Denali is unique in that they also allow visitors to explore the terrain off of marked trails. I recommend Seward Brewery for something more casual and The Cookery for a nicer meal (be sure to make a reservation in advance). I hope Alaska will be open by then too Im set to go on a cruise in September also! Is there anything else that we would have to prepare this summer compared to last year? No major car rentals will allow you to take their vehicles on gravel roads; there are some local companies you can find via Google that might. Services are spread out in Alaska, so it is a good idea to fill up on gas whenever possible. We plan to leave very early and take our time. Be sure to try and figure out if the Hatcher Pass road is even open before trying to cross it looks like it only opens on July 1st typically. Sounds like a great trip, and thanks for your kind words, Diane! I do have a question I get your travel to Alaska email tips and the one today was spend 2-4 days in Anchorage. We have a couple days planned in Seward, but my husband is questioning whether we need to spend any time in Anchorage. Its the perfect mix of sweet and savory and a delicious flavor combination! Any closures or limitations to accessing anything on this itinerary either of those times? As part of my Alaska resources, I created a quiz that will give you a simple free Alaska itinerary based on your trip length and travel preferences. I want to see and experience the landscapes. Im hoping to take all your advise and take this trip of a lifetime May 2022 Im thinking that may be the better time to get off season prices and not experience all the July rain. I love your suggestions and will be updating mine!! We are travelling from US. Road tripping around Southcentral Alaska is sure to make you fall in love with the amazing scenery, the rugged attitude and all of the things that make Alaska so special. As the name suggests, these fjords are massive waterways that are home to some of Alaskas greatest sea life, including humpback and orca whales, seabirds like puffins, and plenty of otters. Great trip plan Valerie. Great travel tips to see Alaska. We would never have put all this together without your information and guidance. I am trying to understand the differences, looking at a trip in July with 9 whole days in Alaska, +1 day flying on the front and back of trip. Also, if we wanted to spend a day/sleep in Homer would it be better to drive from Anchorage to Homer (straight through) and stop in Seward for the night and Girdwood for the night? My husband and I are planning a summer 2021 RV trip, going leisurely for several weeks. When youre ready for the day, I highly recommend getting out on the water to see Resurrection Bay and Kenai Fjords National Park. We are planning a trip this summer ? (He unfortunately passed away in 2017) The town is small but a popular destination for visitors. For lunch, I have two suggestions, based on your preferences. Thanks for reading, Joana. You are provided micro spikes and a helmet to wear on the tour, making the hike on the ice quite doable for most abilities. There are Portage Lake cruises in the summer where you can see the glacier from the water and enjoy the surrounding scenery. Day 5: Drive to Anchorage. With three starter itineraries, you can customize using a database of hotels, restaurants, and attractions curated with my expertise and experience. We were preferring to drive directly. I am thinking of a mid to late August visit with my BFF to celebrate turning 60 this year!!! This requires more planning, but you'll have a more richly rewarding vacation. If you choose to drive, be sure to keep an eye out for the mountain of Denali (here are some of my favorite Denali viewpoints), and be sure to stop at Millers Landing and get a huge ice cream cone! In This Article: hide Is The Best Way To See AlaskaBy Land? Though the best bang for your four-day buck might be this one: a stay at Kenai Backcountry Lodge combining rafting, hiking, kayaking by day and relaxing by the fire and locally sourced authentic Alaskan cuisine with views of Skilak Lake in the evenings. Thanks for your comment, Anshu. Emily, great to hear from you and lovely that you found me! If youre planning a trip to Alaska a destination many people dream of visiting for years youve got to do it right. Hiking on a glacier and seeing the incredible ice formations, drinking the glacier water and taking in the views is an amazing experience to add to your bucket list. If you want a sit-down meal, head to Humpys, a watering hole with a lot of local flavors literal and figurative! Thanks for your comment, Keith! I hope that they open their doors to tourists and let us fly into the state. We want to do kayaking, water rafting, salmon fishing and dog sledding. Farmers Market. It attracts almost as many local Alaskans as it does out of state visitors each year because it is a haven for outdoor activity and adventure. Your advice on how to plan our trip is very helpful. Good luck planning your trip! One question What do you suggest regarding bear viewing? Sounds like a good itinerary, but I think you should skip Homer if you only have one day its a 2-day minimum place given the driving time. I hope that helps! f you only had one week in Alaska, here is a 7 day Alaska itinerary with the best things to do in Alaska (your "must do" list.) Stay at Seward. Vacating our McCarthy lodge, we make moves to Valdez, with an estimated travel time of 4-5 hours. Looking at our schedule, I think we have about 1-2 days more that we can spend in Alaska. How would you suggest adjusting it to suit the stuff that we have already booked? Its impossible to say, Antonia. Instead of taking a long and expensive flight to Anchorage or Fairbanks, you can choose a cruise that sails round-trip from Seattle or Vancouver. We created them to offer inspiration as well as logistical information, so you can choose what you like and book your own Alaska vacation. Here are five tips to see the real Alaska: 1. Portage Glacier is an impressive ten story tall glacier that is only accessible by boat. As you know these can be stupidly expensive so I am thinking on doing it differently this trip. Thanks, Tom. 2. We'll match you with a local itinerary expert to help you plan your trip. Courtney, sorry but I dont have any suggestions here. I hope that helps! While it