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.
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.
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.
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.
Take the ferry up from Prince Rupert and see the inside passage on your terms. Get off at Haines, Skagway or Valdez and do the rest on land and see Alaska.
No diss- but I've been 45 years in Alaska, and I've yet to "see"" it all.
I've been about a little.. but there are places to go and things to see that I haven't yet been...
This is a BIG fuggin place, especially if you are into micro rather than macro, and a lifetime isn't enough.
Tourists be welcome, however, as long as I am on the road with them...
ie (Keep Alaska Green- bring money)
after the road trip to Valdez (best drive in the state imo) particularly if you stop at Copper Center, Chitina, McCarthy and the park entrance on that side on the way.
after that fave road trips would be Tok Cutoff all the way to Anchorage via Palmer
going up the haul road and Denali are great trips as well, but sticky situation with the rental car companies last I knew.
after the road trip to Valdez (best drive in the state imo) particularly if you stop at Copper Center, Chitina, McCarthy and the park entrance on that side on the way.
after that fave road trips would be Tok Cutoff all the way to Anchorage via Palmer
going up the haul road and Denali are great trips as well, but sticky situation with the rental car companies last I knew.
Damn! You offered sage advise and did not threaten to fight the guy! Good job!
I've made a couple of trips via car and hotel, and were were not disappointed. We toured Denali park and the peninsula and were never short on things to do, only time to see them all.
I wouldn't miss Denali park, Hatcher pass, and Seward (boat tours and hike the glacier). We migrated around and did a little gold prospecting without having too many set plans and had a blast.
Me and my wife flew up in the mid 90's rented a car and spent 21 days
Trying to see all we could. Had a great time. First thing we did when landing
In anchorage was to buy a small tent, fishing poles(cheap), and a few more
Items for car camping. We camped in tent only 7 or 8 days of the 21 there and
Motels the rest of time. It was the best vacation I have ever had. Only thing I would do different is go about a month earlier, we went in September and days
We're getting short fast. Really enjoyed staying at a small town on the west end
Of the Denali highway in a small motel and talking to the owner but don't recall
His name.
Cantwell is right. Had a bar there with dollar bills all over the walls.
Noticed the Op was bringing his wife, might want to toughen up his
Knuckles if his wife is as pretty as mine. Good lookin women were
Far and few when I was there.
I would suggest last week in June - first week in July for a first trip. Start in Fairbanks, down to Homer and leave from Anchorage. (Do some halibut fishing out of Homer and ship it back home) Stay at Denali for a night or two and do the train trip.
We are leaning towards the start in Fairbanks, end in Anchorage. Might do a day or two north out of Fairbanks first though.
Thanks
When in Fairbanks, head over to Ester and eat at the restaurant (crab!) and visit the saloon...
after the road trip to Valdez (best drive in the state imo) particularly if you stop at Copper Center, Chitina, McCarthy and the park entrance on that side on the way.
after that fave road trips would be Tok Cutoff all the way to Anchorage via Palmer
going up the haul road and Denali are great trips as well, but sticky situation with the rental car companies last I knew.
Damn! You offered sage advise and did not threaten to fight the guy! Good job!
lmao! just now saw this
I always offer sage advice
but I only offer to fight the azzholes
Another suggestion to consider, when you make it over to this side of the state, take the train to Seward, pend the night and return back to Anchorage. We've never done this before but it is high on our list of things to do in Alaska.
We have done the train to Denali fron Anchorage and stayed at one of the lodges and it was a relaxing trip. You could probably do the train from Fairbanks to Denali then on to Anchorage and pick up a rental car.
Tag for later. I flew in with my father and grandfather in '97 and rented an RV in Los Anchorage. Drove to Seward and down to Homer then flew out to a lake/river for a week. I am thinking of going in the next few years with the wife kids. I want to drive the camping trailer, but it is such a long drive from the central US I think flying and renting an RV is a better idea.
When in Fairbanks, head over to Ester and eat at the restaurant (crab!) and visit the saloon...
sorry I think both those places are closed these days
was just talkin to my 16 year old the other day that when I was around his age, Ester was a happening place.
still worth going out there to visit with the Postmaster, he's a hoot, but that's about it from what I can glean
I want to drive the camping trailer, but it is such a long drive from the central US I think flying and renting an RV is a better idea.
Yes! you won't be sorry doing this, I don't believe....
Can anyone else provide some tips for a non-cruise Alaska trip? What window of months would you suggest for a family trip?
