The first line in this thread is "3 week honeymoon".

If this is your honeymoon, the breakneck pace of it is going to be counterproductive.

While I can appreciate that you're "active" and that you want to see a lot, Alaska is the sort of place where you're seeing a lot when simply in transit between one area and another.

With that said, I'm surprised that Seward isn't on your original list. It is gorgeous, small, and a cute and memorable little place for honeymooners. Just an ideal spot for shacking up for a few days.

I sorta wish we could hear from the OTHER HALF of the honeymooning couple, in confidence, to learn whether the hectic pace of what you've planned suits him too.

Alaska is awesome, and it seems just the sort of remote-to-the-U.K. place that is suitable for a honeymoon. It is also the sort of place that will be effective for you even if you don't walk on every floating log and run from every bear in the state.

Take a deep breath and enjoy the official beginning of your LIFE TOGETHER.

Galwaygirl, I suggest making all reservations very soon. You don't want to find yourself looking for a place to stay overnight once you get there. Alaska has a very short summer/tourist season and you are going during the most popular time. Sometimes you may find accommodations for one night or flights once you get to your destination but what if nothing decent is available. I don't think you would want to look every night for a different place to stay. Make your reservations soon. The same goes for the ferry and flights to Kennicott. I really don't know what to tell you about sea kayaking in Valdez but since this is going to be an overnight trip I think I would make reservation soon. As to Kenai Fjords trip we were very lucky to show up there without reservations but it was in September. If you decide to do bear watching trip with Emerald Air Service make your reservations very soon. I understand they already have some dates in July and August fully booked. I think you need to send e-mails to companies in Wrangell -St. Elias and ask when to book specific trips. We reserved our overnight trips months in advance
Make sure you go to Seward after Homer, otherwise you have to leave Homer very early in the morning in order to get to the ferry in Whittier. Good luck with your plans and congratulations. I really admire you for planning such special honeymoon.

I would strongly suggest you get reservations for everything. You are going peak season and you can waste a lot of time looking if you don't have lodging in advance, plus little choice.

If you still go with winging it, you absolutely will need a reservation for the ferry, there is never any drive up space if you have a car.

Our itinerary for June/July 2006 is very similar but we have only two weeks so won't go to Wrangel Park
Anchorage 2
Girdwood 1
Homer 3 (bear watching with Emerald)
Seward 1
Valdez 2
Matanuska Glacier 1
Denali 2
Talkeetna 1
We have one more night to add but where?
We booked our accommodations in Anchorage, Girdwood and Homer. Should we add one more night to Valdez, Matanuska, Denali or Haley?

I mean should we add one extra night to Valdez, Matanuska, Denali or Talkeetna?

I would add the night in Seward especailly if taking a Kenai Fjords boat tour. Plenty to see and do there www.sewardak.org Otherwise 1 night in both Talkeetna and Matanuska is plenty.

If you are only considering your other 2 choices, look and see where you want the most activites to fill up the extra day???

This has been great. Thanks so much to everyone. We'll be booking it all really soon.

Don't worry about us relaxing, we'll be off to Hawaii afterwards for some lying on beaches!

Thank you for suggesting to add one more night to Seward. We'll do that today when booking our accommodations
ET

Everything is booked. We are spending two nights in Seward. Thank you Budget Queen.

for Javier

ttt for ljv

I just came back from Alaska, and I don't understand what's all the fuss about Seward as a town? It seems rather junky and not as pretty as some other seaside towns I've in Alaska or CA. There are shipyards and cranes right in front of the bay, and the main street is not charming at all. When walking toward the Sealife Center, you see a bunch of apartment block buildings.

The mountain behind it is average, not as dramatic as the one in Juneau for instance.

I wouldn't stay there at all or possibly one night if you're exhausted from the activities in the Kenai Fjord.

Galwaygirl, if you're sea kayaking in Valdez, I think Seward and Kenai Fjord would be redundant. Do one or the other for the glacier experience but not both.

