Inside Passage Alaska in less then a week

Old May 14th, 2014, 08:17 PM
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Inside Passage Alaska in less then a week

HI there, I love Alaska and for the first time I want to see the Inside Passage and get the best of it in just 5 full days. I will be traveling August 30-September 5th, 2014 and I would like to see the Glacier Bay National Park (found out the last tour is on September 1st, and ferry trips are sold out until September 2nd), Sitka, and if possible, see the totem poles from Ketchikan (read somewhere that these are the best). Any suggestions on how to plan? Here is a possibility:
August 30- Arriving late in Juneau, dinner and rest.
August 31-Because of a very tight budget, check if there are last minute deal flights to Glacier Bay (ideal I would spend all day around Glacier Bay and Gustavus, and fly back around dinner .
September 1 Juneau bus ride to Mendenhall Glacier for a hike.
September 2-4 Sitka . Reserved a ferry ticket with Alaska Marine Highway . Hiking, sightseeing in Sitka.
September 4: Back to Juneau at night. Flight next morning.

Any other suggestions or better options are highly appreciated. Thank you.
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Old May 15th, 2014, 04:01 AM
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I have not taken this trip, but staying on Glacier Bay at a place like Glacier Bay Country Inn is on my list. Rather than travelling around for such a short time, I think it would be great to spend the whole time hiking, kayaking, fishing and just enjoying the spectacular beauty of Glacier Bay.
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Old May 15th, 2014, 06:15 PM
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Thank you, LindainOhio. My concern is the tight budget, and around Glacier Bay the prices are very high. I agree with the fact that it would be great to spend the whole time hiking, etc, but I also want to see few things I am interested in: wild life, glaciers, totem poles, and as much as possible during such a short time. I want to explore and think about resting when I get home.
Again, thank you.
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Old May 15th, 2014, 06:37 PM
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I see the Island Princess that sails Anchorage to Vancouver on August 27th is on sale for$549 + port charges for an inside cabin. That would include your food and transportation. That may require double occupancy.
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Old May 16th, 2014, 05:51 AM
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I don't have the ferry system's timetables memorized, so you'll need to do your own homework on that front. However I'd comment that the "inside passage" means different things to different people, and that Juneau - Sitka is not what I'd call the "core" part of that experience.

Yes, Ketchikan has the biggest collection of totems, at Totem Bight State Park to the north of town, and in the Saxman village to the south. Plus, to me at least, the ferry run between Ketchikan and Juneau - via the Wrangell Narrows, Petersburg, etc. - is one of the scenic highlights of the Inside Passage. (The Wrangell Narrows are too narrow for the cruise ships, but not for the ferry.)

So if you want to see totem poles and see the "core" of the inside passage, your trip would need some re-planning, which of course may be too late at this point. However, if it's still possible, and if you're fully committed to trying for Glacier Bay, then you might just do a thought experiment with the ferry timetables in front of you to see if you could set it up that you're sailing between Juneau and Ketchikan (one way or the other) in as much daylight as possible.

There's plane service to Seattle from Juneau, Sitka, Wrangell, Petersburg and Ketchikan, so you're not stranded regardless of your route or the order of places you visit.
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Old May 18th, 2014, 08:03 AM
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Thank you, @Gardyloo ! I can still change the ferry ticket and wondering if Totem Bight State Park is far from the ferry and if I need to stay a day or 2 in Ketchikan, considering the length of time spending traveling from Juneau to there. Also, is Ketchikan the "core" part of the experience? I will for sure consider the scenic highlights of the Inside Passage, so I would take your suggestion in consideration for sure, but what about the Glacier Bay? Is it worth spending a day there? Thank you again.
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Old May 23rd, 2014, 10:51 AM
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Taking in consideration all the advices and my research, I believe this itinerary might work for me, although I feel like I am missing out few things:
Aug 30- Late arrival- rest
Aug 31- Early ferry Juneau-Sitka . Arriving at 11am- the rest of the day to explore
Sept 1- All day in Sitka- no ferry will leave to the destination of my choice
Sept 2- Late afternoon ferry from Sitka to Wrangell- 15.5 hrs
Sept 3 After spending only 2 hrs in Wrangell, getting on the next ferry to the next destination Ketchikan. Arriving late afternoon (4pm)

