Finally an Alaska itinerary, please let me know what you think!
Feb 5th, 2005, 07:32 AM
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Finally an Alaska itinerary, please let me know what you think!
PLAN A
Day 1, Fri, May 27, fly into Anchorage ~5 PM, overnight Anchorage; store excess luggage (where???)
Day 2, Sat, May 28, Pick up rental van, put grandparents & teen on train to Seward (tentative). Meet them in Seward at 11:05 AM, travel on to Homer, overnight in Homer.
Day 3, Sun, May 29, DH halibut fishing, others kayaking, sightseeing, etc., overnight in Homer
Day 4, Mon, May 30, Drive back to Seward, sightseeing Exit Glacier or whatever we missed on the way to Homer; overnight in Seward.
Day 5, Tues, May 31, Kenai Fjords all-day boat trip; drive to Anchorage, overnight in Anchorage
Day 6, Wed, June 1, Put grandparents & teen on train to Denali, DH & I drive to Denali; sightseeing Denali upon train’s arrival around 3:45 - 4 PM; overnight in Denali area.
Day 7, Thurs, June 2, Shuttle bus tour Fish Creek, stay in Denali area.
Day 8, Fri, June 3, Sightsee area of Talkeetna & back to Anchorage; overnight in Anchorage.
Day 9, Sat, June 4, turn in rental van, retrieve stored luggage, take cruise bus or train to Whittier.
PLAN B:
Day 1, Fri, May 27, fly into Anchorage, overnight Anchorage; store excess luggage (where???)
Day 2, Sat, May 28, Put grandparents & teen on train to Denali, DH & I pick up rental car & drive to Denali; sightseeing Denali upon train’s arrival around 3:45 - 4 PM; overnight in Denali area.
Day 3, Sun, May 29, Denali Wilderness Tour to Toklat, stay in Denali area.
Day 4, Mon, May 30, Sightsee area of Talkeetna & back through Anchorage, then on to Seward, sightseeing along the way. Try to time to eat dinner at Double Musky. Overnight in Seward or Girdwood.
Day 5, Tues, May 31: Sightsee most of the day--including Exit Glacier--along the way to Homer Spit, overnight in Homer.
Day 6, Wed, June 1, DH halibut fishing, others kayaking, sightseeing, etc., overnight in Homer
Day 7, Thurs, June 2, Drive back to Seward, sightseeing whatever we missed on the way to Homer.
Day 8, Fri, June 3, Kenai Fjords all-day boat trip, overnight in Whittier.
Day 9, Sat, June 4. Grandparents & teen stay in Whittier & board cruise ship; parents go back to Anchorage, turn in rental van, retrieve stored luggage, take cruise service bus back to Whittier & board cruise ship.
Please look at these itineraries and find the holes, make suggestions, and tell me which of the 2 is better time management and most doable. Maybe you can think of ways to combine things that I have overlooked. We like to drive and sightsee, but don't won't to overdo and wear ourselves out. My parents want to do the land tour mainly to see Alaska via the Alaskan Railroad. The only things we definitely have to do are fly into Anchorage and leave June 4 via Whittier for the cruise. We were thinking it might be better to hit Denali Park after Memorial Day is over, since that may be a busy weekend. It would also give us the Fish Creek tour as opposed to Toklat. But will Homer be excessively crowded over Memorial Day weekend?
You all have been extremely helpful and I don't know how I'd gotten this far without your advice. As always, thank you so much!
Day 1, Fri, May 27, fly into Anchorage ~5 PM, overnight Anchorage; store excess luggage (where???)
Day 2, Sat, May 28, Pick up rental van, put grandparents & teen on train to Seward (tentative). Meet them in Seward at 11:05 AM, travel on to Homer, overnight in Homer.
Day 3, Sun, May 29, DH halibut fishing, others kayaking, sightseeing, etc., overnight in Homer
Day 4, Mon, May 30, Drive back to Seward, sightseeing Exit Glacier or whatever we missed on the way to Homer; overnight in Seward.
Day 5, Tues, May 31, Kenai Fjords all-day boat trip; drive to Anchorage, overnight in Anchorage
Day 6, Wed, June 1, Put grandparents & teen on train to Denali, DH & I drive to Denali; sightseeing Denali upon train’s arrival around 3:45 - 4 PM; overnight in Denali area.
