Planning to take the train from Seward to Anchorage on Sunday September 1st. Do I need to buy a ticket way in advance or can you just buy one there the day before? Do these trains get sold out?

Lisa, Just came back from an Alaskan cruise, and we had a choice of bus or train to Anchorage, so chose the train. It was a wonderful trip.

You can book online at the website, www.akkr.com, or call 1-800-544-0552 to inquire further. The train leaves Seward at 6 p.m., I believe.

I just booked the train ride from Seward to Anchorage. What side of the train had the best view?

I think the right side has a better view. But you can always get up and take a look at the other side. The seats allow it.

Thanks! I talked with Alaskan Railroad and the lady put us on the left side. Maybe I should call and have that changed.

Left side going from Seward to Anchorage, right side from Anchorage to Seward (to be able to see Mt. McKinley throughout the trip). But, you will walk around, and there are several dome cars that you will want to sit in during the trip.Don't leave Seward without doing Kenai Peninsula whale watching. Fantastic.

Thanks! We're going to be staying in Seward for a few days prior to our return trip to Anchorage. Any ideas on which company to take the kenai tours with?

Tara
Sorry, I read too fast. The mountain comes after Anchorage. Still the scenery is best from the sides mentioned.

I'll try to find the name of the Kenai tour company.

We're going to be staying in Denali for a few days also, so I'm sure we'll get a good glimpse of Mt. McKinley from there.

From Denali, you can only see the 2 peaks peaks sticking up.
On the way from Anchorage to Denali, you get wonderful views all the way.

Kenai Fjords Tours did an excellent six hour tour by boat, but I've heard that Major Marine is also excellent.

We took the 8 hour Kenai Fjords Tour and loved it. We stopped on Fox Island for a salmon buffet.

Next time I would take the 9.5 hour tour just because it goes to another area that has several more glaciers.

These glaciers don't calve like you might think. They pretty much just have small pieces break off. You see more wildlife (whales, sea lions, etc) than you do in Prince William Sound but in PWS you see more of the large calving. You can do a PWS boat tour with Phillips 26 Glacier Tour out of Whittier. You can drive or take the train to Whittier and it is only 12 miles off the Seward Hwy, partly through a tunnel.