Need Help With Itinerary

Hi everyone - we have now got around to sketching out a rough plan for June 2007. It needs a little bit of help and I wondered if you could be so kind as to provide some assistance as I%26#39;m struggling - I think it%26#39;s what you call ';So many options - not enough time syndrome';.

We are flying from Scotland on June the 8th and staying in Vancouver (Fairmont) for two nights. Depart Vancouver on 10th for Anchorage - staying two nights 10th %26amp; 11th (Hilton Hotel or Homewood Suites) then on to Talkeetna for two nights - 12th/13th (Talkeetna Alaska Lodge) and on to Healy (Nordhaven hotel) for 3 nights - 14th - 16th) visiting Denali. I%26#39;m not too sure of what the score is about Denali, so any advice would be welcome. Then Fairbanks for two nights - 17th/18th (Westmark?). Our anniversary is on the 19th, so I%26#39;d like to stay somewhere nice that night whether in Talkeetna or somewhere else. We then have another 3 -4 days unscheduled and I%26#39;m open to all suggestions. We haven%26#39;t booked any specific trips yet but would probably fancy doing a flight from Talkeetna and possibly some rafting.

Ultimately I need to be back in Anchorage for 23rd June to fly back to Vancouver. I have scoured these forums for many a long night but Alaska is so vast that it leaves me kind of awestruck.

Need Help With Itinerary

The main attraction to Denali National Park is the wildlife. There is only one road into the park. It runs ninety miles to Kantishna an old mining area. Now home to 4 lodges. Access is limited beyond 13 miles to park service buses. Best deal is the park service shuttle to Fish Creek or Wonder Lake. Fish creek round trip is approximately 8 hours, Wonder Lake 11 hours. You can get on and off the bus for the same fare. Bus will stop for wildlife. Driver or passengers will call out. Gizzlies, moose, caribou. dall sheep, wolves. You can hike independently off the road or go with a park ranger led hike. The area near the entrance has sled dog demonstrations and park service interpretive center.

You can also flightsee from Talkeetna with Talkeetna Air Taxi or Talkeetna Aero. Flights include glacier landings or summit flights over the top of Denali.

Tour Save book Toursaver.com has two for one coupons for flights and over activities. Go to nps.gov and search for denali for further information about the park.

Healy is about 10 miles north of the park. Not sure if your hotel has transportation to the park. You%26#39;d need a car otherwise.

Need Help With Itinerary

Argassi1, check national park service website for detailed information on Denali National Park

www.nps.gov/dena

With a rental car you won%26#39;t need to worry about transportation from your hotel to the park. There is no transfer from Nordhaven.

In February or March get tickets for the shuttle.

www.reservedenali.com

Because you are going in June I suggest avoiding clouds of mosquitoes around Wonder Lake. Fish Creek is a great final destination for that time of the year.

Do you already have reservations in hotels you mentioned?

Is there any reason why you are planning to stay in hotel/motels only? There are many and more charming lodging than hotels/motels. Wouldn%26#39;t you want to stay in Alaskan inns, cabins, B%26amp;Bs.

Why Hilton? There is not much of an Alaskan atmosphere.

Search posts here on each destination you listed and check reviews too to learn about lodging in these areas.

You have total 13 days in Alaska thus you should go beyond Anchorage (2), Talkeetna (1), Denali (3) and Fairbanks (2).

If you don%26#39;t know about choices in Anchorage then find my posts ';Things to do in Anchorage.'; Review posts on Valdez, Seward, Homer, Girdwood and figure out what destinations appeal to you the most, chose maybe one or maximum two, then post your decision here and many wonderful posters on this forum will be happy to help you with logistics of your trip including a choice of a place for spending your anniversary on June 19th .

Just suggestion but from Fairbanks you may want to continue to Valdez and stay there for a couple of nights, then take the ferry to Whittier and the same day continue to Seward or Homer.

How about adding two nights in Valdez and 3 in Homer or 2 nights in Valdez, 2 in Seward and 1 in Girdwood.

On June 12th if you leave Anchorage in the morning you can arrive in Talkeetna before noon. So you will have on 12th a half a day, all day on 13th and maybe half a day on 14th. It seems you wouldn%26#39;t need two nights in Talkeetna. you may continue to Denali on 14th. It is about 3 hours drive between Talkeetna and Denali or Healy.

What time is your departure from Anchorage on June 23rd?

What would you like to do in Alaska? Fishing, rafting, glacier kayaking, hiking, ice climbing, bird watching, dog sledding on glaciers, hiking with crampons on a glacier, cruising to see glaciers and marine wildlife, watching brown bears, fishing, viewing scenery, river cruising, learning about native culture and history? These are just few examples.

Because you did not mention going on a cruise then review posts on Seward and a day cruise from Seward to Kenai Fjords National Park. Personally, for me it would be a perfect celebration by spending a day with bears in Katmai National Park then staying in Homer in one of many beautiful homes with amazing views across Kachemak Bay with glaciers and snow covered mountains and sleeping volcanoes beyond.

