Seward vs. Anchorage
 

This is a far from ideal set of circumstances, but we will only have 2 "land" days following a 7 day cruise. We end up in Seward first thing in the morning. We want to take the Alaska Railroad to Anchorage. It only leaves Seward once a day, at 6pm. So, do we spend 2 days in Seward, catch the train to anchorage and fly out first thing the next morning. Or, do we spend a day in Seward, catch the train and spend the second day in Anchorage???

Spend as much time as you can in Seward.

Myself, I would take the cruise ship's transfer into Anchorage, rent a car, and spend the next couple of days exploring the area, including the Seward Highway along Turnagain Arm, where there's a lot more to be seen than you can see from the train.

I, on the other hand, would take the Kenai Fjords tour on the first day, catch the train to Anchorage that evening, and then rent a car and explore the outer area from Anchorage as Gardyloo suggested. This assumes you are traveling in the summer when you will have daylight until late. If you take the train after dark, it's just a train ride.

Here's a second for dwooddon's idea -- it's a nice mix. There are plenty of nice short trips from ANC. Post your interests and we can make some more suggestions.

It will be August 19th, so I'm assuming it will still be light for the train ride!

I agree with dwooddon. We enjoyed the Kenai Fjords (even though we had HORRIBLE weather) and walking around Seward. However, Anchorage is a great place to visit too. I would try to do both.

I do not agree with Gardyloo, bypassing Seward. I suggest you consider a day boat to Kenai Fjords the day you arrive Seward from the cruise. Either 8am - if you can get up early- take a cab directly to Kenai Fjords office- they will store your bags or the 11:30am boat trip with a cab drop off of your bags at the depot then walk to the office. The early boat trip will perhaps allow you a look at Seward? I would leave Seward that first night via rail. It will be light for your arrival in Anchorage. I would suggest as a "bargain" you consider the Days Inn or Ramadas as they have comp shuttles from the depot and to the airport the next am. I would highly suggest again an early am pick up of a rental car for a look around Anchorage or area. Get the visitor guide and decide what you wish to do in your short time. www.anchorage.net You may want to look at an airport location for your last night.

Okay I'll amend my comments - stay in Seward the first day as BQ says, then go into Anc on the train.

I guess my view is that having spent a week on the ship seeing various maritime things, touring the PW Sound country, even the Kenai Fjords, is more of the same. Anchorage on the other hand, offers a glimpse into the human face of Alaska rather than mountains, glaciers and distant critters. And Anchorage and the valleys are a very different environment than the Sound. In a short trip to Alaska I'd recommend people at least get a taste of the variety of the place, even if they can't get to the remote areas or the bush. But I know most people come to Alaska precisely for the natural beauty, so who am I to say they shouldn't get as much of it as they can? But just don't forget that there are some pretty interesting animals in Alaska who happen to wear clothing.

Gardyloo,
The ``interesting animals'' remark brings to mind the old Alaska saying about the advice to women who are seeking men in AK:

``The odds are good, but the goods are odd.'' :)

The day in Anchorage opens up a lot of options. If you were extremely gung-ho, you could drive to Talkeetna and flightsee.

On a less active scale, you could drive to the Eagle River Nature Center and hike. Or, while it's a little bit of backtracking (about 45 miles, but on a wonderfully scenic route), you could take the Alyeska tram.

Or you could hit the city sights, shop a bit and grab a nice dinner at Simon & Seaforts or the Glacier Brewhouse.

I have to agree with Gardyloo's comments about seeing something different. You may want to think about the excursions you've planned for your cruise ports as you plan your land-based activities. I don't know your ship's itinerary, but many people do some type of wildlife cruise in places like Juneau and Sitka. If you are one of them, and if you've had your fill of watching glaciers calve, you might want to skip the Kenai Fjords trip and do something different.

If you enjoy hiking, the hike from Exit glacier to Harding Icefield (outside Seward) is great. Many people also recommend Flattop (outside Anchorage) as a very nice hike. We enjoyed renting bikes in Anchorage and riding the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail.

Wow! Great feedback; thanks for the input. Our ports of call are Ketchikan (where we hope to fish), Juneau, Skagway and Icy Straits. We also plan to do sea kayaking somewhere; probably that Yukon train in Skagway. I am VERY anxious to see a dog kennel - don't necessarily have to ride the sled although that would be great - but I'm a big dog lover. I think that could be done in Seward. If I have not seen a puffin by then, I will be heartbroken and I read sighting them in Kenai is highly likely, but I'm the only birder in the family. So, we'll try to catch that 6pm train to Anchorage the day we arrive in Seward. I'd love to do a floatplane somewhere, but will admit the cost for a family of four is a little offputting. Thanks so much for all the great advice!!

Mitch Seavey is an Iditarod racer from Seward. There used to be tours available of his kennel.

You will see all the puffins you want on a Kenai Fjords trips.

Rust has been around forever as a floatplane operation out of Anchorage's Lake Hood, perhaps they have a package deal.

http://www.flyrusts.com/alaska-flightseeing.htm

I would stay in Seward the first day and then go into Anchorage on the train. So many things too see and places to visit around Anchorage but I would rent a car if only for a day.

Mitch Seavey won Iditarod in 2004. His tours are great and he likes to talk about his experiences and show off his dogs

Seavey's (distant relative BTW) visitors' website is http://www.ididaride.com/

Thank you! Will definitely look into visiting Mitch's dogs! I was excited to find out Anchorage has a Saturday market - that's perfect for my teens. Possibly a bike ride on the Tony Knowles coastal trail - maybe white water rafting on Eagle River. Although, I think the point is well made that we might do well to just focus on Anchorage that one day instead of venturing out from it.

Frankly the wildlife tours of the inside passage are no comparism to Kenai Fjords which offers varied wildlife and the only likely puffin sighting. So I would suggest you be well organized, see if you can visit Seavey's kennels in the am and consider the Kenai Fjords boat tour at 11:30am. As I suggest- request the Anchorage visitor guide and make your plans. Plenty to see and do.

peggi: you should explore the Iditarod website and the one sponsored by Cabela. The daily reports are fascinating and you will learn a lot about sled dogs and human interest stories. The race is in March. You can probably read the mushers' biographies soon if they aren't up already.
The puffins and all the other birds seen on the Kenai Fjords trip are wonderful. You will get very close to the colonies. When we took the ferry I saw two orcas very close to the boat but on the Seward cruise, we saw a whole family and they kept diving in unison. The ferry is small but the Kenai Fjords boat even smaller. We were also close enough to get a whiff of whale breath from a humpback.
Hope you have a great trip. The whole family ought to have a wonderful time.