Rev 1 Alaska Itinerary: Comments anyone?
Feb 4th, 2009, 07:18 PM
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Rev 1 Alaska Itinerary: Comments anyone?
Hi! Greenham is back!
Thanks so much for the info provided in my other thread - am starting a new one so as not to drag the other one out.
After fixing a few of the shorted wires in my head from the info overload, here's what I am thinking of doing
total about 8 to 10 days without flts in-out Alaska - always too short, but is it too rushed?)
a) fly into Anchorage - stay the nite (or what's left of it)
b) mosey up to Denali for a couple of days (hiking, flights to McKinley, etc)
c) 3rd day, drive to Valdez - next day, explore Valdez, stay over 1 more nite.
d) Ferry over to Seward/Homer area for 3 days (bear watching, glacier hiking? etc)
e) Whale watching in Seaward? BTW, anyone know if the seas are particularly rough? Being a landlubber that I am, I fed the whales in Australia when we went out near Fraser Island! Get seasick too easily!
f) Return to Anchorage and fly home
(is there a place I can pick up the car in Anchorage and drop off in Seward? The train idea sounds very nice!)
Some added advice if anyone knows:
i) wld love to go to Juneau/Inside Passage cruise - where do I find one way tours from within Alaska? (where do they start-end?)- dont think I have the time for a 7-10 day cruise on top of the land trips.
ii) Is Juneau/Inside Passage US territory or Canadian? ie passports needed?
I was thinking of July but getting excited about this trip - is 2nd half May a decent time to go too? (stupid question: are the animals back yet from winter?
)
As always, many thanks for all the help provided. Appreciate it much!
Thanks so much for the info provided in my other thread - am starting a new one so as not to drag the other one out.
After fixing a few of the shorted wires in my head from the info overload, here's what I am thinking of doing
total about 8 to 10 days without flts in-out Alaska - always too short, but is it too rushed?)a) fly into Anchorage - stay the nite (or what's left of it)
b) mosey up to Denali for a couple of days (hiking, flights to McKinley, etc)
c) 3rd day, drive to Valdez - next day, explore Valdez, stay over 1 more nite.
d) Ferry over to Seward/Homer area for 3 days (bear watching, glacier hiking? etc)
e) Whale watching in Seaward? BTW, anyone know if the seas are particularly rough? Being a landlubber that I am, I fed the whales in Australia when we went out near Fraser Island! Get seasick too easily!
f) Return to Anchorage and fly home
(is there a place I can pick up the car in Anchorage and drop off in Seward? The train idea sounds very nice!)
Some added advice if anyone knows:
i) wld love to go to Juneau/Inside Passage cruise - where do I find one way tours from within Alaska? (where do they start-end?)- dont think I have the time for a 7-10 day cruise on top of the land trips.
ii) Is Juneau/Inside Passage US territory or Canadian? ie passports needed?
I was thinking of July but getting excited about this trip - is 2nd half May a decent time to go too? (stupid question: are the animals back yet from winter?
)As always, many thanks for all the help provided. Appreciate it much!
Feb 4th, 2009, 07:31 PM
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Greenham
I have also been doing research on Alaska and can answer one of your questions courtesy of spirobulldog... the only rental car agency that has an office in Anchorage and in Seward is Hertz. It's a bit pricy (we got quoted $1200 for one week for a minivan!) so you may want to consider returning the car to Anchorage and then taking the train to Seward.
We are going in July as well... maybe we'll run into you there.
I have also been doing research on Alaska and can answer one of your questions courtesy of spirobulldog... the only rental car agency that has an office in Anchorage and in Seward is Hertz. It's a bit pricy (we got quoted $1200 for one week for a minivan!) so you may want to consider returning the car to Anchorage and then taking the train to Seward.
We are going in July as well... maybe we'll run into you there
.
Feb 5th, 2009, 02:43 AM
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Check the ferry schedule. When we went to Alaska, the ferry from Valdez to Seward didn't run every day. In fact I don't believe it even ran every week.
While the Valdez area is supposed to be beautiful, you might consider spending more time in the Homer-Seward-Whittier area instead of the long drive.
Seward is at the back end of Resurrection Bay so it is sheltered, but the boats that go out to the fjords and whale watching often go beyond that protection. You might prefer going out of Whittier.
While the Valdez area is supposed to be beautiful, you might consider spending more time in the Homer-Seward-Whittier area instead of the long drive.
Seward is at the back end of Resurrection Bay so it is sheltered, but the boats that go out to the fjords and whale watching often go beyond that protection. You might prefer going out of Whittier.
Feb 6th, 2009, 05:55 PM
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Hi Greenham,
There are two ferries sailing between Valdez and Whittier in July.
