Itinerary Help
 

My husband and I are planning to drive to Alaska in Aug-Sept 2006 via Edmonton to the Alaska Highway, spend 3 weeks "in country" and return to the lower 48 via the Alaska Marine Ferry system. We'd welcome any suggestions about B&B's and sights to see from others who have driven this route as well as thoughts about our tentative plans while in Alaska:

10 days - Drive from Kentucky via Great Falls MT & Edmonton,AB to Anchorage via the Alaska Highway, Tok cutoff and Glenn Highway.
3-4 days - Take train to Denali, either take shuttle bus or book a Denali tour and return to Anchorage. Dog sled demo?
3-4 days - Drive the Kenai Pennisula. Stay in Seward & Homer.
1 week fly fishing (we've already booked this!!)
2-3 days - Drive to Haines. Take ferry roundtrip to Skagway and to take the Whitehorse Pass train.
10 days - Take ferry from Haines to Juneau and maybe Sitka or Ketchikan spending 2 days in each place before taking final ferry to Bellingham

What are we missing? What's too much? Help!

Hi ckaszubski! The funny thing about this site is that when you post under a specific state (or in your case Alaska), it all goes under the "United States". So all people see is "Itinerary Help". I hope that this explanation is not confusing :D

So, in order to get as much advice as possible, I would suggest re-posting your message with "Alaska" in the title (i.e. "Itinerary Help - Alaska"). In doing so, people who are knowledgeable about Alaska will know to click on your thread.

Good luck with your planning -- I've never been to Alaska, but it sounds like a fabulous trip!

With your own car, there really isn't any advantage to taking the Alaska RR Anchorage/Denali Park and plenty is so so scenery in my opinion. Plus, you miss everything along the way. If you haven't already a necessary reference is The Milepost. Be certain to get a copy. If you do go with this train option, better is an overnight stop in Talkeetna to break up the 8 hour trip. Plus a look at an interesting funky town. :) I would plan on at least 2 nights each in Homer and Seward, plenty to do in both.

You have allowed plenty of time, which is the necessity for travel in Alaska. Keep doing your research and find out YOUR priorities and plan on those. :)

I realized after posting this message that i should have mentioned Alaska in the title! Ugh! Thanks for the quick feedback!

We departed the ferry at Skagway and did not go to Haines. When I discussed with a ferry agent where we should end our trip, she said the drive out of Skagway was the prettiest. My husband also wanted to take the train ride. She suggested we take a water taxi if we wanted to make a visit to Haines. You won't need a car if you do a day trip to Skagway from Haines. The train station is close to the docks. But if the person we talked to was right, you might have a prettier drive to Skagway instead of Haines. Sounds like a fantastic trip.

Several years ago my husband and I visited the Yukon Territory. We drove from Whitehorse to Haines Junction then to Haines, Ak. This was an incredibly beautiful drive snaking through snow-capped mountains. Haines is a very pretty town with lots to do: float trips thru the eagle preserve, great hikes, wandering through the lovely shops. We also visited Skagway with the ferry. We took our car and then proceeded back to Whitehorse. Skagway was a bit touristy, but cute. The drive back was also pretty, where we came upon the world's smallest dessert! Don't miss the ride to Haines. Have fun.

Thanks for your replies! We will definitely do to the Haines-Skagway trip and are relooking at how we want to get to Denali. Has anyone stayed at one of the lodges in the interior of Denali? Are they worth the cost?

There have been reviews in the Alaska magazine on the Kantishna lodging all with good reviews. But determine WHY you want to go there and have activites planned out using the lodge's availability. No reason to stay there in my opinion without them. :)

Hi BudgetQueen - We would only stay on the interior of the park if it will provide us with a less hectic visit and chance to do some guided hikes and other activities away from the crowds which we keep reading about. Of course, we'll be there after labor day so I imagine much of the summer tourist season will be over.

Actually going Labor Day won't have significantly less crowds. Alaska season has definately expaneded and with Denali Park road still open, don't expect a ghost town. :) Plenty of visitors still arriving.