ALASKA HELP!
 

What a great forum, but now I feel overloaded and even more confused. We just booked the first leg of our trip, a Northbound Cruise on Celebrity for a group of 11 leaving JUL2 arriving Seward the 9th. We decided to do a land tour on our own till the following SAT. HELP! Do we rent a car or 2 in Seward? take a bus? Rent 2 motorhomes or find accomadations ahead of time? (We will go to Anchorage to drop one from the group off and may stay overnight.) Not sure how long it would take to get there.. We are very open to itenaries and looking to see wildlife and Denali (though grandma would like to go to the Artic Circle!(is it worth the trip?)We may do the B&B's, WHAT TO DO? Idea's please? thanks

ANC to Seward is about a 3 hour drive, and it is a very pretty drive. I would advise renting several cars (3 would give everyone enough space) and doing the drive. Stop and see Exit Glacier just outside of Seward. There are lots of great things to do in Anchorage. The Native Heritage Center is worth a visit, and the souvenier shopping in downtown Anchorage is the best in Alaska! Also, there are many good restaurants. My favorite is the Glacier Bay Brew House. (Their Herb-Crusted Halibut is excellent!)

Honestly, it is likely not worth the trip to the North Slope (Prudhoe Bay) so grandma can say she was inside the arctic circle. The area up there is mostly the ANWR and oilfields, and to get there requires a flight.

Have a wonderful time, take lots of pictures, and eat some good Alaskan seafood for me!

You might also consider coming south, down the peninsula. In Soldotna, you can fish for king salmon in a beautiful river. Many lodges along the banks. Further south, about 75 miles, you are at the end of the Sterling Highway in Homer, frequently compared to Norway. Many glaciers, halibut fishing charters, beaches, fun little shops to explore. A scenic wonderland worth exploring. You might divide your time between here and Denali, something memorable, scenic and not too far from your departing area. J.

The one way car rentals from Seward to Anc. are a ripoff; take the train or bus set up by Celebrity (probably will have their own rail cars for connections at Seward); get off at the Anc. airport if it stops there, otherwise downtown. Rent 3 cars for the 10 of you (not minivans, SUVs etc.) at the airport and do your touring caravan-style. This will be much cheaper per person than with larger vehicles, you'll have more room for luggage (tuxedos etc from the cruise, useless in Alaska) and you can even try Priceline for good deals on full-size cars. (PL is nigh on impossible for SUVs or vans in AK, and the regular rental rates for everything in the summer are breathtaking as it is. If you can live with a full-size car like a Taurus, you ought to be able to save around 50% by going with PL.)

With eight days you can do a big loop - from Anchorage north to Denali Park, 2 overnights, then Fairbanks (0 or 1 overnight) then down to Valdez (1 night) then State ferry across Prince William Sound to Whittier and down the Kenai (2 nights) then back to Anchorage and home. Lots of driving, but lots of scenery, lots of wildlife (paws and fins) and lots of interesting places. Buy two sets (total 4) of walkie-talkies (around $40/pr) to communicate between cars as you caravan.

If you want to see the arctic, go to the Alaska Airlines website (www.alaskaair.com) and look for their package tours to Kotzebue or Barrow. The rental agencies won't let you take their cars on gravel, which you'd have to do in order to get to the arctic circle on the Dalton Hwy. It is truly no big deal, but the attraction is understandable. If you go up to the tundra in July, buy a case of Deet at the Costco in Anchorage. Things are seriously buzzing at that time.

Myself, I don't find a rental car from Seward a "rip off". The cost is what the demand is. :) But consider either a car or train- the bus would be my last choice, if you want a day in Seward you can take the regular run of the Alaska RR which nicely fits in with a day boat tour of the Kenai Fjords. Then do what I always do- get a round trip car rental out of Anchorage (turn in your one way if you got one). I have RV rented from Great Alaskan Holidays if that is of interest. A great way to go, but I give an edge to the B&B route for my self as I like the contact with the "natives". :) With your priority of wildlife definately consider a Kenai Fjords Boat tour. Also if you aren't going to College Fjords on your cruise- I think this too is a must do (but I would never consider any one way cruises without it for me). In Denali Park - strongly consider the shuttle bus to at least Eielson- you need to take in all your own food and drink but it is the BEST bargain around for the opportunity for wildlife viewing. Take binoculars!!! I have been past the Arctic Circle a few times. If you do this be sure to go somewhere of interest and not just to get the "certificate". I have gone to Barrow, Ft. Yukon and Anaktuvuk Pass. If the scenery is the only interest and the "certificate", Warbelows Air runs cargo, that they take passengers on- did that to Bettles.

BudgetQueen, how long did you stay and where when visiting arctic? Please tell me what activities are available. Did you go on your own or always with Alaska Airlines? Is it possible to organize such trip by booking directly at the destination? Why did you go there?

Longest I stayed was 3 days in Barrow, rest were day trips. I went with Warbelows on all except to Barrow. In Barrow- I did flightseeing for Bowhead whales. Nothing with any package and all independent booked. I went for the remotness and adventure. Anaktuvuk Pass is a true Eskimo village- 300 residents in true wilderness, the flight there was spectacular enhanced by 3 resident passengers who gave me a window of narrative on their life style. I'll be going to Barrow again for 3 days in March- primary interest this time is Polar Bear viewing and Aurora.

