Itinerary help (Anchorage/Seward/Denali/Fairbanks)

[beesgma]

I am planning our trip for May, 2008. There are 4 adults with none to minimal hiking skills. Here is our itinerary

5-16-08- arrive in Anchorage around 3PM. Overnight in Anchorage

5-17-08 - take 6:30AM train to Seward/arrive at 11:00AM. 11:30-5:30 Kenai Fjord National Park tour (6 hours). Pick up car. Overnight in Seward.

5-18-08 - SeaLife Museum which opens at 8AM. Then to Exit Glacier for a small hike. On to Anchorage drop off car and get another car from Enterprise. In Anchorage, we would like to stop at the Anchorage Downtown Market & Festival which is open until 6PM for possible souvenirs?

5-19-08 - drive to Talkeetna. Stop at Princess Mt McKinley for coffee on the terrace and view of Mt. McKinley. Flightseeing tour of Mt. McKinley. Drive to Healy to stay overnight

5-20-08 - 6 hour (53 mile) Denali tour. Second night in Healy

5-21-08 - Denali

5-22-08 - Drive to Fairbanks. Riverboat cruise. El Dorado Gold Mine Tour. Overnight in Fairbanks

5-23-08 - Leisurely drive to Anchorage. Drop off car. Overnight in Anchorage

5-24-08 - go to Whittier. Take 26 Glacier Cruise from 1PM to 5:30PM. (Princess cruise leaves at 9:30PM)

 

Questions:

Is it redundant to take the Kenai Fjords cruise and the 26 Glacier cruise?

Can you recommend a flightseeing tour for Mt.McKinley?

Since we are not die hard hikers, do we need a second day in Denali? What else is there to see?

On our drive back from Fairbanks to Anchorage, is there another way to go (like around to Copper Center) or should we just go back on same road?

How do we get from Anchorage to Whittier other than the train?

[Budget Queen]

You are going too early in the season and for Denali Park it really is necessary to plan that at the very end of your routing in my opinion.

So would head first to Fairbanks, then do Denali Park last with the Toklat SHUTTLE bus an NOT the TOUR BUS. You are paying triple the cost.

 

You also are not factoring in that the McKinley Princess is 50 miles away from McKinley flightseeing. So do that before you head to the McKinley Princess, not really worth the stop if the mt isn't out, and there is a fantastic pull off the Parks Highway, just before the lodge that gives the same view.

Plan your flight for the way up, then you have a back up day on the return if canceled.

 

You do not have time, in my opinion to take the Richardson back to Anchorage. And you are missing the most scenic portion Glenallen/Valdez. IF you do want to consider a loop, then get a costly one way Avis car, spend at least a full day in Valdez and ferry direct to Whittier. This gives you an excellent overall experience in Alaska, you would need to cut out that second day in Denali and frankly add at least another to make it a non marathon trip.

 

As for the 2 boat tours, no they certainly are NOT repeative, and very worthwhile to do both. I would also do way more in Fairbanks than your list, plenty more to consider, and in my opinion, it is more than a one day stop. Otherwise you might make better use of your time, skipping it?? Homer is a fantastic area to also consider, especially if you plan on a costly one way Seward/Anchorage car. You current plans hardly make it worth it compared to just taking the train.

 

There is the train transfer to Whittier, cruise contracted buses, independent buses, one way rental car with Avis.

 

 

As I mention- you are early for Denali park, there are alternative plans you perhaps should also consider- spending more time on the Kenai Peninsula including 2 days in Homer. Drive over the Glen Highway with going as far north at Talkeetna on the Parks Highway and skipping Denali park and Fairbanks. Spend a day in Copper Center, and more in Valdez, take the ferry to Whittier for a loop.

 

Keep your options open at this point and do some more homework.