Suggestions for 4 weeks Alaska & BC
Jul 20th, 2011, 05:18 PM
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Suggestions for 4 weeks Alaska & BC
We are 2 Aussie couples planning, or trying to plan, 4 weeks (Late April into May)mostly self drive with just a couple of short cruises planned. Drivng distances is no big problem as we have travelled around Australia a couple of times.Alaska is quite a different kettle of fish though as there are not as many roads to choose from as well as a completely different climate.We anticipate a few plane legs in the itinerary to get us around as well..We don't mind roughing it if we have to and couple of days flying in to the wilderness to a cabin on a lake is a must.Any good suggestions where is best to experience this??
Our main concern is :Will there still be snow around at that time and are most places open for business & cruises operating(like Kenai Fjiords).Also is there a big problem crossing the border into Canada with a rental car?
Have bought The Milepost.A great book & a big help planning distances.
Thanks in advance for any advice...
Our main concern is :Will there still be snow around at that time and are most places open for business & cruises operating(like Kenai Fjiords).Also is there a big problem crossing the border into Canada with a rental car?
Have bought The Milepost.A great book & a big help planning distances.
Thanks in advance for any advice...
Jul 20th, 2011, 06:37 PM
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You can see a lot of Alaska in four weeks with a car and the ferry system. The Milepost will prove very helpful. Everything should be open in April and May. We drove our own car across the Canadian border, so I can't tell you about rentals, but the rental agency should be able to give you that information. There is lots of good information on the forum about Alaska. Use the search box at the top of this page for archived Alaska posts. Have a great trip! Saige
Jul 20th, 2011, 07:01 PM
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lozindy,
We've been to Alaska twice for two weeks each time. You will be amazed how beautiful it is. I remember planning our first trip. I sent for tourist info and when it arrived I opened the map to check out the road system. I immediately called the tourist office and told them there had been a mistake, I had requested a map that had ALL the roads on it. "Those are ALL the roads honey", was the reply from the patient operator.
Alaska has a very short tourist season, but late April/May should be okay, although there probably will still be snow on the ground in places.
I really needed to learn a few more adjectives after our last trip as beautiful just didn't suffice by the end of our trip. You will love it.
Michele
We've been to Alaska twice for two weeks each time. You will be amazed how beautiful it is. I remember planning our first trip. I sent for tourist info and when it arrived I opened the map to check out the road system. I immediately called the tourist office and told them there had been a mistake, I had requested a map that had ALL the roads on it. "Those are ALL the roads honey", was the reply from the patient operator.
Alaska has a very short tourist season, but late April/May should be okay, although there probably will still be snow on the ground in places.
I really needed to learn a few more adjectives after our last trip as beautiful just didn't suffice by the end of our trip. You will love it.
Michele
Jul 20th, 2011, 07:41 PM
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Have you considered teh Alaska Marine highway for some of the coastal trip? The ferrys are very affordable and you can hop on/off with car at each location.
Have a look at this site (there are lots of maps to look at too) & see what you think...
http://www.dot.state.ak.us/amhs/schedule_pdf.shtml
This Alaska site is great
http://www.travelalaska.com/
And for "fly in Lodges" Tripadvisor might be helpful: I have heard from the fishermen in my family, Rivers Edge Lodge (Fairbanks) is good.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g2...oard.Info.html
Have a look at this site (there are lots of maps to look at too) & see what you think...
http://www.dot.state.ak.us/amhs/schedule_pdf.shtml
This Alaska site is great
http://www.travelalaska.com/
And for "fly in Lodges" Tripadvisor might be helpful: I have heard from the fishermen in my family, Rivers Edge Lodge (Fairbanks) is good.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g2...oard.Info.html
Jul 21st, 2011, 08:41 AM
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We took a trip to Alaska in the mid-late May a few years ago, and some things were not open yet.
Denali was still open to cars rather than just buses, but the road was only plowed for the first maybe 30 miles, so we were limited there. It was too early for the Kenai Fjords National Park - Exit Glacier road was still closed to cars, etc. Here's a link for Kenai: http://www.nps.gov/kefj/planyourvisit/hours.htm For day cruises, here is a link also, with dates: http://www.kenaifjords.com/kenai-daycruises.html
It was surprising how quickly things "greened up" - bare trees as we left Anchorage for Denali, and 2 days later all the trees were green and leafy. We were told by locals that things would really get going the week after we left - Memorial Day weekend.