DEAR BQ (Budget Queen), read thru alot of the old posts, took your advice and got a copy of MILEPOST already(even if it is 2003) will re-read alot of the other posts AGAIN .Not sure we can stay in Seward when we arrive as 1 from the party of 11 will fly home...so, that will put us in ANC on the 9th. Looking at the maps, it seems a big loop trip looks nice! But is it too Big? Which direction would one go> ANC to Denali, Denali to FAI to TOK to Glenallen back to ANC? OR the reverse? We will be there till the 16-17th.Are we cramming too much & non stop driving? Would like to stop in Talkeetna, but maybe move on to Denali for 2 night. Then up to FAI, not into gold panning etc. so maybe a small tour? Then maybe 2 days out by Copper river/Glenallen (what about the Lake Louise area? Is a trip down to Valdez a must?

Frankly- I would send the single traveler, who needs to fly home the same day, on the cruise bus or train transfer. I wouldn't have the entire group have to make plans around this? If you want to tour Seward- very worthwhile, I would do so. You have a week- so a loop is doable, but you could forego the Tok- Glenallen portion and just round trip back from Fairbanks??? (not really any "attractions"). If you are interested in Talkeetna- I would go there. Fairbanks has plenty of touring options on your OWN- no "tours" needed. Request their visitor guide (as all the other areas too)

www.explorefairbanks.com
www.anchorage.net
www.sewardak.org
www.alaskavisit.com

Dear BQ..Ok sounds good, we will ship that person off (or talk them into staying an extra day). Is this area a place we would want to overnight, or just take the Kenai tour and then head into ANC in the evening or venture down to Homer as others have suggested?

Request the Seward and Homer visitor guides and determine your interests??? www.sewarkak.com
http://www.akms.com/

If short on time and need to be in Anchorage the train tied in with a day cruise is a full and great day. If you want more- Exit Glacier, glacier helicopter landing, kayaking, all day Kenai fjords boat tour, Seavey's sled dogs- then you need an overnight. Homer-major reason to head there is the fishing and bear flight tours (but you are probably a little too early, verify this).

I work for NW and live in Anchorage each summer when we add flights for tourists. A few bits of info for you, "book your rooms in advance". I found a B&B with private bathrooms great food, Jewel Lake Bed and Breakfast. B&B's are the way to go in Alaska to save money, just be careful of anythng priced under a hundred dollars. I have also found in the beginning to middle of July the weather tends to get some rain so be prepared. I would take the train from Seward to Anchorage and rent a car in Anchorage. Affordable car rental in Anchorage is a good one and have them drop the car off for you at your B&B. You save 8 percent on taxes by not picking up and dropping off at the airport (16%). And when you drop off they will shuttle you to the airport.

My wife and I are going ot Ak in JE,Jl, or Ag of 2004. We have about 10-12 days to spend there. We are considering flying into Fairbanks or Anc. rent a car an take a road trip. What are the top 5 things to see or do. They do not have to be limited to just drive-to sights.

What are your intersts Bob?
Why do you want to go to Alaska? Help us so we can help you.
Pat

Because we have a somewhat short on time(10-12 days) and the area is vast
we are trying to figure out what many people feel are the sights worth seeing the most.We are looking for natural beauty first-moutain views, then either whale watching or fishing. We are also trying to decide if seeing the Brooks range is worth the bus ride or not.

Bob, you should go to the bookstore, browse through Alaska travel guides, get an idea what appeals to you, then talk with your wife and both of you need to decide what you want to do.
For me for the first trip would be
Anchorage 2 nights
Denali - 2nights
Girdwood 2 nights
Seward 4 nights
Homer 2 nights
With 10 days I would drop Homer
Everywhere I would focus on hiking
Do the text search on this forum and you'll find hundreds of posts that will help you to decide. It seems that evryone on this forum does an extensive research before going to Alaska. Don't try to cover too much, Alaska is huge and you don't want spend most of your time driving.

My opinion only but I wouldn't spend 2 nights in Girdwood,nor 4 in Seward. If your priorities are wildlife- then definately Denali Park is a must, 2-3 nights there will give you plenty of opportunities for hiking, an all day shuttle bus- to at least Eielson and perhaps flightseeing. Flightseeing is also excellent out of Talkeetna and the town is certainly worth a stop. With marine wildlife- you need a Kenai Fjords trip out of Seward- go on one at least 6 hours on the water. Other opportunities- Seavey's sled dogs- (Denali Park has an excellent demo 3 times/day), hiking Exit glacier. Fairbanks has plenty to offer as does Anchorage (1- 2 nights each), request each area's visitor guide for more detailed information and be CERTAIN to get a copy of THE MILEPOST, try your library- or wait until March to purchase the new edition.

Budget Queen
I suggested 2 nights in Girdwood only because there are endless hiking opportunities so that would work for us. But I do respect, as always, your opinion.