Advice Needed
Oct 10th, 2017, 09:09 AM
#1
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Advice Needed
We are planning on visiting Alaska in August/September 2018. DH and I are in our 60s, reasonably active and interested in moderately active excursions. We have a flexible schedule and currently are planning more than 2 and less than 3 weeks in Alaska. When we travel in Italy, we avoid changing hotels/apartments more frequently than every 3-4 days. I am feeling challenged doing this in Alaska. The current, very loose, plan is to land in Anchorage, spend a day or two (some jet lag as we are coming from the east coast) and then train to Denali with an overnight in Talkeetna and 2 nights in Denali, then return train to Anchorage with another overnight. We will then rent a car and tour the Kenai Peninsula. I am thinking 3 days in Seward and 3 days in Homer with day trips and excursions. Is this too much time in these two locations? Then, we are considering doing the Inside Passage. Because of the geography and our desire not to pack and unpack so frequently, I am considering at least 2 nights in Juneau and 2 nights in Gustavius. Does this make sense or should I consider working Ketchikan and Sitka into the trip. Thanks in advance for your thoughts on this!
Oct 10th, 2017, 10:35 AM
#2
Many of the flights at least from the west coast, arrive in Anchorage about 11PM. I did manage to get a flight that arrived in the morning and rented a car at the airport.
We went to breakfast and walked around town for a couple hours before heading to our hotel (Microtel) out at Eagle River. The next day we drove all the way to Fairbanks (North Pole) to a nice B&B.
The next day, we got up early and took the breakfast sandwiches our host packed for us and went back to Denali for the tour bus. Buy the tour bus tickets online before you go to Alaska.
We got back to the B&B about 10 PM but it was still daylight since it was June.
We stayed 3 nights at a B&B in Homer. One of the days we took a day trip to Seward and hiked up to the toe of Exit Glacier.
I was glad to get the chance to see Fairbanks instead of all the tour bus tourists in Talkeetna.
Have fun no matter how you approach Alaska.
We went to breakfast and walked around town for a couple hours before heading to our hotel (Microtel) out at Eagle River. The next day we drove all the way to Fairbanks (North Pole) to a nice B&B.
The next day, we got up early and took the breakfast sandwiches our host packed for us and went back to Denali for the tour bus. Buy the tour bus tickets online before you go to Alaska.
We got back to the B&B about 10 PM but it was still daylight since it was June.
We stayed 3 nights at a B&B in Homer. One of the days we took a day trip to Seward and hiked up to the toe of Exit Glacier.
I was glad to get the chance to see Fairbanks instead of all the tour bus tourists in Talkeetna.
Have fun no matter how you approach Alaska.
Oct 10th, 2017, 10:46 AM
#3
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If you took one of the cruise ships that leaves from Seward, etc. you could do that at the end of your trip and fly out of Vancouver, BC. That lets you keep your bed for the 7 days of the trip and see places like Ketchican, Sitka etc., just pick a cruise line that stops at the places you want to see.
Oct 10th, 2017, 11:53 AM
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emalloy--we are not cruise fans but thank you for that suggestion. If I HAD to do a cruise, I would consider a second trip and do an Uncruise of the inside passage since there are MUCH fewer people and more options for getting closer to wildlife and glaciers for viewing. The cost of the Uncruise is too high to add on to this trip.
Oct 10th, 2017, 12:13 PM
#6
I think a few days in southcentral and interior Alaska followed by some time in SE Alaska makes sense, but personal taste comes into it when you're thinking about multiple days in one place.
Just some personal opinions...
IMO both the train trip to Denali and Talkeetna are rather overrated. The train isn't especially scenic (except in one or two places) plus it's pretty long. And Talkeetna is - to me at least - pretty overwhelmed by mass tourism - tour buses (many sponsored by cruise lines on "cruise tours") and lots of cars carrying people wanting to see a bush village convenient to the road system - something of a contradiction IMO. Your proposed trip to Denali would take a total of four days, only one of which would actually include going into the park interior. You could shave a full day off that by driving, stopping in Talkeetna (if you must) for a couple of hours coming or going.
Mid-August is a very busy time in Seward owing to the annual Silver Salmon Derby drawing thousands of people. Homer is a little looser, but excursions from Homer should include crossing Kachemak Bay to Seldovia or Halibut Cove, and while day trips to these places are possible, an overnight would be better, which would violate your "two night" rule.
For SE Alaska, the cruises really do a good job of showing off the diversity of the region, albeit at the cost of mass market tourism. I think a cruise from Whittier or Seward south to Vancouver would be a good idea, although, depending on timing, a northbound cruise might be better. You could use the cruise as an ideal place to recover from jetlag, and arrive in southcentral Alaska ready to hit the ground running.
As for timing, by the third week in August autumn is definitely coming at Denali Park, which makes for stunning color (but also a better chance of cloudy weather obscuring the mountain.) In my view it's a terrific time of year for Denali, so if it was me planning your visit, I'd do something like this -
Vancouver 2 nights (because it's worth it.)
Cruise to Seward (7 nights). If you choose a cruise that visits both Glacier Bay and Hubbard Glacier, so much the better.
Seward, 2 nights (arrival + 1) - Kenai Fjords cruise.
