Need advice on itinerary

8 nights in Alaska.

Nt 1 Arrive in Anchorage, spend the night.

Nt2%26amp;3 Train to Denali, spend two nights, raft and bus tour

Nt 4, 5 open to suggestion

Rent a car and drive to Seward . Nights 6-8 in Seward. Kenai Fjords, fishing

This is our first time to Alaska. I appreciate all suggestions!

Need advice on itinerary

Hi 2kids34, welcome to TA.

Looks like a great basic outline. When is your trip? Makes a difference to what we suggest.

I’m assuming you want the train experience to Denali, and are willing to pay for the more expensive hotels in the entrance-area because you won’t have transport to the much cheaper accommodations in nearby Healy. Nothing wrong with that as long as you’re aware of your options. You might look at either Toursaver or Northern Lights 2 for 1 coupon books to see if any of their coupons will be useful to you for hotels, tours, etc.

Day 2 – The train departs Anch. 8:15 a.m. and arrives in Denali at 3:45 pm. Time to see the visitor center displays %26amp; film, maybe do a short entrance-area hike, and either whitewater rafting or dinner theatre.

Day 3 – by “bus” tour, did you mean shuttle? Shuttles are much cheaper than the tour buses, and go further into the park. Also, you can get off a shuttle almost anywhere to hike, take pictures, etc., then catch another shuttle along (or back to the entrance if you’re tired); whereas with the tour buses (eg. Tundra Wilderness Tour) you must stay with the same bus throughout. You didn’t mention if you have kids (and what ages they are), though your screen name suggests you might. If you don’t have kids, or have older kids (10+), I’d suggest Wonder Lake (available June 8), which is a 11 hr. roundtrip which takes you to a great view of Mt. McKinley if it’s “out”. If McKinley isn’t out on the day, you might get off at Eielson instead (8 hrs, available June 1), still a nice view of McKinley plus a brand new visitor center there. Do try to get off the shuttle for a while, even to just walk along the road until the next one comes along. If you have young kids, I’d suggest Toklat (6 hrs), being prepared to get off whenever the kids get antsy. Be sure to bring along raingear, quiet games for any kids, lots of snacks and beverages, and binoculars for everyone since most wildlife is seen at a distance. Also be aware that your hotel shuttle to the park entrance probably won’t get you there before 7 a.m., so don’t book too early a time for the park shuttle.

Day 4 – your train leaves at noon, so you have the morning in Denali. Possible activities: flightseeing, free Ranger sled dog demo at 10 a.m. (free bus leaves ? hr. before demo), whitewater rafting, visitor center displays %26amp; film. You’ll arrive Anchorage 8 pm.

Day 5 – pick up rental car (off –airport is often cheaper, be sure to compare prices).

What comes after this depends on what time of year it is, and what your interests are. Would you be interested in doing a short hike on a glacier to explore crevasses, etc? See the Native Heritage Center? How about an afternoon glacier cruise out of Whittier? A bear-viewing/fishing combo out of Soldotna (or bear-viewing alone) available late June thru early August? Do you want full day Kenai Fjords tour, or just 6 hrs? What about the fishing/wildlife combo with Saltwater Lodge? How about either Ididaride or Godwin Glacier sled dog tours with sled ride?

So give us more input: dates, kids, interests. When does your plane leave Anchorage?

Need advice on itinerary

No kids going this trip. We will be there in beginning of July. We would be interested in a short hike on a glacier, Native Heritage Center for sure, probably the 6 hr Kenai Fjords tour. Sled dog tours, not so sure on that. Fishing must be at least one full day. Any specific recommendations on tours/companies would be appreciated.

Our plane will leave late evening of last day.

Thank you!

I%26#39;d suggest this:

Day 5 – pick up rental car. See Native Heritage Center (opens 9 am.), then drive to Cooper Landing (2.5 hrs), very scenic stops along the way as well as Potter Marsh, Beluga Pt., Wildlife Conservation Center, Portage Glacier visitor center, do the 1 hr. easy roundtrip hike from that parking lot to Byron Glacier to actually walk a bit on a glacier and look for iceworms, etc: http://alaska.org/driving/seward-drive.htm . Overnight Cooper Landing. http://www.cooperlandingchamber.com/

Day 6 – either rent a line and try for a King Salmon while “combat” fishing on Kenai R. or Russian R., then take a 2 or 3 hr. wildlife raft float down the Kenai R.; or else take a morning fishing charter. Afternoon drive to Seward (1 hr). Visit SeaLife Center (open until 7 pm), walk to the face of Exit Glacier (1 to 2 hrs. depending which trail you take: the lower trail goes to the foot of the glacier, the other one goes to a nice overlook but does involve a bit more effort to climb up--nothing too strenuous, though). Overnight Seward.

