Long Weekend Advice for 1st Timer
 

Greetings all!

I will be visiting AK solo for the 1st time and will only have 4 full days. (June 6-9)

Day 0 (June 5): Arrive in ANC @ midnight and overnight at Marriott Courtyard.

Day 1: Take train to ???
hang out in town

Ideally, I'd like to spend Day 2 and Day 3 (Fri & Sat) based in a place where I can access scenic type activities (fjord cruise, glacier flights, etc) and restaurants

AND not need a car.

From what I've read I'm wondering if Seward or Homer fits that bill?

Can anyone tell me what's the biggest difference between the two towns and why choose one over the other?

Day 3: Take train back to ANC
and overnight at Marriott Downtown

Day 4: Rent a car and see sights in and around ANC.

Maybe drive to Girdwood or even do the 26 Glacier tour or visit Portage Glacier if it's not too similar to activities already seen.

11 PM Fly back to NYC (and plan next but longer trip back to AK)

I need to call and verify this but there's a chance the train schedule will conflict with the longer cruises and Exit Glacier tours

Soooooo

if I did rent a car for the entire time, would that alter your suggestions?


THANKS

With this short time, I'd say Seward ... unless you want to fly to Homer.

Both are great spots and I'm always struck by how difference the towns' settings are.

Seward is tucked at the end of a long gorgeous bay with tall peaks defining the skyline on both sides. Homer opens to a wide panorama with the spit winding out into the bay. Both are stunning.

Although I prefer to drive to Seward because of the chances to stop along the route, the train is a decent option and one you don't have to Homer.

If a fjord cruise is of interest, that's Seward. The 26 Glacier Cruise out of Whittier is different than the fjord, much more glacier centric and usually much less marine life than the longer Seward cruises. You could do a bear viewing flight out of Homer, however, which covers interesting vistas of Kachemak Bay and the volcanos.

Tough to go wrong ...

Both Seward and Homer have decent but not outstanding dining. Ray's in Seward can be nice -- unless it's overwhelmed by cruisers.

If you hit Homer, I'd suggest visiting Halibut Cove (by the Danny J water taxi) and eating there. It's been a long time but it's a nice trip on a good day.

On Day 4 (or if you drive the whole time) do visit Girdwood. Grab dinner at the Double Musky and (if the weather's decent) take tram at Alyeska.

Thanks repete!

Even though I'd prefer to take the train, the schedules don't really mesh with the longer 9 hr fjord cruise, and an Exit Glacier visit.

That plus, i scored a hertz car for @$10.00/day so that kinda sealed the driving deal.

btw, it looks like Seward is where I'll be staying both nights but with the car will have a chance to see the nearby sights.

I'm curious...is the bear viewing flight the same thing as the flightseeing tours i've seen mentioned which iirc go out near Whittier or Portage?

can you suggest an operator for flying based tours?

thanks again!

The visitors center for Portage Glacier is a great stop but we skipped seeing the glacier itself since we went on the 9 hour Kenai Fjords cruise. You can see a great video and listen to recordings of personal recollections of the great earthquake. We have also been on a nature cruise from Homer over to Seldovia. It was nice but not as great as the one out of Seward. On the Homer trip we saw mostly birds and otters. I loved Homer but on limited time I would spend most of it between Anchorage and Seward. The tram ride up Mt Alyeska will give you another view of glaciers and the beautiful view from the top which will probably have some snow.

bk3,
sorry i've got nothing current on flights and would not want to guess.

hopefully someone with fresh info can help.