Please post your planned or completed itinerary

[judyf]

I did the above trip last year, and it teased me for a more inclusive trip this year. So this time I'm doing a land tour and a SB cruise:

 

May 26: Leave Jersey, stop in Minneapolis, go to a ballgame (baseball parks are one of my things and I need to get to the Metrodome before it's replaced)

May 27: Minnesota Zoo; Fly to Seattle, then on to Anchorage

May 28: Fly to Barrow; Tour out to Pt. Barrow, the northernmost point of the USA; see Midnight Sun

May 29: Bird Watching Tour; Artic Swim?; Fly to Fairbanks

May 30: Chena Hot Springs for the Ice Museum and Hot Springs

May 31: Tour to Goldmine and Pipeline, UAF Museum & Botanical Gardens

June 1: Train to Denali; Visit Huskies; Horseback Riding?

June 2nd: 6:30am Shuttle to Eielson

June 3rd: Train to Anchorage

June 4th: Train to Girdwood, Alyeska Tram; Train to Whittier, Prince William Sound Cruise; Train back to Anchorage

June 5th: Alaska Zoo; Rent a bike

June 6th: Train to Seward, Kenai Fjords 7 1/2 hr Cruise

June 7th: Exit Glacier; Sealife Center; Depart on HAL Cruise

June 8th: College Fjords

June 9th: Glacier Bay

June 10th: Haines: Wildlife Experience (Photo Tour)

June 11th: Juneau: Photo tour

June 12th: Ketchikan: Rainforest Hike

June 14th: Vancouver: Aquarium; Rent Bike

June 15th: Bus to Seattle, flight back to Jersey

June 16th: Sleep

 

JerseyJaguar I would love to hear more about the things you did in Seattle pre and post cruise last year, as we have 3 1/2 days to explorer,

 

I would like to know what you liked, what you would skip or a do not miss thing you did.

 

I don't want to take up this thread with that info, if you could e-mail me that would be great. autumnsam@aol.com

 

Thanks

[JerseyJaguar]

JerseyJaguar I would love to hear more about the things you did in Seattle pre and post cruise last year, as we have 3 1/2 days to explorer,

 

I would like to know what you liked, what you would skip or a do not miss thing you did.

 

I don't want to take up this thread with that info, if you could e-mail me that would be great. autumnsam@aol.com

 

Thanks

I sent you an email (from aprile) with all the links I think are most important. Seattle's a great city and there's plenty to do there. Just make sure you get to the Market and try the free samples they give out there.

 

I recommend spending time in Seattle to everyone, I've always been lucky with weather when I've been there, but even if I wasn't, there's lots to do inside if it's raining.

[sheshells]

If you actually make it this far, reading through the pages and pages of itineraries, congratulations! It is a wonderful resource for everyone planning their trip. I assure you that I have done a TON of homework to get to this point and spent MONTHS of reading books and posts like these to make the most knowledgable, wise choices for our trip. I always plan AS IF it will be my ONE and ONLY chance to see a place! Thanks to all those who post on this board. You are all awesome resources, especially to a Alaska first timer like me!

 

ALASKA TRIP SCHEDULE

 

Day 1 Fly to Seattle/ stay overnight/ rent car to sightsee and dinner?

 

Day2 Fly to Anchorage,taxi to B & B

Visit DT Market, walk downtown, art museum or Alaskan Heritage center

Dinner at Glacier Brewhouse

Walk Coastal trail

Stay at A Wildflower Inn B& B

 

Day 3 Enjoy breakfast at Inn

Pick up car Hertz Downtown, ~8:00

Drive to Talkeetna via Hatchers Pass (add 2 hours?)

Other scenic stops? (Musk Ox, Eagle River, Spirit houses)

Poke around Talkeetna

Dinner at West Rib Café?

Stay at Meandering Moose B & B

 

Day 4 Do a flightseeing trip; Denali Grand

Drive to Denali NP, catch Dog demo, pick up shuttle tickets, visitors center

Dinner at Rosie’s Diner?

Stay over in Healy, Denali Lakeview Inn

 

Day 5 Denali Shuttle (7:30) to Eielson Center. (9 hours RT plus time at Eielson)

If the big one is out, catch shuttle to Wonder Lake.

Dinner at Glitter Gulch? ___________

Stay at Denali Lakeview, Healy

 

Day 6 More time in Denali NP, if needed

Drive back to Anchorage (5 hours plus stops)

Stop over in Talkeetna for second chance at flight if first one was cancelled.

Return car by 5:00 pm

Dinner at _________

Stay over at A Wildflower Inn B & B, Anchorage

 

Day 7 Early train to Seward (6:45 am), sack breakfast from Inn

Arrive in Seward (11:00)

Sealife Center

Exit Glacier

Dinner____________

Stay at Alaska Point of View, Seward

 

Day 8 Northwestern Fjords cruise with Alaskan Heritage @ 9:00 (9 hours)

Return at 6:00, Dinner downtown @_________

Stay at Alaska Point of View, Seward

 

Day 9 Morning Kayak paddle

Board Statendam, afternoon

Dinner on boat!

Begin cruise, 8:00

Day 10 Cruise College Fjord

 

Day 11 Cruise Glacier Bay

Celebrate 30 year Anniversary!

