8-day trip - need comments;
 

Hi,

Here is my itinerary after 2 days of research.. please comment(trying to balance drive+rail)

Fri-1: Reach ANC from Raliegh/Durham, NC, night stay in Aleyska(drive) - aleyska accomodations - comments ?.
Sat-1: Train package from Anchorage to Whittier to Anchorage, I plan to drive back and take the rail road.. just want to do the train :); PWS(Glacier adventure)-coupon or 26 glacier cruise - please recommend on one; Night stay in Aleyska(same as Fri-1).
Sun-1: Alyeska - Seward drive, Sea life centre and kjord national park cruise. Seward - Holmer drive. night stay @ Holmer.
Mon-1: Drive from Holmer to Kenai to Anchorage - any recommendations on must cover places on the way ?; night stay in Anchorage.
Tue-1: Train to Talkeenta ; 3 river tour, if I've time do the flight tour. night stay in Talkeenta.
Wed-1: Reach Denali by train by 3:30P; any recommendations on activities? - night stay@Denali.
Thu-1: 1 day tour to Kantishan
Fri-2: noon train from Denali to Anchorage. night stay @ Anchorage.
Sat-2: See Anchorage during day - any better options ?, return flight in the night..

Please suggest on things I'm ignoring on my way which are must see.. am willing to drop any of above if there is one such thing. From this site, came to know about the great alaska tour coupon book.. any other recommendations on getting the tours/accomodation cheaper ?

Thanks
Rajesh

One thing I forgot to ask will I get to see glaciers in 08/11 - 08/18 time frame - mainly in the glacier cruise?

Thanks
Rajesh

Not sure what time you arrive on Friday. Alyeska is about a 45 minute drive from Anchorage, going south. Alyeska Resort is a place that I really enjoy but it is expensive and although many people like it, some think the rooms are overpriced. If you have some time to explore Girdwood (the town that Alyeska Resort is in) it may be fun. It is a very small town so it won't take long. Things people do there - hike, bike, berry pick and for eats there is Maxine's, Double Musky, and a nice place at the top of the tram (7 Glaciers). You can ride the tram up for free if you eat at the 7 Glaciers. You might check the community calendar to see if there are any events occurring at the time of your arrival. If you don't have much time on Friday you may consider staying in Anchorage since the train from Anchorage usually leaves early in the a.m. It would possibly be more convenient for you. Not familiar with the cruises so can't recommend one over the other. From Homer to Kenai to Anchorage - several photo ops along the way. Take your time and stop if something interests you. In Denali you'll want to stop by the visitor's center and go into the park. If you have time there are raft trips on the Nenana River - either mild or on the rapids. Don't know the hours.

Thanks much for the response..

I'm not sure I will get accomodation within Denali (for which I will not need a car..) if I end up getting one in Healy, what are my options reaching the Park to get on to the tour @ 6:30am ?

I feel your Seward & Homer days are too crowded. It is about 170 miles between Seward & Homer and takes close to 4 hours. Between Homer & Anchorage again it could take 4 hours. And you might also want to stop in between for scenery. I suggest skipping Homer else you will be spending too much time in the car and not enjoying scenery. One good tool for planning is the Alaska Milepost book - it gives a mile-by-mile description (including speed limits, attractions) etc for highways & major roads.You can also find out from the Milepost hotels close to entrance in Denali and inquire those about shuttles into the park from the hotels. I am going there next month and could give you more inputs when I return.

I also do not recommend less than 2 nights at Homer. As a suggestion- only do one train, with Anchorage/Seward the most scenic - by far.

I instead suggest you take the train to Seward on Sat- and stay one night- there is time for a Kenai Fjords touring one day and another option the next. Take the 6pm train back Anchorage. Next day pick up a rental car and head to Talkeetna or Denali Park. Spend at least 1 day touring Anchorage, and easy to drive to Whittier and a glacier cruise as an Anchorage day trip.

