travelbug014

This is an outline for my August Alaska trip.
Aug 24 Friday - Fly into anchorage
25 Sat - Drive to DNP; Glacier flight or Wasilla/Palmer?
26 Sun- DNP shuttle
27 Mon- DNP shuttle
28 Tues - head back south Wasilla/Palmer or Glacier flight? Stay at girdwood
29 Wed - to Whittier and Prince William sound cruise; Stay where?
30 Thurs - Drive to Seward ;Kenai Fjords cruise;stay in Seward
31 Fri - explore Seward and to homer ; Stay half way between on one of Sterling hwy communities
1 Sat - Explore coomunities on way to Homer; Halibut cove in the evening; Stay in homer
2 sun - Homer; head back to Anchorage ; to Hope if time permits
3 Mon - explore Anchorage ; flight back home.

please criticise/comment/fill in the blanks; suggestions most welcome. Thanks in advance.

egret

If you can, try to stay in both Homer and Seward instead of staying somewhere part way. In Seward, make sure to take a day cruise. This will be the highlight of your visit.
The cruises range from 2.5 hours to 8+ hours. The Sea Life center, although small, is worth the visit.
I would also try to make a stop at Exit Glacier. This is an easy 1/2 mile walk to see a spectacular glacier.

travelbug014

Egret, Do the Fjords cruise get cancelled in case of rain or they still go out? Waht is your opinion on taking 6 hours vs full day cruise? I am wondering if full day cruise will be a bit too long.

dfrostnh

On your way thru Wasilla, take time to visit Independence Mine. We stayed in Whittier. The B&B is really some small apartments in the former officers barracks. It was a decent place to stay but had none of the charm some b&bs have. We hiked a little but did not take the cruise. Would not stay in Whittier again because it's a former secret military base and one of the old hi-rise buildings is a major eyesore. The tunnel to get there is an engineering marvel but one-way traffic so pay attention to the schedule. We took the longest Kenai Fjords cruise. Yes, it was long but worth it to get to the glaciers. Saw some napping on the way back. Soldotna is about halfway between Seward and Homer (about 1 1/2 hours from each). Lots of shopping conveniences in Soldotna if you need to stock up. Next door Kenai is also more like a suburban town. But both Seward and Homer have better much better scenery (and restaurants). Hope is really small but a place that time forgot when the highways were put in. Your travel time might not be worth it. I would put the time into the visitors center at Portage Glacier. Listen to recordings about the earthquake, etc.
Your explorations really depend on what kind of traveler you are. I like to browse (and buy) at small shops and visit local events. Walking the beach near Kenai was great fun since we talked with some guys who were net fishing (late June). I've also gone on a neighborhood garden tour in Anchorage that I saw advertised in the local paper. We only did a small amount of hiking whereas others make that a priority. We also got a kick out of some old timers in Hope quizzing my husband about some of the old tools and equipment parts at the little museum. (And he had to spend time looking at the things in the unrestored area of Independence Mine.) Hope you have a fantastic trip!

travelbug014

dfrostnh, I agree with what you said about Whittier. I was kind-of-stuck when planning that part.

Now I am thinking of this :
28 Tues - head south from DNP.Do glacier flight or Wasilla/palmer, whatever was not done on 25th. stay at Girdwood.
29 Wed - explore Girdwood, afternoon drive to Homer .Overnight Homer
30 Thurs – Full day in Homer. Halibut Cove in the evening. Overnight Homer
31 Fri - Homer; Seldovia, etc. Drive to Cooper Landing (Kenai Lake). Overnight Cooper Landing.Or to Seward for the night?
1 Sat – Kenai Fjords 6 hour cruise, SeaLife Center. Stay at Seward.flightsee, time permitting.
2 Sun – glacier hike. Drive to Hope. Stay at Hope.
3 Mon – explore Hope. Be at Whittier Tunnel by 11:15 a.m. ) for 1 p.m PWS cruise.

Comments? thanks

dowab

If you are going to be driving, make sure you buy the Milepost and if you are going to Denali National Park, get a copy of Discovering Denali. You can get both on Amazon.