Denali was still open to cars rather than just buses, but the road was only plowed for the first maybe 30 miles, so we were limited there. It was too early for the Kenai Fjords National Park - Exit Glacier road was still closed to cars, etc. Here's a link for Kenai: http://www.nps.gov/kefj/planyourvisit/hours.htm For day cruises, here is a link also, with dates: http://www.kenaifjords.com/kenai-daycruises.html
It was surprising how quickly things "greened up" - bare trees as we left Anchorage for Denali, and 2 days later all the trees were green and leafy. We were told by locals that things would really get going the week after we left - Memorial Day weekend.
Jul 21st, 2011, 10:14 AM
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I have not visited Alaska but as I research, I am seeing that a lot of places don't even open until May 15th. April seems really early to visit. If interested in hiking, I would imagine the trails, if not snowy, would be really muddy.
There are some very good discounts on the first cruises that leave for Alaska. The one way cruises from Vancouver, Canada to Anchorage are always highly rated.
There are some very good discounts on the first cruises that leave for Alaska. The one way cruises from Vancouver, Canada to Anchorage are always highly rated.
Jul 21st, 2011, 11:31 AM
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Linda, we took the Anchorage (Seward) to Vancouver one-way and loved it. I just looked up the dates, and we left Seward on May 15 - I think that might have been the first southbound cruise leaving. We flew into Anchorage, spent a couple of days at Denali,then took the train from Anchorage to Seward. It snowed on us in Denali. The ponds and lakes were still mostly frozen, the rivers had chunks of ice. Seward was SO cold, with the wind coming off the nearby glacier, and a little slushy, as I recall. We started out the cruise bundled up whenever we were outside. The last night as we approached Vancouver, we sat out in sleeveless tops. Quite a difference!
Jul 21st, 2011, 01:53 PM
#9
At the risk of bluntness, I think you need to go back to the drawing board.
Late April to mid-May is just too early for the kind of trip you have planned. There will be snow on the ground here and there (and in some places, here, there and there) and where it's gone there will be mud, potholes, and - a little - spring green in its place.
Now you might get lucky and prove me a liar. Some years spring comes very early. But other years... well, I've seen it snow in Anchorage in June, so...
But you won't be able to get into the interior of Denali Park, there might be some, but not extensive trips around the Kenai Fjords at that time. Flying into lakes will most likely be out of the question, but again... who knows.
Taking a (Canadian) rental car into Alaska ought to be okay, but you will need to take that up with the car hire company. Many, I suspect, will flat out refuse to have their cars taken up the Alcan, or else will make you pay some huge deposit against damage.
I would also not under-estimate how boring the drive will be. Long distances on mediocre roads, with spring potholes or frost heaves; the Alcan is fairly scenic along Kluane Lake in the Yukon; otherwise (just IMO) it's far from world-class in terms of scenery.
So anyway, my question is, how negotiable is your timeframe? Put everything back a month or six weeks and you're good to go; otherwise I'd be looking at Plan B.
Just my opinion, of course; others may disagree.
Late April to mid-May is just too early for the kind of trip you have planned. There will be snow on the ground here and there (and in some places, here, there and there) and where it's gone there will be mud, potholes, and - a little - spring green in its place.
Now you might get lucky and prove me a liar. Some years spring comes very early. But other years... well, I've seen it snow in Anchorage in June, so...
But you won't be able to get into the interior of Denali Park, there might be some, but not extensive trips around the Kenai Fjords at that time. Flying into lakes will most likely be out of the question, but again... who knows.
Taking a (Canadian) rental car into Alaska ought to be okay, but you will need to take that up with the car hire company. Many, I suspect, will flat out refuse to have their cars taken up the Alcan, or else will make you pay some huge deposit against damage.
I would also not under-estimate how boring the drive will be. Long distances on mediocre roads, with spring potholes or frost heaves; the Alcan is fairly scenic along Kluane Lake in the Yukon; otherwise (just IMO) it's far from world-class in terms of scenery.
So anyway, my question is, how negotiable is your timeframe? Put everything back a month or six weeks and you're good to go; otherwise I'd be looking at Plan B.
Just my opinion, of course; others may disagree.
Jul 21st, 2011, 03:48 PM
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Great response Gardyloo & if at all possible would change time as you suggested but one couple are commited to April/May as he is a paramedic & holiday is locked in.I guess we will be in for whatever nature thows at us & take our chances.