Day 7, Thurs, June 2, Shuttle bus tour Fish Creek, stay in Denali area.
Day 8, Fri, June 3, Sightsee area of Talkeetna & back to Anchorage; overnight in Anchorage.
Day 9, Sat, June 4, turn in rental van, retrieve stored luggage, take cruise bus or train to Whittier.
PLAN B:
Day 1, Fri, May 27, fly into Anchorage, overnight Anchorage; store excess luggage (where???)
Day 2, Sat, May 28, Put grandparents & teen on train to Denali, DH & I pick up rental car & drive to Denali; sightseeing Denali upon train’s arrival around 3:45 - 4 PM; overnight in Denali area.
Day 3, Sun, May 29, Denali Wilderness Tour to Toklat, stay in Denali area.
Day 4, Mon, May 30, Sightsee area of Talkeetna & back through Anchorage, then on to Seward, sightseeing along the way. Try to time to eat dinner at Double Musky. Overnight in Seward or Girdwood.
Day 5, Tues, May 31: Sightsee most of the day--including Exit Glacier--along the way to Homer Spit, overnight in Homer.
Day 6, Wed, June 1, DH halibut fishing, others kayaking, sightseeing, etc., overnight in Homer
Day 7, Thurs, June 2, Drive back to Seward, sightseeing whatever we missed on the way to Homer.
Day 8, Fri, June 3, Kenai Fjords all-day boat trip, overnight in Whittier.
Day 9, Sat, June 4. Grandparents & teen stay in Whittier & board cruise ship; parents go back to Anchorage, turn in rental van, retrieve stored luggage, take cruise service bus back to Whittier & board cruise ship.
Please look at these itineraries and find the holes, make suggestions, and tell me which of the 2 is better time management and most doable. Maybe you can think of ways to combine things that I have overlooked. We like to drive and sightsee, but don't won't to overdo and wear ourselves out. My parents want to do the land tour mainly to see Alaska via the Alaskan Railroad. The only things we definitely have to do are fly into Anchorage and leave June 4 via Whittier for the cruise. We were thinking it might be better to hit Denali Park after Memorial Day is over, since that may be a busy weekend. It would also give us the Fish Creek tour as opposed to Toklat. But will Homer be excessively crowded over Memorial Day weekend?
You all have been extremely helpful and I don't know how I'd gotten this far without your advice. As always, thank you so much!
Feb 5th, 2005, 07:50 AM
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It looks like you'll get a nice sampling of Alaska. I have a couple of suggestions that might make it a bit easier. On day 2 of the first plan, you indicate you'll pick up the rental van then take your folks to the train for Seward. You may have to do that in reverse order since the train leaves fairly early.
I would also not backtrack between Seward and Homer as both plans do. It adds driving time that could be better spent enjoying one or the other. It is a wonderful drive but I would plan to spend what time I wanted to in Seward, drive to Homer, spend what time I wanted there, then drive to Anchorage.
Have a wonderful trip.
I would also not backtrack between Seward and Homer as both plans do. It adds driving time that could be better spent enjoying one or the other. It is a wonderful drive but I would plan to spend what time I wanted to in Seward, drive to Homer, spend what time I wanted there, then drive to Anchorage.
Have a wonderful trip.
Feb 5th, 2005, 08:12 AM
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You've done a lot of great research. Here are a couple of Plan A things to consider:
Day 2 is a killer. Instead of driving on to Homer, sightsee and stay in Seward, including Exit Glacier.
Day 3 -- Kenai Fjords trip and drive to Homer
Day 4 -- Halibut trip/kayaking and overnight in Homer.
Day 5 -- Drive to Anchorage, stopping at Girdwood/Alyeska. Tram and perhaps Double Musky.
Day 2 is a killer. Instead of driving on to Homer, sightsee and stay in Seward, including Exit Glacier.
Day 3 -- Kenai Fjords trip and drive to Homer
Day 4 -- Halibut trip/kayaking and overnight in Homer.
Day 5 -- Drive to Anchorage, stopping at Girdwood/Alyeska. Tram and perhaps Double Musky.
