itinerary for vaca Aug 21- Sep 3

I am planning a trip to Alaska this year. 12 travel days open. Flying into Anchorage and renting a car. Then to Talkeetna, Denali and Fairbanks. Thinking of going to Copper Center from Fairbanks and across the Glenn Highway to the Kenai Peninsula and back to Anchorage to fly home. I want to kayak, take a glacier, flightsee and go deep into Denali. Is this enough time ?? Should I skip the Fairbanks to Copper Center portion?? Is there something I should be sure to see/do ?? I appreciate all input.

itinerary for vaca Aug 21- Sep 3

Welcome to TA.

I am doing a 15 day trip in June very similar to what you are doing. I am actually also including Seward and Valdez. Honestly, I am moving more than I normally do in Alaska but I have my nephew with me and really want him to see as much as possible since I know he won%26#39;t be back to Alaska for a long time.

I say that so that you can see that you can definitely do all of that. But it will be moving quickly and not leave much time.

Here is a rough itinerary to give you an idea:

Aug 21 arrive Anchorage

Aug 22 shop for Denali, to Talkeetna, flightsee, continue to Denali (Healy?).

Aug 23 all-day shuttle bus to Wonder Lake, get off on the return to do some light hiking

Aug 24 Denali entrance activities - visitor center, sleddog demo, etc. then drive to Fairbanks

Aug 25 Riverboat Discovery and/or Gold Dredge, UAF Museum

Aug 26 to Valdez with stops en route (Copper Center, Rika Roadhouse, Worthington Glacier)

Aug 27 PWS tour (Stan Stephens or Lulu Belle)

Aug 28 There are two ferries this day from Valdez to Whittier, one arriving 1.45pm, one arriving 3pm. The 3pm arrival takes 1/2 the time (fast ferry). Continue to Seward. Figure $200+ for the ferry for you and the rental car.

Aug 29 kayak tour in Seward

Aug 30 Kenai Fjords NP boat tour in Seward

This leave Aug 31, Sep 1 and Sep 2 left. You could head to Homer or you could add more days to the above itinerary. If it were me, I might add an extra night in Denali and maybe consider a night in Wrangell/St. Elias NP (on your way from Fairbanks to Valdez.

When do you fly out on Sep 3rd? If a red eye, that gives you an extra day. If in the morning, that means you definitely need to be back in Anchorage on Sep 2nd.

If you don%26#39;t already have your rental car booked, book it NOW. You can always cancel but car rental rates for Anchorage keep going up and up. Since you are arriving on a Friday, you might consider picking up your car Sat morning in town to avoid the hefty airport surcharges. But compare the cost of both options.

John

itinerary for vaca Aug 21- Sep 3

Nice itinerary from John, as always. But here%26#39;s another alternative:

Aug. 21 鈥?arrive Anch. If time, light sightseeing. Keep in mind you have a 4 hr. timezone difference to get used to. Overnight Anch.

Aug. 22 鈥?drive to Matanuska Glacier (2 hrs) for 2 pm to 5 pm Ice Fall Trek with MICA, stopping in Palmer to see Musk Ox Farm along the way. Overnight near Matanuska Glacier

Aug. 23 鈥?Drive to Copper Center (2 hrs) to see the Wrangell-St. Elias visitor center displays %26amp; film, do the short interpretive hike for a great view of Mt. Drum (nps.gov/wrst/planyourvisit/wrangell-st-elias鈥?/a>). Then an incredibly scenic 2 hr drive to Valdez http://www.alaskagold.com/valdez/roads.html, with stops along the way including Worthington Glacier. In Valdez, see Museum, hike, or watch the films about the Pipeline and 1964 Earthquake at Sugar %26amp; Spice Store. Overnight Valdez.

Aug. 24 - full day kayaking amongst the icebergs of Columbia glacier plus wildlife cruise (http://www.alaskasummer.com/pages/kayak-columbia-glacier.html . Overnight Valdez.

Aug. 25 鈥?long drive to Fairbanks. (6- 7 hrs). Scenic stops along the way, plus Rika%26#39;s Roadhouse. If time, drive a few miles of Denali Hwy near Paxson (the first several miles are paved, so okay to take a rental car on that part). Maybe stop in at Santa Claus House in North Pole (open to 8 pm) and mail postcards which will be postmarked North Pole. I got some really cute ornaments there for friends back home. In Fairbanks, see U. of A. Museum of the North (open until 9 pm). Overnight Fairbanks.

Aug. 26 鈥?8:45 a.m. to 12:15 pm, Riverboat Discovery. Then drive out to Chena Hot Springs for the afternoon (or as long as you like). Drive back to Fairbanks to overnight. If you have time, either Pioneer Park, Ice Museum, or Ester Gold Camp (if it鈥檚 open this year).

Aug. 27 鈥?9:30 a.m., tour of Gold Dredge No. 8 (includes a bit of goldpanning). Then drive to Denali (2.5 hrs). Possible activities: visitor center displays %26amp; film, the free Ranger sled dog demo at 10, 2 or 4 (free bus leaves 陆 hr before demo), whitewater rafting, hike an entrance trail, drive the 14 miles into the park that cars are allowed and hike from there, dinner theatre. Overnight Healy.

Aug. 28 鈥?shuttle to Wonder Lake (11 hrs). On the return portion, get off somewhere to hike or even just walk along the road. Overnight Healy.

Aug. 29 鈥?morning in Denali. Drive on to Talkeetna (3 hrs) for afternoon/early evening flightseeing. Overnight Talkeetna.

Aug. 30 鈥?this morning is back-up in case flightseeing cancelled yesterday; otherwise, maybe wildlife raft float or jetboat tour or SunDog sled dog tour. Drive on to Palmer area to see State Fair (maybe a 100 lb. cabbage??) Then drive a few miles north to scenic Hatcher Pass/Independence Mine, either overnight there or in Palmer.

Aug. 31 鈥?scenic drive to Seward (3.5 hrs) with lots of stops, such as Beluga Pt., Windy Pt., Wildlife Conservation Center: http://alaska.org/driving/seward-drive.htm. In Seward, walk to the face of Exit Glacier (1 to 2 hrs. depending which trail you take). Overnight Seward.

Sept. 1 鈥?8 a.m. to 2 pm: Kenai Fjords tour. SeaLife Center. 6 pm to 9 pm: kayaking with Sunny Cove. Overnight Seward.

Sept. 2 鈥?drive to Whittier (2 hrs) to arrive for the 11:30 Tunnel opening (it鈥檚 open only 15 min. per hour either direction). Afternoon glacier cruise. Drive back to Anchorage (1 hr. after you get through the Tunnel), stopping if the weather is clear at Girdwood to go up the tram, maybe have dinner there. Overnight Anchorage (or if your flight is early morning, go to airport).

Hope this gives you some ideas.