I%26#39;ve booked a combo Cruise %26amp; Land Tour from HAL for July 30, 2007 to August 11, 2007.
We begin in Anchorage on July 31, 2007 traveling on the Mckinley explorer to Denali. Spend 2 nights in Denali, 2 nights in Fairbanks, 1 night in Beaver Creek, 2 nights in Whitehorse, 4night Inside Passage cruise (Glacier Bay, Ketchikan, Inside passage %26amp; Vancouver)
I have the choice of arriving Saturday evening and having all Sunday and most of Monday in Anchorage for side trips or arrivng either Sunday or Monday. The costs of the flights are about the same. So the increased costs would be hotel for 1 or 2 nights and whatever excursions we would go on.
Is it worth arriving early in Anchorage %26amp; can people recommend excursions out of Anchorage (someone already suggested train to Kenji Fjords %26amp; 6 hour cruise)?
Also can anyone recommend excursions for Fairbanks, Whithorse Denali and Ketchikan?
Thanks
Marty
Extra Days in Anchorage, excursions in Fairbanks, Whitehorse
There is a nice river about an hour and a half south of Anchorage that you can go rafting on, it%26#39;s very adventuresome and fun. And also you could go to Whittier and take the 26 glacier cruise, which is a very good cruise to take.
Extra Days in Anchorage, excursions in Fairbanks, WhitehorseIt is well worth arriving in Anchorage early and exploring on your own for a day or two! There are plenty of day trips from and around Anchorage, but if you can book a hotel in Seward and take the 6 hour cruise, that would be ideal. It offers much more animal life than the 26 glacier cruise out of Whittier, Seward is a charming and hospitable place, and they have the Sea Life Center and Exit Glacier there so you can get up close.
The drive to Seward is great, but the train trip is even better, going through several tunnels and over a 360 degree turn to climb up into the mountain pass, past more glaciers and avalanche zones (only needing to be controlled in the winter) through wilderness that you would not otherwise see.
A drive south from Anchorage just 40 miles takes you along the Seward highway, one of Americas official Scenic Highways. You will drive that way either to Seward or to Whittier.
In Anchorage proper is the Native Heritage Museum, which is as close as you can get to native culture without moving to a village. It is highly worth while for anyone interested in Native Culture and ways of life. For beauty there is Hatcher Pass and the Independence Gold Mine just 50 miles north of Anchorage.
Sorry, but it is impossible to restrict the list to only a day or two%26#39;s activity. Do come early, you will not regret it!
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Marty, if you can arrive even earlier than 2 days before your tour you may include Seward and or Homer in your itinerary. If not, Anchorage offers endless activities. I posted a list of things to do titled ';Things to do in Anchorage.'; Some of them are very inexpensive and some are free.
Do you have a tour of Denali National Park included in your tour? If not get tickets for the shuttle and become an independent traveler fr a day.
www.nps.gov/dena
www.reservedenali.com
If I arrive late afternoon or early evening Saturday will things be open and available on Sunday?
Any recommendations on Hotels?
HAL offers a couple of excursions from Anchorage:
Wilderness Explorer Cruise ($185 PP) Cruise Prince William Sound %26#39;s Glaciers cruise Esther Passage -Includes a 50 mile narrated transfer along Turnagain Arm.
Grand Anchorage %26amp; Portage Glacier ($104 PP)- Guided tour of ANchorage - travel scenic Seward HWY to cruise across Portage Lake with stop for lunch(on your own) at the Alyeska Resort.
How do these sound? Can I duplicate these exps cheaper on my own? How about car rentals in Anchorage?
Thanks for all your help %26amp; input/
Marty
yes, everything will be open on weekends during July and August. Search this forum for the best accommodations, we don%26#39;t know if you want stay in B%26amp;B s, chalets, cabins or prefer hotels.
Wilderness Explorer Cruise ($185 PP) is just a fancy name for something that you could easily do on your own for a fractions of what they want to charge. To appreciate a beauty of Turnagain and wildlife along Seward Highway you need more than 50 minutes and less people
The same goes for Grand Anchorage %26amp; Portage Glacier ($104 PP) tour. Easily doable, more enjoyable and very inexpensive on your own.
To get an idea about car rentals in Anchorage go to www.kayak.com
You cannot book through kayak but you are directed to each company. At least you get a clue about a price range and car rental companies in Anchorage. Book your car rental soon.
I was doing a little research and went to the Alaska Tours%26amp; Travel Website.
I was thinking rather than renting a car I could take a Coach Bus through Alaska Park Connection one way from Anchorage to Seward and the Alaska Railroad the other way.
The Coach Bus costs $56 PP (+tax %26amp; fees) one way %26amp; the train costs $65 PP (+tax %26amp; fees) one way. This way I could avoid the hassel of renting a car for a day or two %26amp; get to enjoy both the experience of the road between Seward %26amp; Anchorage %26amp; the train ride (both of whom are supposed to be scenic.
What do you think? Would I be better off just renting a car?
The Coach Bus takes about 3 hours and departs from Egan Center 5th Ave at 7:00 AM and arrives at the Small Boat Harbor at Seward at around 9:45 AM. Going to Anchorage it would depart at 6:30 PM from the Small Boat Harbor and tarrive at Anchorage at 9:30 PM
The train takes 4 hours and would depart Anchoarge Depot at 6:45 AM and arrive in Seward Depot at 11:05 AM. Going to Anchoarge it would depart at 6PM and arrive at 10:25 PM.
Once at Seward I would take a small boat tour of Kenai Fjords. the options are:
*Kenai Fjords Resurection Bay with Fox Island lunch which travels 50 mile roundtrip departing at 12:00 %26amp; returning at 5:00 PM for $79 PP (+tax %26amp; fees)
*Kenai Fjords National Park Catamaran Cruise which travels 120 mile roundtrip which departs at 11:30 AM %26amp; returns at 5:30 PM
What do you think about these and are the times realistic with taking the train and/or coach?
How far is the train depot from the Small Boat Harbor?
Am I just better off renting a Car?
If I were to rent a car about how long would it take to drive from Anchorage to Seward?
thanks
Marty
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