Cebtralpa-I will check out Lake Clark as I have not researched it. Thanks for the tip! I really want to see bears and lots of them.

LyndaS-Hi! Now I can't wait to see your packing list for this trip :-) Your trip sounds great and hey we have to fit in as much as we can. After this trip are you planning another trip back to Africa...didn't you just get back?

Monica

Oh yes, 2009 for sure - back to Africa! I'd like to do just Kenya this time for the safari, with relax time at the end in Zanzibar.

Ah yes, packing - this will be piece a cake after the 33 lb limit, won't it! Or well, maybe not, because there is so much more to pack for a cruise.... You know, you have given me an idea though, usually I use the hardside suitcases for cruising, but those Micato duffle bags would work WAY better in the RV afterwards!

I'm really looking forward to Denali, have you decided yet whether you will go there?

LyndaS-

I think we are adding Denali back into the trip depending on when we can get into Hallo Bay. I just e-mailed Hallo Bay this weekend to see if they have set their dates for next year. Then I can work the rest of the trip around that.

I agree about the duffles for Alaska, we will bring the same ones we brought to Africa. It is amazing what you really don't need to bring with you on vacation. Although, I imagine Alaska will require a little more clothing to stay warm.

I am dreaming of heading back to Africa myself and I am looking at Botswana and Gabon (husband's not so sure about the later). Although I would also love to get back to Rwanda (and add Uganda) to see the gorilla's again. So much to see.......I need way more vacation time each year!

We saw Whales out of Seward in the Kenai Fjords/ Resurection Bay area. We even saw a mother and baby. Calving glaciers were awesome also. We did the dogsledding in Girdwood. You can also do dogsledding and even spend the night on the glacier with the dogs in Seward. The one we did was awesome, but the one at Seward looks fantastic as well. The name of it is Godwin Glacier Dogsledding. I have seen them both on the travel channel.

Thanks Spirobulldog! Spending a night on a glacier sounds AMAZING! I will have to check that out.

So far I have booked my flights (using FF miles) and got fairly good flights. I have booked 4 nights at Hallo Bay, one night in Anchorage and I am spending 2 nights (maybe 3) in Homer. So I have another 8 days to fill....too many choices!

Staying on a Glacer does sound really cool to me also. Just a couple of things to keep in mind. When one husky barks, you can expect 60 other dogs to join them. Another thing, the glacier is snow covered and the sun is up nearly 24 hours (it was in July, I would thing it might go away for 2 or 3 hours in August). But the snow will reflect the light. It was very hard for us to sleep when we were in Alaska unless the place we were staying had really really good blinds. I must say that the Glacier dog sled in Girdwood was AWESOME. A train ride is a must while in Alaska in my opinion.

I am new to this travel forum talk...I enjoy reading of your travel plans and experiences. I am doing the cruise thing w/in-laws next Aug (08), to Alaska, on either Celebrity or Royal Caribbean...starting in Seward, doing Hubbard Glacier for 7 days, then finishing in Vancouver. Any ideas about day trips to do or avoid in Seward? Thanks..I'm not thrilled about this, I'm not a cruise person at all...

Hi all!

Been working on the schedule and have the following:

Day 1: Anchorage
Day 2: Homer
Day 3-6: Hallo Bay (bears)
Day 7: Homer
Day 8-9: Seward
Day 10-11: Valdez
Day 12: Cordova
Day 13-14: Wrangell
Day 15: Anchorage
Day 16: Home



Monica