Alaska family trip by RV, train & cruise
 

We would appreciate your insight on our proposed Alaskan family trip in August 2007. The family is my husband, 25 year old daughter and spouse, and 28 year old son and spouse. We are doing the Holland American Cruise from Seward to Vancouver and have 8 days before the cruise to explore by ourselves.

On day one we plan to arrive in Anchorage and rent an RV. Is it workable to stay at an RV park while enjoying the sites of Anchorage? We are campers but we haven't tried an RV before. Is it feasible to drive around a city in this big thing?

After a couple days in Anchorage we planned to go to Denali (2 or 3 days) and Talkeetna. Then back to Anchorage to return the RV and have a couple days in Seward before the cruise. I have been reading the links but haven't seen if it is recommended to take the Alaska RR from Anchorage to Seward or should we rent a one-way car (probably expensive but with 6 of us it might be OK)

I have loved about everyone's wonderful trips and suggestions. We are just at the beginning stages of planning and figure that we better get our plans in gear ASAP. Thanks for your input. Jone

Take the train from Anchorage to Seward you'll really enjoy it. Seward is small enough so you can walk around.
August is a good time to catch silvers and Halibut in Seward. Take a charter if you don't get seasick. Plenty of sightseeing charters there also. There is a new and very nice park in Anchorage next to the Air Force base. You can drive motorhomes in the Anchorage but trying to find parking downtown will be a chore. Better make reservations for your RV now. Enjoy Alaska

6 adults in one RV? Good luck!

we stayed at Eagle RIver campground just outside Anchorage and then drove into Anchorage. not a problem.

We rented from Great Alaskan and had a good experience

Sure you can drive that big RV through Anchorage. Tourists do that all the time, as do the truckers driving their big rigs making deliveries. Parking is always a problem with a big RV, but if you are in condition to walk, parking will be available, just not real convenient.

The real problem will be the seating and visibility. Alaska is very scenic, but RV's have seating for 2 in the front and the rest of the seats usually have limited visibility. The seats may even face each other down the center of the RV, making it very difficult to see anything out the windows.

On the plus side is the policy of Alaska to allow camping anywhere you can get 10 feet off the pavement that isn't marked "no camping". No reservation needed, nobody to tell you when you have to check in/check out by. You're on your own.

Taking the train from Anchorage to Seward is nice as everyone gets to sightsee on the way and you don't have to worry about the driving or where to drop off a rental vehicle. Seward is relatively small and much of it is withing easy walking distance.