Kristinesonja

ok, I've been reading and researching this trip since Oct through books and websites. I've learned so much here and finally came up with an itinerary/flight/lodging accomodations and rental car.

The spouse of one of our traveler (my cousin) isn't even going on the trip but keeps sending me info on flighttours to the North Pole.
http://www.northernalaska.com/album.cfm

I have the trip layed out and it looks like this:

July 6th: late night arrival in Anchorage

July 7th: Sat morning green market, pick up rental car, drive to Alaska Native Hert Center, explore the Tony Knowles trails and downtown. Overnight in Anch.

July 8th: Head South to Gridwood Forest Fair, then continue on to Seward, maybe get to Exit Glacier. Overnight in Seward.

July 9th: Kenai Fjords Boat Tour, Sea Life Center. Overnight in Seward.

July 10th: Head back North to Anchorage with a stop at Alyeska Prince Hotel for the tram ride and lunch. Continue on to Anchorage overnight.

July 11: Head North to Talkeetna for a flight seeing tour, lunch at Black Diamond Grill and continue to Healy for overnight.

July 12: Take the Fish Creek Shuttle into Denali. Overnight in Healy.

July 13: Take a rafting ride in Denali, overnight in Healy.

July 14: Leasurely drive South back to Anchrorage for overnight.

July 15: Open day in Anchorage as we don't flyout until 10pm.

I'd decided after so many great recommendations here to give up Fairbanks when the river boat ride and gold paning didn't appeal to me anyway.

Does this sound like a good trip? Do you think I'm missing the boat by leaving out the North Pole trip? I'm interested in wildlife and nature.
Has anyone taken the North Pole trip out of Fairbanks? (This guy is driving me nuts with his NP pitch!)

Thanks for your wisdom. I've learned so much here.

Kristine

rkkwan

I don't see any flighttour to the North Pole on that site. Arctic Circle, yes; NP, no. Is that really what you mean?

Kristinesonja

Meant to say Artic Cirle.

I'm sorry, I've been down with shingles this week and maybe the drugs are frying my brain, lol.

It's the Artic Circle trip that he thinks we should take. (Mom and I have been to the Artic Circle in Finland, so it would be new topography for us I'm sure. But do I want to rearrange my plans to fit it in? I'm not so sure.

rkkwan

Sorry, I know next to nothing about Alaska. I read your post because there are commercial flights that fly almost directly North Pole.

Anyways, hope you get help from other Fodorites.

npurpleh2

I've done the arctic circle flight/tour out of Fairbanks and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I did the one that left Fairbanks in the afternoon and came back around midnight but it was summer so it was still light out when we got back to the airstrip. We departed the small airport in Fairbanks and flew over the Brooks Range and Yukon Flats and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. We saw herds of caribou running on snow covered mountains. Moose were visible standing in lakes and ponds. The flight alone was exhilerating. We landed on an airstrip near a small town called Coldfoot which is north of the arctic circle. At this point we were 250 miles from Prudhoe Bay and the Arctic Ocean. It is the last sign of any civilization before Prudhoe Bay. As soon as we landed we spotted more moose hanging out beside the runway. We then were taken by van a few more miles further north to the tiny village area of Coldfoot where there are maybe 11 people or so who lived there full time year round. The company we did the tour with had arranged for us to wander through the village and talk to a couple of the people who live there. That was very interesting. One guy in particular was very open and willing to talk to us about how he and his family live there year round. What we learned from this guy was amazing and not the kind of thing you really hear about during other parts of an Alaska vacation. Just seeing the way they live and make use of everything they get their hands on was interesting and actually made me think they had "lost it" a bit. The mosquitos there were horrific but it was a short period of time and definitely worth it. We did several "big" tours while we were in Alaska (flight around Mt. McKinley, bear viewing trip to Lake Clark, Kenai Fjords boat trip, Arctic Circle trip) and I wouldn't give up any of them if I were doing the trip over again. They were each incredible in their own way for different reasons. The Arctic Cirle trip was the only real reason we went to Fairbanks but it was worth it. In the grand scheme of things, you don't really have to back track that far to do it. You could drive up there after the Denali raft trip. Depending on timing you could do it that afternoon/evening or do it the next day and still get back to Anchorage the evening of the 14th. Don't forget that you will have endless daylight as long as you have endurance to go with it!!

Kristinesonja

npurpleh2

Thanks for your input. I'm re-posting with with the correct heading ARCTIC CIRCLE instead of NORTH POLE, my goof.

BudgetQueen

With your priority for wildlife, you have included the top two picks, Kenai Fjords and Denali Park. Be certain to purchase or borrow a good pair of wide angle binoculars, at least 10 power.

You have a very nice well planned out itinerary. I would suggest you may want to consider the Arctic Circle option on another trip when you have at least 2 nights for Fairbanks.

Mama

July 11: Head North to Talkeetna for a flight seeing tour, lunch at Black Diamond Grill and continue to Healy for overnight.

Are you sure you have this right? Is there another Black Diamond Grill? Somewhere in Talkeetna? Please let me know.
There is Black Diamond Grill and very good one but in Healy north of the entrance to Denali NP at mile 247 on Otto Lake Road.

If you planning to go for lunch to Black Diamond Grill in HEALY then you won't make it for lunch on July 11th

Mama

You are spending four nights in Anchorage, July 6, 7, 10 and 14. I would reconsider this decision and stay 7/10 in Girdwood and 7/14 somewhere near Hatcher Pass, Palmer or even Sheep Mountain Lodge. You have more than enough time to get for your 10 pm flight on 7/15 from anywhere.
Fairbanks is very doable as a day trip from Denali/Healy area.

North Pole is located about 10 miles south of Fairbanks and off Richardson Highway. Send this guy who is driving you nuts with his NP pitch to North Pole