Please forgive a possibly rambling first post - any thoughts on the following Alaska itinerary, to start the first Sunday of September 2006, would be much appreciated. I've never been to Alaska before and this is likely to be a once-only trip, so I've tried to include all the things my husband and I would like to do. The only thing fixed at the moment is the visit to Brooks Lodge, which is already booked. We won't be hiring a car.

Sat - fly in to Juneau.
Sun - whalewatching.
Mon - possibly Tracy Arm - suggestions?
Tues - fly to Anchorage.
Weds - morning train to Seward.
Thur - full-day Northwest Fjords trip.
Fri - train back to Anchorage.
Sat - fly to Fairbanks - looking into booking a trip to see the Northern Lights, which we tried (and failed) to see in Iceland.
Sun - possibly taking a mail-plane flight (don't know if this is possible on Sundays), and maybe another shot at seeing the aurora.
Mon - fly Anchorage.
Tues - full day in Anchorage.
Weds - early am flight to Brooks Lodge in Katmai NP.
Thurs - back to Anchorage in the afternoon.
Fri - flight home to UK in the morning - possibly foolhardy if flight from Katmai is cancelled for some reason.

As I say, forgive the rambling nature of this post - I've been through numerous versions of this itinerary and this is the first one I've come up with that includes everything we want to see. Except of course Denali, but I can't seem to work that in - mighht have to go back after all.

Is this too much rushing about while not seeing very much?

Comments welcome - fire away, Alaska experts.

It looks like an event filled trip and I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

My only comment is the Friday you have in Seward. The train to Anchorage does not leave until early evening so you have the full day to explore the area. Depending on your tastes, you may enjoy a tour of the sea-life center on the bay downtown or a hike along the glacier a few miles out of town. There is also a dog-sled ride somewhere around the glacier. I have not taken it so someone else may be able to provide more detail. If your tastes run in that direction, you could also take a half-day fishing trip.

Have a wonderful trip.

Thanks for the suggestion - I've heard Hope is an interesting little place, so if the train leaves in the evening we might be able to visit on the last day in Seward.

Hope is almost 75 miles from Seward, so I don't think that is someplace you'll want to visit on your day in Seward. The only way to get there would be to rent a car, and, at that point, you're almost half way back to Anchorage anyway....stick to Seward, which is beautiful and has more things to do and see.

Anchorage person here. Be warned: the weather will most likely be very nasty in September, lots of rain coupled with bitterly cold weather. It's possibly the worst month you could pick to visit, unless you include April. Tourism officially dries up after Labor Day, usually the week before. The whales and other sealife will be long gone, as will the possibility of going on a boat cruise. It sounds like you've chosen places that are best visited in summer weather (read: the month of July). Getting to these places might be impossible unless you have your own four-wheel-drive. You'll probably want to find some good places in Anchorage to just hang out at - eat, drink and be merry - while it rains and rains and rains.

Oh - I would also really rethink spending that much time in Seward (one day, tops), and nix Fairbanks entirely in lieu of Denali. Natives won't tell you this, but a lot of Alaska towns (most, in fact) are highly overrated, and in some cases, there's really nothing to see except the new Walmart.

I too think you are making a mistake with this type of touring. Flying between Anchorage and Fairbanks with an aurora priority is not likely to get results early Sept. and frankly you really need to invest a WEEK there at least for this.

You are missing everywhere in between, meaning Denali Park. IF you rethink this and get to Denali Park- easy via the train. You are limiting yourself significantly without a car.

I also question your 2 days in Juneau?? Is whale watching the priority?? This is a VERY costly routing and if there I would instead head over to Bartlett Cove and whale watch and cruise Glacier Bay out of there. Out of Seward, you have the possibility of seeing whales and the glacier tours out of Whittier are just superb.

For clarification- you don't need to "book trips" to see the Northern Lights- you can easily see them outside of Fairbanks, but you need a CAR. Same with staying at Chena Hot Springs, although there is a shuttle bus that goes there ad lib. BUT again, you can NOT count on viewing staying only 2 nights.

My priority was aurora, but I went in MARCH twice and spent 2 weeks EACH trip. One trip had excellent viewing about 12 days the other only 2.

I realise the last two posters were trying to be helpful, but I'm surprised at the vehemence of those two responses. I've read in numerous places that September is a decent time to visit, and we're tied to those dates so that's when we're going. We will not be driving - that's never been a possibility.

KMK and dwooddon, thanks for your responses, they were helpful.

Flyingnorth,
I think they are just trying to help. This is a very intensive trip with lots of flying involved, which I have never done. We were in Alaska last Aug and early sept and had pretty good weather. We had more sun and more rain than the gray skies we had on previous trip in late May-early June. We were at Katmai NP on Aug 31st at Hallo Bay which is across the peninsula, but we had good weather there too. We did have rain with Cap Larry whalewatching in first week of Sept. I think people are just trying to say that weather can be all over the place and cannot be planned for. Hopefully, you will get to see your northern lights, and other things. Denali is a tough place to pass up. Since you sound ademont that you will not rent car anywhere, that might make it tougher, but there are aways cars, taxis, or tours available at most of the places. Have a great trip and post any more questions or concerns you have. Good luck.

Sorry you didn't like my post. But it is factual with accurate information you may want to consider. I have a lot of travel time in Alaska spending a month every year split between two trips so I know what I am taking about.

You made the statement on an aurora priority, early Sept is not a sure time for sightings and two days is not enough time to allow.

Why get so defensive about reponses, ignore them if you don't like them.

Budgetqueen, I didn't say I didn't like your post - in fact I was hoping you'd pitch in, as probably the most experienced Alaska traveller on the board. Maybe you could just ditch the capital letters? I appreciate your comments all the same.