Post NB cruise????

[montyone]

If you had 2 nights/3 days after your cruise disembarks in Whittier, what would you do??? I love hearing all your suggestions!! Can only squeeze out these 3 extra vacation days, but I have no idea how to best invest our time...Thanks

[montyone]

Oh, by the way, we are on the Diamond Princess May13th. Thanks!

[Budget Queen]

This is a long way off, so I would not make any firm non refundable plans, and maybe you can find a way to add some days???

 

But with 2 extra days, I would definately head to Seward with at least 1 over night. Plenty to see and do with the Kenai fjords boat tours the top choice. http://www.sewardak.org

 

With another day or an overnight flight, you could also do 1 night in Talkeetna. Plenty to see and do along the way with McKinley flight seeing the top attraction in Talkeetna. Anchorage has plenty to keep you busy. Again make plans and request visitor guides. http://www.anchorage.net

[SourDoughSteve]

Lots of options...

 

Rent a car in Whittier. The only road in and out of town is through the tunnel so you can't get lost. Once you leave the tunnel you'll be traveling through Bear Valley. When you come to the Seward Highway you turn right to go to Anchorage or left to go to Seward. If you turn right towards Anchorage you don't have to go very far before you'll see the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center on the left. Nice way to spend an hour or two viewing some of the native wildlife up close. http://www.alaskawildlife.org/ Just a little further up is the turn off to Girdwood. You might consider staying at the Alyeska Prince. Take the tram to the top and enjoy lunch or dinner. Here is another chance to do glacier dog sledding if you didn't get to do it on the cruise. Alpine Air offers it from the airport just a short distance away. If you're really a daredevil then try the paragliding from the top of the mountain.

 

If you turn left it's just a stones throw to Portage Glacier's visitor center. Take the MV Ptarmigan to view the glacier up close or there's a hiking trail as well.

 

Talkeetna is a great option. The Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge has spectacular views of McKinley and the Alaska Range. Mahay's riverboat service has a great trip out on the rivers in the area. There are also some good hiking trails if you're into that sort of thing. Be careful, the area around Talkeetna is said to have the highest concentration of black bears in the world. And they the typical lower 48 size black bear. These bubba's are big!

 

If you're not so adventuresome as to drive out to the smaller villages such as Talkeetna, Anchorage makes a good base camp for all types of activities. McKinley flightseeing is available as well as fishing excursions, Bear Viewing, jetboat to Knik Glacier, etc.

 

Just remember, the best parts of Alaska are out of town!

[CSloan]

If you plan on going thru Seward, check out the Kenai Fjords Tour (Northwestern Glacier tour). Before our July 16 cruise out of Whittier, we took the boat from Seward to Fox Island, spent the night there, then took the tour in the morning. It was wonderful! The Fox Island cabins are very nice - even without electricity. And, there is a Chef on the island who cooks excellent meals for the residents.

The Fjords tour was also great - tons of wildlife!

[montyone]

Thank you everyone for your replies!! A couple more questions...is there a rental car agency in Whittier I may contact? How long does it take to drive from Anchorage to Talkeetna? Is the Talkeetna Alaska Lodge as nice as the Princess Mt. McKinley Lodge? Thanks for all your help!!

[SourDoughSteve]

Avis has an office in Whittier. Once you clear the tunnel you'll have about 4 hours to Talkeetna depending on wildlife sightings or stops in Anchorage, Wasilla etc. The Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge is a fine property and is just outside of town. The Princess Lodge, also very nice, is about an hour or so away.

[Budget Queen]

I too would agree that the Talkeetna Alaska lodge and McKinley Princess lodge similar with the location of Talkeetna superior. Avis is the only car rental in Whittier. Expect a $125 drop fee to Anchorage.