BQ...you seem to be one of the most knowledgeable about Alaska. I had narrowed our next trip (anytime in 2007) down to Bryce/Zion/N Rim of Grand Canyon OR Yellowstone NP/Gr Tetons NP. But, after reading many of the responses about Alaska, I may want to throw that into the mix, too.

I won't bore you with the details of my last post I typed this morning, but I'm wondering if we can stay in one or two places in Alaska and just take day trips. I'm traveling with elderly and need to stay 5-7 days in each "home base". Also, we prefer to stay in vacation homes rather than hotels.

If you think this is do-able, I'd love to pick your brain. If not, then we'll stick with one of our other two choices.

There will be 6 in our group and our trip will be 10-14 days.

Thanks!
Juli

I'm not BQ but I've made a number of raod trips in Alaska so maybe I can help.

First, know that distances between some locations can be long. My personal preference is the Kenai Peninsula (Seward, Homer, Valdez, etc). Others like the Denali NP area (I do too but if I have to pick one, it would be the KP).

If it were me, in the situation you describe, I'd break the trip into thirds. Then, I'd base myself in Anchorage, Homer, and Seward for each third. Valdez is also very nice but it is a very long drive.

I don't know much about vacation homes in Alaska but there are a large number of B&B's in the areas mentioned.

For activities, search this forum for each of the three areas (or any other areas you'd like to visit). You will find a wealth of choices. If you have specific questions, come back and I'm sure you'll find many people to answer them.

For the overall question, I strongly urge the Alaska visit. It is like nothing else you have ever seen and I have never seen a written description, photograph, or film/video that began to do it justice.

dwooddon~
How does it compare to the Canadian Rockies... Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper areas...and all areas in between?
Thanks for your quick reply!
Juli

They are just different. Both AK and the areas you asked about are superb. Again, if I had to choose between the two, I'd give a slight edge to AK but I try to visit both whenever I can.

It's hard to accurately generalize about the differences. Scenic vistas in AK are expansive and sweeping. The areas of Canada you mentioned are generally more jagged and immediate. Both are beyond rational description.

Depending on the area you are in, animal sightings can be frequent to non-existant in both places. I've had a lot more luck seeing elk, deer, and mountain sheep around Jasper. On the other hand, I've seen a lot more moose around southcentral AK (the area I recommended in my previous post). I've not seen bears in either of those areas but I've seen a huge number of them in extreme southeast AK (Hyder-Stewart, BC area). Obviously, sea life is not available in Canada but is one of the prime attractions in that part of AK, especially Seward and Homer.

If you'd like to see a few of my photos from both places, I have them from two separate trips on http://www.worldisround.com/articles/309702/index.html and http://www.worldisround.com/articles/209893/index.html.

Let me know if I can answer any other questions.

Please, all you Canadians - don't hit me. In my comment about sealife, I meant to say "that area of Canada".

dwooddon~
I've been to Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper many times and, to me, nothing can compare...BUT...I've never been to Alaska! I'm glad to hear they are different.

This group's last travel destination was in June 2006 to Banff, LL & Jasper and we saw so much wildlife it was incredible!

So, it sounds like I need to research Alaska, as well as continuing to research Zion/Bryce/N Rim...that's completely different from the Canadian Rockies & Alaska!

In a nutshell, I want another fabulous place to blow my mind...but be convenient for my elderly travel companions!

Thank you!

To see anything, Alaska requires you to be on the move. Distances are vast. A great itinerary is to stay a few days in several locations. A week staying put, will be severely limiting.

You aren't going to find "vacation homes" in Alaska, if you are referring to condo type accomadations? B&B's are a good option if of interest.

Well...so far this is what I've found from vrbo. Maybe they are too far out. Using dwooddon's suggestions of dividing the trip into three "bases" this is what I've found~

Anchorage area: There is a beautiful vacation home in the Alyeska Ski Resort area that's advertised at being 35 minutes south of Anchorage...is that too far?

Also in Anchorage area: a South Anchorage Home that's advertised at 10 miles from Airport and downtown.

Then, in the Homer area: I've found two homes. One is advertised "just outside of Homer city limits" and the other "located 5 miles East of Homer on East End Road".

No luck in the Seward area...yet.

Condos would be fine...but if I don't have any luck, I'll try B&B's or lodges.

Anyone familiar with these locations?

The one at Aleyeska will be in the area of Girdwood. Very nice area. There is a chair lift to the top of the mountain with a great restaurant at the top. From Girdwood, it is an easy drive back into Anchorage, there's lots of sightseeing along the Seward Hwy in that area, you are close to the wild animal refuge, and a side trip into Hope is also quite scenic. One of my favorite stops in that area is the Bird Creek Cafe. They have super scrumptious blueberry hotcakes with fresh, juicy blueberries in season that are out of this world.

The south Anchorage home bears investigation. It could be in a very nice area or in some not so nice. I'd get the address and then invest in a phone call to Anchorage Police to check out the area.

East End Road in the Homer area is also a good option, especially if it is an elevated location where you will have a view of the bay and the lower Kenai Peninsula. It could be a very nice home or it could be a frontier shack. I'd check it out a bit also (do not trust web site photos). Many areas along East end Road are somewhat isolated but, if it's only five miles out, it will be an easy drive back into town. If it were me, I'd want to know a little more about the one "just outside the Homer City Limits". Again, could be very nice or could be a shack.

I'd vote for the Kenai Peninsula anytime! I have traveled with eldery relatives there. There are some very nice town-style-homes for rent on a nightly basis in Homer right at the end of the Spit. Check out there website at the very least at www.landsendlodges.com They were very comfortable and had every amenity we could have wanted. I definately give them a thumbs WAY up for a home-base. Also my great-aunt enjoyed activies in Homer such as birding, fishing, and touring the art galleries. That's my two cents...

I'm not sure what BudgetQueen means that there aren't any vacation home rentals in Alaska. Girdwood is full of them, Homer has excellent ones, and the Palmer-Wasilla area have several that I know of, two on lakes with mountain views (one of Denali and one of the Chugach). VRBO is a good starting place or a web search for vacation home or guest home or vacation rental in Alaska (or town/area you'd like).