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Joined: Dec 2005
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Campfire Outfitter
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OP
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Joined: Dec 2005
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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
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Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 5,944
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 5,944 |
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.
Don't just be a survivor, be a competitor.
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Joined: Dec 2005
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Campfire Outfitter
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OP
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Dec 2005
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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.
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Joined: Jan 2010
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2010
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I work harder than a ugly stripper....
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 15,357
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 15,357 |
and these guys ...they are here every year http://www.kissalaska.com/
I work harder than a ugly stripper....
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 21,317
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 21,317 |
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.
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Joined: Dec 2003
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,453 |
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.
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 23,404
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Sep 2003
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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.
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 17,491
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 17,491 |
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.)
Sometimes, the air you 'let in'matters less than the air you 'let out'.
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Joined: Dec 2002
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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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.
NRA Benefactor Member
Those who live by the sword get shot by those who don't.
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Joined: Jun 2001
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jun 2001
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ERA Air is Ravn now because ERA Helicopter got their panties in a bunch about the similar name.
The only true cost of having a dog is its death.
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Joined: Sep 2003
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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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.
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Joined: May 2011
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: May 2011
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hb, I will PM you tomorrow when I have a little more time to spare.
"The day I went to work everybody showed up to watch Johnny Luster work. Well, they had a wheelbarrow there, and said I was to push that thing around all day. I looked at it, then turned around and headed for the mountians..."
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Joined: Oct 2004
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 26,490 |
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.
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 55
Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 55 |
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.
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 17,491
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 17,491 |
ERA Air is Ravn now because ERA Helicopter got their panties in a bunch about the similar name. 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.
Sometimes, the air you 'let in'matters less than the air you 'let out'.
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 57,474
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jan 2005
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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
We can keep Larry Root and all his idiotic blabber and user names on here, but we can't get Ralph back..... Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, over....
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Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 96,121 |
I think the ferry is a great way. A little ferry time, some driving etc etc.
"Dear Lord, save me from Your followers"
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Campfire Outfitter
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OP
Campfire Outfitter
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Thanks for the feedback an pms recievrd
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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Whatever you end up doing enjoy the trip! Alaska is truly God's paradise and one of the most beautiful places in the world.
God Bless America!
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