The slow ferry, Aurora, runs every day. Leaves Valdez at 8 am arrives in Whittier 1:45 pm
The fast ferry, Chenega, runs 3 times a week, Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Departs 12:15 pm arrives in Whittier at 3 pm
https://www.dot.state.ak.us/oars/res...chMainFM.amhsf
For the ferry you have to make reservations soon if you have a car.
Mid-May is too early for Denali NP and if you want to see bears then it is too early as well. July is much better for places and activities you want to see and do.
Agree, with only 8-10 days you really don't have enough time to include Anchorage, Denali NP, Valdez, Homer and Seward. Skip Valdez or Homer. You won't be able to see everything in Alaska anyway.
From the entrance of Denali NP to Valdez it is at least 9 hour drive without stops and any delays. There are frequent road constructions in Alaska. If you decide to include Valdez in your itinerary consider staying overnight in Palmer to visit Hatcher Pass or near Sheep Mountain to hike with crampons on Matanuska Glacier. Then next day continue to Valdez.
I’m not clear about your traveling to Juneau. Do you mean you have 8-10 days total and you would like to add Juneau? Or are you dedicating additional days to visiting Inside Passage but are interested in only Juneau? Why do you want to visit Juneau? You can fly from Anchorage to Juneau. You won’t need a passport. You can drive towards Juneau but as you know you can’t drive all the way to Juneau. You would have to drive to Haines and then take the ferry to Juneau. In this case you need a passport since you drive through Canada. I don’t know about renting a car in Anchorage and then driving on Alaska and Haines Highways to Haines. First, you would spend a couple full days driving and it costs a small fortune to transport a car on the ferry. Second, some car rental places officially do not allow cars to be taken from Anchorage then on the ferry to Juneau. We take our own car so I don’t know how it works with rental cars. You can take a 7 day cruise from Whittier or Seward. They end in Seattle or Vancouver. If in Vancouver you would need a passport. Cruise West has a 4-day cruise from Juneau to Glacier Bay National Park.
There are two ferries sailing between Valdez and Whittier in July.
The slow ferry, Aurora, runs every day. Leaves Valdez at 8 am arrives in Whittier 1:45 pm
The fast ferry, Chenega, runs 3 times a week, Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Departs 12:15 pm arrives in Whittier at 3 pm
https://www.dot.state.ak.us/oars/res...chMainFM.amhsf
For the ferry you have to make reservations soon if you have a car.
Mid-May is too early for Denali NP and if you want to see bears then it is too early as well. July is much better for places and activities you want to see and do.
Agree, with only 8-10 days you really don't have enough time to include Anchorage, Denali NP, Valdez, Homer and Seward. Skip Valdez or Homer. You won't be able to see everything in Alaska anyway.
From the entrance of Denali NP to Valdez it is at least 9 hour drive without stops and any delays. There are frequent road constructions in Alaska. If you decide to include Valdez in your itinerary consider staying overnight in Palmer to visit Hatcher Pass or near Sheep Mountain to hike with crampons on Matanuska Glacier. Then next day continue to Valdez.
I’m not clear about your traveling to Juneau. Do you mean you have 8-10 days total and you would like to add Juneau? Or are you dedicating additional days to visiting Inside Passage but are interested in only Juneau? Why do you want to visit Juneau? You can fly from Anchorage to Juneau. You won’t need a passport. You can drive towards Juneau but as you know you can’t drive all the way to Juneau. You would have to drive to Haines and then take the ferry to Juneau. In this case you need a passport since you drive through Canada. I don’t know about renting a car in Anchorage and then driving on Alaska and Haines Highways to Haines. First, you would spend a couple full days driving and it costs a small fortune to transport a car on the ferry. Second, some car rental places officially do not allow cars to be taken from Anchorage then on the ferry to Juneau. We take our own car so I don’t know how it works with rental cars. You can take a 7 day cruise from Whittier or Seward. They end in Seattle or Vancouver. If in Vancouver you would need a passport. Cruise West has a 4-day cruise from Juneau to Glacier Bay National Park.
Feb 7th, 2009, 07:09 AM
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I agree with 8-10 days, you need to eliminate Valdez or Seward/Homer. It is a long drive from Denali to Valdez. The roads in Alaska are mostly 2 lanes. If you get behind a large truck, bus or RV (you will encounter many), you will be slowed down. Also, Alaska has a short road construction season so you are likely to encounter construction delays. It is not interstate driving.
Feb 8th, 2009, 12:38 AM
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I too agree, this is a poor plan, you are underestimating time and distances.
In one post it is referenced you are looking at mid May for this trip, Then Denali park is a very poor choice, consider another routing. Valdez is best with a 2 day drive, AND the time for McCarthy/Kennicott. It makes little sense to me, to just drive this distance without seeing and doing the gems along the way. Valdez can easily be a 2 night area. Excellent boat tours to consider.
I do not recommend the fast ferry Whttier/Valdez, since it is far more "transportation" based compared to the regular one. The slower has some time built in for short detours etc. the fast ferry wizzes by everything without a mention.