Feb 5th, 2005, 09:35 AM
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I think what you are suggesting is this:
Day 1, Fri, May 27, fly into Anchorage ~ 5 PM, overnight Anchorage; store excess luggage (where???)
Day 2, Sat, May 28, Put grandparents & teen on train to Seward (tentative), then DH & I pick up rental van. Meet them in Seward at 11:05 AM, sightsee area, including Exit Glacier, & overnight in Seward.
Day 3, Sun, May 29, Kenai Fjords all-day boat trip; drive to Homer, overnight in Homer.
Day 4, Mon, May 30, DH halibut fishing, others kayaking, sightseeing, etc., overnight in Homer.
Day 5, Tues, May 31, drive from Homer to Anchorage, stop at Girdwood/Alyeska--try to include tram and eat dinner at Double Musky; overnight in Anchorage.
Day 6, Wed, June 1, Put grandparents & teen on train to Denali, DH & I drive to Denali; sightseeing Denali upon train’s arrival around 3:45 - 4 PM; overnight in Denali area.
Day 7, Thurs, June 2, Shuttle bus tour to Fish Creek, stay in Denali area.
Day 8, Fri, June 3, drive back to Anchorage, overnight in Anchorage,
Day 9, Sat, June 4, turn in rental van, retrieve stored luggage, take cruise bus or train to Whittier.
Does this newest itinerary make better use of our time? Would it be wise to head back to Talkeetna area for the night after shuttle bus tour?
Does anyone know where we can store some of our luggage in Anchorage while doing the land tour?
I welcome suggestions for lodging and restaurants. Have I missed any "must sees or must dos"?
Thank you for your help!
Feb 5th, 2005, 10:14 AM
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BG,
Yup that's what I was thinking. As for luggage, if you book days 1, 5 and 8 at the same place, I'd bet they'd store it for you.
As for dining: Jen's is off the tourist radar, but a wonderful place. If you get a chance, plank roasted wild salmon is fabulous. Pricey, but very nice.
Also, Glacier Brewhouse and Simon & Seafort's for great meals. I don't know if it's still there, but for years the best cheap halibut sandwich in town was at Mama O's (Across from Chilkoot Charlie's -- Motto: We cheat the other guy and pass the savings on to you ...).
In Seward, Ray's is great, but often very busy. In Girdwood, it's the Musky. For Talkeetna, it's the breakfast at the Fairview Inn, where rural legend/rumors say President Harding got his fatal food poisoning (I hear they've changed cooks ...).
In Homer, a trip to the Saltry in Halibut Cove would be nice if the weather's good.
Breakfast places: Gwennies in Anchorage and Gwin's in Cooper Landing.
Yup that's what I was thinking. As for luggage, if you book days 1, 5 and 8 at the same place, I'd bet they'd store it for you.
As for dining: Jen's is off the tourist radar, but a wonderful place. If you get a chance, plank roasted wild salmon is fabulous. Pricey, but very nice.
Also, Glacier Brewhouse and Simon & Seafort's for great meals. I don't know if it's still there, but for years the best cheap halibut sandwich in town was at Mama O's (Across from Chilkoot Charlie's -- Motto: We cheat the other guy and pass the savings on to you ...).
In Seward, Ray's is great, but often very busy. In Girdwood, it's the Musky. For Talkeetna, it's the breakfast at the Fairview Inn, where rural legend/rumors say President Harding got his fatal food poisoning (I hear they've changed cooks ...).
In Homer, a trip to the Saltry in Halibut Cove would be nice if the weather's good.
Breakfast places: Gwennies in Anchorage and Gwin's in Cooper Landing.
Feb 5th, 2005, 12:56 PM
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I haven't had to store luggage but I saw this information on storage at Anchorage Airport. You can get freezer storage too!
http://www.dot.state.ak.us/anc/passe...gersrvcs.shtml
Sounds like a wonderful trip. Make sure to watch the short videos at the Pratt Museum in Homer. Good planning job!
http://www.dot.state.ak.us/anc/passe...gersrvcs.shtml
Sounds like a wonderful trip. Make sure to watch the short videos at the Pratt Museum in Homer. Good planning job!
