Alaska post cruise intenary
 

We are going to a cruise in Alaska in June. We are arriving in Seward Friday morning and we are renting a car. We plan to spend 4 days in Alaska. Our flight back home is at midnight on Monday so that give us 4 whole days. Any suggestions for our interary? We like to visit Denali National Park. What else will be fit in our schedule without to rush it too much? Any suggestions for accommodations too. Any comments will be very much appreciated.

Thank you

You probably only have time for Denali Park if that is your priority. I would strongly suggest you consider renting your Seward one way car for only a day then turn it in at Anchorage airport for a cheap round trip Anchorage rental. Will yield significant savings. I would also encourage you to tour Seward your day of arrival- perhap a Kenai Fjord boat trip- at least 6 hours on the water. You have about 9 hours of driving between Seward and Denali Park. So plan on a night in Talkeetna. then 2 nights Denali Park. OR with an early shuttle- you could have a long day with a drive to perhaps Trapper Creek area (B&B's). Then back to Anchorage. 4 days is real tight- I would add days if at all possible. A lot of your time will be in transit otherwise.

My comments are based solely on the research I've done in planning my first trip to Alaska in June. They come from the guidebooks I've been reading, not from personal experience, so take them for what they're worth.

If your ship stops in Juneau and if you take a side trip to Glacier Bay from there, then I'd skip the Kenai Fjords cruise and concentrate more on land-based activities around Seward. (If you haven't already gotten a close look at wildlife and glaciers, then take a Kenai Fjords cruise.)

Things to do in and around Seward: Alaska SeaLife Center, Seward Museum, drive to Exit Glacier.

If you haven't used up most of your day on a cruise, then you could drive north to the Portage Glacier Access Road and stop at the Begich-Boggs Visitors Center. Continue north to Girdwood and, if the weather is clear, ride the Alyeska tram. Continue on to Anchorage and spend the night there.

If the weather is clear Sunday morning head straight for Denali. You'll have excellent views of Mt. McKinley at Talkeetna and at Denali State Park. (When you tour the park the next day, the mountain may well be socked in.) If you're looking for upscale lodging without being caught in the tourist maze at the park entrance, spend the night at the McKinley Village Lodge six miles south of the park.

Reserve your seats on the park shuttle bus now and decide whether you want to go all the way to Wonder Lake or only as far as the Eielson Visitor Center. (Unless the weather is clear, you won't gain that much by going beyond Eielson.) Spend a second night.

Work your way back to Anchorage, stopping to see whatever looks interesting. If you get to the city in time, there are lots of thing to see and do there before you have to drive to the airport and turn in your rental car.

Since the above is not based on personal experience- I have some disagreements with it. There is little comparism to Kenai fjords boat tours and sailing Glacier Bay. Kenai fjords offers vast wildlife viewing opportunities- not likely seen elsewhere.

If the weather is clear Sunday morning head straight for Denali. You'll have excellent views of Mt. McKinley at Talkeetna and at Denali State Park

This is a clear misquote. McKinley is rarely visable. At best 30% of the time. Better is to plan a flight from Talkeetna and see it from the air. :) As for Wonder Lake- plenty to see in that 20 miles, but I will no longer consider past Eielson before the end of August.

Although your chances for clear (summer) weather to see Denali are best in May or June, it is sadly true that it is often socked in with the best views from Talkeetna. We winter residents who see it often on a clear day have to have some benefits you know. If your planned option sounds too far for 4 days, you could do a day in Homer after seeing Seward, then spend a couple days around Anchorage. Keep in mind that flight tours and boat tours are not cheap.

Yes you lucky winter residents. :) I saw McKinley- FULL views twice on my recent trip. :) But only my 3rd and 4th time seeing it based on all my trips. Had full views driving north for miles on 3-21. A treat indeed for me. :)