amesinc

earlxx, Julie304, and anyone else,

What days would you eliminate and consolidate based on your knowledge and experience?

repete

I'd suggested trimming back on Fbx, but you might want to cut it altogether. Yes the museum is great, but the town really is nothing special. I think the Anchorage Museum of History and Art is underrated.

I'd shift the FBX time to Homer, which is a fun drive from Seward.

If fishing is a big thing, there are four very different and enjoyable options.

1) Halibut out of Seward or Homer.

2) A Kenai Canyon float for rainbows and Dolly Varden (gorgeous scenery on the Upper Kenai.

3) Lower Kenai king salmon. Not scenic, but if you want to catch one of those monster king salmon ...

4) Troll for salmon out of Seward.

You can also find combo salmon-halibut trips out of Deep Creek or if you have your own gear, there are plenty of shorefishing options where people actually catch fish.

A lot depends on the time of summer and the weather, tho.

Day 14 -- Girdwood to Anchorage looks pretty open. You might consider a Flattop Mountain hike in the Anchorage Hillside area or a trip to the Eagle River Nature Center. That would wear off a dinner at the Double Musky in Girdwood on Day 13 that is a must.

Bottom line, though, is I'd add it to the kenai Peninsula.

earlxx

To avoid packing, unpacking and checking every night to a different hotel I would stay either in Anchorage or Gridwood in the end of your trip. Girdwood is an easy 40 minutes drive from Anchorage. You did really well planning your trip. Your revised itinerary is very impressive. Please transfer this itinerary here.

amesinc

Thanks once again to everyone who made suggestions on our previous posted itinerary. Based on those suggestion and our own personal feelings we have revised our original itinerary. Our main objection is to enjoy this as a vacation thus illiminating alot of driving or packing and unpacking but to enjoy Alaska too. Below is our new itinerary and once again any suggestions would be most helpful. FYI-I lived in Anchorage and Eagle River for 10 years in the 80's and in 2002 our family took a 7 day cruise ending in Sewared with four additional days touring the Anchorage, Eagle River, Eklutna, Wasilla, and Palmer areas.

Day 1-
Arrive in Anchorage
Night in Anchorage

Day 2-
Drive to Talkeetna-flightseeing
Night in Talkeetna-Talkeetna Roadhouse

Days 3&4-
Drive to Healy-river rafting the Nenana
Sightseeing Denali-Eielson, Wonder Lake
Nights in Healy-Touch of Widerness B&B

Day 5-
Drive to Wasilla
Night in Wasilla-?

Day 6-
Drive to Glennallen or Copper Center
Night?

Days 7&8-
Drive to Valdez-kayaking & hiking
Nights in Valdez-Blueberry Mary B&B

Days 9&10-
ferry to Whitter
Drive to Seward-Seavey's & Kenai Fjord
Nights in Seward-?

Days 11&12-
Drive to Homer-fishing & bear viewing
Nights in Homer-Chocolate Drop Inn B&B

Day 13-
Drive to Girdwood-tram & hike
Night in Girdwood?

Day 14-
Drive to Anchorage
Night in Anchorage

Day 15-
flight home to California

Julie304

I think this sounds a lot better. Just a quick heads-up though---I don't think Blueberry Mary's will be large enough for your family. If I recall correctly, Mary's 2 rooms are limited to 2 persons each. There are no extra beds.

Wildflower

This is almost a perfect itinerary for your second visit to Alaska. Maybe you should think about combining nights 5&6 and 13&14
You may consider driving from Healy to Hatcher Pass and stay there for two nights. Or you may continue to Sheep Mountain Lodge and stay there for two nights with half a day glacier hiking on Matanuska Glacier, then white water rafting or hiking in this less popular area. From there you may drive directly to Valdez with a side visit to Copper Center, stops at Worthington Glacier and Thompson Pass.

I suggest staying in Girdwood two nights (13&14)

earlxx

Agree with last suggestion. Do not miss Hatcher Pass. Stay there for one or two nights

disneynan

We did a trip similiar to your first posted itinerary this past JULY. It was a lot of driving. We rented a van from ABC Motorhomes early and got some good discounts by doing so and paying upfront. Very good experiance. We flew with Talkeetna Aero and had a fantastic view & glacier landing. Pilot rated the day a 9 out of 10. Stayed at Chinook Wind cabins. SUPER Clean, affordable & cont.breakfast included. The town was packed because it was the Moose Drop festival. We drove up to Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge for another fabulous view of the MTN. after dinner and just soaked it all in. In Healy we stayed in SUPER CLEAN cabins at EARTHSONG Lodge for 2nites. Ate dinner and watched the owners slide show, he runs sled dogs and a tour of the kennel was included. We also had a fabulous dinner at a place called the Black Diamond Grill on the way back from our Denali park shuttle ride. Ditto the dogs demo there also. We stayed at Sheep Mtn lodge on the Glen Allen and Loved it there. Had great views & food. Ditto COPPER Road house! Greatest waffle fries ever and loved the tiniest little George dog. We had a wonderful stay at the Aspen Hotel in Valdez.Very Nice breakfast bar there. We all really loved that town for some reason and could have stayed 2 days there with no problem. Ate at MIKES on Main St. had a great dinner there too..Last night in Anchorage was at the SpringHill Suites. Very clean, affordable, and very nice breakfast bar there too.
We opted not to do the Kenai this trip and planning another cruise in '05 with an land tour there then. We ALL LOVED our cruise on Celebrity SUMMIT!