Our 14 day Alaskan Adventure Itinerary

[janine004]

Hi fellow travelers. Below is our 14 day Alaskan adventure itinerary. We are an energetic family of 4 travelling with 2 children, ages 7 and 12 and have a very ambitious itinerary. We'll be on the Radiance departing Vancouver on 7/24/15, with 7 days on a DIY land tour after the cruise. We're all so excited for this trip. I'd welcome any comments or suggestions!

 

Day 1 (7/24) – Vancouver

Skytrain from hotel to Canada Place, check in luggage with porter

City bus to Stanley Park, Visit aquarium and quick stroll along sea wall

City bus back to Canada place, embark Radiance by 2:30 pm.

Day 2 (7/25) – At Sea

Day 3 (7/26) - Ketchikan

Alaska Discovery Center, Creek Street

Drive rental car to Saxman village, Herring Cove, Totem Bight/Settlers Cove

Day 4 – (7/27) – Icy Straight Point

Stroll to Hoonah along shore, Cannery Museum, relax on ship

Day 5 – (7/28) Juneau

Drive rental car to Mendenhall Glacier, Nugget Falls Hike, then to hatchery, Auke Lake, Eagle River. Tram ride with hike atop, if weather is decent.

Day 6 – (7/29) Skagway

Drive rental car to Yukon, Tutshi Lake, Carcross museum and desert, Emerald Lake, walking tour of Skagway, if time.

Day 7 – (7/30) - At Sea

Day 8 – (7/31) – Seward

Major Marines Tour of Kenai Fjords, then bus to Anchorage Airport, pick up rental car, drive to hotel in Wasilla.

Day 9 (8/1) – Drive through Hatcher Pass, short hike on Reed Lakes trail, then to Independence Mine, then drive to hotel in Talkeetna.

Day 10 (8/2) Flight and glacier landing out of Talkeetna, then drive to hotel in Healy.

Day 11 (8/3) All day shuttle bus in Denali

Day 12 (8/4) Drive to Fairbanks, University of Alaska Museum, Riverboat Discovery Tour, Pioneer Park, Ice Museum w/Aurora movie @ 8, drive back to Healy.

Day 13 (8/5) Denali – dog sled demo, nature hike from visitor center, drive to Palmer in evening.

Day 14 (8/6) Ox Farm, Reindeer Farm, Knik glacier jet boat tour. Drive back down through Anchorage to drive along Turnagain arm to Beluga Point. Return car, flight departs Anchorage at 12:40 a.m. !

 

Whaddayathink? :)

[ckelly14]

Just off the Radiance of the Seas and did almost the exact same itinerary, but in the opposite direction. We also planned a DIY tour. I hope to have a full review soon but just came back yesterday. Our kids are 9 and 10.

 

The only tip I would suggest off the bat is to consider reducing the amount of driving you are doing. Even though I love to drive, driving in Alaska is exhausting with all the construction and the lack viable alternative routes, especially with the wildfires we had to deal with. Plus, you miss out on some of the amazing views! It took over 7 hours just from Anchorage to Denali and 6 hours back. After driving to Denali and back, I was so happy to be on the Coastal Classic train from Anchorage to Seward, I cancelled my rental car in Skagway and booked a train/bus combo with Chilkook charters. Highly recommend both of these train routes.

 

There is good public transportation and ubiquitous tours in both Juneau and Ketchikan, both available right off the boat. I would consider cancelling the rental cars in those areas.

 

If the weather is nice I recommend seeing Vancouver by bike instead of a city bus. We rented 2 tandem bikes and biked the whole city, the majority of which as dedicated bike lanes.

 

Hope you have a bunch of vacation time saved because you will need a vacation from your vacation!!

 

 

Please ask me anything!

