alaska itinerary help
 

Here is my planned itinerary - would love comments/suggestions: OV- stay overnight

Day 1: Fly to Anchorage, rent car, OV
Day 2: Drive to Seward, OV
Day 3: sightsee Seward, OV
Day 4: day cruise in Seward, OV
Day 5: Drive to Homer, OV
Day 6: kayak in Homer, OV
Day 7: Drive to Wasilla, OV
Day 8: Drive to Denali, maybe flightsee along way, OV
Day 9: Denali bus trip, OV
Day 10: Hike or whatever around Denali, OV
Day 11: Drive to Palmer, OV
Day 12: Drive to Valdez, OV
Day 13: Drive to Anchorage
Day 14: Fly home

The main reason we are going to Valdez is for the scenery along the way.
We could take the Valdez-Whittier ferry instead of driving back, but it would cost about $500 for 4 people with SUV, which seems expensive. My husband really wants the 3 nights (as above) in Denali. Is driving to Denali, with flightseeing along the way reasonable? Would love third night in Homer but can't see how. Three nights (as above) in Seward too much? Want to go to the sealife center, exit glacier, etc.
I know that we can't do it all - boo, hoo.
Just want to know if we should change anything. Thanks.

Sounds like a pretty good itinerary, but you've included a lot of back-tracking. If you really want to see Valdez and you enjoy scenic drives, why not drive from Denali east across the Denali Hwy and then south to Valdez rather than going south through Palmer and then east? You'd still get to see the stretch between Palmer and Valdez on the return. The Denali Hwy is gravel, of course, so that adds to your travel time but we found the experience to be worth the added hassle.

With that said, I'm not sure it's worth the time to go all the way to Valdez just to turn around and come back the next day. I would either add a day there or eliminate it. I think it's mainly the very last part of that drive (south of Route 1, coming through Thompson Pass) that's truly remarkable. If you save Valdez for the next trip you could add a night in Homer and spend some additional time in/around Anchorage. For instance, you could hike Flattop, Earthquake Park, visit the Native American Cultural Center, etc.

Flightseeing on the way from Wasilla to Denali is very reasonable. We drove all the way from Anchorage to Denali in one day, stopping in Talkeetna for a 1:00pm flight.

The problem with the above recommendation- most car rentals do NOT allow driving on the Denali Highway. AND it requires a lot of time- 134 miles taking maybe 5+++ hours.
Anyway- my take. Yes you are too long in Seward, cut back a day. You can do the Sealife center and Exit Glacier the day you arrive. You have at least a 5 hour drive Homer- Wasilla, but very doable. And with 4+ hours to Denali Park- yep- plenty of time for a flightseeing out of Talkeetna and still plenty of time to get to Denali park. Frankly- I would NOT consider your one night with 2 driving days on each side of Valdez. Pay the money and take the ferry- it is very worthwhile. Have you considered the www.toursaver.com for some savings?? If going in July or later, you may be able to purchase a used book?

Thanks Julie, but we did rule out the Denali Highway due to rental car restrictions.
Thanks BQ. The thing is, we are very slow travelers because we stop alot for views and do hikes here and there as we go. My husband is a big time birder and photographer, which can mean extra hours added to driving times. (I vividly recall him spending one hour on one bird - get the picture, ha, ha). So, I allowed two full days in Seward because knowing us we won't get there until the evening - taking the entire day to get there from Anchorage.
Also, this can work in our favor if we still decide to do the round trip drive to/from Valdez as we don't really drive continuously - we will take the entire day, not rush it. My husband does not mind the driving either. Does this impact your answer at all? Thanks for reminding me about the toursaver book, too. I don't think they have the Valdez-Whittier ferry in there this year, do they? Hopefully, we can use cruise, flightseeing and other misc. coupons though. If we buy two books, can we use two coupons at one vendor for the 4 of us? Our trip is July 10-23 so I will check for used books, too.

For birder and photographer there is more to do,IMHO, in Homer than Seward. I agree you should take a ferry. or skip Valdez if you are going to be there just overnight
Seward
Homer
Valdez
Palmer or Hatcher Pass
Denali
Anchorage
We'll see you in Alaska, Linda. We are going to be there at the same time just a couple weeks longer. You planned lots of driving. With 13 days i would skip Denali or Valdez but for wildlife and phtoography I suggest Denali.

Correct- no ferry coupon in the toursaver this year. So there are 4 of you?? AND all are in agreement on this itinerary? Yes you can use 2 booklets for 4 people. Potter's Marsh is birds and Homer. Take a boat out to Gull Island. You will be hard pressed in your other areas, other than chance, you are going wrong time of year. Anchorage-Valdez is at least 6 hours on the road, and not worth the drive without 2 overnights in Valdez- again my opinion only- plenty of birds on the boat tours, and if you keep your eye out- eagles via the ferry.

OK, OK - it is finally sinking in. Let me add that our kids are 18 & 16, and this will be our 4th, 2-week, vacation like this (the others being national parks in U.S. and Canada). Anyway, would our plans be more reasonable if on Day 13, we did the high speed ferry from Valdez-Whittier, and then drove to Anchorage? I don't see this cutting down on travel time, as much as cutting down on driving time. Do you get to see much from this ferry? The good news is that we got 4 frequent flyer tickets (saved $2400) and a decent rental rate on a full-size SUV. So, it could be worth it to splurge on the $500 for the ferry - right? I already have reservations at cabins in Healy, Seward and Homer so I don't really want to juggle the itinerary around, other than Day 13. Comments/suggestions please!!!!

