Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Alaska Coming to Alaska--Anniversary Vacation--ideas??

My wife and I intend to celebrate our 20th this year by going to Alaska in early October. We recognize that the tourist season is over and we may experience some colder weather and snow--but thats OK. Rates for rental cars are down and as well as motel rates.

We intend to fly into Anchorage, rent a car and go to Denali--Fairbanks--Tok--Glennallen--Palmer--Anchorage--home. We are renting a car with an unlimited mileage agreement.

We plan to spend time at Denali, Fairbanks, and Matanuska Glacier.
Denali opens up to the 29 mile marker after tourist season, so we can cruise a bit on our own in the park.

Is there any specific points of interest on this circuit that anyone here would recommend?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

I might also ask if anyone knows the price of gasoline in this general area. A friend was indicating around $3.50 per gallon in Anchorage.

BUY A MILEPOST and read it a few times...I think I would go ANC to the glacier as a side trip (a half a day should do it) then on to Talkeetna (the gateway to Denali). Then to Fairbanks, if you must...I would rather cross the Denali Highway (weather permitting) and end up greyling fishing a bit.(rent an SUV) Then South and East to Tok, then to Valdez, then hop the ferry to Whittier, then return to ANC, OR from Whittier drop down to Seward (Halibut fish)... OR The Silvers will be in the upper Kenai, big dollies too, then back to ANC. A better plan would be to decide what you really want to do, and spend a week to get the feel of it all and add a few days for side trips. October in ANC will be like November in Pennsylvania.

You would not try to see everythig East of the Mississippi on just one trip, would you?

Happy 20th... Get her a Fur while in ANC!

Thanks UNCAS,
Let me clarify a few things:

1. We are doing as much homework as possible and were just looking for some local input. I have a friend who has been their a number of times and has given a lot of good advice. The Milepost will also be part of our planning.

2. On our 10th and 15th anniversaries we hunted caribou (she and I both shot two) and moose (I got one) respectively, so my wife asked for this one to be unconnected to hunting-the same applies for fishing.

3. We intend to be there 10 days. We hope to come back again with the family, so we are looking to make this trip more of a larger overview of points of interest without spending more than a day or two at one place.


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I thought about renting an SUV but am leaning toward the fuel economy of a car due to the miles we are looking to drive. Do you think a car is a bad choice given the time of year?

More daylight in July, prices will be higher. Are you folks church-goers? If so, look online for a congragation near where you want to see, maybe the Pastor might know someone to show you around, and maybe let you stay with them a few days. I put up guests (visitors from other churches) often and have not paid for lodging in years. October will be fall and the colors will be yellows. The lodging will be a larger cost than transportation. More light, warmth and tourism in Southeast but it will rain most every day.

Spring and fall is for outdoor sports, Summer is for tourists.

I spent exactly 99 days in Iliamna in 1994 and saw maybe 1% of what that area has to offer.

Best wishes, Bill

Viagra, make it a trip she'll remember forever. (grin)

I'd agree with missing FBKS to do the Denali.

but if you're set on coming here then Chena Hot Springs Resort might be really enjoyable that time of year. lower your expectations and you'll be pleased. if they have the same Laotion cook that deep into the end of the season, you'll enjoy dinner, we did a few weeks back, it was very good.

I just got back from Tetlin bout 35 miles from Tok, it's almost worth going just for the view when you top the last hill before descending into Tetlin village, Zululand for sure.

I really like the Mentasta/Slana area if you're going to do the Tok Cutoff to get back to Anchorage.

there's a bed and breakfast there http://www.logcabinwildernesslodge.com/ and I can vouch for the folks that run it, good people.

have a great time, what a wonderful way to spend your anniversary, congrats.

If you're going to see the Matanuska Glacier, stop at the General Store in Chickaloon, MP76.3 and say hi. Hubby and I own the store there. The drive up the Glenn Highway is prettier than the Parks and you'll be sure to see some stunning scenery, whereas on the Parks, you see (maybe) Denali if she decides to peek out.

Just a small peek at 'my' highway

I really appreciate all the tips here. I might reconsider on Fairbanks and use all that extra driving time and expense to do more things around the greater Anchorage area. I'll have to talk this over with the wife.

How often does it rain on average in Anchorage during early October--like 1 out of 5 days? The chart shows 2" for the month. Rain puts a bit more of damper on things for me which was one reason I gravitated toward the interior for touring, though the temps will be more moderate in the south.

We are church-goers and are planning on attending a small house church in Palmer on the 11th at the invitation of a friend. Our network of churches will typically put up guests as well, but my network is basically zero in AK.