Edited June 29, 2015 by ckelly14

[janine004]

Thank you ckelley for your advice. I teach, so I will have a week more of vacation after we get home, hence the needed vacation from the vacation, LOL. My DH, on the other hand will only have one day to recover! You're right, it's a lot of driving and we'll be sharing the time in the drivers seat. I'll also plan for possible delays in driving time. We're flexible, so we may change things up a bit once we get there. What was the highlight of your trip? Any "Must do's" that are not on our itinerary? Thanks, Janine :)

[ckelly14]

Thank you ckelley for your advice. I teach, so I will have a week more of vacation after we get home, hence the needed vacation from the vacation, LOL. My DH, on the other hand will only have one day to recover! You're right, it's a lot of driving and we'll be sharing the time in the drivers seat. I'll also plan for possible delays in driving time. We're flexible, so we may change things up a bit once we get there. What was the highlight of your trip? Any "Must do's" that are not on our itinerary? Thanks, Janine :)

 

I would highly recommend going to Samba Grill and Giovanni's on board. My kids wanted to go to the Windjammer for every meal but I wanted at least a few sit down meals, and the food at Cascades was too inconsistent. Chops was not worth it, IMO.

 

Personally I think the train from Anchorage to Seward (or the opposite direction in your case) was a must do, but I don't think you'll have the time in Seward. Views were terrific.

[emeraldcity]

I would highly recommend going to Samba Grill and Giovanni's on board. My kids wanted to go to the Windjammer for every meal but I wanted at least a few sit down meals, and the food at Cascades was too inconsistent. Chops was not worth it, IMO.

 

Personally I think the train from Anchorage to Seward (or the opposite direction in your case) was a must do, but I don't think you'll have the time in Seward. Views were terrific.

 

I've heard the drive from Seward to Anchorage is stunning ... in our case, we're doing the RCI landtour so it'll be a motorcoach for us in that segment ... we're on the July 10th Northbound Radiance cruise ... I am SOOOO ready to Get Out There.

 

And we did book Samba Grill for our third night on board.

 

Janine ... I generally do a rather detailed review after my trips, but it will be too late for you since we will be getting home about the time you get to Vancouver.

 

One of the things you might want to do before you head out is download the times of the tides in Icy Straight Point. I found a reference to tidepooling in the walk along the shore (which we are also planning) so I'm going to schedule shopping in the morning, and the walk in early afternoon when low tide is expected during our visit.

 

And in Juneau we are planning on the public bus to Mendenhall where we will explore at our own pace. I'm not a big fan of rental cars ... I don't like to be saddled with a vehicle I can't figure out where all the right controls are ... but that's just me.

[janine004]

emeraldcity - Thank you for the tide pooling tip in Icy Straight Point ... Kids will love that :)

[~*Lou*~]

We're just back from a similar trip, also with young children. I did a detailed trip report (here: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2221528 in case you haven't already found it). I'm not sure where you are flying into Vancouver from, if there will be any jet lag, our children struggled with that more than I anticipated so you might get less done in Vancouver than you hope.

 

Lou :)

[WrittenOnYourHeart]

Have a great trip!! And take care of the Radiance ~ I'll be getting on her the day you get off. :)

[CRUISEBOY305]

I've heard the drive from Seward to Anchorage is stunning ... in our case, we're doing the RCI landtour so it'll be a motorcoach for us in that segment ... we're on the July 10th Northbound Radiance cruise ... I am SOOOO ready to Get Out There.

 

And we did book Samba Grill for our third night on board.

 

Janine ... I generally do a rather detailed review after my trips, but it will be too late for you since we will be getting home about the time you get to Vancouver.

 

One of the things you might want to do before you head out is download the times of the tides in Icy Straight Point. I found a reference to tidepooling in the walk along the shore (which we are also planning) so I'm going to schedule shopping in the morning, and the walk in early afternoon when low tide is expected during our visit.

 

And in Juneau we are planning on the public bus to Mendenhall where we will explore at our own pace. I'm not a big fan of rental cars ... I don't like to be saddled with a vehicle I can't figure out where all the right controls are ... but that's just me.

