Help! Planning a trip to Alaska
 

I'm just starting the my planning for a two week trip to Alaska in the fall. Any help with my questions below or suggestions for our itinerary would be greatly appreciated.

We're into just about anything outdoors... hiking, rafting, wildlife, etc. Willing to spend for luxury when it's worth it. Willing to rough it when the experience is worth it. We like small lodges and B&B's where we can actually meet the local people.

1) We're thinking about the middle two or last two weeks of September. Looks to me that sunrise is still around 7:30 or 8am and sunset around 7:30 or 8pm. So, this seems OK. I'd like to book our plane tickets shortly (frequent flier), so I'd like to decide this shortly. Any thoughts?

2) We're not big on cruises, but still want to see the glaciers, inside passage, etc. I've done a bit of looking at the Alaska ferry and heard that there are some nice small ship short cruises. Any ideas would be appreciated.

3) We'd like to spend most of the time driving around. Any itinerary suggestions or specific stops would be a great help.

4) We'd like to spend some time in Denali. Any tips on the best places to stay and ways to see the part are appreciated.

Thanks in advance... these boards have always been a great help to me. If I can return the favor (New Zealand, South Africa, Kenya, Belize, Scotland, Ireland, Italy, skiing, just let me know!).

Thanks!

One other things... any opinions on The Milepost or the Alaska TourSaver?

Thanks!

One last (I hope) thing... any thoughts on the weather at this time of year?

First, your timing.

The interior of Denali Park typically closes by Sept. 15 or before, so if that's on your list I think you need to recondider when you arrive. In any case, if Denali or Fairbanks is on the list, you would want to start there and work south, because the cold weather and decreasing daylight will be doing the same. In Fairbanks in late September it will get light around 6:30 AM and dark around 6:30 PM; hoewever the reduction in daylight runs between 7 and 10 minutes per day; i.e., an hour per week or so.

In Alaska it's all about where, so I'd definitely get a copy of the Milepost to see where you'd like to go.

Regarding cruises and glaciers, again, some of the tourism industry wraps up by mid-September, although of course the ferry runs year-round. You might consider one of the last southbound cruises from AK to Vancouver, which would give you time to see Southeast Alaska in combination (before) with interior and Southcentral AK. Often the last sailings are quite affordable, and certainly a comfortable and scenic end to a visit.

Autumn comes early to Alaska. It's a great time to visit, but advance planning is important.

Thanks for the information... I had noticed that about Denali and other things closing around mid-Sept., so I'm now looking a the 1st two weeks of September being a better option.

The Milepost is a must. We took the ferry from Bellingham WA to Skagway which is the Inside Passage route and a major commuting route for Alaskans. Skagway to Anchorage is a two day drive and it would require you to have a vehicle. It's a nice introduction to Alaska but it look's like you need to go directly to Denali. I would be tempted to spend a day at the State Fair in Palmer since we love fairs. The location is beautiful but we attended a small event there in June. You might enjoy an overnight package with the Boardwalk Hotel in Seldovia. You are picked up in Homer by boat and then fly back the next day. Seldovia is very small with one recommended hike. Very quiet but a good place to watch eagles. We attended the Forest Fair in Girdwood in July. The Anchorage visitors guide mentions Alyeska Blueberry & Mountain Arts Festival the first weekend in September - "great food and wine, creative arts and crafts, and rousing folk music". At the Forest Fair there were plenty of locals and great food. I would guess the location and events are very similar. The day cruises out of Seward will give you more glaciers and wildlife per nautical mile than the Inside Passage.

Snce you intend driving The Milepost is a must. Staying in the park at Denali is very convenient. There is a good white water rafting trip just outside Denali. Be sure to do the Wldlife Tour in Denali.There are any number of glacier cruises that can be taken. A good one can be taken from Seward. On the way from Anchorage to Seward you pass the Portage Glacier. It is relatively small but the boat gets very close to the base of the glacier.

Thanks for all of the info... just ordered a copy of Milepost and am looking at flights.

Any comments on the weather in early September or any other must-sees?

I think that I've settled on the 1st two weeks of September.

I'm considering flying into Fairbanks, going to Denali and then winding our way down to Anchorage (something like September 2nd to the 17th).

I've ordered a copy of the Milepost and will order a TourSaver shortly.

Any suggestions on a driving itinerary would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!