Being its the anniversary and all ... I would want a few nights where we don't need to worry about noise migrating to other rooms ...

Viagra ... I'm not that old ... yet

That link on the lodge just might get some service.

Thanks!

There is a very good chance that there will be snow in October, a lot of times there is. So plan for that too.

Not to be mean, but I wish people that visited Alaska would get OUT of Anchorage, it's just another big, gang-infested city. Get out as far as you can in either direction and just enjoy!!

Thanks for the pics.
We like General Stores and will try to take you up on this offer.

I'm being convinced that we should drop off Fairbanks and go no further north than Denali ... just gotta run it by my partner.

Running to Denali leaves only two choices... retracing steps on the Parks or crossing the Denali Highway... Where else are highways gravel?

That may be a tad late for going across as it has some elevation and is not maintained. It is about 140 miles across I believe and will take some time bcause your speed will be down.

You should have a gun just for bear protection and stuff... a shotgun would be fine... Oh, and there will be ptarmigan and grouse all along your route...
art

The Denali highway WILL have snow at that time of year. We went in the 3rd weeks of September about 2 years ago and it was not passable.

Wolfwoman
I noticed from the map that the Denali highway may be a tenuous option as it indicated "no winter maintenance" in which case we would go around by way of Fairbanks rather than coming back down south. I was not sure when winter typically set in on this road, and I'm sure it varies every year. Do they post a sign when it is closed so you don't go in 50 miles, find a drift, and need to return, or is it enter at your own risk and make your own determination.

Sitka,
You can't mention the hunting thing which I agreed not to do ... or I'll start drooling and thinking about how I can make this happen.

Just for the record (I shouldn't even ask) is it easy to get a small game lisence over the counter and hunt on your own? Next thing I'll be thinking about how to sneak in a shotgun or 22. Can I bring a 22 rimfire revolver and hunt with that up there? I have a concealed carry permit for PA. Do they recognize other states concealed carry permits? Any gun rentals up there? Probably an insurance problem.
Can you hunt along the Denali highway?

Now look what you've done...I'm trying to figure out how to "road hunt" small game. I'm trying to figure out if your spoiling or making my 20th anniversary and I can't even ask my wife for her opinion. But I still need those questions answered ... Its not that my wife is opposed to hunting, its just that she does not want our itinerary planned around locating game.


Jeepers, you really know how to get to a fellow...but I still need to know... (sigh)

OK,
I checked the regulations on the AK website. It looks as though there are a lot of small game options--lynx, fox, coyote, grouse, squirrel, hare, all available through a small game lisence for $20. I never even considered this possibility.


I did not see anything for regs on handguns or any other firearms or projectile restrictions for small game. The road hunting laws look like they require getting off the road before making the shot (typical), but no specific distance (like here in PA). All raw furs would need checked in for sealing by the F&G before shipping home.

Now I can tell my wife we will save money by hunting for our food.

The Denali may be passable if other vehicles are going through and keeping the snow down. People have died there from sheer stupidity, getting stuck and leaving the vehicle to die of exposure...

No need for concealed carry in the state of AK... anybody may carry openly or concealed.

There are many places where a guy can just take a walk and find small game. You can buy your hunting license on the internet, in almost any grocery store, and most sporting goods stores anywhere you go. Wal-Mart also sells them.

I probably should not mention the fact the showshoe hares are at the peak of their cycle... Nor the fact you will see unreal numbers of them, everywhere...

There are private lands along the Denali highway, but it is mostly public and open to hunting.

It is all so very easy...

First one is on me little boy!
art

I guess if we entertain the Denali highway option I better consider an SUV.

If you go out the Denali highway and there is 2 feet of snow on the ground, please pay attention to the sign that tells you there is no maintenance beyond that point.

We spent 4 hours digging/driving/towing a pickup out of there this spring that some optimistic soul decided to drive 10 miles out the snowmachine trail. When you start breaking through, reverse is your only option, because there will be no place to turn around. Going further in to look for a turn-around is not a solution, it's just making the problem worse

I'm not trying to scare you off, it's a beautiful place, and well worth the effort to see it.

Small game hunting only includes grouse, hare, ptarmigan, waterfowl, cranes and snipe. But you may need additional permits/tags for waterfowl. You may also need to look into the regs for how far away from the highway you need to be to hunt. Some places require you to just step off the road, others can be up to a mile.

Lots of rules and regs up here, be sure to be careful and know what and where you're hunting