need your help on my itinerary

a small group of us ( 4 adults with 2 of 10s boys )are planning a trip to Alaska during June 15th -30th.

This is our first trip to Alaska, this is our must see/do:

1. King salmon fishing tour ( one day )

2. Kenai Fjords day cruise

3.denali national park

Questions,

1. we will in/ot from Anchorange, plan 7 to 9 days, enough? is this a good timing ?

2. shall we rent a car ? or use the public transportation.

3. what is the best spot for fishing? maybe bear watchong?

4. would you please help to set up a itinerary?

5, if we want to add 2-3 days to have a trip ( fly ) to touch the artic ocean. Is it a good isea? what city we shall fly to?

Thanks

need your help on my itinerary

Hi Charles, welcome to the forum.

1.%26amp; 5. The more time you have to spend, the better, but you can get everything done within 12 days.

2. Renting a vehicle is always best, since it gives you the chance to stop and explore when you come across something interesting. You might consider renting an RV for the most flexibility, if you all get along really well. Be sure to rent a vehicle that comfortably seats 6 people and that has enough room for all your luggage.

3. To my knowledge, the best place for King Salmon is the Kenai River, but post over on the Seward forum and ask Glacierlady. She knows a lot more about fishing than I do. I read somewhere that the river is closed to guides on Sunday and Monday in May, June and July; if that%26#39;s still in effect, that would mean a Tuesday would be a great day to plan your charter. But check with Glacierlady.

Bear-viewing can be done out of Homer (Emerald Air and Bald Mt. Air are the two outfitters most recommended on our forums). Another option is to fly out of Anchorage using Rust%26#39;s. However, knowing that you like fishing, I%26#39;d recommend Talon Air%26#39;s bear-viewing/fishing combo. Not only is it much cheaper (at $350 pp, just over half the cost of the others), but of course lets you fish amongst the bears. The last week of June is best for that tour. But you%26#39;d have to check if they allow kids as young as 10.

Also, bear-viewing tours fill up fast, so you might have to re-arrange the rest of your trip around an available date for bear-viewing.

Subject to Glacierlady’s advice re King Salmon fishing and also subject to availability of bear-viewing tours, here is a sample itinerary to get you started:

Day 1, June 15 – fly to Anchorage. Rent vehicle. If time, light sightseeing. If you rent an RV, you’d also have to go through an orientation. Overnight Anch.

Day 2 – Pick up supplies/snacks, then drive to Denali National Park (5 hrs), stopping for flightseeing in Talkeetna if desired. At either Talkeetna or Denali, pick up free Jr. Ranger kits for the kids (http://www.nps.gov/dena/forkids/beajuniorranger.htm ). At Denali, see the visitor center displays %26amp; film, the 4 pm free Ranger sled dog demo, hike an entrance trail, maybe dinner theatre. Overnight near Denali (if you have an RV, can actually overnight in the park, I’d suggest Riley Campground near the entrance; otherwise, lots of lodging choices at nearby Healy). Book your accommodations and shuttle as soon as your plans are firm.

Day 3 – shuttle to Eielson (8 hr. roundtrip). Be sure to bring binoculars for everyone since most wildlife will be seen at a distance. Also bring food %26amp; water as none is for sale in the park. Also bring rain gear and bug spray, and quiet games for the kids in case they get bored. Plan to get off to hike/let the kids burn off steam either at Eielson or on the way back, or any time the kids get antsy. Then catch another shuttle later to resume your trip. At Eielson, there is a co-ordinator who might be able to arrange one shuttle back for all of you, but if you get off elsewhere, you might have to split up into family groups if returning shuttles don’t have room for all 6 of you. If that happens, just meet up back at the visitor center. Overnight Denali.

Day 4 – morning: whitewater rafting with Denali Outdoor Center (they have easy or “more exciting” runs to choose from; also some of the trips have age limit of 12 so keep that in mind when booking the tour). Drive to Fairbanks (2+ hrs). Visit U. of Alaska Museum of the North, and either Ice Museum or Pioneer Park in the evening. Overnight Fairbanks.

Day 5 – flight to Barrow. I’d suggest staying overnight, you’ll be at the perfect time of year to see the midnight sun. Here is a thread giving lots more details: tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g30940-i2296-k5988… . Also more info here: …alaska.org/static/barrow-alaska-tours.htm

Day 6 - return from Barrow. Overnight Fairbanks.

Day 7 – 8:45 a.m. to 12:15 pm, Riverboat Discovery. Lunch. Drive out to Gold Dredge No. 8 for the 2:30 tour (includes a bit of goldpanning), stopping along the way there or back, 8 miles north of Fairbanks to see the Pipeline and displays. Drive to Talkeetna area to overnight (4.5 hrs).

Day 8 – Drive to Seward (5 to 6 hrs plus stops). Stop at Palmer to see the Musk Ox Farm, at Potter Marsh, Beluga Pt., Windy Pt., other scenic stops: http://alaska.org/driving/seward-drive.htm . Near Seward, walk to the face of Exit Glacier (1 to 2 hrs depending which trail you take). Overnight Seward.

Day 9 – 6 hr. Kenai Fjords tour. SeaLife Center. Beachcomb or fish from shore or kayak or hike.

Day 10 – morning, either Godwin Glacier or Ididaride sled dog tour %26amp; ride. Drive to Soldotna (2 hrs), stopping to explore along the way (example: Cooper Landing to watch the ';combat'; fishing and/or do the 2 hr. roundtrip hike to Russian River Falls where you might see bears). Overnight Soldotna.

Day 11 – Bear viewing/fishing combo with Talon Air? Drive back to (Cooper Landing? - 1 hr) to overnight.

Day 12 – Half day (or full day?) King Salmon fishing charter. Ask Glacierlady for recommendation.

If you have a late-night flight out, you can drive back to Anchorage (2.5 hrs. from Cooper Landing). If you have an extra day, overnight here and take your time driving back to Anchorage, also do some sightseeing in Anchorage.

Hope this gives you a few ideas.

need your help on my itinerary

Manitoba Maple gave you some great advice. Just a couple of notes:

1) stock up on food and supplies either in Anchorage or in Wasilla. Those are the last two places that have large supermarkets before going to Denali.

2) Figure out sooner rather than later where you will be the night of June 21. Summer solstice is a big deal in Alaska, especially in Fairbanks. Lodging fills up.

3) Manitoba gave you an itinerary for 12 days and you really have 14-16 days so you have some room to play with if you want to spend more time in one place or visit another place.

You will be in Alaska the exact time frame I will be there though My itinerary is slightly different.

John

';Manitoba gave you an itinerary for 12 days and you really have 14-16 days';

My understanding was that Charles has a 2-week timeframe in which to take the trip, but was wanting 7 to 9 plus 2 to 3 days, which is a max of 12 days. But perhaps I misunderstood.

If he can spend more time, we can always find more things for him to do! :-)

Oops, no it was me who misunderstood - read too quickly!

John

Thank you, Manitoba and John.

i really appreciated your detail infomation. in fact, i will only have 12 days in/out anchorange.

have a few questions after reading,

1. the Kenai Fjords cruise is from Seward?

2.king salmon fish tour is from Soldotna?

3.could you recommend a good fishing charter company?

thank you again.

charles

#1 Yes

#2 %26amp; #3 - ask Glacierlady over on the Seward forum. Fishing is not my area of expertise, lol.

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