Because we are not going with a tour company,we will be able to chop & change our itinerary as we go.Our main objective of this trip is to engulf ourselves in what Alaska is all about and savour the best of what we are able to see & do.
Thanks all for your thoughts.
Because we are not going with a tour company,we will be able to chop & change our itinerary as we go.Our main objective of this trip is to engulf ourselves in what Alaska is all about and savour the best of what we are able to see & do.
Thanks all for your thoughts.
Jul 21st, 2011, 06:45 PM
#13
Because we are not going with a tour company,we will be able to chop & change our itinerary as we go.Our main objective of this trip is to engulf ourselves in what Alaska is all about and savour the best of what we are able to see & do.
Okay, then. I certainly understand.
That said, then let me make some non-binding suggestions that might help make the most out of your time.
1. Don't drive the Alcan highway. As I suggested, IMO it's not all that great a drive, but it is a time suck, and an expensive one counting car hire (both ways) plus fuel, accommodations, repairs (a strong possibility) and all that. Instead, take the Alaska ferry from Bellingham, just south of the US border in Washington, up to Juneau. The trip is gorgeous, even if the weather is not - misty forests and islands, eagles, Orcas, snowy mountains through the clouds. Very peaceful. Spend a couple of days in Juneau - it's historic and scenic.
2. From Juneau, take the ferry (or one of several private boats) into Glacier Bay. There ought to be some excellent iceberg viewing, maybe some glaciers calving, and you'll be there ahead of the cruise season.
3. Fly from Juneau to Anchorage. Take the Alaska Airlines "milk run" that stops in Yakutat and Cordova. Even by just flying into these towns, you'll get a sense of what some smaller communities look like.
4. Then rent a car in Anchorage and do the road bit. Travel to Homer via Seward (go into Kenai Fjords if someone's operating then) and stop at Exit Glacier for a glacier walk if the trail's open.
5. Take the car ferry from Whittier across Prince William Sound over to Valdez, then drive back to Anchorage via the Richardson and Glenn Highways. Or, if you want, head up to Fairbanks from Valdez, then back to Anchorage on the Parks Highway, past Denali Park. Go into the park as far as you can - you might get lucky and see the mountain, maybe some early animals.
6. Ask around the floatplane operators at Lake Hood in Anchorage (ask at Rust's first) if they have any fly-in cabins available on the Kenai Moose Range, or some other area where the ice is out. (These are cabins or tent/cabins that sit on lakes in the boondocks - they fly you out on a floatplane, drop you off and agree to come back a couple of days later to pick you up. In the meantime it's just you, the beasts and birds, and whatever trout in the lakes are interested in ending it all.) Again, probably too early for this, but asking is free.
7. Or, take the same amount of dollars, and hop a flight to a native community up in the north - Kotzebue is my fave, or Barrow, or even Nome - just so you can see what Alaska is like off the road system. By around the first of May the daylight in the arctic will be getting quite long, but the ice will still be in, so a visit to Kotzebue (above the Arctic circle, on the Arctic Ocean) will allow you to walk a bit on the ocean. Very, very interesting places.
Anyway, I think you'd come back with a much better view of the variety of landscapes and cultures that make up Alaska.
But keep at it - happy planning!
Okay, then. I certainly understand.
That said, then let me make some non-binding suggestions that might help make the most out of your time.
1. Don't drive the Alcan highway. As I suggested, IMO it's not all that great a drive, but it is a time suck, and an expensive one counting car hire (both ways) plus fuel, accommodations, repairs (a strong possibility) and all that. Instead, take the Alaska ferry from Bellingham, just south of the US border in Washington, up to Juneau. The trip is gorgeous, even if the weather is not - misty forests and islands, eagles, Orcas, snowy mountains through the clouds. Very peaceful. Spend a couple of days in Juneau - it's historic and scenic.
2. From Juneau, take the ferry (or one of several private boats) into Glacier Bay. There ought to be some excellent iceberg viewing, maybe some glaciers calving, and you'll be there ahead of the cruise season.
3. Fly from Juneau to Anchorage. Take the Alaska Airlines "milk run" that stops in Yakutat and Cordova. Even by just flying into these towns, you'll get a sense of what some smaller communities look like.