 

It is. OMG.

[CRUISEBOY305]

Hi fellow travelers. Below is our 14 day Alaskan adventure itinerary. We are an energetic family of 4 travelling with 2 children, ages 7 and 12 and have a very ambitious itinerary. We'll be on the Radiance departing Vancouver on 7/24/15, with 7 days on a DIY land tour after the cruise. We're all so excited for this trip. I'd welcome any comments or suggestions!

 

Day 1 (7/24) – Vancouver

Skytrain from hotel to Canada Place, check in luggage with porter

City bus to Stanley Park, Visit aquarium and quick stroll along sea wall

City bus back to Canada place, embark Radiance by 2:30 pm.

Day 2 (7/25) – At Sea

Day 3 (7/26) - Ketchikan

Alaska Discovery Center, Creek Street

Drive rental car to Saxman village, Herring Cove, Totem Bight/Settlers Cove

Day 4 – (7/27) – Icy Straight Point

Stroll to Hoonah along shore, Cannery Museum, relax on ship

Day 5 – (7/28) Juneau

Drive rental car to Mendenhall Glacier, Nugget Falls Hike, then to hatchery, Auke Lake, Eagle River. Tram ride with hike atop, if weather is decent.

Day 6 – (7/29) Skagway

Drive rental car to Yukon, Tutshi Lake, Carcross museum and desert, Emerald Lake, walking tour of Skagway, if time.

Day 7 – (7/30) - At Sea

Day 8 – (7/31) – Seward

Major Marines Tour of Kenai Fjords, then bus to Anchorage Airport, pick up rental car, drive to hotel in Wasilla.

Day 9 (8/1) – Drive through Hatcher Pass, short hike on Reed Lakes trail, then to Independence Mine, then drive to hotel in Talkeetna.

Day 10 (8/2) Flight and glacier landing out of Talkeetna, then drive to hotel in Healy.

Day 11 (8/3) All day shuttle bus in Denali

Day 12 (8/4) Drive to Fairbanks, University of Alaska Museum, Riverboat Discovery Tour, Pioneer Park, Ice Museum w/Aurora movie @ 8, drive back to Healy.

Day 13 (8/5) Denali – dog sled demo, nature hike from visitor center, drive to Palmer in evening.

Day 14 (8/6) Ox Farm, Reindeer Farm, Knik glacier jet boat tour. Drive back down through Anchorage to drive along Turnagain arm to Beluga Point. Return car, flight departs Anchorage at 12:40 a.m. !

 

Whaddayathink? :)

 

Just on Radiance about a month ago on a cruise tour. Alaska is stunning. Please report back and let us know how your trip went. Post photos if you can. Your itinerary sounds amazing.

 

If you look at my signature, you'll find the link to my photos from Alaska as well as the cruise compasses. Feel free to have a look :)

[bluebeard39]

For CruiseBoy 305. Could you tell me what type of camera and lens you used for your Alaska Pictures. Thank You

Paul

Edited June 30, 2015 by bluebeard39

[janine004]

Cruiseboy - Your photos are amazing! Looking through them, I feel like I've been on a virtual vacation. I'll just use your pictures for our vacation photos and put them in my scrapbook, OK? Just kidding. Thanks for posting them!

[janine004]

We're just back from a similar trip, also with young children. I did a detailed trip report (here: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2221528 in case you haven't already found it). I'm not sure where you are flying into Vancouver from, if there will be any jet lag, our children struggled with that more than I anticipated so you might get less done in Vancouver than you hope.

 

Lou :)

 

Thank you Lou! I actually read your entire thread prior to posting my itinerary. We're in CA, so will only have a 1 hour time difference (we'll gain an hour), although I have been letting the kids stay up too late this Summer, so I plan to back up their bed times soon so they are ready for early adventures! By the way, the gentleman at the laundromat in Vancouver was right, you are a good mom :)