Thanks for all of your previous input and advice... I think that I've got a plan (and a lot of questions). Any help or advice (especially with accomodations, food, or things to do would be GREATLY appreciated!).

Here goes:

9/2 - Arrive in Anchorage at 9:30pm. Rent car and stay at airport area hotel.

9/3 - Drive Anchorage to Denali. Stops along the way. Touch of Wilderness is only available for the 1st two nights (of 3), so need to find another place. Any thoughts?

9/4 - Denali.

9/5 - Denali.

9/6 - Drive Denali to Fairbanks. Stops along the way. Where to stay?

9/7 - Fairbanks.

9/8 - Drive Fairbanks to ? (somewhere on the road to Valdez... help!)

9/9 - Drive ? to Valdez. Where to stay?

9/10 - Valdez

9/11 - Ferry to Whittier. Drive to Seward. Where to stay?

9/12 - Seward. Boat Tour.

9/13 - Drive to Homer via Exit Glacier.

9/14 - Homer.

9/15 - Day fly-in to either Kodiak or Katmai.

9/16 - Drive back to Anchorage via Portage/Girdwood. Will not see much of Anchorage... probably only have dinner there.

9/17 - Depart at 12:50am.

Again, thanks in advance for all of your help! Any suggestions on lodging, food, itinerary changes, stops on the way, etc. are always greatly appreciated.

I've got a copy of Milepost. Debating the Toursaver... seems that many coupons expire on Sept. 1.

Thanks!

I will post some of my preferred B&B's, of which Touch of Wilderness is on the list. Fairbanks- Minnie St. B&B or Fox B&B, Copper Center (between Glennallen and Valdez- Copper Center Roadhouse. Valdez, Creekside B&B, Seward Morning Calm B&B.

As a suggestion, be sure you need 3 nights at Denali Park, an overnight in Talkeetna is also a good option.

Thanks BudgetQueen, you're always a great help...

Does it make sense then to stay at the Touch of Wilderness the 1st two nights (we'll be hiking in Denali both days) and then spend the third in Talkeetna?

We could then explore Talkeetna a bit before heading to Fairbanks.

BTW, any suggestions for Talkeetna lodging?

No I probably would not backtrack 3 hours to Talkeetna, I would make the stop there on the way up, which does not allow the lodging options for you in Denali park. As for your third night, there are several great B&B's in Healy to consider for the third night perhaps? http://www.denalichamber.com/members...eeinformation/

For a bargain, I have stayed in the very clean Denali Park Hotel.

Thanks... I was just looking at Healy... I think that I'll got that direction.

Do you like dogs? If so, I highly recommend EarthSong Lodge in Healy. The owners are the dog-sled tour concessionaires for the national park, so you can learn all about sled dogs during your stay and visit with the dogs in the kennel. Accommodations are in nice cabins. Breakfast isn't included, but they have a yummy little restaurant that serves breakfast and dinner and makes box lunches.

Thanks PL... love animals (wife works at vets office). I'll look into it.

In Healy, I highly recommend the Denali Lakeview Inn. We watched a moose and her twins near the lake from our balcony. The sounds of trumpeter swans and loons just outside on the lake was a great new experience for us. The beauty of the area surrounding the inn had quite a magical quality. The beds are soooo comfy you won't want to leave them, and the hostess, Teri, could not be more accommodating.

We stayed at the Denali Hwy Cabins in Paxson enroute from Fairbanks to Valdez. There's access from both the Richardson and Denali Hwys to the cabins. Audie is a local guide and wildlife expert, and his cabins are very comfortable. We also felt another added bonus was to be able to drive a ways on the Denali Hwy--spectacular views of the Alaska Range--then we came back to the cabin and grilled our dinner--halibut we'd caught in Homer.

We stayed at the Aspen Hotel in Valdez (the BW and the Aspen are about the same quality), but Blueberry Mary's must have the best view around. Check into her B & B.

Enjoy your trip! Alaska is not to be missed!

Forgot to mention that the Copper Center Princess Hotel is a great spot for lunch or dinner. It has a great view of the Wrangell Mountains and that alone makes it worth the stop, plus the staff is excellent.

BayouGirl,

Thanks for all of the info... I'll check out all of your suggestions.

Thanks!