Feb 18th, 2005, 06:43 AM
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You guys aren't going to believe this, or maybe it's me that's not yet believing it, but my parents (ages 76 & 80) have canceled on me. My dad thinks it will be too much (in every area), and although my mom's ready to clobber him ;-), he's made up his mind. So after all the research & planning for an accommodating land & cruise trip, I am back to square 1. It will be my dh, dd, and myself. We had stretched it out to 15 days to try to get a good land tour and cruise. Now since we have all that time, we are looking at canceling the cruise and doing it all independently. We could get closer in to Glacier Bay via the park cruise, stay in Gustavus; ferry around to get in Haines, Skayway, Sitka, Juneau, etc. What do you think? We have been on several cruises, and although we love them, we know we could do more independently and probably even save a little money for more tours/sightseeing. I need your ideas and suggestions. As always, thanks for your invaluable planning assistance!
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Feb 18th, 2005, 07:57 AM
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Yes, and I am thankful that we still have time to make changes.
Repete, please tell me what you'd do with the time we have. We still want to do the things we already had planned, but what would you add? Going on to Valdez? Park cruise to Glacier Bay? HELP!
Repete, please tell me what you'd do with the time we have. We still want to do the things we already had planned, but what would you add? Going on to Valdez? Park cruise to Glacier Bay? HELP!
Feb 18th, 2005, 08:37 AM
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BG,
The Southeast isn't my strength, but I think you will get some good advice from others here.
If you can get a ferry schedule that works -- and you're OK with pretty spartan amenities, you can have a great time touring SE independently. That said, though, I'd say SE Alaska is probably the destination where cruises are make more sense than a lot of other places (i.e. the Med or even the Caribbean).
One suggestion is to keep the cruise and tweak the land portion. That way you could add a night or two in out-of-the-way places (Sheep Mountain and/or Seldovia/Halibut Cove).
If you did that, how many extra days would you have?
A nice thing is you can eliminate a lot of the train/van mix on the Southcentral portion -- and no 6 a.m. trips to the depot!
Valdez is an easy and fun trip to add because you've got a beautiful drive with a nice ferry mix. The country side between Palmer and Valdez is very nice. You could stay en route. Sheep Mountain Cabins get good reviews here. Depending on the severity and length of the winter, you might see plenty of remnants at Thompson Pass.
You could also add a little time to the Homer leg, adding a night in Seldovia or Halibut Cove. (The next post you read will be BQ plugging Talkeetna -- not a bad idea either ...
)
These are just a few things off the top of my head. The good thing is ... you're starting with a great plan and it can only get better.
The Southeast isn't my strength, but I think you will get some good advice from others here.
If you can get a ferry schedule that works -- and you're OK with pretty spartan amenities, you can have a great time touring SE independently. That said, though, I'd say SE Alaska is probably the destination where cruises are make more sense than a lot of other places (i.e. the Med or even the Caribbean).
One suggestion is to keep the cruise and tweak the land portion. That way you could add a night or two in out-of-the-way places (Sheep Mountain and/or Seldovia/Halibut Cove).
If you did that, how many extra days would you have?
A nice thing is you can eliminate a lot of the train/van mix on the Southcentral portion -- and no 6 a.m. trips to the depot!
Valdez is an easy and fun trip to add because you've got a beautiful drive with a nice ferry mix. The country side between Palmer and Valdez is very nice. You could stay en route. Sheep Mountain Cabins get good reviews here. Depending on the severity and length of the winter, you might see plenty of remnants at Thompson Pass.
You could also add a little time to the Homer leg, adding a night in Seldovia or Halibut Cove. (The next post you read will be BQ plugging Talkeetna -- not a bad idea either ...
)These are just a few things off the top of my head. The good thing is ... you're starting with a great plan and it can only get better.
Feb 18th, 2005, 09:09 AM
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You know, if you really want to see Southeast, I think I'd stick with the cruise. It's somewhat difficult to travel independently in that part of the state with their being no land option for transportation. You could do the ferry, of course, but I'm not sure that what you save in money is worth what you'd lose in comfort/convenience. With all the driving & moving around from hotel to hotel in Anc/Seward/Homer/Denali, a cruise might be just what the doctor ordered to finish things off on a more relaxing note.
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