I recently got the thought to take the family (myself, husband, and 8 year old son) to alaska this year. I have a week vacation from 4/16/06 to 4/23/06 and two week vacation from 7/16/06 to 7/30/06, which is a better time? How cold is it in April and how long are the days? I%26#39;ve heard about the black flies in summer, just how big of a problem since I don%26#39;t want to go to Alaska for two weeks just to stay inside. Also are these flies at all locations or just some locations? I%26#39;m also not that familiar with the layout of where the cities are in relation to each other, but on a recent Travel Channel show, it seems like Anchorage is central to a lot of places, but I just don%26#39;t know how far from these other places (like if you can drive to them without overnight stays). I don%26#39;t like packing and unpacking for an 8 year old. From the travel companies, there is availability at the alyeskan prince lodge in girdwood in april but not in july, is it worth going in april just to stay there? I%26#39;ve also read a lot of great reviews for the Forget-Me-Not Lodge and Aurora Express but can%26#39;t seem to book it (my son loves Thomas the Tank Engine and someone mentioned one of the Pullman Cars was themed for Thomas). I would like to make a final decision soon since I%26#39;m not sure how long the Alyeskan Prince will be available. Please advise.
first trip to alaska-best time of year and where to go?While the Prince is a very nice hotel, it is also a very ordinary, very nice hotel so don%26#39;t plan your trip around the Prince. Besides, even tho they show no vacancy now, you might find you can get a room there at the last minute if you really want to stay there.
First half of April will be wet and muddy. Frankly, I wouldn%26#39;t bring an 8 year old up here then just because it would be really messy to do much. It%26#39;s also in between seasons so lots of stuff is closed - too late for winter and too early for summer. It%26#39;s also a long way to come for a week. Come on up for your July vacation. The bugs can be bad if you are out camping, etc. but it%26#39;s easy enough to avoid them with a little care. For one thing, wear long pants with socks and shoes so your legs are covered and you can, if the bugs are out, tuck your pant legs into your socks to ';seal'; them. Also wear long sleeves. Some bug repellent might be advisable if you are going to go out walking in the woods, fields, etc. but that%26#39;s true most places in the summer, huh?
I would suggest you think about renting an RV for some of the days you are here. It is the easiest way to travel around and there are RV parks everywhere. While Anchorage is central, distances mean you will need to stay overnight one or more nights away from Anchorage. For example, to go to the Kenai Peninsula, you would probably want to drive to Seward and stay a couple of nights, drive on down to Homer and stay at least one night, maybe two and then back toward Anchorage with a side trip to Whittier maybe and stay a night there or a night in Girdwood. Same thing going north to Denali National Park. You could still eat out if you want total vacation! It%26#39;s just a car with beds and a bathroom if that%26#39;s all you want!
If you have some ideas what you might want to see and do, we could help you to devise an itinerary. You need to get some ideas going as July is tourist time so some places will book soon.
I really don%26#39;t see the point in coming up here and just doing what you can do from Anchorage - there%26#39;s so much more and it is what makes Alaska special!
Take a look through some of the posts and see what you think - then post again and we%26#39;ll get back with you. Where is the Aurora Express? Is that the one with the train car? Let me know and I%26#39;ll see if I can find a contact website or telephone number for you.
first trip to alaska-best time of year and where to go?Thanks kileysmom for the fast reply. I would rather spend two weeks there, especially with such a long flight. The Forget-Me-Not Lodge and Aurora Express is in Fairbanks. I see the reviews but no booking information or phone number. My son likes to play in the pool and anything that might seem like a log cabin type thing but not necessarily roughing it like outdoor camping. In July, how hot/humid is it? My husband and I can%26#39;t stand the heat and some of the hotels don%26#39;t mention air conditioning. I personally don%26#39;t like big vehicles so really can%26#39;t see myself getting an RV. From what I saw on the travel show, I would like to maybe go to one of the parks to see the bears, bald eagles, and other wildlife. My husband is not into fishing or rafting or anything too strenuous. I would also like to go on one of those flightseeing trips over the glaciers or land on a glacier. Other than that I%26#39;m open to suggestions on what to see up there. Also, would I be better off staying at a hotel or bed and breakfast? It seems that most B%26amp;B%26#39;s don%26#39;t have pools, and that%26#39;s a big selling point for my son. I actually saw that the Fairmont in Anchorage has an indoor pool and is also near an indoor water park, my second choice was the Clarion which also had a pool and A/C. Now, if I want to take overnight trips to other locations, should I try to book it through one of the regular travel sites or go through one that is out of Alaska? And if so, do you have a recommendation for one of the travel companies that are based in Alasak? Thanks again for your input, I think I will book July. When I do come up, maybe I can return the favor and bring you something.
Just a quick reply - you will need to look at booking the national chains for pools - I remember when that was one of my criteria and it is becoming one again as I now take my nearly 4 year old grandson travelling. I forget about the indoor water park - it%26#39;s a not inexpensive - I think $12-$15 each per day - but folks seem to enjoy it. Also, you need to bok the Denali stuff ASAP because it is a popular time.
Weather - in the ';interior'; (the areas away from the coastlines - Denali, Fairbanks), it can be in the 80%26#39;s and once in a while in the 90%26#39;s but it cools off at night and humidity isn%26#39;t a problem - in fact, it%26#39;s usually way to dry and so forest fires are a problem. Here in Anchorage and along the coastal areas, 60%26#39;s and 70%26#39;s. Some summers can be rainy by the end of July particlarly along the coasts so bring lightweight rain gear such as Helly Hansen jackets and pants that you can pull over your clothes. It%26#39;s usually more just a steady light rain rather than downpours.