 

Day 12 Haines, tour town, hike

 

Day 13 Juneau, whale watching with Harv and Marv, Mendenhall Glacier, walk town

 

Day 14 Ketchikan, Misty Fjords Floatplane (3-5), shop, ride Funicular

 

Day 15 At sea

 

Day 16 Disembark early at Vancouver, Fly home, back to reality

[NancyIL]

The CanCan is going to LaConner for new engines and a few minor upgrades, and after that she'll be in Charleston, OR for the summer Tuna fishing season. Now that the boat is back to being my "play toy" and not a business venture, I get to live and play wherever the heck I feel like it!

 

As for me, yes, I'll be cruising back to Juneau to complete this round trip... We're on the 5/27 n/b Carnival Spirit cruise... at least that's the plan as of yesterday! Should be interesting to not have to drive the boat for at least a few days! ;-)

 

-Case

 

I hope you'll enjoy being a passenger rather than the ship's captain for a few days!

[judyf]

I sent you an email (from aprile) with all the links I think are most important. Seattle's a great city and there's plenty to do there. Just make sure you get to the Market and try the free samples they give out there.

 

I recommend spending time in Seattle to everyone, I've always been lucky with weather when I've been there, but even if I wasn't, there's lots to do inside if it's raining.

 

Thank you, thank you thank you, I'm off to check my mail.

 

I'm looking forward to a few days in Seattle, a place we always wanted to visit . We will unwind after the long flight and get use to the time change, jet lag, from east coast to west coast before we borad the Pearl.

[Cosmic Rays]

• Friday July 4th
  • Leave Newark at 1:55 PM and arrive Anchorage at 8:14 PM
    
  • Pick up Avis rental car at Airport in Anchorage
    
  • Check in to Holiday Inn Express Anchorage near airport

  [*]Saturday July 5th

  • Travel by car to Seward Alaska
    
  • Take Renown 6 hour Kenai FjordsNational Park Wildlife and Scenery Tour
    
  • Check in to Holiday Inn Express Seward on the Small Boat Harbor

  [*]Sunday July 6th

  • In the morning visit The Alaska SeaLife Center by 9:30 AM. Take “Behind the Scenes Tour” at 10:30 AM and continue visit after tour.
    
  • Seavey’s for a 1:45 PM Sled Dog Tour
    
  • Visit Exit Glacier

  [*]Monday July 7th

  • Leave Seward in the morning heading towards Girdwood
    
  • Visit the Portage Glacier and the Begich, Boggs Visitor Center.
    
  • Visit The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
    
  • Check in to The Hotel Alyeska at the Alyeska Resort
    
  • Dinner at the Seven Glaciers Restaurant

  [*]Tuesday July 8th

  • After check out, Breakfast at The Bake Shop in Girdwood
    
  • Travel 113 miles north to Talkeetna
    
  • Lunch at The Roadhouse in Talkeetna
    
  • Take Talkeetna Air Taxi 2 hour Grand Denali Flightseeing Tour with Glacier Landing at 2:00 PM
    
  • Travel 153 miles north to The McKinley Chalet Resort

  [*]Wednesday July 9th

  • Take 6:15 AM 12 hour DenaliWonderLake Shuttle

• Thursday July 10th
  • Denali Outdoor Center for a 2 hour Nenana River Canyon Run White Water Rafting Adventure
    
  • After lunch we will drive back to Talkeetna and check in to the Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge

  [*]Friday July 11th

  • Drive leisurely back to Anchorage
    
  • Visit The Alaska Native Heritage Center
    
  • Check in to The Hotel Captain Cook in downtown Anchorage
    
  • Return the rental car to Avis in their downtown office
    
  • Dinner at Simon and Seaforts

  [*]Saturday July 12th

  • We will be picked up between 8:00 and 8:15 AM by Prince William Sound Glacier Cruises
    
  • We will be provided with a guided tour along the Seward Highway as we travel to Whittier
    
  • At 11:00 AM we will take a 6 hour Wilderness Explorer Glacier Cruise of Prince Williams Sound
    
  • At 5:00 PM we will board the Diamond Princess

  [*]Sunday July 13th

  • Scenic cruising into College Fjords and the Gulf of Alaska

  [*]Monday July 14th

  • Scenic cruising into Glacier Bay National Park

  [*]Tuesday July 15th

  • Dock in Skagway at 7:00 AM
    
  • Picked up on the dock at 7:30 AM for a Chilkoot Charters 7 hour Yukon Bus and Rail Excursion
    
  • Explore Skagway on our own prior to ships departure at 8:30 PM

• Wednesday July 16th
  • Dock in Juneau at 6:30 AM
    
  • Picked up on the dock at 8:30 AM by Harv and Marv for a 3.75 hour Whale Watching Tour
    
  • Transported by Harv and Marv to Coastal Helicopter for a 1 hour Juneau Icefield Glacier Excursion
    
  • Transported by Coastal back to the docks. Time and weather permitting, take the Mount Roberts Tramway prior to ship departing at 4:00 PM

  [*]Thursday July 17th

  • Dock in Ketchikan at 10:00 AM
    
  • Explore Ketchikan and have lunch,
    
  • Picked up at the Rain Gauge at 12:15 PM by Island Wings for a 2 hour Misty Fjords Flightseeing Tour
    
  • Transported back to the Rain Gauge by Island Wings where at 2:45 PM we will be met by Lois Munch of Classic Tours for a 2 hour Totem Tour in a restored 1955 Chevy sedan
    
  • Time permitting we can spend a little more time wandering around Ketchikan prior to the ship departing at 6:00 PM

  [*]Friday July 18th

  • Scenic cruising the Inside Passage the entire day.

