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Thinking of the wife and I taking an Alaskan vacation next year.....time open (June? July? Aug?). Most people tell me cruise is the way to go, but I am thinking an escorted all land tour. Possibly with a day or two cruise.

Looking for input
Preferences?
Anyone ever do the small boat cruse? 60- 100 passengers? Recommendations?

Land tour recommendations?

Thanks

A cruise is great if you like cruises and want to do a cruise. If you don't have a strong desire to do a cruise, you will see and do more on land.

That is my thought on doing the land. Alaska is huge, its tough to manage a self guided tour with limited time, so I am leaning towards a group thing.

and these guys ...they are here every year http://www.kissalaska.com/

Packaged tours aren't really my thing so I'd say rent a car or rv and hit the road to see the state at your pace. Seems many packaged tours spend too much time at gift shops.

As it is a big state, narrow down some things you'd really like to see and go from there. I'd say a glacier cruise and or fishing trip on the salt water would be a good addition to a land trip. Or you could drive from Anchorage to Valdez, but the long way through Fairbanks, take the ferry to Whittier and get the combination of seeing the PWS and much of the state from the roads.

The cruises are nice, but they or any package tour for that matter tend to herd you around like sheep. I suggest getting a copy of the Milepost and see what you can do on your own.

IMO, if you really want to "see" a lot of AK, buy some plane tickets on ERA or other smaller outfits and fly into some smaller towns. The planes fly low enough to give you a good look at what Alaska looks like. Just do it on a nice day. Flying through the mountain passes is a hoot. Spend a day or two in Dillingham or some other small town getting the flavor and go back to the big city and head up to Denali etc.

Kind of what I was thinking as well. (ERA is Ravn now though; hard to keep up with the Hageland- Cape Smythe-Frontier-ERA-Ravn names and renaming with the small company take-overs/mergers.)

Having been to Alaska quite a few times and last summer doing a cruise with my wife I would say that a cruise is NOT the way to see Alaska. Almost everything you see when in port is tourist stuff set up just to cater to the cruise ships. I felt pressed for time in almost every port.

IF you do a cruise, make sure you do some land stuff either before or after. There is some good stuff to see but everything is a long ways away!

I am going to rent an RV and drive for a week in a few years.

ERA Air is Ravn now because ERA Helicopter got their panties in a bunch about the similar name.

We enjoyed Alaska from both the cruise and then renting a car and driving around.

I would like to go again. Go in the summertime.

hb, I will PM you tomorrow when I have a little more time to spare.

Laurie and I honeymooned in AK this past June. It was spectacular. We flew into Anchorage and rented a car. We went to Denali for 3 days then down to Seward for two then over to Homer for two. More than anything else, we enjoyed the 9 hour glacier cruise into Kenai Fjords National Park. The amount of sea life we saw was staggering. We saw Killer whales jumping completely out of the water. Humpbacks spouting right next to us. Baby killer whales swimming next to their moms. Sea otters cracking clams on their bellies. And so much more. Hearing and seeing the glaciers calve may have been the coolest of all. When the ice cracks it sounds like a high powered rifle.

Depending on how much time you have and what part of AK you want to see... Taking the Alaska Marine Highway through the inside passage to Haines (with stops in between) and driving to Anchorage would be a great trip.

I figured that was why they went with ERA in the first place when Frontier took over - since Frontier Flying Service was too easily confused with the bigger Frontier Airlines.

Our honeymoon almost 20 years ago was rent a car. Got on state ferry to get out of Haines and to Ketchikan finally to fly home.

I'd never waste Money on a cruise. But the ferry was cheap enough and worth a few days. But it wasn't as cool as montague on a 27 foot whaler at thanksgiving one year

Drive by far the way IMHO. And as close to sept 1 or after. But be careful as rooms start to close around then for winter

I think the ferry is a great way. A little ferry time, some driving etc etc.

Thanks for the feedback an pms recievrd

Whatever you end up doing enjoy the trip! Alaska is truly God's paradise and one of the most beautiful places in the world.