Looking for great train trips in Alaska, a few days, up to a week. Want great scenery, very comfortable train. We did Gold Leaf on Rocky Mountaineer in Canada last year and loved it! Hoping for something great for anniversary this year. Thanks!

Not many choices. There's the White Pass trip in SE, basically an excursion. In Southcentral AK you can choose among Anchorage-Seward (or Whittier), Anchorage-Denali (and onto Fairbanks) or Fairbanks to Denali (and onto Anchorage).

You get the most bang for your buck on the trip to Seward, but it's a short trip. Add the Kenai Fjord boat and you have a great combo.

For a longer ride, I'd say Anchorage-Denali.

http://www.akrr.com/arrc21.html

I did the Anchorage/ Seward train trip, with the Kenai Fjord boat trip 10 yrs. ago. A long day but so worth it.

If I recall, Anchorage to Fairbanks is about 12 hours. Anchorage to Seward is about 5, The Seward route is considerably more scenic than much of the Fairbanks route.

I've been on the Fairbanks route twice and the Seward route 3 times and recommend them both but, unless your a serious train buff, the Seward route is probably enough. The icing on the cake is that at the end of the trip, you're in Seward, not Fairbanks.

I agree, by far the most scenic portion of the Alaska RR is Seward/Anchorage. I've done the entire distance of the ARR several times. I never however recommend a round trip Anchorage/Seward as a day trip, always consider at least one overnight. Key is the destination, there is plenty to see and do in Seward with my top pick a Kenai Fjords boat trip.

What about the Yukon White Pass Narrow Gauge out of Skagway? Is it touristy or worth the ride?

Thanks much for the info and sorry so long on the reply! Highnote