  [*]Saturday July 19th

  • The ship docks in Vancouver at 7:30 AM
    
  • Leave Vancouver at 1:05 PM and arrive Newark at 9:26 PM

 

Were Juneau and Ketchikan tours recommendable?

[Cosmic Rays]

June 26--Fly to Vancouver, BC from Florida

June 27--Depart on Millennium

June 28--Cruise Inside Passage

June 29--Ketchikan--Misty Fjords Boat and Floatplane Wilderness Adventure

June 30--Juneau--Glacier Dogsled Adventure via Helicopter and Mendenhall Glacier & Gardens

July 1--Skagway--Eagle Preserve Wildlife River Adventure and Cruise

July 2--Icy Stait Point--Spasski River Valley Wildlife and Bear Search and Whale and Marine Mammals Cruise

July 3--Hubbard Glacier

July 4--Train to Anchorage, Check out Anchorage and 4th of July stuff and catch evening plane home.

 

How were your tours in Juneau and Ketchikan? Do you recommend?

[Loblolly_Cruiser]

Great thread! We're still 6 months out, but this is the plan for now...

 

Day 1 - Sat 8/22

Travel - Houston to Anchorage - Continental Airlines

Day 2 - Sun 8/23

Travel - Anchorage to Denali NP - Alaska RR ~ 8:15am

Denali Cabin Nite Dinner Theater ~ 5:30pm

Day 3 - Mon 8/24

Denali NP

Kantishna Wilderness Trails Tour ~ 6:30am

Day 4 - Tue 8/25

Travel - Denali NP to Anchorage - Parkway Tours Motor coach ~ 7:20am

Day 5 - Wed 8/26

Travel - Anchorage to Whittier - Alaska RR ~ 10:00am

Embark Carnival Spirit - Underway ~ 9:00pm

Day 6 - Thu 8/27

Cruise Prince William Sound & College Fjord

Day 7 - Fri 8/28

Sitka ~ 8:30am - 7:00pm

History & Culture Tour

Day 8 - Sat 8/29

Juneau ~ 7:00am - 11:00pm

Mendenhall Glacier

Glacier Gardens

Mt Roberts Tram

Alaska State Museum

Alaska Brewing Co

Day 9 - Sun 8/30

Skagway ~ 7:00am - 4:30pm

White Pass & Yukon RR Carcross Bus & Rail (Chilkoot Tours)

Cruise Lynn Canal

Day 10 - Mon 8/31

Ketchikan ~ 11:00am - 8:00pm

Rain Forest Sanctuary, Totem, and Sawmill Tour

Day 11 - Tue 9/01

Cruise Inside Passage

Day 12 - Wed 9/02

Disembark Vancouver BC ~ 8:00am

Travel - Vancouver BC to Seattle WA - Quick Shuttle

Day 13 - Thu 9/03

Travel - Seattle to Houston - Continental Airlines

[relientKitten]

This is our planned itinerary so far:

 

*Aug 24th - Anchorage

Fly to Anchorage, arrive at midnight

Overnight at Arctic Fox Inn

*Aug 25th - Anchorage

Alaskan Native Heritage Center

Find lunch

Anchorage Museum of History and Art

Wild Ride Sled Dog Rodeo

Find dinner

Overnight at Arctic Fox Inn

*Aug 26th - Seward

Train to Seward

Ididaride Kennel Tour

Find lunch

Exit Glacier

Find dinner

Overnight at Alaska's Point of View Suites

*Aug 27th - Seward

Kenai Fjords Northwestern Fjords Tour

Find dinner

Overnight at Alaska's Point of View Suites

*Aug 28th - Seward

Alaska Sea Life Center and Behind the Scenes Tour

Walking tour of downtown Seward

Find Lunch

Board Celebrity Millenium

*Aug 29th - Hubbard Glacier

Cruising

*Aug 30th - Juneau

Shuttle to Mendenhall Glacier

Mt. Roberts Tramway (depending on weather)

*Aug 31st - Skagway

Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park

*Sep 1st - Icy Strait Point

(nothing planned for this day, just a nice time in town visiting with the locals)

*Sep 2nd - Ketchikan

Totem Heritage Center

Saxman Native Village

Totem Bight State Park (depending on how we feel)

Visit Creek Street

*Sep 3rd - Inside Passage

Cruising

*Sep 4th - Vancouver

Debark

Train back to Portland

[cruzzers]

We are doing a 7-day Island Princess cruise and 6-day land tour,(Tour KA-6) followed by a 2-day/one-night rail/bus tour of Mt. McKinley.(Tour M5B)

 

Aug 3-10: Fly into Seattle and transfer to Vancouver to meet the Island Princess for our 7-day cruise.

 

Aug 10: Disembark Island Princess in Whittier and travel by Catamaran in Prince William Sound to Valdez, where we will board a motor coach to Copper River Princess Lodge for 2 nights.

 

Aug 11: We will visit the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park

 

Aug 12: Motor coach to the Deanli Princess Lodge along the Denali Highway and spend 2 nights here.

 

Aug 13: Take a morning Tundra Wilderness Tour in the Denali National Park.

