I need help! My first choice hotel/B&B (Angel's Rest) for Seward is already booked for the nights I will be there in August. Any suggestions? I would love to be on or near the water.

Valdez-Again, having a hard time deciding. Only going to be in Valdez for one night, so something clean and warm would be good.

Thanks!!! Monica

We stayed at the Alaska Saltwater Lodge in July and were very pleased. You'd need to have a car since it was a mile south of town, but we were very happy there. Right on the water, very quiet, clean and roomy.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...rd_Alaska.html

Right on Resurrection Bay, great veiw. Pictures are in the Trip advisor link above.

Kristine

In Seward, we stayed at the Edgewater. As the name implies, it is located along the water and is within easy walking distance to sights and restaurants.

http://www.hoteledgewater.com/

Please note, it is closed for renovations until March 2008.

I've stayed here in Valdez- http://www.brooksideinnbb.com/

Thank you so much for the suggestions...need to ask another question....

My plan was to do 4 nights Hallo bay(booked), 2 nights Homer, 2 nights Seward, 1 night Valdez, 2 nights Cordova, 2 nights Wrangell and back to Anchorage for the night before going home. Seems a little rushed, don't you think?

Thinking about adding one more might to Homer and skipping Valdez except for taking the ferry back from Cordova to Valdez to drive to Wrangell. But I had heard that kayaking out of Valdez is great. My head is going to explode with all the Alaska info.

Monica, I like all your destinations but I agree, too many places and too many too short visits. I would skip Cordova. You are so right, kayaking from Valdez is fabulous. Don't skip Valdez. Add at least one more night to Valdez and maybe stay one night at Sheep Mountain Lodge on the way from Wrangell-St Elias NP and before arriving in Anchorage. I never stayed at the B&B recommended by BQ but just added it to my list. I'll be there in August too. Your itinerary looks great but do not overwhelm yourself. Skipping Cordova this time will give you a chance to appreciate other places and you won't feel so rushed. I didn't go to Cordova until my 11th visit. So many places so little time. You have to make choices. Your trip is going to be fantastic even if you won't go to Cordova. Give yourself a break.

Are you driving all the way from McCarthy to Anchorage in one day? That's a very long and demanding drive and this is why I suggested staying one night in Sheep Mountain Lodge. Once again, your itinerary looks really nice but skip Cordova and add one night to Valdez and maybe stay one night at Sheep Mountain Lodge.

Monica, if you want to know more about driving on McCarthy road then read this

http://tinyurl.com/2aorcz

Way North-

Thank you for the feedback..I am trying to do it all. I am going to cut something out. I am having a hard time letting go of Cordova, but something has to give. I am hoping I get to do 11 visits to Alaska myself!

Monica

Last year, we stayed at the Best Western on the foreshore at Valdez,convenient and with a fabulous view from the end room, over the coastguard to the bay and mountains. Very easy for waterfront walks.
We lost a paid-for night in Fairbanks, in order to have am extra night here, well worth it!

But just so you know it can be done, we have twice had day trips in a hire car from Anchorage to Valdez, one beginning of June, one early in October. A very long long day indeed, but it is possible. We started before 5am, and on one day trip, even had a great tour to Columbia glacier from Valdez. This was a spur of the moment decision, because we arrived as the boat trip was about to leave, at 10.30am, when we had thought it would take longer.

I cannot rave enough about Wild Rose's B and B in Valdez. It was the highlight of our trip to Alaska. She has a great view of the inlet. We stayed at Box Canyon in Seward and I was not impressed, not near water. I wouldn't stay in Seward on a return visit. Loved the sealife center.

Monica, I suggested you remove Cordova from your itinerary because with such limited time and a very tight schedule Cordova is the most difficult to fit in. As you may know the ferry does not operate daily on this route Whittier - Valdez - Cordova and, according to the latest news, the schedule won't be out until the end February. I highly recommend securing some of your accommodations very soon if you have anything specific in mind. Recently we made reservations in a couple of places for August and some of them were already fully booked. We had to find secondary cabins to stay in. So I wouldn't wait until the ferry schedule is out.
I know how it is when you want to see many areas on your first trip. I deal with the same dilemma every time planning safari or visit to Costa Rica or Paris or Utah's parks or any place. Anywhere we go we have to make tough choices. How about choice between Wrangell-St Elias NP or Cordova and if you go to only one out of these two you won't have to feel so rushed.
Carrabella is right, driving from Valdez to Anchorage is a long day but very doable. Driving from McCarthy to Anchorage in one day is another story especially if is raining. Only limited number of car rental companies allows driving on McCarthy Road. We have a friend who paid $900 for towing his car to Chitina
Have fun making choices.Alaska is a fantastic place to visit if this is your first trip or 11th or 55th. There is always something new waiting to be discovered

Carrabella-Thank you for the advice on Valdez. I didn't know the Anchorage to Valdez route could be done in a day!

CLynnWeg-Thank you also for the Wild Rose suggestion, I will check them out. I have seen them on the internet, it looks great.

Way_North-Thank you for talking me through this...you are awesome. I am going to have my husband either pick Cordova, Valdez or Wrangell and not try to do all or two of them. I have 4 days left in the intinerary so I could do one and not feel rushed. It is funny how you mentioned doing a safari, because the best time I had on safari is when I planted myself in one place for 4 days. I had time to relax and just enjoy.

Happy New Year!

How funny you got a recommendation for Wild Rose B&B in Valdez because I'm writing to recommend Wild Rose B&B in Homer! It's not on or near the water - it's way above it - but the accommodations and view of the Homer Spit are lovely.

There are so many great places to stay in Seward rather than a hotel - go to the Seward Chamber of Commerce to get some ideas. Here are some that I've used: Trailhead Lodging, Ballaine House, Adventure Cottage (the first two are in town so if you don't have transport those would work better.)