I'm trying to cut back on our planned activities since I had enough to fill five weeks and buy a new car!! By the way, I'm pretty sure we are now going to fly from either Seattle or Chicago.

Since many of you have been there and done most of these, can you please comment on which you would do or leave out. As far, as not knowing our interests, as long as it is not car racing, we are interested in EVERYTHING.

I still would love to visit Wrangell-St. Elias NP, but if that is not possible, is hiking/trekking the Matanuska Glacier and Hatcher Pass a good substitue for the Root Glacier and the Park?

I'm not sure we can do the flight into Wrangell-St. Elias (the van is a possiblity, but will require an extra night's stay--so six of one-1/2 dozen of the other)AND do a Bear trip AND a McKindly Flightsee. Which of these would you leave out? Would the flights on the bear trip and into W-St. Elias be worth substitutes? Obviously, we wouldn't see the big mountain, but would the other scenery be comparable?

Having said all that, here is a tentative itinerary, which leaves in everything we'd really like to do. Please let me know which ones are absolute must dos and which ones are necessary only if we have the time and money.

Day 1: Arrive Anchorage late evening. Hopefully, hotel will pick us up and take us back to get car (maybe in town instead of airport) in morning as this would give us a full extra day with the car)

Day2: Pick up car and drive to Girdwood--sightsee on way. Tram ride/hike. Should we go as far as Cooper Landing here to save time the next day?

Day 3: To Homer--I know this is a long trip and we'll want to stop at every turnout; If we stayed in Girdwood the night before, should we stop in Soldotna for the night?

Day 4: Homer--Possible bear trip. If not, maybe 1/2 day fishing for DH (son and I will sightsee along spit and dig for clams,
if possible)If we do the bear trip, then maybe DH can fish the next day. Dinner at Halibut Cove

Day 5: Seward
Day 6: Seward

Activities here include: SeaLife Center, Exit Glacier--hopefully hike to Harding Ice Field--Kenai Fjords Tour (9hr), Ididaride Dog Sled, Will 2 nights be enough?

Day 7: To Whittier for ferry to Valdez. Night in Valdez.

Day 8: Kayaking/Hike in Valdez--2nd night in ValdezSee/hike?

Day 9: To Chitina/Copper Center--Thompson Pass, Worthington Glacier--Spend night

Day 10: Hike Root Glacier--would like to do all day hike, Night McCarthy/Endicott

Day 11: To Mat-Su Valley Hike Matanuska Glacier, Hatcher Pass, Musk Ox Farm, what else? Stay at Sheep Mountain or Palmer?

Day 12: To Talkeetna--maybe flightseeing trip

Day 13: To Denali

Day 14: Denali

Day 15: (day 14 with car) back to Anchorage for late flight home. Flightsee here possibly if weren't able to do on way to Denali.

How does this sound as a start? Ideally, I'd like to add at least another 2 -3 days to the trip.

Thanks in advance for all help.

Lynda

Looks like a great trip! I can only comment on a couple of parts. Girdwood to Homer is maybe 4 hours. You won't have to stay in Soldotna. Once you get to the turn off to Soldotna you are away from the mountains and the scenery is not spectacular. Soldotna is a good place for shopping if you need some supplies and a lunch or dinner stop. You'll hit spectacular scenery again just before you get to Homer. There's a rest area with a wonderful view of the Spit. You don't have the Pratt Museum listed. It's small but wonderful. It won't take much time. Very educational and interesting. The drive to Seward is about 3 hours from Homer. You will probably want to stop off to watch the fishing at the Russian River ferry. You probably have time for the Sealife Museum, check the hours, I think it's open until 8pm. The all day Kenai trip the next day. It looks like you might need a third night to do the hikes and Ididaride. Remember to check the tunnel schedule to be at the Whittier ferry on time. You'll be going past the visitors center for Portage Glacier. I thought this was a great place. Take time to listen to the recordings of people speaking about their experiences during the earthquake. We stayed in Palmer for a weekend, went to Independence Mine in the morning, stopped at the Transportation Museum in Wasilla and were in Talkeetna by early afternoon. If you aren't doing the McKinley flight you probably have time to continue on to Denali. Talkeetna is very small. You can also take a short flightsee in Homer over a glacier. Not sure if this would be as good or better than from Anchorage. Since we are not avid hikers, it looks like you are doing a lot of hiking and not enough museums/educational centers. I love to see art and craftwork done by Alaskans. There's some nice galleries in Homer, Talkeetna, etc.

Ms. Lynda, when is your trip? This August or next May or the end of September? It makes a big difference

Lynda, if you click on your previous name, lthompson, you get answers to many of your today's questions.

dfrostnh: Thanks! Just the kind of info. I was looking for. We will add the Pratt Museum. I like looking at crats, arts, etc., but no one else in my crew does, so most of our activities have to be outdoors. We definitely will do the Portage Visitor Center, though.

nkd: Our trip won't be until after school is out next June but, after reading the many posts on this board, I feel that I must get a jump on my plans since some reservations need to be made so far in advance. When I first began planning, we were going to drive the whole way but I have finally convinced my husband to fly.

I want to see and do everything but am finding that is impossible so I must rely on you experts to guide me to the must dos and the not-so-must dos.

Thanks again.

Lynda

Lynda, that's nice but READ answers to your previous post under your other name. You got answers on Wrangel-St. Elias NP

You can add a couple days by, going direct to Homer and not bothering overnighting anywhere after Anchorage. Easy day trip.

You can also skip the overnight in Palmer and go to Talkeetna, depending on your interests? Only about 1 1/2 drive apart.

As for Seward, I would add your night here with your current list of activites.

Not sure of your day one comments??? There are few downtown hotels that offer free airport shuttles. Car rentals are based on a 24 hour clock, IF you arrive late evening, pick the car up THEN, since you are leaving late night, same amount of days charged. Some rentals allow an hour grace. But you would be best to get to the airport 2 hours prior to flight time anyway. This option will save considerable time in the am, and as already mentioned, you can easily get to Homer that day even with plenty of sightseeing stops.

Thanks, BudgetQueen. I appreciate your help.

Lynda