Where to stay in Alaska?

Question

My husband and I are wanting to go to Alaska next year. We will be flying. We have never been. Where is the best place to stay? Where is an airport besides Anchorage? We want to see the whales and glaciers....

what is the best time to go? we don't ski or fish or have an interest in either.

Answer 1

Timing: September is a good time to come because there is still a lot of light, but most all the tourists and fisherman have gone home. So there are plenty of vacancies, campsites, etc. And not nearly so many motorhomes clogging the roads. And as we start to get freezing nights, it really knocks down the squitters. May is a good time for the same reasons.

Locations: www.alaskaairlines.com has a route map. I don't know of any Alaskan airport that jets go to that Alaska Airlines doesn't.

Your big choice is between South Central Alaska (Anchorage, access to Denali/Mckinley, and the Kenai Peninsula) or Southeast Alaska (Inside Passage, Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka, Petersburg, Glacier Bay, etc).

In SC AK for Glaciers and whales, I'd go to Anchorage, rent a car, drive an hour to Portage Glacier with gear to hike to the glacier in wind and rain, then continue another 2 hours to Exit Glacier outside of Seward and hike the mile to the base of the glacier.

Overnight in Seward having booked an all-day trip out of Resurrection Bay toward Kenai Fjords National Park. You'll certainly see seals, dophins, puffins, etc and may very well see whales.

Also in Seward, see the Sea Life Center. A very good modern aquarium that doesn't try to show you cute tropical fish, but the critters that are really from that area.

So that's got your big items done in 3 days. What else to do? Homer (2.5 hours further on) is a beautiful setting with an excess of artists and fishermen. Nice hiking trails out of Cooper Landing.

OR, the SE AK option:

Take a "Loveboat" style cruise up the inside passanger (2000 fellow passangers and seven square meals a day) or book a smaller boat that can get in close to the bears and the glaciers. Make sure Glacier Bay NP is on their itinerary. I haven't heard of anyone doing the Inside Passage without seeing lots of whales. Sometimes at a distance. Sometimes the whole boat is surrounded by a feeding pod.

On the cheap, take the Alaskan State Ferry and camp out on the deck. Hop off in Juneau for a few days (you can re-board the next ferry that comes by) and hitch a ride and hike around the glaciers that are close to town.

If you are inclined towards a cruise but want something more adventurous or affordable, look into re-positioning cruises done at the end and beginning of the season. Maybe Japan-Aleutians-Glacier Bay. Or Glacier Bay to Mexico, etc. Not peak season, but they go past some locations that most people never see.

Hope that helps,
David

Answer 2

There is an airport in fairbanks, King salmon, Nome, Cordova, Adak, and lots of other places. Go to places near the coast and go on some of the cruises there. Go to this web site it should help a lot. http://www.alaskasbesttravel.com/ Have a good day and good luck.