It is Seward- an no there isn't "whale watching". You MAY see whales but definately not a given, of my many trips, I've averaged about 50% of the time. Yes, you most certainly have to be well prepared for rough sailing part of the trip. I've seen sick passengers EVERY trip. Key is prevention, of which there are plenty of options to consider.
If you want to add the Inside Passage which is the US, then a one way cruise, which will require a passport, is a great option, but also needing way more time then you have. I recommend 2 weeks, if you can arrange that.
In one post it is referenced you are looking at mid May for this trip, Then Denali park is a very poor choice, consider another routing. Valdez is best with a 2 day drive, AND the time for McCarthy/Kennicott. It makes little sense to me, to just drive this distance without seeing and doing the gems along the way. Valdez can easily be a 2 night area. Excellent boat tours to consider.
I do not recommend the fast ferry Whttier/Valdez, since it is far more "transportation" based compared to the regular one. The slower has some time built in for short detours etc. the fast ferry wizzes by everything without a mention.
It is Seward- an no there isn't "whale watching". You MAY see whales but definately not a given, of my many trips, I've averaged about 50% of the time. Yes, you most certainly have to be well prepared for rough sailing part of the trip. I've seen sick passengers EVERY trip. Key is prevention, of which there are plenty of options to consider.
If you want to add the Inside Passage which is the US, then a one way cruise, which will require a passport, is a great option, but also needing way more time then you have. I recommend 2 weeks, if you can arrange that.
Feb 8th, 2009, 08:25 PM
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Hi
Thanks for the great feedback - exactly what I needed - a reality check - so it looks like Valdez is out, and going out into the seas to probably not a good idea (motion sickness medicine not withstanding).
Wrt to Inside Passage, it will likely be a tag on (on top of the 10 days)...if I can find the days!
Thanks for the tip on the bears etc. So July it is...
Think I got my head wrapped around some prelim starting points - thank you all for being so generous with your advice and experience...
Looking forward to July and I will try and post a report when I am back then!
many thanks again!
Thanks for the great feedback - exactly what I needed - a reality check - so it looks like Valdez is out, and going out into the seas to probably not a good idea (motion sickness medicine not withstanding).
Wrt to Inside Passage, it will likely be a tag on (on top of the 10 days)...if I can find the days!
Thanks for the tip on the bears etc. So July it is...
Think I got my head wrapped around some prelim starting points - thank you all for being so generous with your advice and experience...
Looking forward to July and I will try and post a report when I am back then!
many thanks again!
Feb 9th, 2009, 05:44 AM
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<the ferry from Valdez to Seward didn't run every day>
The ferry doesn't sail to and from Seward any longer.
Some information for those who are thinking about taking the ferry from Valdez to Homer.
It is not logical, IMO, but possible to take the ferry from Valdez to Homer. Yes, it runs once a month on July 23 in 2009. First, you take the ferry from Valdez to Whittier on July 22, wait there for a day since the ferry from Whittier for Homer leaves at 11:15 on 7/23 and the ferries from Valdez on 7/23 arrive at 12:15 pm and 3 pm.
Then you need to take another vessel from Whittier to Homer for 43 hours of sailing. For this long you need a cabin and that part of sailing between Whittier and Homer can be very rough.
Total transfer from Valdez to Homer would take 94 hours and $1,094 for 2 passengers and a regular sedan (not RV, SUV or pickup truck). Plus the cabin between Whittier and Homer
2 Berth No Facilities - Inside $136.00
2 Berth No Facilities - Outside $158.00
2 Berth Roomette - Inside $41.00
2 Berth Roomette - Outside $50.00
4 Berth Full Facilities - Inside $207.00
4 Berth Full Facilities - Outside $249.00
Happy sailing!
The ferry doesn't sail to and from Seward any longer.
Some information for those who are thinking about taking the ferry from Valdez to Homer.
It is not logical, IMO, but possible to take the ferry from Valdez to Homer. Yes, it runs once a month on July 23 in 2009. First, you take the ferry from Valdez to Whittier on July 22, wait there for a day since the ferry from Whittier for Homer leaves at 11:15 on 7/23 and the ferries from Valdez on 7/23 arrive at 12:15 pm and 3 pm.
Then you need to take another vessel from Whittier to Homer for 43 hours of sailing. For this long you need a cabin and that part of sailing between Whittier and Homer can be very rough.
Total transfer from Valdez to Homer would take 94 hours and $1,094 for 2 passengers and a regular sedan (not RV, SUV or pickup truck). Plus the cabin between Whittier and Homer
2 Berth No Facilities - Inside $136.00
2 Berth No Facilities - Outside $158.00
2 Berth Roomette - Inside $41.00
2 Berth Roomette - Outside $50.00
4 Berth Full Facilities - Inside $207.00
4 Berth Full Facilities - Outside $249.00
Happy sailing!
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