If you have toursaver- then use the coupons. :)

Just came back from 2 weeks in Alaska. I would not recommend the 1-day tour to Kantishna. It is a rough 6+ hour bus trip each way. We were staying at Kantishna Roadhouse, and noticed that a Kantishna Air Taxi service representative showed up at the lodge just at the time that the day tour bus came in. He said always has a number of customers who choose to fly out, even though they had already paid for a round trip bus trip. "We do no advertising," he said, "the tour bus does that for us." 'Nuf said.

Just wanted to share this for those doing the tram at Mt. Alyeska. In the Alaska Visitors Guide (big one with beautiful brown grizzly on front) there is a 2-1 coupon for the tram. This is a savings of 16.00. It adds up for a party of 5. We used the toursaver book for many excursions but didn't see this one until after we did it (really bummed me out but then again it was a beautiful day and worth it).

Just returned - what a trip. We loved the Alyeska area..didn't stay in the lodge..(stayed at Alyeska Accommodations - so-so) We got tram tickets free by eating in the lounge. It was cheaper than the restaurant. We went up on the tram, hiked around in that area...gliders taking off right there at the top...so beautiful...
Also - we did the Wonder Lake on the buses (cheapest way) - 11 1/2 hrs. - It was a fabulous trip!! Can you believe that we had a clear day? AND saw "The Mountain!!" - we were in Healy for 4 nights - Touch of Wilderness Bed and Breakfast - would highly recommend it! It took about 20 min. to get to Denali entrance.. In the park we saw everything...bears, moose w/huge racks, wolf, caribou. Two of our group was 72 yrs. old and made the trip fine - we took snacks and lunch. The mountain was about 60% out that day...cool at Wonder Lake - a bear appeared in that area and our bus driver yelled for a couple to get on the bus and he took off. He reported the sighting at the next station. What beautiful country.
We also had good experiences in Homer and Seward...let me know if anyone is interested in those adventures.

Yes, I'd love to read your notes about Seward and Homer. I'm planning a trip for August 2008, and I love reading these reports! Thanks.

I would like tour hear your adventures farm123 about Homer and Seward as we are planning a trip to Alaska next June and plan to visit those towns

We just returned from 2 weeks in the Kenai & though we enjoyed Homer, it is a very long drive from Seward. The scenery in Seward is beautiful, it's closer to Anchorage & you could spend extra time there or in Denali & easily eliminate Homer from your itinerary. Have a great trip & take lots of warm clothes. We rented an RV & were able to go all of the places we wanted & stayed warm & dry. It was an amazing trip.

I think we loved our trip so much because of the time we took in Homer (7 nights) and Seward, actually Moose Pass 6 nights.
In Homer our view was to die for!!!!! We stayed at Alaska by the Sea - with the meadows and bales of hay out the large windows, the bay, then the snow-capped mountains/glacier...I need to say no more...It was not a new place - so don't expect that...4 bedrooms....
We fished in the area and at the spit, caught halibut out on the boat - ate salmon or halibut on the grill each evening...just wonderful.
We then took out time, stopped at Fred Myers on the way to Moose Pass because there at no grocery stores there!! The place was new and really, really nice. It is about 30 min. from Seward and if you want to fish you can get to Cooper Landing/Russian River within 20 min., I believe it was...The place is Trail Lake View in Moose Pass - 3 bedrooms - gourmet kitchen..we grilled our fish there too. We did the large boat out of Seward, the Exit Glacier and the Aquarium...All fun! Very relaxing..
If you have any time and want to stay in Soldotna make sure you stay at Longmere Lake Lodge...really, really nice family - on a lake - just beautiful setting. It was our first full night in Alaska and he shared some of the fresh salmon he'd just caught with us - put it right on their nice grill and enjoyed it all!!
Have fun! We were so blessed with beautiful weather..(Even got to "see the mountain" in Denali)