2nd Trip to Alaska, Looking for some off the beaten path suggestions
Feb 15th, 2015, 07:26 AM
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2nd Trip to Alaska, Looking for some off the beaten path suggestions
This will be our second trip to Alaska... We are a 30s couple that are avid landscape photographers and medium fit hikers... We will be traveling with our 9 year old son who also hikes with us and also our parents will be with us who are not that much into long hikes...
Our first trip was flying into Anchorage, renting a car and covering the following highlights - Turnagain Arm, Seward Highway, Kenai Fjords Aialik Bay cruise, Exit glacier, Whittier Prince William Sound cruise, Portage glacier, Matanuska glacier, drive to Valdez through Thompson pass, Talkeetna flight trip over the Alaskan range...
We absolutely loved our first trip... But that was before our son was born and also taking our parents with us for this next one... We will likely revisit all the places listed above that we did in our first trip...
Looking for suggestions for what MORE we can do this time... Denali national park? Need 3 days for that? We would like off the beaten path suggestions for very picturesque locales and interesting things to do...
We would also like suggestions for 2-3 awesome hikes, which if too long for parents, we can leave them behind to be busy with something else or have a relaxing day..
Once again, we are into gorgeous mountain, lakes and glacier landscapes... Our son is crazy for wildlife, so that will also be a plus...
Flying into Anchorage again, will rent a car and drive and will have about 2 weeks of time...
Our first trip was flying into Anchorage, renting a car and covering the following highlights - Turnagain Arm, Seward Highway, Kenai Fjords Aialik Bay cruise, Exit glacier, Whittier Prince William Sound cruise, Portage glacier, Matanuska glacier, drive to Valdez through Thompson pass, Talkeetna flight trip over the Alaskan range...
We absolutely loved our first trip... But that was before our son was born and also taking our parents with us for this next one... We will likely revisit all the places listed above that we did in our first trip...
Looking for suggestions for what MORE we can do this time... Denali national park? Need 3 days for that? We would like off the beaten path suggestions for very picturesque locales and interesting things to do...
We would also like suggestions for 2-3 awesome hikes, which if too long for parents, we can leave them behind to be busy with something else or have a relaxing day..
Once again, we are into gorgeous mountain, lakes and glacier landscapes... Our son is crazy for wildlife, so that will also be a plus...
Flying into Anchorage again, will rent a car and drive and will have about 2 weeks of time...
Feb 19th, 2015, 11:55 PM
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We seventy something Aussies will be on our 4th Alaskan trip same time as you, going to many of the same places?
Some of our favorites..
At Portage, the walk to Byron Glacier
At Independence Mine, out of Palmer, drive a little way on the Wasilla- Fishhook road (unsealed, but only a few miles) to a small lake. Easy, and spectacular.
At Valdez, be sure to drive right around towards the petrol silos (what ARE they called?) and see the salmon holding pens, and seals or sealions. May be wrong time of year for salmon, but it's an interesting drive. We saw otters from shore driving the other way, towards the port, west from the small harbour.
You don't mention Denali. There's a wonderful walk from the end of the sealed road, which is the limit where one can privately drive to.
Am sure you will enjoy it. If you meet up with an enthusiastic pair of old Aussies, it may be us!
Some of our favorites..
At Portage, the walk to Byron Glacier
At Independence Mine, out of Palmer, drive a little way on the Wasilla- Fishhook road (unsealed, but only a few miles) to a small lake. Easy, and spectacular.
At Valdez, be sure to drive right around towards the petrol silos (what ARE they called?) and see the salmon holding pens, and seals or sealions. May be wrong time of year for salmon, but it's an interesting drive. We saw otters from shore driving the other way, towards the port, west from the small harbour.
You don't mention Denali. There's a wonderful walk from the end of the sealed road, which is the limit where one can privately drive to.
Am sure you will enjoy it. If you meet up with an enthusiastic pair of old Aussies, it may be us!
Feb 20th, 2015, 07:02 AM
#5
Well, you want off the beaten path? Here ya go.
Spend two or three nights in Nome. Round trip (Alaska Airlines jet) from Anchorage is roughly the same (or a bit cheaper) than your Talkeetna flightseeing trip, and hotel costs are comparable to Anchorage, maybe a little cheaper.
You can see plenty just walking around the old town - daft gold miners offshore in the Bering Sea ( http://www.discovery.com/tv-shows/bering-sea-gold/ ) lots of historic sites - but you can also rent a vehicle and explore the interior and coast of the Seward peninsula - wildlife (bears, muskox) or visit a native village or two. http://www.alaska.org/advice/nome-road-system
The great majority of visitors to Alaska (I'd guess upwards of 90%) never really get much exposure to the 90% of the state that isn't drivable or easily visited from a cruise ship; here's your chance to experience some real bush, see what subarctic Alaska looks like from ground level, and get a feel for the vastness of the state.