I would blow money on a multi-day kayaking trip to the glacier. And blow money on a bear viewing trip to Katmai or Brooks River.

Flying all the way to Juneau just to take a ferry to Skagway, so you could hike the Chilhook trail seems like a waste of money. If you were doing it for the historical reason, then it might be justifiable. But not sure if it's scenic enough--you might see mostly trees. Look for a better, more convenient hike in other places you're going.

Galwaygirl, I just noticed that you guys are from Ireland and Britain. I've driven everywhere in Scotland and part of England, and I found the seaside towns you have over there are much more charming, cuter, and authentic than Seward. Don't bother staying too long in Seward. It doesn't compare to a lot of coastal towns in the lower 49 states--CA, Oregon, the northeast.

I have to respectfully disagree with JC98. IMO, the Kenai Fjords tour is not redundant with anything - it's a must see anytime I am in the area. Seward is also well worth a visit. With the mountains behind and Resurrection Bay at its feet. it is a beautiful place.

I would presume that, by now, the original poster has solidified their plans and made their reservations. I just didn't want people unfamiliar with the area to thinks JC98's opinion of Seward was universal (or even common).

Thanks for this updated advice. We have booked much of our trip.

Much of your advice though we have inadvertently taken JC98. We are going to Katmai park for a few days to see bears and do some hiking. We've also booked an multiday seakayaking trip out of Valdez and booked accommodation near Seward (but not the boat trip yet!). However the place we booked looks really nice (recommended on this Forum) so I think we'll enjoy resting there regardless if we decide to take the boat trip or not.

We decided not to hike the Chilkoot train and have opted for the Ressurection Pass trail instead - any experience of that one?

Just got that Anchorage accommodation to sort out. Any recommendations for $100 or less?

Galwaygal

I just came across your post, and realize that you probably have most of your trip set, however, I'd like to add a suggestion.

Since you'll be in the Valdez area, I HIGHLY recommend that you hike at Thompson Pass. Although it's rather easy, you'll choose your own way across an alpine meadow with spectacular views of both the scenery as well as many tiny alpine flowers. You can hike for miles and probably not see another person. This is on the opposite side of the road from the glacier.

I'm sure you've already made reservations, but we really loved staying at Thompson Pass Chalet. http://www.alaska.net/~chalet/
Although it's a simple place, it has all the necessary creature comforts a great view and it's all by itself. Someone had suggested that "you need to relax" and the main thought that comes to mind when we think of our hiking trip to Alaska is enjoying our morning coffee and evening wine on the deck of this chalet.

Congratulations and have a great trip whatever you do.

Sounds as if you'll have a great time. I just wanted to let you know that the half-day trip with Halo Bay is awesome. I live here in Alaska (Girdwood) and brought some friends on that trip last summer and it was fantastic. The flight was beautiful, the landing on the beach exciting and the bears were just awesome. You will be so close to the bears that you'll question yourself whether you're crazy for doing it- but so, so worth it.
Seward is a dumpy town, (certainly not as dumpy as Whittier) but the fjords trip is fun. I agree that it is probably a little redundant, though.
If at all possible, and you can shave a few days off of Valdez, I recommend you drive to Kennecott/McCarthy and stay at the lodge. Look it up, you won't be disappointed, but it does take a few (4?5?) hours to drive from Valdez. It's one of my favorite places in Alaska.
Kayaking in Seward and Valdez are both nice. I'd recommend Valdez, though for overnighters or possibly PWS (Whittier).
Good luck and congratulations!

Whatever you do, do not drive to Kennicott. Fly!
Closie, I don't know when you stayed at the chalet but my niece just returned form Alaska and she sty at the chalet for two nights. She was very disappointed. There was almost no breakfast, problem with hot water, a little stove was never cleaned and coffee pot never washed, there are no shelves or a place to put your things, you need to keep everything on a floor or in your suitcase. It is also located in some run down neighborhood. Mosquitoes on Thompson Pass were so bead that you cannot hike anywhere away from your car. I think you shouldn't glorify any place if your visit took a place long ago.