 

Aug 14: Board Princess Rail to Fairbanks for 2 nights.

 

Aug 15: Cruise on a sternwheeler riverboat and visit the El Dorado Gold Mine and pan for gold.

 

Aug 16: Depart Fairbanks Princess Lodge and begin next tour, *(M5B) by rail to Mt. McKinley Princess Lodge for a one night/2 day tour.

 

Aug 17: Take an evening motor coach to Anchorage, where we will go to the airport and fly home late in the evening. Phew! We will be sooo tired!

 

Note: We decided to add the extra tour at the end of our cruise tour due to the fact that our flight home was much more reasonable from Anchorage than Fairbanks and we wanted to see the McKinley area.

 

*The additional rail and coach tours can be arranged online at: aklodges@princesstours.com

[Party Teacher]

Please critique my itinerary!

 

7 day June cruise on Island Princess + 5 day independent land tour

(no rental car! YIKES!)

 

Ports: Ketchikan - Lumberjack Show, Totem Bight Park, Creek Street

Juneau - Mt. Roberts Tram, Shuttle bus to Mendenhall,

possible museum

Skagway - Yukon Jeep Stampede, Klondike Gold Dredge Tour,

possible Jewell Gardens

 

Day - 8 Whittier to Anchorage via Alaskan Leopard to airport

Pick up DD and transfer to Ship Creek Comfort Inn for 2 days

Day 9 - Jet Boat Glacier Tour and Salmon Fishing

Day 10 - Train to Denali and Cabin Nite Dinner Theatre (8:30)

2 nights at McKinley Chalet Lodge

Day 11 - Denali Park Shuttle (8 hrs) and river rafting (6:30)

Day 12 - Late bus back to Anchorage

Stay 1 more night at Ship Creek Comfort Inn

Day 13 - Early morning flight home

 

Thanks so much for looking this over!

[JillGoBlue]

We're sailing the Hal Zaandam, August 28 out of Seattle

 

In Juneau- Harv & Marv's whale watching, then glacier flightseeing/dog sledding

 

In Sitka- wildlife tour with Jim from Sitka Sound Tours, then Raptor Center on our own

 

In Ketchikan- undecided. Leaning toward Rainforest Sanctuary because our other excursions are kind of expensive and it's a little more reasonable. Also considering zipline, misty fjords or kayaking.

 

In Victoria- probably just on our own.

[Sapphire73]

Please note that I have included some website URLs in the hope that they may be helpful to others. If you see something missing here that we might want to include, please feel free to let me know. The one exception is the Kenai Fjords boat tour as we are traveling with 2 other couples who have no interest in this trip and we plan to do this sometime in the future.

 

Many thanks to everyone who helped us with this itinerary. In response to constructive comments, we did find a way to stay in Homer for 2 nights and cancelled all but one of our nights at Kenai Princess (despite the 2 for 1 coupon!). Merci.

 

(Now we'll see how the website handles the formatting done in microsoft word!)

 

P.S. As someone who publishes a website and is happy to have people link to it, I am hoping that no one minds that I have linked to several websites here. I find it very helpful to be able to explore aspects of the trip and want to spare others some of the trial and error of googling.... And I have absolutely no connection to any of these enterprises.

 

Cruise on Sapphire Princess

 

7/10 Fri. - Fly to Vancouver

 

7/11 Sat. – Vancouver – board ship

 

7/12 Sun.

 

7/13 Mon. – Ketchikan (6:30 am-2 pm) – Island Wings Flightseeing Tour of Misty Fjords

Websites: Island Wings (http://www.islandwings.com/sfs.html#misty)

Misty Fjords Monument & Wilderness (http://gorp.away.com/gorp/resource/us_wilderness_area/ak_misty.htm)

 

7/14 Tues. – Juneau (8 am – 9 pm) - Orca Whalewatching Tour and Mendenhall Glacier

Websites: Orca Whalewatching (http://www.orcaenterprises.com/)

Mendenhall Glacier (http://gorp.away.com/gorp/resource/us_national_forest/ak/ice_ton1.htm)

Mt. Roberts Tram? (http://www.goldbelttours.com/travel/day_trips/juneau/tram.html)

 

7/15 Wed. – Skagway (7am-8:30 pm) – Dyea Dave Tour up to Emerald Lake and back

Websites: Dyea Dave (http://www.******************/index.html )

Emerald Lake photo by Murray (http://explorenorth.com/library/roads/images/3481-emerald_lake-pan.html)

Link to Murray’s website showing more photos (http://explorenorth.com/library/roads/sklondike-photos1.html)

 

7/16 Thurs. - Glacier Bay (6 am-3pm) - Scenic Viewing

 

7/17 Fri. - College Fjord (5:30-8:30 pm) - Scenic Viewing

 

7/18 Sat. - Whittier - Disembark

 

Independent 8 Day Land Tour (Anchorage to Denali to Kenai Peninsula to Anchorage)

 

7/18 Sat. – Whittier to Anchorage – Prince William Sound boat tour, Train to Anchorage

Prince William Sound Wilderness Explorer Glacier Cruise 11 am – 5 pm.

Glacier Discovery train from Whittier to Anchorage, 6:45 – 9:15 pm.