We did the ferry from Valdez to Whittier, although there was no high-speed option at the time, and we had a toursaver coupon that cut costs. The ferry would be a nice break from all the driving you have planned but then again, I agree that $500 is a lot of money. We saw a few whales, one otter, and some porpoises but we also saw all of these on our Kenai Fjords cruise. I understand that the ferry sometimes gets fairly close to Columbia Glacier to give passengers a good look as it passes but for whatever reason, the captain didn't get close at all on our trip. The scenery isn't jaw-dropping (this is all relative, of course) but it's nice. If you don't arrive fairly early you probably won't get window seats, although you can always stand out on deck, weather-permitting.

Julie, thanks for your input. I have tried tweaking our plans, to get more time in Homer, by taking the Valdez-Whittier ferry earlier in our trip, but I discovered that this ferry would not be running on the needed days. I thought it ran every day, based on comments on this forum, but it looks like it only runs 4 days/week. Is this right, does anyone know?

So, I guess we are doing our original itinerary, with the possible exception of taking the ferry on Day 13 (it is running that day).

just a comment on alaska, loved it. take the flight out of talkeetna it's worth it. there are folks at the scenic viewpoint off the high way outside of town, competing for your business (or there used to be!) although eagles are common place in alaska i had a blast watchting them just sitting in the pine trees on the beach at seldovia - a town that you can only get to by boat from homer or plane, there are vendors up and down the homer spit that advertise the trip. if you kayak, it's got some nice coves.... it's all beautiful so it doesn't matter. hope you get a good look at the mountain.

You're correct in that the ferry does NOT run everyday from Valdez to Whittier - sometimes its going to Cordova instead. That's why we're driving to Seward instead of taking the ferry like we'd originally planned.
But a suggestion for your itinerary: why not drive further than Palmer on Day 11 - unless there's something in particular that you want to do there? You could get a bit farther along the Glenn Highway, maybe to Sheep Mountain or even Glenallen? Would give less driving the next day and some time to enjoy Valdez.

I really appreciate everyone's input. I am looking into going further than Palmer on our drive from Denali, although there is a chance we might do flightseeing that day (Day 11) rather than on Day 8, on our way to Denali, if the weather is lousy that day. Maybe we should just reserve the Valdez to Whittier ferry for Day 13, and then decide that day if we want to take it or drive back. I think if we cancel we would have a 15% penalty ($75). Is this right? May be worth it to have the flexibility. Any comments on that or anything else would be appreciated.

If you are considering the ferry - yes you will definately have to reserve it ahead. There is never any drive up space in the summer. I diagree- I find it a very scenic ride. :) I have done the regular ferry many times, but not the high speed. The high speed ferry will certainly have less. It's a very good suggestion to drive farther than Palmer. Actually I would make a partial drive on day 10. You could easily get to Talkeetna. I am a big fan and had a great experience with MICA guides. With an early departure you can do a trek if of interest?? Most likely the kids would be. You can then get to Cooper Center- I really like staying in the Roadhouse. And consider them for supper. You would then have ALL day and a wonderful scenic drive to Valdez, plus the option for see some of the area. They have a print out available of their hiking trails via their visitor web site. Look at the Aspen Hotel- sometimes excellent rates. But the area is loaded with wonderful B&B's. What time is your flight home?? I have ferried to Whittier the last 2 times the day I was leaving as I always leave in the late evening. Another option to squeeze more time?? :)

WOW Budgetqueen - thanks for all your brain work. Our flight leaves at 9:30 a.m so we do need to be near the airport the night before (we live in Cincinnati - 4 hour time difference). The reason we planned 3 nights in Denali is because that would give us two possible days to do the bus tour, in case the first day is crummy. Is this reasonable - or unnecessary? If we committed to doing the bus trip on Day 9, then we could leave the area that day and stay in Talkeetna for flightseeing (if we didn't do it on Day 8), other activity, or just a stop over. What do you think? Or anyone else have anything to add? This forum really is helping me to think outside the box!

First off, I'll assume you are not considering the TOUR bus into Denali park and will be on the SHUTTLE bus? You will NOT be able to just decide when you get there between 2 days you want to go. There is NO availablity day of. Seats do open up 3 days before, but then you would have to commit THAT day if you want those tickets and not wait to decide between the two days. Reservations are necessary. Don't go without them.

BQ - Yes, my thought was to purchase tickets for two days, and then choose the day after we get there depending on the weather. My understanding is that there is a cancellation fee of $4/ticket - so our thinking was that for $16 we would have the flexibility of choosing the better of two days. I am referring to the shuttle bus. What do you think of that plan? What bus destination would you recommend? I think the one you usually suggest is closed, with a nearby one open, and then a bus turn-around a little further along. Is that what you would suggest? When are you writing a book - it would be a best seller, I'm sure!!!

It is hard to determine weather at Denali Park. It can be raining at the visitor center and sun shining at Eielson. :) You plan certainly sounds like it will work well for you at a very limited investment. And yes according on when you are going the full ride to Wonder Lake doesn't start until June 8. (I never go there before mid August) I recommend at least to Fish Creek, but if you are traveling end of May- then as far as you can get Toklat. Full schedule available www.nps.gov/dena

Hi lindars...I concur with your plan to book the Denali shuttle for 2 back to back days. That is what we are doing for the shuttle to Wonder Lake in late August. You are right about the $4 per ticket cancel fee and according to the Denali reservation website, you can cancel up to 2 hours prior to the departure time. The cancellation can be done at the Wilderness Access Center located approx 1 mile inside the park.