Day 7 – full day fishing charter (Saltwater Lodge if they have room? Also can stay at the Lodge if not already booked up).

Day 8 – 8 a.m. to 2 pm, Kenai Fjords cruise. Drive back to Anchorage (2.5 hrs) doing anything you missed on the way down. If weather is clear, stop at Girdwood to go up the tram for a great view. In Anchorage, if time, see Earthquake Park, walk a bit of Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, or Alaska Wildberry. Fly home.

Hope this gives you a few ideas.

I am not gifted with itinerary planning like MMaple, but I would suggest renting a car for your entire time - it is key to flexibility, even while you are in Denali. You are pretty limited when you come on the train - with the hotels that provide local shuttle services as well as only the restaurants in those area, usually just the hotel restaurants. You have many more options when you have your own tranportation.

As well, I am not sure I would stay 3 full nights in Seward, though you surely can. I would be tempted to head towards Homer as well - you can also fish in Soldotna, Ninilchik and Homer. Both Seward and Homer are beautiful towns, though I think Homer has more to offer in the way of accommodations and restaurants. Just had to add those thoughts - good luck. :)

Hi

You mention fishing must be one full day but you don%26#39;t mention what type of fishing - were you thinking standing on a side of a river, taking a guided trip on a river raft for fishing, flying into a remoter destination or going out to sea on a deep water charter chasing halibut?

Kenai Fjords is great for a tour. We%26#39;ve done at least 4 and loved each one.

We have also gone silver salmon fishing with RiverBend out of Seward in the bay and then further out deep sea fishing and loved it. I can get you specific contact info if you can%26#39;t find it online. We%26#39;ve also gone with Riverbend guides out on the Kenai river salmon fishing. It was ok - it was July. Silvers are fun to catch. I think more opportunities to catch more things if you go sea vs. river. River is just no guarantee - you plunk down $600 plus with tips, etc and go home with nothing. My husband tells me it%26#39;s for the experience - ok - whatever - I like catching fish - not just fishing - lol!

If you can stay at a cabin around Healy/Denali - it will be a really nice stay. Hotels - I am not as familiar with up there - they just look like the buses drive up and the folks load off (nothing wrong with that - since we live here we just prefer things more quiet). Healy Ridgetop Cabins was nice and very quiet.

I like Anchorage - there are lots of things to do without driving around a lot. It just depends on what you want - you mentinoed the Native Heritage Center, which is here - you could literally spend those 2 nights here and pack each moment with something cultural or fun. Lots of great hiking and beatuiful things to do within the Municipality of Anchorage.

There is a nice B%26amp;B in Wasilla called Pioneer Ridge B%26amp;B. Hatchers Pass is a great place to hike. Between Palmer/Wasilla %26amp; Girdwood (Anchorage in between) there is a TON to do.

You can check out this website and also order a visitors guide.

http://www.anchorage.net/

When you drive down to Seward on Day 6 - make sure to stop and glass for wildlife (if that%26#39;s your interest)- black bears, goats %26amp; sheep are easiest to spot - on the turnouts before Girdwood (left of the road), and then look out towards the water (right of the road) and look for beluga whales which were sighted more this past summer. Stop in Girdwood and at the Alyeska resort take the tram up, maybe hike around the hotel a bit too.

Bring good binoculars. The larger the field of vision, the better. It%26#39;s so hard when out with people and they have 8x25%26#39;s - it%26#39;s really difficult to point out wildlife to folks holding binoculars of that size. Since moving to Alaska my DH surprised me with a pr of Nikon 10x50%26#39;s - and it makes our outings in Alaska definitely more enjoyable!

In Seward - get crepe%26#39;s! Really made there fresh!

http://lebarnappetit.com/menulist.html

Met Yvon - he really is Belgian!

You could spend night 8 somewhere else - you might be done with Seward by then...

Forgot to mention if you are into hiking or are serious hikers - and the weather is nice one of your free days in Seward - many people tell me THE hike to do is the Harding Icefield hike - it leaves the same area as Exit Glacier - but it is considerably more strenuous. I have seen people running up and down it before - but it just depends on your ability level. If you are a serious mountain runner - that would be no problem - a couple hours - but most people - I hear it%26#39;s 4-6 hrs. The park service states 8 hrs. It is definitely weather dependent - but supposedly AMAZING!!!

Even if you google (even google images) this you will find photo%26#39;s of other hikers - amazing! Pretty neat.

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