Train to Anchorage, 1 night
Car to Denali, 2 nights (arrival + 1)
Back to Anchorage, 2 nights at Girdwood (Whittier glacier cruise, AK Wildlife Center, visit to Hope (old mining village on Turnagain Arm.)
Day flightseeing from Anchorage - bears, Prince William Sound, Cook Inlet volcanoes... pick 'em.
Last day in Anchorage, red eye flight out.
Total time - 15 nights
You could add (and I would) a couple of additional nights by flying out to either (or both) Nome and Kotzebue. Nome is an historic gold rush town (still a lot of mining) on the Bering Sea, and Kotzebue is an important Inupiat Eskimo village located on an arm of the Arctic Ocean. Kotzebue is above the arctic circle, if that's of interest. This would give you a view of parts of Alaska missed by the great majority of visitors, and (again IMO) would be well worth it.
Hope this isn't too confusing.
Just some personal opinions...
IMO both the train trip to Denali and Talkeetna are rather overrated. The train isn't especially scenic (except in one or two places) plus it's pretty long. And Talkeetna is - to me at least - pretty overwhelmed by mass tourism - tour buses (many sponsored by cruise lines on "cruise tours") and lots of cars carrying people wanting to see a bush village convenient to the road system - something of a contradiction IMO. Your proposed trip to Denali would take a total of four days, only one of which would actually include going into the park interior. You could shave a full day off that by driving, stopping in Talkeetna (if you must) for a couple of hours coming or going.
Mid-August is a very busy time in Seward owing to the annual Silver Salmon Derby drawing thousands of people. Homer is a little looser, but excursions from Homer should include crossing Kachemak Bay to Seldovia or Halibut Cove, and while day trips to these places are possible, an overnight would be better, which would violate your "two night" rule.
For SE Alaska, the cruises really do a good job of showing off the diversity of the region, albeit at the cost of mass market tourism. I think a cruise from Whittier or Seward south to Vancouver would be a good idea, although, depending on timing, a northbound cruise might be better. You could use the cruise as an ideal place to recover from jetlag, and arrive in southcentral Alaska ready to hit the ground running.
As for timing, by the third week in August autumn is definitely coming at Denali Park, which makes for stunning color (but also a better chance of cloudy weather obscuring the mountain.) In my view it's a terrific time of year for Denali, so if it was me planning your visit, I'd do something like this -
Vancouver 2 nights (because it's worth it.)
Cruise to Seward (7 nights). If you choose a cruise that visits both Glacier Bay and Hubbard Glacier, so much the better.
Seward, 2 nights (arrival + 1) - Kenai Fjords cruise.
Train to Anchorage, 1 night
Car to Denali, 2 nights (arrival + 1)
Back to Anchorage, 2 nights at Girdwood (Whittier glacier cruise, AK Wildlife Center, visit to Hope (old mining village on Turnagain Arm.)
Day flightseeing from Anchorage - bears, Prince William Sound, Cook Inlet volcanoes... pick 'em.
Last day in Anchorage, red eye flight out.
Total time - 15 nights
You could add (and I would) a couple of additional nights by flying out to either (or both) Nome and Kotzebue. Nome is an historic gold rush town (still a lot of mining) on the Bering Sea, and Kotzebue is an important Inupiat Eskimo village located on an arm of the Arctic Ocean. Kotzebue is above the arctic circle, if that's of interest. This would give you a view of parts of Alaska missed by the great majority of visitors, and (again IMO) would be well worth it.
Hope this isn't too confusing.
Oct 10th, 2017, 12:20 PM
#7
While I was composing this opus you posted that you're not "cruise fans." I get it, but would only say that Alaska cruises offer opportunities in the ports of call to do self-directed excursions. Ride the city bus ($1) in Ketchikan to Totem Bight State Park (totem poles and Native cultural sights) or to Saxman, a Tlingit village south of town (more totem poles and other attractions.) In Skagway, rent a car and drive up into the Yukon and visit a tiny desert, old gold rush town, and a ghost town.
Oct 10th, 2017, 12:56 PM
#8
just for a point of reference: I am not at all a 'cruise person' either. But an Alaskan cruise between Seward and Vancouver is not like a Caribbean cruise or a 'typical' cruise. There is a terrific port of call every day (except for the day the ship visits Glacier Bay when you don't land anywhere) and the most amazing scenery. It is by far the easiest way to tour that part of Alaska. Plus the benefit of not having to pack and unpack multiple times. You would see humpbacks and orca and eagles, and villages, and the Yukon train, and amazing native artists, and glaciers, and just soooooo much
I'd never consider a Caribbean or Med cruise -- but I'm actually contemplating taking a second Alaska cruise. I enjoyed it that much.
I'd never consider a Caribbean or Med cruise -- but I'm actually contemplating taking a second Alaska cruise. I enjoyed it that much.
Oct 11th, 2017, 04:09 PM
#9
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Janisj--I am now considering a cruise--something I never thought I would do! Thanks for the push!
Gardyloo--thank you so much for the time and effort you put into your reply. My husband REALLY? wants to do a train--perhaps the Seward to Anchorage train will work. I do not have a vested interest in Talkeetna. You have given me a lot to consider.
Gardyloo--thank you so much for the time and effort you put into your reply. My husband REALLY? wants to do a train--perhaps the Seward to Anchorage train will work. I do not have a vested interest in Talkeetna. You have given me a lot to consider.