It won%26#39;t be easy but you have to make your own choices. Don%26#39;t despair we are here to share our preferences, suggestions, ideas so you can have an unforgettable trip.

BTW, with your itinerary so far you won%26#39;t need SUV or a 4 wheel drive. Just a regular sedan will do just fine. Roads are two lanes but in a very good condition. There may be lots of construction going on but no need to have SUV or 4 wheel drive. Majority of car rental agencies don%26#39;t allowed driving on non-state gravel roads. Glenn Highway, Richardson Highway, Parks Highway, Seward Highway, Sterling Highway are all paved.

ghouck2532 - Many thanks for prompt response, your advice is very informative and things are starting to make more sense now.

Do I need to book the bus for Denali well in advance or is it possible to just turn up:? I read somewhere that about 35% of seats are unreserved but if I%26#39;m going all the way to Alaska I want to have the key issues tied up before I go..

I have heard various comments about Fairbanks and there seems to be some negativity - is this justified?

Also how feasible is it for me to complete the ';triangle'; and head back to Anchorage via Tok. Is it worth doing this, there doesn%26#39;t seem to be too much doing on that road although the national park at the bottom of it looks very worthwhile.

All information and opinions are greatly appreciated.

Places - You certainly have given me a whole raft of things to review and consider, thank you again for taking the time. I guess the reason that we have opted for hotels is that being Scottish we are naturally quite reserved and hotels provide that level of anononymity.

Another reason is that with hotel chains you can presume a certain level of standards (yikes! that does sound snobbish doesn%26#39;t it.) but I haven%26#39;t got a clue about the b %26amp; bs. Nothing is booked yet, I was hoping to do that this weekend when I have time. I am more than happy to take advice on accomodation if anyone has first hand references for b %26amp; bs or inns. Our needs are fairly simple - a clean room with ensuite facilities and where possible, close to the town in question so that I can take advantage of the local hospitality in the hostelries of an evening.

I am just back from evening classes, so I will have a good read over of your information and review the websites quoted. I%26#39;ll be back on line soon.

Thanks again.

Argassi1

Hi Argassi

When I started looking we had a similar criteria, but wanted to get a bit more of the alaskan experience.

If it would help we have chosen the following:

Alaskan Leopard bed and breakfast - anchorage

Carriage bed and breakfast - Girdwood

Homer Ocean house Inn

Alaskan salt water lodge - booked through seward travel agency

Main street suites Talkeetna - booked through Talkeetna travel

Earthsong lodge - Healy/N of Denali

Sheep mountain lodge - Palmer (ish)

Numbereight

Hi Argassi

When I started looking we had a similar criteria, but wanted to get a bit more of the alaskan experience.

If it would help we have chosen the following:

Alaskan Leopard bed and breakfast - anchorage

Carriage bed and breakfast - Girdwood

Homer Ocean house Inn

Alaskan salt water lodge - booked through seward travel agency

Main street suites Talkeetna - booked through Talkeetna travel

Earthsong lodge - Healy/N of Denali

Sheep mountain lodge - Palmer (ish)

Numbereight

Hi there! Have been meaning to reply, but life has been hectic - many people have given you lots of great ideas already, so you have lots to think about.

A bit more about Fairbanks to answer your question. . . it looks rather plain when compared to some of the more majestic mountain areas . . .but I love Fairbanks. It has so much history and to see it gives you a bit more understanding of the interior part of the state. The elevation is only 500 feet at the airport, and the surrounding area is rolling hills, with the Alaska range in the distance. I don%26#39;t think that is what most people picture when they think about Alaska.

I would certainly add Seward to your trip since you have a few days and maybe Homer as well - two beautiful places.

Any other specifics for you?? I see you are staying at Nordhaven while you are in my area - lovely hotel . . . you will enjoy your stay here. Though as places suggested, I really like recommending cabins and B%26amp;B%26#39;s as you get more of an opportunity to get to know some Alaskans as well while you are here on your adventure. Best of luck planning and don%26#39;t stress overly much about booking right now. Many business don%26#39;t even take reservations this time of year - you can easily wait until Dec or January for most of them. :)

You got more great and wonderful suggestions. Listen to Coalminer who is the expert for Denali and very generous to share his knowledge with so many of us.

Numbereight did a tremendous job researching for a first trip to Alaska hence the above recommendations should be very helpful to you. Google on listed accommodations and read posts by Coalminer and numbereight . Then decide what are the best places to stay in. Don%26#39;t worry about standards of B%26amp;Bs or cabins. Once you decide and before booking search tripadvsor for reviews, read posts here and ask more questions. Definitely drop Hilton and Westmark from your list.

If you want to stay in a top hotel, stay at the Captian Cook - it%26#39;s Alaskan and one of the nicest places to stay. Depends entirely on your budget. :)