to be picked up by cruise west for a 3 night cruise of college fjord and chenega glacier.

I return to anchorage on the 31st. I have a few days left until I leave on the eve of the 2d. The travel agency suggests that I rent a car and drive to Talkeetna. any thoughts?

dwooddon

If your experience follows mine, you will probably see little or no wildlife enroute to Talkeetna but you should see a fair amount on your excursions in the Seward/Homer areas. I'd still go to Talkeetna. It's a neat little town but I'd probably only spend the afternoon and next morning there then go on to Denali. Other posters have said that they have seen quite a lot of wildlife on the tour bus into Denali Park.

Enroute to Seward, there's a wildlife sanctary center just off the road near Girdwood. I've always driven by it but on my last trip, I was told that's a mistake and I plan to stop there on my next trip into that area.

I have an alternate suggestion for the trip to Talkeetna and Denali. Alaska Railroad goes both places and it's a pleasant trip. The route between Anchorage and Seward is more scenic than between Anchorage and Talkeetna but it doesn't sound from your original post like the timing is right for that. For sure, the rail trip to Talkeetna and Denali will be more scenic than the same road trip.

youngtom2910

thanks--does anyone else have thoughts about car vs. train going north from anchorage for a few days....

starrsville

If you go to Talkeetna, I definitely would take a plane tour over Denali. Absolutely incredible. One of my favorite travel memories ever.

npurpleh2

If you've got a few days then I suggest you make the drive up to Denali if you want to see wildlife. Just driving up to Denali I was lucky enough to see bears crossing the road and moose standing next to it. You will not be able to drive into the park very far yourself, but there are buses that go through the park. Once you are at Denali, you could take the bus from the main road into the park to Kantishna and then take a flight around Denali (Mt. McKinley) that will then take you back to the main road. That way you will have the best of both worlds... the bus is a good way to see wildlife and then the flight around the mountain is breathtaking to see the glaciers plus you could see wildlife from the air. This would give you the opportunity to see inside the park via the bus but can then fly back to the main road so you don't have to endure the bus both directions. I saw tons of wildlife in Denali - caribou, bears & cubs, moose.

BudgetQueen

If you add Denali Park, you need 3 days, not sure you have them??? Doable with 2 nights and a late flight home??

Necessary for wildlife is to get INTO the park, meaning booking the shuttle to at least Fish Creek. Are you back in Anchorage, in the morning??? If so, leave that day for Denali Park, shuttle on the 1st, next day drive back to Anchorage.

Pat2003

I think with such a short time (July 24th evening to July 28th before noon) going to Seward and Homer before your cruise is a good idea. If you are focusing on wildlife I suggest spending two nights in Seward and at least 2 nights in Homer. If you have only one night for Homer I would skip it altogether and stay somewhere in Soldotna area or Girdwood. If you want to spend two nights in Homer you would have to leave Homer very early (5 am)in the morning in order to return your car and get to the airport to be picked up by your cruise line before noon. Leaving Homer this early in the morning has its advantages. It is almost guaranteed you would see many moose in lakes, ponds and wet areas along the road between Homer and Cooper Landing.

After your cruise head north to Talkeetna. I am not sure whether you have a time to go to Denali, it depends what time are you scheduled to arrive in Anchorage on 31st. If before noon, then you have a time to get to Denali that day, then spend all next day in Denali park and leave in the morning for Anchorage. If you leave Denali very early you can even have a time for a flight seeing tour in Talkeetna. It is only two hours from Talkeetna to Anchorage. However, be prepared for delays caused by road constructions, slow vehicles and weather. BTW, you do not need a travel agency to make all arrangements.