Spend night at Embassy Suites hotel in Anchorage

Websites: Prince William Sound Glacier Cruises (http://www.princewilliamsound.com/579.cfm)

Glacier Discovery Train (http://www.akrr.com/arrc1037.html)

 

7/19 Sun. –Anchorage to Denali (Healy) – Scenic Drive

Drive the Glenn Highway northbound, connecting with Parks Highway in Wasilla.

Have lunch in Talkeetna? (can offer a good view of Mt. McKinley

Drive through Matanuska-Susitna Valley and Denali State Park to Denali NP.

Visit Denali Visitor Center, eat dinner, possible dusk drive (15 miles into park) to see wildlife.

Spend night at Denali Lakeview Inn in Healy.

Website: Denali National Park Visitor Center (http://www.nps.gov/dena/planyourvisit/-summer-dvc-page.htm)

 

7/20 Mon. – Denali – Tour Denali National Park

Take 6:30 am shuttle bus into the park to Eielson Visitor Center (mile 66). Bring a lunch, water, etc.

Return to Healy, have dinner (and take it easy.

Spend night at Denali Lakeview Inn in Healy.

Websites: Maps of Denali National Park (http://www.nps.gov/dena/planyourvisit/maps.htm)

Ron Niebrugge’s website with photos of Denali http://www.wildnatureimages.com/Denali_National_Park.htm

 

7/21 Tues. – Denali to Girdwood – Scenic Drive

Spend a couple more hours in Denali area, especially if Mt. Whitney “is out.”

Go to the Denali NP Visitor Center if didn’t go before. Consider detour to Independence Mine on the way south.

Head back to Anchorage and then drive another half hour to Girdwood. Get lunch somewhere along the way.

Stop at scenic viewpoints between Anchorage and Girdwood.

Spend night at Hotel Alyeska in Girdwood.

Website: Turnagain Arm Scenes (http://www.alaskascenes.com/turnagain.html)

 

7/22 Wed. – Girdwood to Cooper Landing via Seward

Decide whether to take the tram or visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center

Drive to Seward (about 2.5 hours?). Eat late lunch in Seward, visit Sea Life Center and Exit Glacier.

Drive to Cooper Landing (45-60 minutes).

Spend night at Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge.

Websites: Girdwood Tram http://alaska.org/girdwood/ride-mt-alyeskas-tram.jsp

Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center http://www.awcc.org/home.html

Seward http://www.sewardak.org/visit.htm

Sea Life Center http://www.alaskasealife.org/

Exit Glacier http://www.nps.gov/kefj/planyourvisit/exit-glacier.htm

 

7/23 Thurs. – Drive to Homer

Explore Cooper Landing area in the morning, perhaps driving along Skilak Loop Road?

Drive to Homer (2.5-3 hours), stopping by the Kenai National Wildlife Visitor Center in Soldotna for maps & updates on wildlife.

Spend night at Alaska Beach House.

Websites: Homer http://homeralaska.com/

 

7/24 Fri. – Full Day in Homer

Explore Homer area: walking, around driving scenic roads, and possibly taking a boat trip.

Tour options include Pratt Museum and boat trip to Halibut Cove.

Spend night at Alaska Beach House B&B.

Websites: Boat trip to Halibut Cove http://homeralaska.com/Stories/halibut-cove.shtml

Pratt Museum http://www.prattmuseum.org/kachemak/index.html

 

7/25 Sat. – Drive North to Anchorage

Drive from Homer to Anchorage with a couple stops along the way (4-5 hours).

Pick one or two things to see in Anchorage, such as the Native Alaska Heritage Center.

Spend night at Highland Glen Lodge.

Websites: Anchorage http://www.anchorage.net/

Native Alaska Center http://www.alaskanative.net/

 

7/25 Sat. – Fly Away Home

Breakfast 7 am at Highland Glen Lodge. Return Rental Car. Board plane for (2) flights back to Philly.

 

Two websites with great photos of Kenai and Denali:

 

Janet Zinn: Landscapes http://www.jczinn.com/North%20America/Alaska/Scenes/naindex.html

Birds on the Kenai http://www.jczinn.com/North%20America/Alaska/Birds/naindex.html

 

David Hoffman: http://www.davidhoffmann.com/001/index.htm#anchor_name_top

Edited March 1, 2009 by Sapphire73

[msd360]

June 28 - July 10

 

Sunday: Fly into Anchorage take hotel shuttle to Days Inn. Check in or store luggage until room is ready, explore downtown Anchorage, dinner Glacier Brewhouse.

 

Monday: Somehow get to Egan Center (about one mile west of Days Inn) in time to catch the 7:30am Denali Motorcoach arriving Denali Cabins at 12:30. Transfer to bus departing at 1:00 arriving Denali Backcountry Lodge in Kantishna at 7:30, where dinner will be served.

 

Tuesday, Wednesday: Denali Backcountry Lodge activities including McKinley Bar Trail, Friday Creek Hikes, and Wonder Lake sunsets.

 

Thursday: Bus departs at 6:00am back to NP Entrance and Railroad Depot for 12:35pm train departure arriving Anchorage 8:00pm. Check into Ship Creek Comfort Inn.

 

Friday (July 3): Take hotel shuttle to Egan Center. Board Park Connections Bus at 7:00am arriving Seward Small Boat Harbor 9:45. Renown Kenai Fjords National Park Cruise departs 11:30 and returns 5:30. Celebrity Millennium departs 9:00pm.