4. Then rent a car in Anchorage and do the road bit. Travel to Homer via Seward (go into Kenai Fjords if someone's operating then) and stop at Exit Glacier for a glacier walk if the trail's open.
5. Take the car ferry from Whittier across Prince William Sound over to Valdez, then drive back to Anchorage via the Richardson and Glenn Highways. Or, if you want, head up to Fairbanks from Valdez, then back to Anchorage on the Parks Highway, past Denali Park. Go into the park as far as you can - you might get lucky and see the mountain, maybe some early animals.
6. Ask around the floatplane operators at Lake Hood in Anchorage (ask at Rust's first) if they have any fly-in cabins available on the Kenai Moose Range, or some other area where the ice is out. (These are cabins or tent/cabins that sit on lakes in the boondocks - they fly you out on a floatplane, drop you off and agree to come back a couple of days later to pick you up. In the meantime it's just you, the beasts and birds, and whatever trout in the lakes are interested in ending it all.) Again, probably too early for this, but asking is free.
7. Or, take the same amount of dollars, and hop a flight to a native community up in the north - Kotzebue is my fave, or Barrow, or even Nome - just so you can see what Alaska is like off the road system. By around the first of May the daylight in the arctic will be getting quite long, but the ice will still be in, so a visit to Kotzebue (above the Arctic circle, on the Arctic Ocean) will allow you to walk a bit on the ocean. Very, very interesting places.
Anyway, I think you'd come back with a much better view of the variety of landscapes and cultures that make up Alaska.
But keep at it - happy planning!
Oct 25th, 2011, 05:49 PM
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After lots of hours days&weeks planning our 4 weeks in Alaska & BC,we are finally down to our itinerary.We would have liked more time in some places but will be happy to see as much as we can fit in..
Arrive in Vancouver for 3 nights(Recover from jetlag & do some exploring)
On the 4th day we transfer from hotel to Rocky Mountaineer Train.Overnight at Kamloops then next day Banff.Overnight in Banff and next day pick up rental car and drive to Calgary.Overnight in Calgary.
Next day we fly out of Calgary to Fairbanks via Seattle.
Booked in for 2 nights Fairbanks.
Taking a flight with Arctic Air Adventures(weather permitting)for a flight over the Arctic Circle landing at a wilderness community where we will be given talks on Innuit culture and a meal of local fare. Back to Fairbanks and pick up our rental car for 10 days..
Drive to Anchorage with a day in Denali.
Overnight in Anchorage then drive to Kenai and stay overnight here.
From Kenai we drive back to Seward for an overnight stay and our booked tour of Resurrection Bay.
Leaving Seward we head for Palmer & stay o/night before heading for Tok.Booked in o/night here.
Next morning we cross the borderand drive down to Whitehorse.(had to skip Dawson City unfortunately)
Overnight in Whitehorse.
Drive to Skagway & stay overnight
Next day we are booked on Whitepass Summit Excursion .
We drop off our rental car here in Skagway(arrangements made for 5pm check in)
Leave Skagway on Alaska Marine Highway System and arrive at Juneau where we o/night
Next day we're back on the ferry for Ketchikan where will will have 5 hours to explore before getting back on ferry and head for Prince Rupert.
Flight is booked out of Prince Rupert for Vancouver where we pick up another rental car.
Taking the ferry we arrive in Naniamo and drive up to Campbell
River where we are booked in for the night.
From Campbell River it's off to Torfino for an overnight stay.
From Torfino we take the ferry back to Vancouver,drop off the car,head for the airport and wait for our flight that leaves at 11.40 that night!!!!
Phew!!!All that in 4 weeks...Can't wait...
Arrive in Vancouver for 3 nights(Recover from jetlag & do some exploring)
On the 4th day we transfer from hotel to Rocky Mountaineer Train.Overnight at Kamloops then next day Banff.Overnight in Banff and next day pick up rental car and drive to Calgary.Overnight in Calgary.
Next day we fly out of Calgary to Fairbanks via Seattle.
Booked in for 2 nights Fairbanks.
Taking a flight with Arctic Air Adventures(weather permitting)for a flight over the Arctic Circle landing at a wilderness community where we will be given talks on Innuit culture and a meal of local fare. Back to Fairbanks and pick up our rental car for 10 days..
Drive to Anchorage with a day in Denali.
Overnight in Anchorage then drive to Kenai and stay overnight here.