For a few dollars more in airfare, you could do a "triangle" trip that includes Kotzebue, an Inupiat Eskimo village above the arctic circle. Stick a toe in the Arctic Ocean, watch the actual midnight sun not set outside your oceanfront hotel, learn about this remarkable culture and part of the world. http://www.nullagvikhotel.com/
The flights to Nome stop at Kotzebue either coming or going, so an ANC-OME-OTZ-ANC itinerary is dead easy.
Why not be a little adventurous?
Spend two or three nights in Nome. Round trip (Alaska Airlines jet) from Anchorage is roughly the same (or a bit cheaper) than your Talkeetna flightseeing trip, and hotel costs are comparable to Anchorage, maybe a little cheaper.
You can see plenty just walking around the old town - daft gold miners offshore in the Bering Sea ( http://www.discovery.com/tv-shows/bering-sea-gold/ ) lots of historic sites - but you can also rent a vehicle and explore the interior and coast of the Seward peninsula - wildlife (bears, muskox) or visit a native village or two. http://www.alaska.org/advice/nome-road-system
The great majority of visitors to Alaska (I'd guess upwards of 90%) never really get much exposure to the 90% of the state that isn't drivable or easily visited from a cruise ship; here's your chance to experience some real bush, see what subarctic Alaska looks like from ground level, and get a feel for the vastness of the state.
For a few dollars more in airfare, you could do a "triangle" trip that includes Kotzebue, an Inupiat Eskimo village above the arctic circle. Stick a toe in the Arctic Ocean, watch the actual midnight sun not set outside your oceanfront hotel, learn about this remarkable culture and part of the world. http://www.nullagvikhotel.com/
The flights to Nome stop at Kotzebue either coming or going, so an ANC-OME-OTZ-ANC itinerary is dead easy.
Why not be a little adventurous?
Feb 20th, 2015, 07:16 AM
#6
Meant to include a different (better) link regarding wildlife accessible from the Nome road system - http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm...ewardpeninsula
I'd also mention that for Kotzebue at least, the cost would further be offset by not needing a car for those days.
I'd also mention that for Kotzebue at least, the cost would further be offset by not needing a car for those days.
Mar 2nd, 2015, 03:40 PM
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For a great variety of awesome family activities check out this link for things-to-do in the Girdwood/Portage/Whittier area, there's things there to make everyone in your party happy: http://goo.gl/dPvuEJ\\
For a relatively 'big ticket' item consider a bear flight-seeing tour. These out of Soldotna are some of the more reasonably priced. This is just one vendor, there area others: http://www.talonair.com/bearview.html
For scenery and really interesting, consider a trek on the Matanuska Glacier. It's accessible by most who can walk for the duration of time it takes to do a similar easy hike. I've used MICA guides and loved them (see: http://www.micaguides.com/)
A difficult hike (I did it and was in terrible physical condition 6'2" 265 lazy lbs!) that is absolutely amazing is up to the Harding Icefield at Exit Glacier near Seward. It's not technically difficult; but it is a 4000 ft gain over 4 miles. It'll take 6 to 8 hours round-trip. This might be a good one where your parents tour Seward for the day and the rest of you head out for a great hike (see: http://www.nps.gov/kefj/planyourvisi...ield_trail.htm )
Good luck
For a relatively 'big ticket' item consider a bear flight-seeing tour. These out of Soldotna are some of the more reasonably priced. This is just one vendor, there area others: http://www.talonair.com/bearview.html
For scenery and really interesting, consider a trek on the Matanuska Glacier. It's accessible by most who can walk for the duration of time it takes to do a similar easy hike. I've used MICA guides and loved them (see: http://www.micaguides.com/)
A difficult hike (I did it and was in terrible physical condition 6'2" 265 lazy lbs!) that is absolutely amazing is up to the Harding Icefield at Exit Glacier near Seward. It's not technically difficult; but it is a 4000 ft gain over 4 miles. It'll take 6 to 8 hours round-trip. This might be a good one where your parents tour Seward for the day and the rest of you head out for a great hike (see: http://www.nps.gov/kefj/planyourvisi...ield_trail.htm )
Good luck
Mar 10th, 2015, 01:40 PM
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We love south-central, Alaska and since it is so accessible from flying into Anchorage as a major airport it makes for a great trip. It seems like you covered glaciers, and cruises. Why not try fishing Seward has a big Salmon Derby, and Homer has a big Halibut Derby locals and visitors come from all over to compete, and enjoy a boat ride at the same time.
We stayed at Orca Island Cabins in Seward on our way back from Homer for two nights, it was the perfect end to a trip of a lift time, and we also caught salmon right from their dock in August!
We stayed at Orca Island Cabins in Seward on our way back from Homer for two nights, it was the perfect end to a trip of a lift time, and we also caught salmon right from their dock in August!
Feb 9th, 2017, 12:22 PM
#11
Anyone planning a trip to Alaska this year should plan on eating at several of these restaurants. http://www.onlyinyourstate.com/alask...ucket-list-ak/
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