 

Shore excursions and Cruise Highlights:

• Hubbard Glacier

• Mendenhall Glacier hiking via MGT shuttle in Juneau, maybe Mt. Roberts Tram

• White Pass & Yukon Railroad to Frasier then bicycle back to Skagway

• Icy Strait Point

• possible Kayak Orcas Cove with SE Sea Kayaks in Ketchikan

• Inside Passage

 

Friday: Dock Vancouver Ballantyne Terminal 7:00am. Flight home departs 6:20pm. Possible Vancouver city tour to avoid luggage hassles.

 

Legend:

Denali Lodges

Celebrity Cruises

Tour Saver Coupon Book

Independently arranged

[cmamd]

Yep...!

 

Oh, and it appears I'll be bypassing Ketchikan on the Southbound leg and visiting Bear Valley Lodge in El Capitan Pass on the outside of Prince of Whales Island too. Can't pass up the primo early season rock fishing and a chance at a few large steelhead in the rivers there!

 

-Case

 

what a wonderful thread, so many great ideas to help w/planning

 

June 12, 2009

day 1 fly indy to anc, stay Captain Cook Hotel, any suggestions for good seafood rest.?

 

day 2 Morning Anc Summer Mkt, pm get rental car , tram ride -Alyeska Resort, Wasila, Iditarod H/Q, Udream a Dream Kennels, Musk ox farm, continue drive to Talkeetna, dinner, continue to Mt Mckinley Princess Hotel

 

day 3 Either Mahay Riverboat or TRG float trip, 2nt night at Mt McKinley Princess Hotel

 

day 4 Denali , 10am free Ranger dog sled demo, park center, 1pm shuttle to Eielson, w/chair hiking path, dinner at Rose's Cafe, Healy, Cabin at Aspen House(great reviews trip advisor)), Rose's Cafe makes good picnic for two ($14.00)

 

day 5 Denali 10:15am shuttle to Wonder Lake, pm Black Diamond Resort, Chuck Wagon Adventure, Healy (good reviews on tripadvisor) Aspen House Cabin

 

day 6 Denali 06:15 shuttle Wonder Lake, hope one of three days get to see McKinley, drive towards Wasila for dinner- Settlers Bay rest., evening at Pioneer Ridge B&B (historic dairy farm)

 

day 7 drive to Portage Lake w/boat tour m/v Patarmigan, Exit Glacier w/chair hike path, arrive Princess Copper River Wilderness Lodge for two nights, dinner lodge.

 

day 8 Half day fishing tour (undecided), float trip Alaska Wildland Adventures, relax watch Copper River view, dinner lodge or Gwin's Cooper Landing

 

day 9 drive to Anc, Alaska Native Heritage Ctr, Captain Cook Hotel,

 

day 10 Early train 6:45am Anc -Seward, 6 hr tour w/Reknown Kenai

Fjords tour, 11:30-5:30, (Reknown will hold your luggage and transfer to your ship if baggage tags are attached also,they will book your train and pick you up w/shuttle to their tour), then they transfer you to Veendam, 7 day southbound cruise

 

day 11 Cruising College Fjord

 

day 12 Cruising Glacier Bay

 

day 13 Haines -(trip advisor has a good description of arrival in this port and various options at the dock), walking tour of village, float thru Eagle Sanctuary ??? undecided

 

day 14 Juneau, Mendenhall Shuttle Bus ($15r/t), Mt Roberts Tramway

 

day 15 Ketchikan, Bering Sea Crab Fishing Tour, tour town

 

day 16 Cruising Inside Passage

 

day 17 Vancouver Pan Pacific Hotel, trolley bus for city

 

day 18 Rental car - ferry for Tofino, 3 nights Pacific Sands Resort

day 19,20 Whale tours, walking the beautiful coastline

 

day 21,22 Vancouver, Westin Bayshore, Vancouver Jazz Festival, 2 nights- lineup not available yet! More daytime sightseeing of Vancouver, Stanley Park next to hotel,

 

day 23 Kamploops w/rental car , overnight ?? (hotel) any suggestions

 

day 24-29 Banff/Lake Louise/Kanassikis, Delta Lodge, 5 nights, 2 day of Calgary Stampede, chuck wagon races (evening), We have been visiting Banff for 25 years but never get tired of the beautiful Canadian Rockies

 

day 30 Calgary, Kenny Chesney Tkts, Country Inn Airport,

 

day 31 6:40am flight home to Indy

 

the Great Alaskan Toursaver has been wonderful, thanks to everyone on this site for the info regarding savings! My dh is wheelchair, so we do the easy tours, at a slower pace and have a great time.

[bottom-dragger]

7/21 Tues. – Denali to Girdwood – Scenic Drive

Spend a couple more hours in Denali area, especially if Mt. Whitney “is out.”

 

 

you probably have a better chance of seeing mt mckinley. whitney is easier to see from california.

[Sapphire73]

you probably have a better chance of seeing mt mckinley. whitney is easier to see from california.

 

Always interesting to see proof that I need to get more sleep! Odd that I would pull Whitney out of my memory bank - such as it is.:o

[cardbucfan]

We are a family of 4 with 2 boys ages 12 and 14 cruising in Alaska for the first time. Here is our itinerary:

 

6/30 fly from Tampa to Fairbanks (can you say LONG HONKING TRIP?!?)