Gotta go to work - I%26#39;ll see if I can find the hotels today and send you info.
Thanks again kileysmom, I%26#39;m sorry I didn%26#39;t get a chance to reply yesterday. I%26#39;ve already gone ahead and booked Williamsburg, VA for April and now have to seriously search for Alaska in July. Could you give me a short map of distances and directions from Anchorage to Fairbanks, Denali, Girdwood, etc...? I don%26#39;t think I want to do more than three places so I don%26#39;t have to pack and unpack my son too much. So do you think Anchorage for 3 days, Fairbanks for 3 days, and Denali for 3 days and back to Anchorage for 2 days is good? Also should I book through a travel agent here or one affiliated in specializing in Alaska for best prices and knowledge of area hotels?
My neice (9) and nephew(8) were here last summer for two weeks in mid July. I live in the Anchorage area so we tried to plan our trips from here. We went to Denali, stayed at one of the lodges in glitter gulch (no pool)the weather was nice and not too warm, but you never no it could be 80 or 40. We took an NPS bus to Fish Creek it was well worth it for the siteseeing and animals. We also visited Eagle River Nature Center, panned for gold in Girdwood, visited portage Glacier, and made a trip to Seward. In Seward we went to the Sealife Center and Exit Glacier. We also took the short Resurection Bay cruise and saw glaciers, eagles, puffins, otters, whales (1 baby) and sea lions. We stayed at The Breeze Inn, nothing special just a convenient place to sleep. We also drove out to Lowell point and skipped stones with the kids they loved it.
It can get quite warm here at certain times and my family thought the 80 degree weather we were having was HOT, there really is not a lot of relief, no air conditioning and limited swimming oportunities. The kids really did enjoy the indoor water park and I think it was well worth the money, they always seem to have coupons so keep your eyes open, also if you do go try to get there early and beat the crowds we went at 10 am and were done by 3pm and the crowd was just starting to get heavy.
Hi, I found the Forget-Me-Not/Aurora Express - go to the Fairbanks forum and take the link to Fairbanks hotels. Then click on the tab for ';other lodgings (3)'; and there it is! Gets great reviews!
Hi, again, I think you are right to do the 3 days plan - on your way to Seward you can stop at Girdwood and ride the tram up to the top - the kids usually like it. I need to print your post for details - one recommendation I am making to TA is to allow the last couple of posts in the reply page! Anyway, I%26#39;m about to hit the sack after one very hard day and will get back to this tomorrow.
Dear Spacefry and Kileysmom: Sorry it%26#39;s been a few days since I%26#39;ve been on but I%26#39;ve been doing different shifts at work the last couple of days and I don%26#39;t know whether I%26#39;m coming or going. I%26#39;ve also been busy trying to line up a trip that I can afford, is a good balance of taking advantage of sightseeing and culture of Alaska and not dragging my son around too much. I%26#39;ve also been in contact with the owner of the Forget-Me-Not Lodge and Aurora Express in Fairbanks and they are free in July (he was so nice and helpful). I also spoke to Karen at Alaska Tour %26amp; Travel and I think we%26#39;ve come up with an itinerary that works. Tell me what you think:
First fly into Anchorage and stay overnight
Next, board Alaska Railroad to Fairbanks
Stay four nights at the Forget-Me-Not
Lodge and Aurora Express with a rental
car. While in Fairbanks, do the El
Dorado Gold Mine and the Arctic Circle
Fly/Drive Adventure.
Drive down to Denali for a three night
stay at the Denali River Cabins. While
there do the Fly Denali Glacier Landing
tour (I figure this is better than a six
hour bus ride).
Last, drive down to Anchorage for a six
night stay. While there, I can drive
down to Girdwood for a day and also go
to Seward and do the Catamaran tour.
So does this sound complete or am I missing something that I just HAVE to do? P.S. What do you know of the Anchorage Aspen Hotel and the Denali River Cabins? Thanks so much for your input.
While in the Fairbanks area, I would suggest a trip up to Chena Hot Springs too.
The Aspen is a nice hotel.
Hello kileysmom! This is a question for you to gain another perspective.
We are traveling 2 different ways to Alaska 7/28/2007 first by cruise ship that ends in Whittier (booked with my inlaws who are in their mid 70%26#39;s) and our 13 year old son. We just locked in on our RV for 2 full weeks that begins 8/4/07 and ends 8/18/07. We will pick up the RV in Anchorage. We still need tha air, and to get more input on budget camping with the best scenery and most quiet areas. Areas for showers now and then, and good budget dining spots.
We%26#39;re looking for more itinerary ideas and are most interested in natural beauty, staying away from cruise crowd and going with day trips that are smaller outfits that are not on the ship excursion list for the most part. We were wondering if you might have some suggestions for Denali and a good trip starting point.
We are looking at Denali, Valdez, Homer, Kenai Penninsula, Thompson Pass, etc. I%26#39;m not sure if we%26#39;ll be going further north than Denali, and was wondering if you have any input on that.
We%26#39;ve gotten many wonderful ideas from super folks, and was looking for some other ideas. Any quesions, please ask. Thanks and we appreciate any information you might have!
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