I need help with alaska travel plans for next summer.?

Question

I'm planning on flying into anchorage and renting a car. I'm travelling with my Mom and planning on ten days. I'm planning to drive to Denali, spending 1.5 days there, fairbanks to fly to Barrow for a day, drive south again to Glennallen and Valdez, go for a fjord tour from Valdez, ferry to Whittier and drive back to Anchorage, shop in Anchorage and fly home. I was in Alaska once before (Anchorage, Seward, Denali) and spent six days there. The Seward marine tours were a bust both days due to bad ocean weather so I thought I might have an easier time from Valdez.

Any ideas?

Answer 1

Don't know if you've booked your flights yet, but consider this: Home-Barrow-layover Anchorage-Home is likely cheaper than what you proposed. Certainly would be on Alaskan Airlines. And if you're doing award travel on Alaskan Airlines, a domestic award will take you all the way to Barrow AND allow one layover of unlimited length (FAI or ANC or SEA). I've done that trick a few times.

Another routing alternative would be to fly ANC-Barrow and take the train to Denali and back. When you're 15 feet in the air, you see a lot more and you don't need a car in Denali - make sure you reserve spots on the park bus (or a private tour bus). You could fly to Valdez and take the ferry back (you wouldn't be limited to the car ferry then) And catch the Alaska Railroad from Whitter to Anchorage.

You've got a good survey of the whole state planned out. Sorry Seward was a bust for you, the day cruises into Kenai Fjords NP are great if you can keep your breakfast down (get Scopolamine patches!). That would be my only big alternative suggestion - consider Homer and Seward in leiu of Glenallen and Valdez.

I enjoyed checking out Barrow. There'll be continuous light in summer. Coolest would be September during the whale hunt (I've seen them bring in two Bowheads) and then you'll likely see northern lights. September (and May) are also nice because it isn't peak season and the cooler nights knock down the mosquitos.

In Anchorage, the Native Cultural Center is great. The Museum of Art and History is good. Stop by the Anchorage zoo on your way home if there is any critter you didn't see in the wild.

I thought Frontier Park / AlaskaLand in Fairbanks was good. A tiny bit hokey, but pretty good. UAF has some nice exhibits. There's a diplay about the pipeline a little ways out of town.

Valdez-Whittier is more likely to have calmer water than Seward but consider that you're making it a critical part of your routing (actually, I guess you could just drive back to Anchorage).

Hope that helps.

Answer 2

I have done much the same tour except I flew from Skagway (Glacier Bay) to Anchorage and took a car for 10 days. I have been to Valdez walked to the glacier there and did not take a fjord tour. We had a rough boat ride in Seward but I took those patches (you stick them behind your ear for 3 days) against sea sickness and I had a great time. I was truly disappointed from Denali - after 8 hours in the bus we saw just one bear and one goat. Still I would go back if I could. I think Alaska is the most beautiful place on earth.

Answer 3

North of Fairbanks might want to be slightly a lot. i got here upon the tundra dull. Anchorage jogged my memory of San Bernardino. The southeast panhandle must be considered in case you may fit it in. There are strong lodging for 70-year-olds, and great trekking, fairly in Skagway. The White bypass & Yukon RR holiday to Whitehorse change into the perfect practice experience i have had, and that i'm a convention nut. plenty to ascertain in Juneau, too. both way, Alaska is magnificient. Have a superb time.

Answer 4

try aa.com