I just wanted to post my final itinerary for August 08 since I received too much help from this board (as usual!).

Day 1: Arrive Anchorage in the evening-Historic Anchorage Hotel.

Day 2: Drive to Homer in our enterprise rent a car-Alaska Suites.

Day 3-6: Hallo Bay to see the bears!

Day 7-8: Homer-Beach House BB. Will take the Danny J to Halibut Cove.

Day 9-10: Seward-Angels Rest. Will take either Mariah Tours or another all day boat tour.

Day 11-13: Cordova-Reluctant Fisherman. Taking the Marine Highway to Cordova. Will go to the Million Dollar Bridge, Childs Glacier.

Day 14: Valdez-Bestwestern. Marine Highway from Cordova to Valdez and then taking the Lulu Bell cruise that afternoon.

Day 15: Anchorage-Historic Anchorage Hotel. Long drive from Valdez to Anchorage.

Day 16: Home (Long layover in Seattle, so will do some touring around the city).

Looking so forward to this trip…still seems far away! Let me know if you have any specific questions and I promise to provide a trip report upon my return!

Monica

How long is your long layover in Seattle?

The airport is 30-50 minutes from downtown depending on traffic.

If you don't (hopefully) have to schlep luggage along, the airporter shuttle is around $12-14 I think, vs a $35 plus taxi ride.

If you've never been there, the most interesting area to start would be Pike's Public Market.

I have a long lay-over in Seattle on my way to Anchorage in August. I booked a rental car through Enterprise for $55. Since there are 2 of us with luggage, it seems like the cheapest way to head to downtown Seattle.

Keep in mind they will sock you for parking. But at least that's a convenient way to go and you can hit places like Queen Anne's Hill, etc.

hopingtotravel and kflmeyer-

Thanks for the tips. I have about 7 hours in Seattle, so plenty of time to hang out in the city. I will have a carry on bag, but nothing too heavy. Pikes Market sounds like the place to start.

Thanks again!

There is cheap downtown bus transportation from the airport.

Wahoo....leaving this morning....finally! Will post a trip report when I return.

Can't wait to hear about it! I leave on August 28th, so I'll be right behind you!

Not to burst anyone's bubble, but we're having just about the chilliest summer on record. Bring some warm layers.