help with itenerary
 

Need help/opionions with my Alaska itenrary.

Day 1. fly into Anchorage/Spend night. Any recommendations on B&Bs in Anchorage?

Day 2. Drive to Talkeetna. Flightseeing trip. Any recommendations on B&Bs in Talkneetna?

Day 3/4. Drive to Denali NP. Explore park. I am not sure if we want to do the bus trip or not? We like to explore on our own, but relaize that we cannnot get very far into the park with our own car. Is the bus trip worth it. We will travelling in July. Will the bus trip be hot? How long is the trip if we go all the way to Wonder Lake? Is Denali State Park worth a visit? IF so, what are the highlights of this park?

Day 5. I would like to travel the Denali Hwy to Paxson, but have read the concerns on the road conditions. Has the road been paved? If we did not go that route, what other routes can anyone suggest to get to Glennallen? I don't really want to go the same route back and I took up to Denali? I read in a earlier posting that the drive from Glennallen to Valdez is very scenic. I am trying to determine whether to drive the Denali Hwy to Paxson down to Valdez or if I can find an alternate route (still scenic) to get to Glennallen.

Day 6. Take the ferri from Valdez to Whittier. How long is the ferri ride? What is the schedule for the ferri? It sounds like trying to drive from Valdez to the Whitter area is too long.

Day 7 Exploring Seward.

Day 8/9 Exploring Homer. Any suggestions on a B&B in Home

Day 10. Drive back to Anc for fligh home/

Day 8

You need some adjustments in this itinerary. :) My opinion only - I would never consider a drive to Denali Park and NOT get into it. Scenery and wildlife possibilities are excellent the major reason to go there. :) Wonder Lake is not good in July- significant bug problems, go to Eielson instead (or "stop" near there this season due to Eielson being closed??) No the Denali Highway is not paved and you will need to reserve your car with the ability to drive it in the contract, most major rentals won't allow it. If you do drive the Denal Highway- it is 140 miles and takes ALL day. From Paxson it's another 185 miles to Valdez and then one ferry- from Valdez about 7am arriving Whitter about 1pm. Your only option for getting to Valdez outside of the Denali Highway is to go "up and over" from Fairbanks- 100 miles north of Denali Park then down the Richardson, or return back down the Parks to Wasilla/Palmer and across the Glenn. So definately not doable in your timeframe. If you DO take the ferry to Whittier- you don't have enough time in Seward nor Homer. You need 4 hours from Homer back to Anchorage. Best would be to concentrate on Seward. Frankly- you need more time for this routing- like 2 weeks. There are SEVERAL Denali STATE parks- which are you referring to? Beyers Lake is worth a "rest stop" and Little Coal Creek has a nice trail.

Are you stating that there is only one ferri crossing each day? I also was not aware that the ferri ride was 6 hours. Isn't it around 6 hours to drive from Valdez to Anchorage?

Yes only one per day. And yes the drive time is similar. But it gives two vastly different scenic areas.

Actually with the addition of the highspeed ferry between Valdez and Whittier the trip is only 3 hrs (1130 to 2:30) - runs MOST days, but not all.

But I agree that you are trying to cram too much into your limited timeframe.

Do you have to get a reservation in advance. Who do you call? When you reserve, I then tell them if I want the 6 hour journey or the high-speed 3 hour journey. Do you know the cost difference? Thanks for the information

Yes you need a reservation, especially if taking on a car. http://www.dot.state.ak.us/amhs/