I would look at early to mid August, tourist season is winding down and a lot of the rv rental companies offer lower rates later in the season.
Sept is my favorite month in Alaska, the fall colors are in full bloom and there's a crispness in the air. It also helps that the hunting season is in full swing too.
Any time from mid May to mid September is good. It really depends on what it is you want to do and see. If fishing is high on the list, you need to look at the timing of the runs so you'll be there for the peak of the salmon species you want to chase. Typically the best weather in the majority of the state is going to be the first two weeks of July, but weather is never typical. I told my brother that for his first trip, and he just came up for a few days over the 4th. It just so happened to be the summer with warmest driest weather on record, except for the time he was here
Here's a way to look at timing. Mid May we start to green up at sea level, later in May at higher elevations, weather is still on the cool side. June the salmon start showing up in the rivers in bulk, the weather is warmer but it can be a wet month. July is typically your warmest month, fishing is in high gear on the ocean and in the rivers and basic hustle and bustle with tourists visiting and residents chasing fish. August the weather starts to get wetter and a bit cooler, early run salmon are done but the silver fishing is still hot. Late August in the interior leaves start turning color. September tourists are gone, fishing is slowing down, leaves are turning color and the kids are back in school. Weather is hit and miss in September, you'll definately have rain but the storms seem to run through in waves with nice weather in between. Fishing is starting to dry up.
Any time from mid May to mid September is good.
It really depends on what it is you want to do and see. If fishing is high on the list, you need to look at the timing of the runs so you'll be there for the peak of the salmon species you want to chase. Typically the best weather in the majority of the state is going to be the first two weeks of July, but weather is never typical. I told my brother that for his first trip, and he just came up for a few days over the 4th. It just so happened to be the summer with warmest driest weather on record, except for the time he was here
Here's a way to look at timing. Mid May we start to green up at sea level, later in May at higher elevations, weather is still on the cool side. June the salmon start showing up in the rivers in bulk, the weather is warmer but it can be a wet month. July is typically your warmest month, fishing is in high gear on the ocean and in the rivers and basic hustle and bustle with tourists visiting and residents chasing fish. August the weather starts to get wetter and a bit cooler, early run salmon are done but the silver fishing is still hot. Late August in the interior leaves start turning color. September tourists are gone, fishing is slowing down, leaves are turning color and the kids are back in school. Weather is hit and miss in September, you'll definitely have rain but the storms seem to run through in waves with nice weather in between. Fishing is starting to dry up.
+1.
#1. is bolded above
#2. Then decide where to go for that purpose
#3. Then decide timing
It's impossible to see all, do all, and visit all - even in a ifetime.
It's impossible to see all, do all, and visit all - even in a ifetime.
That's for darn sure. I'm still discovering hiking trails and spots within an hour of my home and I've lived here almost 20 years. Doesn't even scratch the surface of what's available on the road system, let alone off the road system.
As well as places that one can get to in the winter, but would be nigh-on impossible in the summer.
Swamps are much more enjoyable when froze solid!
It's my opinion that an RV rental is the way to go. Save on food, hotels, stay closer to the good stuff without worrying about anything! Alaska's different than any place else. Police typically won't harass you and run you off. Almost any pullout and gravel pit is fair game.
I'm partial to September here. Clear skies, spectacular vistas. I wish September was three months long....
Just don't hold me up in that RV!
Pull Over!
It's impossible to see all, do all, and visit all - even in a ifetime.
hikerbum
This is the real truth. We have done 2 cruises and 2 CruiseTours and still feel we haven't seen much of Alaska.
Some of the highlights have been the train ride from Fairbanks to Seward with an overnight stop in Denali National Park. Glacier Bay National Park and Kenai Fjords National Park by boat were great. Sawyer Glacier was also an awesome sight. One of my favorite cities in Alaska is Sitka and you won't drive there as is the case with Juneau and Ketchikan. So, traveling by boat or ferry surely has its place. It boils down to deciding what you really want to see most.
But probably the best part of those trips were getting to know some of the folks on here. If you do go to Fairbanks be sure and look up Mr. 2legit2quit.
Our time with him and his lovely wife were one of the highlights of all our times in the state.
Hope you make it happen because I know you will enjoy it.
wow Larry, what a kind thing to say! Thank you.
I'd say it was lucky for me the missus was home, ole ironbender will be along shortly to say that hanging out with me is not all it's cracked up to be! (grin)