7/1 recover from flight from Tampa and adjust to 4 hour time difference (see Museum of the North)

7/2 Cruisetour with Hal (Gold dredge #8, sternwheeler cruise, etc) dinner on our own

7/3 train to Denali, guided Natural history tour, ride to Primrose Ridge (dinner on own-suggestions anyone?)

7/4 Flightseeing trip to Mt. McKinley, train to Anchorage, dinner on own (Humpy's)

7/5 Kenai Fjords excursion, board Veendam in Seward

7/6 College Fjord cruising

7/7 Glacier Bay cruising

7/8 Haines-Glacier Fjord by bicycle tour in the a.m. (all of us), DH doing Guides Choice Photography Discovery while rest of us do Wilderness Kayak Experience in the p.m.

7/9 Juneau-Helicopter Flightseeing and glacier Trek (may add whale watch trip if times fit)

7/10 Ketchikan-Misty Fjords & wilderness explorer then tour town and shop

7/11 cruise inside passage

7/12 and 7/13 Vancouver-stay Blue Horizon, visit Stanley Park, Capilano Susp. bridge, Grouse MOuntain, HOHO trolley

7/14 fly back to hot, hot Tampa

[marv0us78]

Tell me what you think my email is marv0us1@mail.com or any suggetions

Alaska Trip

May 15 - Seattle

Plane through Delta

Shuttle from SEA to Hotel= Price=

Hotel- Best Western Executive Inn Seattle Center .

Go to Pike Place Market or Tour of Football Stadium

Go to Concert at Key Arena Start Time 7:30

May 16 Seattle to Vancouver

Quick Coach Leaves at Hotel 7:00 Arrives 11:10

Get on Cruise Ship- Princess Sharipe

May 17

Port Time - At Sea

May 18 Ketchikan, Alaska

Port time 6:30 AM 2:00 PM

Tour- First City Deluxe Tour May 19 Juneau, Alaska

Port Times 8:00 AM- 9:00 PM

Tour- Deluxe Mendenhall Glacier & Juneau Highlights May 20 Skagway, Alaska

Port time 7:00 AM 8:30 PM

Tour- Yukon Expedition & White Pass Scenic Railway

May 21 Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska

Port Time-(Scenic Cruising) 6:00 AM 3:00 PM

May 22 College Fjord, Alaska

Port Time = (Scenic Cruising) 5:30 PM 8:30 PM

May 23 Anchorage (Whittier), Alaska

Leave Ship= Then Take Tour Portage Glacier Cruise & Wildlife Center Arrive Anchorage At 2:45pm Hotel- Ramada Anchorage Downtown

May 24 Train from Anchorage to Fairbanks

McKinley Explorer Rail - Anchorage to Denali

McKinley Explorer Rail - Denali to Fairbanks

Hotel- The Westmark Fairbanks Hotel & Conference Center

May 25 Fairbanks

Take a city tour of fairbanks Hotel- The Westmark Fairbanks Hotel & Conference Center May 26

Fly Home-

Edited March 26, 2009 by marv0us78

[chachi]

Sunday- in the morning my boyfriend and I are flying into Seattle. We are renting a car and driving to Vancouver. We have 3 nights reserved at the River Rock Hotel and Casino. We don't have all of our plans for Vancouver yet, but we will definately be going whitewater rafting one day.

 

Wednesday- My boyfriend is dropping me off at the pier, driving back to Seattle and then flying home to Michigan. I am going on my first solo cruise!

 

Thursday- Day at sea.

 

Friday-Ketchikan- I have snorkeling booked from 11:30-2:30. I will probably just go shopping for the remainder of the day.

 

Saturday- Juneau- I am taking the Ocean to Ice excursion with Above and Beyond Alaska. We are going ice trekking and ice climbing. Then I am going on an evening whale quest.

 

Sunday- Skagway- I have rock climbing booked for the morning. I was planning on taking the white pass train to the summit, and taking a bicycle ride back down. I tried to book t the other day through the cruise ship, and it no longer an option to book. I am going to keep looking though. Hopefully I will be able to do this.

 

Monday- Sitka- In the morning I am taking the sea otter tour, and in the afternoon I am going on an ocean raft tour to see volcanic caves and wildlife.

 

Tuesday- Day at sea

 

Wednesday- Disembark. My flight home is not until 11 pm. The ship has a few different excursions that offer a shuttle ride with stops on the way to the airport. I haven't decided which one I am going to do though.

 

Thursday- 4:15 pm arrive home!

[Hellolost]

July 23rd, Have a buddy drop us off in San Francisco, get on the boat

 

24th At sea.. all new so no idea yet what we will be doing

 

25th At sea

 

26th Ketchikan:Alaskan sports fishing excursion. The honeys dream.

 

27th Juneau: Zip line tour where I might die of fright due to height fear

 

28th Haines: Evening Nature and wildlife tour.. Any ideas what to do during the day?

 

29th Tracy Arm Fjord: Staying on the ship since you can't get off

 

30th at sea

 

31rst Victoria BC: I wanted to do the graveyards and ghost tour but thought the honey would be bored so instead we are doing the butterfly and garden tour.

