We kind of have an idea of where we want to be, and even have some activites in mind, but aren%26#39;t real sure about the rental car, no rental car, fly-in, train business. This trip will either be in July (party of 3) or September (party of 1)
Day 1--arrive in Anchorage, stay at a B %26amp; B, get a rental car, or fly first to Katmai and not have rental car for first 3 days?
Days 2 %26amp; 3--fly in to Katmai, camping at Brooks. If we have a rental car, what do we do with it?
Days 4 %26amp; 5--fly in to Kenai Fjords?, stay at a B %26amp; B in Seward, pick up rental car. Is there a train to Denali from here? I REALLY want to ride a train SOMEWHERE! If there is, what about the rental car?
Days 5 %26amp; 6--Denali--camping at Riley Creek
Days 7 %26amp; 8--still open--prefer outdoor activities, as opposed to museums, shopping, etc. Looking at Valdez and Chugach areas. Would like to camp in one of those forest service cabins! Otherwise, a B %26amp; B, or maybe splurge at a resort!
Day 9--return to Anchorage and B %26amp; B.
Day 10--return to Phoenix, where it will be hotter than hades! Could even be DOUBLE the temperature in Alaska!
Your suggestions would be welcome! I%26#39;m thinking having the rental car the entire time is just far more convenient, and with a party of 3 the cost would be manageable.
Help with the wrinkles please--
I wouldn%26#39;t get the rental car until you come back from Katmai. Use a taxi to get around that first day. Most flights arrive late anyway. Why pay for a car for 3 days when you%26#39;re going to use it for a couple of hours?
In fact, you don%26#39;t need it the first 4 days. This is what I would suggest, hopefully will give you a few ideas:
Day 4 - train leaves Anchorage 6:45 a.m., arrives Seward 11:05 a.m. Either 11:30 to 5:50 Kenai Fjords half day tour or 11:45 a.m. to 7:15 pm. Majormarine full day tour. Store luggage at tour office. Taxi to B%26amp;B to overnight.
Day 5 - Pick up rental car (BTW, there will be a fair-sized drop-off fee to leave in in Anchorage instead of where you rented it. Plus, it costs more to rent in Seward, where Hertz is the only rental agency. However, you can put the 3 return train tickets plus the 4 days you didn%26#39;t need the rental car toward the cost, and should end up ahead. IMO the convenience alone makes it worth while.)
Visit SeaLife Center, walk to the face of Exit Glacier and/or do part of Harding Icefield hike, maybe Ididaride sled dog tour %26amp; ride or kayaking. Then very scenic drive with lots of stops, to either Eagle River or Wasilla (3 or 3.5 hrs) to overnight.
http://alaska.org/driving/seward-drive.htm
Day 6 - See Iditarod HQ in Wasilla, pick up food %26amp; supplies for Denali, then drive the rest of the way to Denali (4 hrs), maybe stopping at Talkeetna for lunch, flightseeing, a jetboat tour or river raft float. Possible activities at Denali: hike an entrance trail, drive the 14 miles into the park that cars are allowed and hike from there, visitor center displays %26amp; film, ATV, see free Ranger sled dog demo at 10, 2 or 4, whitewater rafting, dinner theatre. Overnight Riley Creek (be sure to reserve both campground %26amp; shuttle as soon as your plans are firm).
Day 7 - shuttle to Wonder Lake (11 hrs). You don%26#39;t have to go all the way, especially if McKinley isn%26#39;t ';out';, decide while you%26#39;re on the bus. You can get off almost anywhere to hike, then catch another shuttle to resume your trip or head back to the entrance. Overnight Riley Creek.
Day 8 - morning in Denali, then drive to scenic Hatcher Pass/Independence mine north of Palmer (5 hrs) to explore and overnight.
Day 9 - Visit Musk Ox Farm in Palmer, then drive 1 hr. east to Matanuska Glacier for 2 pm to 5 pm Ice Fall Trek with MICA to explore crevasses, etc. Drive back to Anchorage (2 hrs) to overnight. If you still feel like doing something, hike/bike part of Tony Knowles Coastal Trail.
Day 10 - Return car early a.m.(so you aren%26#39;t charged an extra day--unless of course, your plane doesn%26#39;t leave until late in the day, then you can use the car to explore Anchorage area). Return to Phoenix, where it will be hotter than hades. Board next flight back to Anchorage. ;-)
Help with the wrinkles please--
A couple of thoughts:
If you go in July, be sure to see if the Brooks campground is still available (www.recreation.gov). Most of the July dates are already sold out. September was pretty open the last I looked.
I suggest you consider Savage River campground vs. Riley Creek - smaller, a bit quieter, a chance to see the Mountain from there/near there vs. no chance near Riley Creek. Also some options for hiking at the Savage River checkpoint which would put you closer to there if you stay at Savage River. And in the evening a nice thing to do is to drive along the park road in that area looking for wildlife.
John
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