lokkesh

Hi,
We will be leaving for Alaska in a few days. Just wanted to get a critique ont he itenary, and also get some specific lodging and activity information. Here is what we are planning.

Thursday night
Arrive around midningt on thursday from Seattle
Stay in anchorage

Friday
Leave for seward via portage glacier
Get to seward to take half day the cruise
Stay the night in seward

Saturday
Do kayaking in Seward (resurruction bay... can flip this with cruise the previous day)
Go to exit glacier
Camp in or around Anchorage

Sunday
Drive to Matanuska glacier
drive to talkeetna and do the denali landing
drive to denali
Camp the night at denali

Monday
Spend the entire day in the park
camp the night in denali

Tuesday
drive to north pole (maybe spend this time denali instead)
return to Anchorage
take 5.00 pm flight home


The recommendations i need are:
a. Inexpensive place to spend the first night in Anchorage
b. Best half day cruise from Seward where we see glaciers etc. Not really interested in the meal as wife is vegetarian and am not sure what our options would be.
c. Best sea kayaking trip from seward
d. recommended place for Denali landing (good and inexpensive)
e. We were thinking of camping aorund the mouth of denali. Is this wise?

Does this all make sense? Is this realistic and doable.

BudgetQueen

Sorry, you need some changes.

Sunday- too much, I suggest you skip Matanuska- there isn't any point in going there, in my opinion, unless you are going to hike. AND that needs at least 4 hours committed time, plus 2 hours to get there from Anchorage. Another 2 to Talkeetna, time for a flight?? Then another 3 1/2 hours to Denali Park???? Hopefully you get the idea?

Tuesday- is also not a good idea. There is little point in going 4 hours round trip, just for a ride to a gift shop at the North Pole, then figure you are then going to return to Anchorage?? Needing about 7+++ hours? Sorry, no way to make it, with a 5pm flight. You also need a 2 hour window at the Anchorage airport, very congested.

Do you have your car rental??

Inexpensive in Anchorage is tough. But look at airport hotels, several to choose from with shuttles Super 8, Microtel, farther is the Ramadas.

I like Alaska Heritage for Kenai Fjords, well run company www.kenaifjords.com
Kayaking Reserection Bay is nothing special in my opinion. You could glacier trek Exit Glacier, instead if that is of interest?

I assume you are meaning, Denali ski plane landing??? Talkeetna Air Taxi.

I also highly recommend you get your Wonder Lake shuttle bus ticket reservation NOW. There is NOT likely to be any walk up space. If the seats are already gone, then be CERTAIN to get on the phone 2 days ahead at 7am, for the hold back seats. With only one day there, this is vitally necessary.

repete

If the weather is clear, I'd substitute the Alyeska tram for Portage Glacier.

Portage used to be a lot better attraction than it is now. On a sunny day, the view from the top of the tram is one of the best in AK.

Not much to see/do in North Pole and you'd be very pressed to drive there and back for a 5 p.m. flight.

Orlando_Vic

If you are driving to Seward via the Seward Highway, stop to see the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center <http://www.alaskawildlife.org/> in the Portage area. It's right on the highway. This is a good place to see some wildlife (bears, moose, musk oxen, etc.) very close up.

lokkesh

Just returned from the trip a few hours ago... It was fantastic.. much more than i had expected.. will fill in the details shortly.

farm123

Just returned - definitely go the full way into Denali - you can camp at Wonder Lake. I know you don't have much time, but this is a must.