 

1rst at sea

 

2nd Back to San Francisco and home sigh

[d66d66]

This is what my husband and I have planned for May, 2009:

 

May 12--Arrive Vancouver BC from Dallas/ Fort Worth

May 13-14--Enjoy the sights of Vancouver

May 15-17--Victoria BC for some more sightseeing and golf

May 18--Seattle to meet some old friends for sailing and more sightseeing

May 19--Fly to Ketchikan to catch up with cruise (we didn't want to be on the boat for two weeks) Float plane (Taquan Air) to the boat's anchorage in Punchbowl Cove at Misty Fjords.

May 20--Tour Misty Fjords and after lunch head to Ketchikan. Overnight in a cove somewhere near.

May 21--Cruise to someplace called Meyer's Chuck for a hike. Continuing on we will kayak through Canoe Pass and finally tour Chief Shake's Island before stopping in Wrangell and another cove for the night.

May 22--Cruising through Wrangell Narrows on our way to Petersburg and then evening anchorage in Thomas Bay. Too bad the Petersburg Norway Day festival will have just ended the weekend before we get there!

May 23--Morning hike to Cascade Creek then sailing to Frederick Sound and anchorage that night in Red Bluff Bay.

May 24--Go ashore at Warm Springs Bay and hike to natural hot springs and afternoon kayaking in Basket Bay.

May 25-- Morning visit to the town of Tenakee Springs then afternoon kayaking in Pavlof Harbor.

May 26-27--Glacier Bay National Park

May 28-- Idaho Inlet and Icy Strait

May 29-- Arrive in Juneau where we catch a plane to Anchorage. Overnight at Captain Cook hotel.

May 30-31--Winterlake Lodge for fishing, hiking and bear watching

June 1-2--Redoubt Bay Lodge for more fishing, hiking, etc. ( hopefully the volcano will have finished doing its thing by this time) The lodge is 8 miles from the volcano.

Fly home!

[dusty1117]

6/12 - Fly from Philadelphia to Vancouver

6/13 - Vancouver - Probably Richmond area and Granville Island since we've been to Vancouver before and loved it.

6/14 - Fly to Fairbanks through Anchorage if we don't get cancelled due to Redoubt.

6/15 - FA Museum of the North, Large Animal Research Station, Fairbanks

Ice Museum and/or Palace Theatre

6/16 - Gold Mine and Sternwheeler Riverboat Cruise

6/17 - Train to Denali and TWT tour - Really long day - $60pp to upgrade from Natural History tour.

6/18 - Denali Outdoor Center - Canyon Run Paddle (Husband)

Scenic Wilderness (Me) (10% off if you pay in full)

Fly Fishing (Husband) Have been told there is no fish but since this is his first time fly fishing, I'm not telling him.

Princess Lodge show? and laundry (me)

6/19 - Train to Talkeetna, Talkeetna Air Taxi- Flightseeing with glacier landing (Hopefully if weather cooperates) Toursaver 2 for 1 coupon

6/20 - Princess Sapphire Cruise

6/22 - Laundry in between Glacier looking. Hey its exercise walking/using arms to carry to the other end of the ship for self service laundromat.

6/23 - Skagway - Chilkoot Tour - Yukon Bus & Rail Excusion - 7hr

Shopping, mountain biking for Husband - $20pp cheaper than Princess

6/24 - Juneau - AKwhalewatching - whalewatching - 2 for 1 coupon

Mt. Roberts Tramway - 2 for 1 coupon

6/25 - Ketchikan - Bear Creek Zip Lining and Lumberjack Show - book through Princess.

6/27 - Vancouver - Philadelphia with 5Hr layover in Las Vegas (dinner with friends and some sightseeing.)

[supersherry]

6/04 - Flying from Raleigh, NC, to Seattle, WA -- We're staying downtown overnight at the Homewood Suites by Hilton on Pike Street.

6/05 - Hanging out at Pike Place Market until our cruise leaves at 4pm

6/06 - Cruising - Alaska Inside Passage

6/07 - Juneau, AK - Ziplining through Tongass National Forest with Alaska Zipline Adventures - starts at 2pm

6/08 - Skagway, AK - Fishing with Fat Salmon Charters (Pending confirmation of our start time)

6/09 - Cruising - Tracy Arm Fjord

6/10 - More cruising

6/11 - Victoria, BC - Nothing planned yet. We may actually just hop off the ship and decide on a whim

6/12 - Back to Seattle at 6am

 

A friend of mine who lives in Seattle is getting married the 6/14 so we're spending the rest of the weekend with their wedding activities.

[DisneyScrapper]

This will be our 3rd cruise to Alaska, our itinerary is as follows:

 

July 9th leave FLL to Seattle, hit Pikes Market after throwing luggage in our room

July 10th - Take a 10 hour tour of Mt. Rainer

July 11th - thinking about taking a ferry over to one of the islands for the day

July 12th - go back to Pikes Market before boarding the ship so I can pick up some flowers.

July 13th - at sea, taking it easy and learning our way around the ship

July 14th - DH's BIRTHDAY!! Ketchikan - Coastal Wildlife cruise

July 15th - Tracy Arm (keeping fingers crossed that we are able to make it all the way in on this cruise.

July 16th - Eagle Preserve Wildlife River Adventure

July 17th - at sea

July 18th - Victoria, BC - going back to Buchart Gardens

July 19th - docking back in Seattle, spending one last day

July 20th - Flying back to FLL

At least I don't have to go back to work until the 25th.

 

I'm so looking forward to seeing Seattle and Alaska in July since the last 2 trips have both been in Sept.