To get back in Juneau, I am planning on taking the flight with Alaska Airlines at 8pm, either on Sept 3rd or 4th. But I am undecided.
Option 1: Fly back to Juneau at 8pm , on Sept 3rd. Option 2: Fly back to Juneau on Sept 4th at 5pm the earliest and arriving around 7pm in Juneau- too late for too many activities around Juneau.

Sept 4- Ketchikan or Juneau??????? Any suggestions?

Would be enough 2-3 hrs to visit the Totem Bight State Park and be on time at the airport, or spend the entire day in Ketchikan?
On the other side, I will be missing many thinks (activities) in Juneau, which are equally important: hiking and seeing the Mendenhall Glacier, taking the tram to Mount Roberts on the way up and then hike down, etc and resting to catch the early nest morning flight to the lower 48.

Which option would be better?
Thank you.
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Old May 26th, 2014, 08:27 AM
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Spent over 7 yrs of full summers working in Ketchikan. The ferry terminal is on the NW part of the island and Saxman village is on the SE part. I walked and ran there many times, about 2.5 miles. If you are fit you can do this easily. Could do in a couple of hours, depending on how interested you are in of the totem poles history. Could taxi there and back to save time. Just be sure to call the taxi 10-15 before you want to go back to ferry.

If you are nervous about missing the ferry you could check out the few in town. There is a totem pole in the green area on tongass ave. One at the sitting area near creek st. And another in front of the community college (actual a guy working on our boat who was an artist bought wood craving tools and worked on that one.) A few residents have some in their yards as well. There is a Totem heritage Ctr on the So. side of town. Could do a big fast walking loop in town and see a lot.

You could spend the Whole day in Ketchikan. If you do, walk up to Cape fox restaurant. The restaurant food is ok, but views fabulous! There is a fish hatchery on the side of deer Mtn. (it is the next block north totem heritage ctr). The Tongass Historical museum attached to the library is nice. The library is beautiful, set beside the Ketchikan creek. Deer Mtn also has a trail that goes to the top that will get you amazing pics of the town, water, etc.Make sure to stop in the Potlatch bar to see locals or the Sourdough bar to look at all the photos of ship wrecks and ones that have run aground. There are LOTS of float planes that can take you many places (Misty Fjords, smaller towns, etc) depending on your budget. At least that later time in the summer there will be fewer cruise boats to deal with in town, meaning less people.

Wrangell has petroglyphs, petroglyph beach north is over 1/2 mile from the ferry terminal. You should be able to get there, look around, and get back to ferry on time. Or you could go to the museum in town. Walking distance is about the same for both. Museum would have artifacts and other stuff as well as pics of the petroglyphs, you wouldn't have to climb around. Could be a drier alternative if it is raining.

Truly taking the ferry is the best way to see AK.
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Old Jun 8th, 2014, 08:22 AM
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Great replays indeed. I made reservations and this is what I came out with , and hope it will work for me:

Aug 30- Late arrival- rest
Aug 31- Juneau- if I am lucky, maybe I'll take a discounted flight to Glacier Bay if not, hiking and seeing the Mendenhall Glacier
Sept 1- Early ferry to Sitka- arriving at 11am- all day to explore
Sept 2- Late afternoon ferry from Sitka to Ketchikan- 22 hrs (with a short stop in Wrangell-too short to visit the surroundings)
Sept 3 Arriving around 2pm in Ketchikan and estimating about 4-5 hrs until a Alaska Airline flight @8pm , time to visit Totem Bight State Park , and explore some more.
Sept 4 Juneau- taking the tram to Mount Roberts and hiking back, and explore some more
Sept 5 Early morning flight back home.
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