From Kenai we drive back to Seward for an overnight stay and our booked tour of Resurrection Bay.
Leaving Seward we head for Palmer & stay o/night before heading for Tok.Booked in o/night here.
Next morning we cross the borderand drive down to Whitehorse.(had to skip Dawson City unfortunately)
Overnight in Whitehorse.
Drive to Skagway & stay overnight
Next day we are booked on Whitepass Summit Excursion .
We drop off our rental car here in Skagway(arrangements made for 5pm check in)
Leave Skagway on Alaska Marine Highway System and arrive at Juneau where we o/night
Next day we're back on the ferry for Ketchikan where will will have 5 hours to explore before getting back on ferry and head for Prince Rupert.
Flight is booked out of Prince Rupert for Vancouver where we pick up another rental car.
Taking the ferry we arrive in Naniamo and drive up to Campbell
River where we are booked in for the night.
From Campbell River it's off to Torfino for an overnight stay.
From Torfino we take the ferry back to Vancouver,drop off the car,head for the airport and wait for our flight that leaves at 11.40 that night!!!!
Phew!!!All that in 4 weeks...Can't wait...
Oct 28th, 2011, 10:52 AM
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Good suggestions. I have gone twice in late April / early May. We camped the whole trip the first time, Seward, Homer, Denali,Valdez. Great time of year to go - very few tourists out but many animals everywhere. You still get the long days and it is plenty warm. The second time I left Denver in a snow storm only to arrive in Anchorage at 75 degrees, ended up in Juneau in one of those rare moments when it wasn't raining. Have fun.
Oct 28th, 2011, 01:07 PM
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Don't forget to take your binoculars and look up to see the eagles in the treetops and the sheep and goats on the rocky slopes. Wish I were going back, Alaska is incredibly beautiful!
Have a wonderful trip!
Saige
Have a wonderful trip!
Saige
Nov 9th, 2011, 01:16 PM
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Lozindy
Your post sounded like music to my Aussie ears. We are thinking of doing much the same at much the same time. Given the other poster's comments, I can now put back the trip to May, rather than leaving in late April.
Would love to hear how you rearched the trip. I have done some, but that was a few years ago and would love to cut some corners on the hard yard.
May I contact you?
Your post sounded like music to my Aussie ears. We are thinking of doing much the same at much the same time. Given the other poster's comments, I can now put back the trip to May, rather than leaving in late April.
Would love to hear how you rearched the trip. I have done some, but that was a few years ago and would love to cut some corners on the hard yard.
May I contact you?
Nov 9th, 2011, 04:32 PM
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I am very much looking forward to this trip report. The weather at this time of year, of course, will be unpredictable. And comfort level depends on the individual. A few years ago when a small group of friends vacationed in late May in Alaska, we bundled up. We were snowed on in Denali, and since we live in Florida we felt that it was generally pretty cold. But in Ketchikan, all the locals were out in shorts - clear but 40's (fahrenheit).
This does sound like fun. Love Vancouver, too.
This does sound like fun. Love Vancouver, too.
Nov 19th, 2011, 03:07 PM
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Hi Rasputin1
With only 5 short months to go and after 18 months planning we finally have our itinerary locked in.
We began with reading blogs from other Fodorites and taking bits of information that were relevent to our plans.Our next plan of attack was sending away to the Tourist Bureau/National Parks and brochures from all the towns,cities,ferry companies that were offered in both Alaska & Canada.Response was fantastic.
It was a very big task and time consuming trying to tie in everything on our to do/see list so the best thing we did was enlist the help of a really great guy at the Travel Agency.He was amazing and as you can see by the previous post he did a fabulous job...These are the best tips I can offer at this stage..Just lots of reading and finding a gem of a travel agent!!
With only 5 short months to go and after 18 months planning we finally have our itinerary locked in.
We began with reading blogs from other Fodorites and taking bits of information that were relevent to our plans.Our next plan of attack was sending away to the Tourist Bureau/National Parks and brochures from all the towns,cities,ferry companies that were offered in both Alaska & Canada.Response was fantastic.
It was a very big task and time consuming trying to tie in everything on our to do/see list so the best thing we did was enlist the help of a really great guy at the Travel Agency.He was amazing and as you can see by the previous post he did a fabulous job...These are the best tips I can offer at this stage..Just lots of reading and finding a gem of a travel agent!!
