Ferry Valdez-Whittier (to Anchorage) or take the road instead ?
Apr 16th, 2014, 06:21 AM
#1
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Ferry Valdez-Whittier (to Anchorage) or take the road instead ?
Hello all,
We are setting up a schedule for our 3 weeks trip in September 2014 through Alaska and the Yukon.
Right now we are clueless about the following:
Our last part of the trip could roughly be
Tok - Valdez
Ferry Valdez-Whittier
Whittier-Anchorage
or
By road we would probably travel
Tok-Gakona (or Glacier View) - on Richardson Hwy
Gakona or Glacier View-Anchorage - on Glenn Hwy
As the ferry service is scarce after September 11 (sails only every other day), we think about skipping the ferry completely and take the Richardson Hwy instead to be a little more flexible. But will we regret doing that?
We do a glacier/wildlife cruise from/to Seward at the beginning of our trip. So is the ferry ride Valdez-Whittier a completely different and worthwile thing to do (and spend $ 240)?
What is your advice?
a) Is the ferry ride a not-to-be-missed experience (keeping in mind it will be Sep 16 or 18...)?
b) Is the road from Gakona to Valdez very interesting or will we not miss much if we skip that part and continue on Glenn Hwy west?
c) Is the road trip from Tok to Gakona/Glacier View a nice drive (landscape)?
Would be grateful for your opinions!
Best regards from Berlin/Germany
We are setting up a schedule for our 3 weeks trip in September 2014 through Alaska and the Yukon.
Right now we are clueless about the following:
Our last part of the trip could roughly be
Tok - Valdez
Ferry Valdez-Whittier
Whittier-Anchorage
or
By road we would probably travel
Tok-Gakona (or Glacier View) - on Richardson Hwy
Gakona or Glacier View-Anchorage - on Glenn Hwy
As the ferry service is scarce after September 11 (sails only every other day), we think about skipping the ferry completely and take the Richardson Hwy instead to be a little more flexible. But will we regret doing that?
We do a glacier/wildlife cruise from/to Seward at the beginning of our trip. So is the ferry ride Valdez-Whittier a completely different and worthwile thing to do (and spend $ 240)?
What is your advice?
a) Is the ferry ride a not-to-be-missed experience (keeping in mind it will be Sep 16 or 18...)?
b) Is the road from Gakona to Valdez very interesting or will we not miss much if we skip that part and continue on Glenn Hwy west?
c) Is the road trip from Tok to Gakona/Glacier View a nice drive (landscape)?
Would be grateful for your opinions!
Best regards from Berlin/Germany
Apr 16th, 2014, 07:25 AM
#2
The Richardson Hwy from Glennallen (junction of the Glenn and Richardson Hwys) south to Valdez is one of the most beautiful roads in North America. In September it will be spectacular. By comparison the Glenn Hwy from Glennallen to Anchorage is nice but not in the same league at all.
Even if you just return up the Richardson from Valdez to Glennallen (and skip the ferry) it's worth it; however if you can manage the ferry, so much the better - very scenic and you'll see a part of Alaska - Prince William Sound - that many car visitors miss.
Even if you just return up the Richardson from Valdez to Glennallen (and skip the ferry) it's worth it; however if you can manage the ferry, so much the better - very scenic and you'll see a part of Alaska - Prince William Sound - that many car visitors miss.
Apr 16th, 2014, 07:29 AM
#3
Meant to add, look here - http://goo.gl/maps/Osii8
Apr 16th, 2014, 08:58 AM
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Thank you, Gardyloo -
Well now we really have to figure out, what to do.
It's tempting to drive to Valdez.
Actually we are taking a 6h-cruise out of Seward to the Kenai NP and supposedly will see some comparable landscape with glaciers etc.
What we also could do is taking a cruise out of Whittier for a 5h-cruise (so called the 26 glacier tour).
Our whole trip is
Anchorage-Seward-Talkeetna-Healy-Fairbanks-Tok-Whitehorse-Skagway-Haines-Haines Junction-Tok-Valdez or Glenallen-Anchorage (I left out some overnight spots).
So I suppose we pretty much cover a big deal of mountains, glaciers, animals. But still - you never know, what you will miss, until you go there...
Will keep you posted
Well now we really have to figure out, what to do.
It's tempting to drive to Valdez.
Actually we are taking a 6h-cruise out of Seward to the Kenai NP and supposedly will see some comparable landscape with glaciers etc.
What we also could do is taking a cruise out of Whittier for a 5h-cruise (so called the 26 glacier tour).
Our whole trip is
Anchorage-Seward-Talkeetna-Healy-Fairbanks-Tok-Whitehorse-Skagway-Haines-Haines Junction-Tok-Valdez or Glenallen-Anchorage (I left out some overnight spots).
So I suppose we pretty much cover a big deal of mountains, glaciers, animals. But still - you never know, what you will miss, until you go there...
Will keep you posted
