Thanks to Manitoba Maple, I%26#39;m now all excited about seeing the bore tides at Turnagain Arm (either at Beluga Point or Bird Point) probably on our way down from Anchorage to Seward on July 21.
The 21st was tentatively the day I was going to take the kiddo to the Sea Life Center in Seward (we%26#39;re doing fishing and a cruise the next 2 days in Seward). According to my reading of Manitoba Maple%26#39;s tide charts, low tide in Anchorage is at 2:16 p.m., which would mean RUSHING to Seward (and probably not stopping at Portage glacier).
Is the Sea Life Center worth it? Or can I maybe squeeze it in the morning before travelling up the Talkeetna.
Thanks!
Alaska Sea Life Center and bore tides
The low tide that day is very low (-3.4) so all things equal, it should be a good day for the bore tide.
But being that late in the day, why don%26#39;t you go to Portage Glacier first and come back to the Arm for the tide? It is not that far. Note that last May I was there for a negative tide in the afternoon and saw nothing. So there are more factors than just the tide.
And yes, you can visit the Sealife Center before driving to Talkeetna. It is probably only a 5-6 hour drive or so from Seward to Talkeetna. But remember to stop in Anchorage or Wasilla for gas and groceries if you are then heading to Denali after Talkeetna. We are planning a similar schedule for next June. Anchorage to Seward (no good negative tide for us the day we will be there), then Seward to Talkeetna 2 days later. We only need to get to Talkeetna for a 7pm flightseeing tour.
John
Alaska Sea Life Center and bore tides
I would vote for the Sea Life center over watching the bore tide anyday. :)
Yes, the Sea Life center is far better than just the Bore Tide! Catch the tide if you can, but don%26#39;t ruin other good plans to do it.
Portage Glacier Visitor Center is a great place to enjoy yourself and to take kids. It is perhaps an 8 mile detour from the main highway, and well worth it in good weather, and worth it in bad weather if you are a glacier and nature enthusiast. Also catch the Animal Rescue Center near Portage right on the main highway. The 2PM tour time can be great - the grizzly came out for the group and gave us a great show.
Check the weather forecast to see if you can get the winds on the Turnagain Arm. If the winds are out of the north it may help make the tide more spectacular, if the winds are out of the south they will minimize it. We caught a very low tide this year with a good south wind and it pretty well ... reduced the show to a ho-hum experience compared to what it can be.
71
Sealife Center is not to be missed, especially with children. Don%26#39;t stress about missing Portage on your way. While in Seward you can visit Exit Glacier, you can walk right up to it. You also mentioned that you were planning on a couple of cruises so you%26#39;ll probably get your chance to see glaciers there as well, maybe just not as close.
I also recommend investing in a Toursaver or Northern Lights Coupon Book. I prefer the NL book over the Toursaver b/c of the cost. It is half of cost of the Toursaver with a lot of great deals. But some get both. I know that the NL book has coupons for buy one get one free admissions as well as ';backstage'; tours to the Sealife Center. There are also buy one get one free coupons for crusies and fishing charters which can save you a bundle!! Here is a link to the Northern Lights Coupon Book if you want to know more about it:
http://www.alaska-discounts.com/Producers.htm
Good luck!
%26gt;%26gt;I also recommend investing in a Toursaver or Northern Lights Coupon Book.
You really have to look closely at both websites and see which coupons would save you the most money. They do not have the same coupons. For some, the Northern Lights works out better (like for me last year). For others, the Toursaver, even though $50 more in cost, works out better (like for me next year).
John
Here%26#39;s another vote for the Sealife Center and AWCC( big game farm) The bore tide has never been very exciting for me. Please don%26#39;t rush driving...the road can have lots of traffic. Enjoy the scenery!
LOL, I%26#39;m with LadyMac. The only place in North America that a better tide change can be seen is Bay of Fundy, and I%26#39;ve never been that far east. If I ever get near there, you BET that is something I intend to see!
Easy (in fact, IMO even better) to schedule SeaLife for the day you drive to Talkeetna. Be there when it opens (probably 9 a.m., though that could change--in 2006 it opened at 8 a.m) and take your time viewing everything. I%26#39;ve spent half an hour just watching those silly Puffins alone! Print out a map (on the website) so you will be familiar with what to expect.
And no, a great bore tide isn%26#39;t guaranteed. When I was at Beluga Pt. several years ago, there was no bore at all, but I enjoyed just sitting there watching the water level creep noticeably forward and up the rocks. Not long after that several belugas appeared, the only time I%26#39;ve seen them, chasing the salmon in.
Portage Glacier visitor center is definitely worth seeing, and if you allow your whole day just to get to Seward, you can see that too. You might walk to Byron Glacier (1 hr. roundtrip from Portage Glacier parking lot) to actually walk on a glacier. And of course visit the Wildlife Conservation Center. It%26#39;s open until 8 pm.
No need to rush to either Seward or Talkeetna, and you%26#39;ll hopefully get to see everything you want to. :-)
Hi LadyMacEsq
I would recommend that you head down to Seward on the 21st, see the Alaska SeaLife Center and Exit Glacier (somewhat more spectacular than Portage Glacier) and when you head up to Talkeetna a few days later, you could stop at the Conservation Center on the way (near Portage) and still get a good chance at an even bigger bore tide that evening if you%26#39;re prepared to arrive in Talkeetna later.
Late July is when the Belugas start chasing salmon up to 20 Mile River. They can only come in after the tide has come in so they will be around later than the tide itself.
If the Anchorage high tide is at 2:16pm, the bore tide would get to Bird Point 2 hours and 30 minutes later, so if you are going to look for the bore tide on the 21st, figure on around 4:45pm.
For us locals - the best indication of a good bore tide is if there are a LOT of cars parked on the pullouts - then it is probably a good time to be looking for a bore tide!
J
LadyMacEsq
Something else you might be interested in on 7/21 is the Ice Worm Hike at Begich Boggs Visitor Center on your way to Seward. It is at 3 p.m. on Tuesdays (the 21st) and Saturdays. Here is the visitor center link. On the left is their ranger led hikes.
fs.fed.us/r10/…bbvc.htm
Could someone explain bore tide/negative tide? Is this something to want to view?
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