Alaska first trip

We are planning a trip to Alaska in June,%26#39;07. We are doing our homewrok as far as gathering all information of places to see and do. We will be there two weeks. Could anyone help us in deciding just how much time to spend in varios places that we think we%26#39;d like to see. for instance, Anchorage, Denali, Seward, Valdez, Homer, Kenai Pen. and all points in between. Are there places in the Interior that we should NOT miss.

Thanks for any insight you can give us to help in our research.

Spunkie A WVU Fan

Alaska first trip

spunkie18, try to do search right here on this forum under each destination you listed. You%26#39;ll find tons of great and helpful information. After reading reviews and posts it%26#39;s going to be much easier for you to decide how long to stay in each place and what activities to chose in each destination and maybe in between as well. What are your interests?

Seward and Homer are both on Kenai Peninsula.

There are endless fascinating places between these destinations that are worthy including in your itinerary. However, with only two weeks you cannot count on visiting all. We travel to Alaska every year for the last 12 years and still did not see all points in between. Even if you spend there a month or a year you still won%26#39;t see all. For the first visit and only two weeks all places you listed are great destinations, which means you already did an initial part of your research. Now you need to ask yourself why did you include these places in your list.

With two weeks I would make a loop starting and ending in Anchorage and include these places

Anchorage 2 nights

Denali National Park 3 nights

Fairbanks 2 nights

Valdez 2 nights

Seward 2 nights

Homer 3 nights

The fastest and easiest way to get from Valdez to Seward is to take the ferry.

--On the way to Denali stop in Talkeetna and take a flight around the summit of Mount McKinley and you may even include a glacier landing

--In Denali take the shuttle to see amazing beauty of this national treasure. You may include some hiking, visit a dog sledding kennel, rafting

--In Fairbanks go gold panning, float down on Tanana and Chena rivers by boat or kayak, visit the museum at the university, celebrate a summer solstice (22 hours of daylight!)

--In Valdez go kayaking to Columbia Glacier, then hiking on many trails, visit museum

--In Seward take a day cruise to Kenai Fjords National Park, then visit Exit Glacier

--In Homer, if within your budget, go bear watching on a day trip to Katmai National Park, next day go hiking across the bay or go for a lunch or dinner to Halibut Cove and also go halibut fishing

--As to things to do in Anchorage find the post ';Things to do in Anchorage'; and chose whatever appeals to you

--On the way to Anchorage from Homer stop in Girdwood for the tram ride on a clear sunny day.

These are just samples what is available. You need to remember about distances in Alaska and sometimes slow traffic so don%26#39;t rush, take your time to appreciate scenery, fresh air, vast land, wildlife, history, culture and more.

I hope my post answered your initial inquiry.

Ask more questions and many posters here on this forum are always willing to comment and make recommendations.

Alaska first trip

Thanks for all the great advise--that was just what I needed to know. We are so excited to see this beautiful state and know that once we visit it this first time, it certainly won%26#39;t be our last.

WOW!

I would say that Places has summed it up perfectly. I would consider not doing 3 nights in Denali and staying in Talkeetna one night on your way down to Anchorage. It cuts the drive in half, and is a nice place to stay for a day.

Whatever you do - ENJOY!

Singletrack110, I agree with you about stopping in Talkeetna. However, with only two weeks and all places spunkie18 listed it is simply not possible to include many fascinating places in between all destinations. Nonetheless, I suggested a stop (not overnight) on the way to Denali NP in Talkeetna for a flight to Mount McKinley. If she/he decides not to go to Fairbanks for two nights then, you are right, one night may be spent in Talkeetna and maybe one night in Girdwood on the way from Homer back to Anchorage.

trilogy