used to be available for self guided exploring, it is now only accessible via a guided tour. You can go camping with the grizzly bears and caribou of Denali National Park; hike in the middle of a glacier; take a whale-watching tour to see orcas; hang out in some of the coolest small towns you'll ever see; and visit museums in Anchorage and Fairbanks dedicated to ice sculpting, Native American life, and Alaskan history. Stay in the same accommodation for Day 2. Planning a once-in-a-lifetime week in Alaska? Thanks Vipinder. Day 1 Alaska Itinerary: Get Settled in Anchorage Day 2 Alaska Itinerary: Hike Flattop Mountain & Explore Anchorage Day 3 Alaska Itinerary: Travel to Denali National Park Day 4 Alaska Itinerary: Adventure Around Denali Day 5 Alaska Itinerary: Drive From Denali To Seward Day 6 Alaska Itinerary: Explore the Kenai Fjords National Park Ive got this article about Alaska in the autumn: https://www.valisemag.com/visit-alaska-fall/ It might help give you more insight into what its like during October! There are two main experiences I recommend while based out of Girdwood for the day: Both of these activities will take a few hours, so you probably only have time for one unless you skip the Nordic Spa in the morning. Is there a plane service you suggest to fly us for the day from Seward (or other town) to view bear catching salmon? Day 10 Are you planning to enter Hatcher Pass on the west side and exit on the east side? Ive got a whole post to help with that https://www.valisemag.com/things-to-do-seward/. Great information. I think youre trying to squeeze too much in, to be honest. How soon can one reserve the train tickets? There, order a reindeer sausage, and be sure to add the pineapple salsa! As I am not a wheelchair user, I cant speak from personal experience, but the answer is yes but not impossible. Ive provided several dinner suggestions in the Anchorage sections above, so head back up to Days 1 and 2 if you still need ideas. So we figured maybe we could do an RV trip 2 RVs of 5-6 beds each- what would you suggest ? I hope that helps! I recommend reaching out to the team at Explore Fairbanks to see what they suggest: https://www.explorefairbanks.com/. (Click here to see a very old pic of me enjoying one back in 2009!). In the rest of this post, Ill dive into detail about each day, what to see and do, where to eat, and where to stay. Stay a second night at your Girdwood accommodation. I have planned and booked a very similiar itinerary that you have posted here. If you only have 9 days in Alaska, how should you change this 10-day Alaska itinerary? Have checked and seems National can rental does not have option for pickup in Seward. My husband and I usually travel independently. Anything you experienced yourself? Feel free to ask any other questions you have and Ill get back to you as I can , Okay great were thinking of going Memorial weekend to early July. I was born on the East Coast and currently live in the Midwest but my heart will always be out West. Best Way To See Alaska | Cruise or Land Tour? Basically everything in Alaska thats on the main tourist trail is set up to be ADA compliant, and you can always call to inquire about specifics to ensure you dont hit any bumps (literal or figurative!). Excellent post, thanks a lot! Alekhya, how about taking the train north, and taking a bus back to Anchorage? Booking a Guided Tour vs. What do you recommend that should be a must? The menu is exciting and their beers are a bit experimental (sea salt watermelon salad, anyone?) The list is chosen and ranked based on the opinion of the Genius Korea Community . Hi Valerie, We are planning for family trip to Alaska this Aug 2019. Snow can be on the ground in the Southcentral, Interior, and Arctic regions from September/October through April/May, offering endless opportunities for winter activities like skiing, dog sledding, and winter sightseeing. We were told about Alyeska while we were on our trip and didnt get the chance to check it out, but it looks beautiful! Planning on 10 days. Assuming Covid allows looking at September 2021 or even 2022 for our first trip to Alaska. Looking at doing Anchorage- Delani for two days Steward- Valdez Homer Spit. Have you read the resources on the Denali National Park website? I wrote about the first part of our trip where we explored Seward and Anchorage a bit before heading more North to try to see the Northern Lights. After a full day or more exploring Denali, stay outside of the park again and get ready for an early start the next morning to make the drive down to Matanuska Glacier. Depending on your city of origin, it may take almost one full day to fly to Alaska. With the train schedule as it is, that would give us 3 nights in Denali and 1 night in Talkeetna. Thanks for reading, Karolina! 1Arrive in Anchorage 2Explore Anchorage 3Travel to Denali 4Visit Denali National Park 5 Sightseeing Denali 6 Travel to/Explore Seward 7 Sightseeing in Kenai Fjords 8Travel to/Explore Girdwood 9 Exploring Turnagain Arm 10 Return to Anchorage. Regards Mark & Leita. Doing it On Your Own, The Cost of Travel in this Alaska Itinerary, Day 5: Flightseeing Denali (& Return to Anchorage), reasons to visit during Alaskas winter months, the best months to visit Alaska are June through August, here are some of my favorite Denali viewpoints. Also, I didnt grow up around snow, would it be ok to just take the train to see the places you recommended? Im SOO excited and your blog has been super helpful. In the morning I recommend starting with an Anchorage Trolley Tour. If you still have energy and no jet lag after that, you can certainly walk around Downtown Anchorage to get oriented with the area; its a simple grid system and very walkable! Boutique, small ship adventure cruises in Alaska's Inside Passage, Cruises depart from Whittier, a 1 hr drive from Anchorage. (Almost all of the excursions in Denali offer afternoon start times if something on that list catches your eye.). Trips available from Whittier, Homer, Seward, Juneau, and Sitka. Good luck planning your trip . Safe travels onto your next adventure! Epic 7 Day Alaska Itinerary: Denali & Seward What do you want to see in Alaska? You can take a day cruise where youll see wildlife and enjoy the views, or you can go on a kayaking tour and get up close and personal with the natural beauty. Day 7 Homer- fishing Day 8 Palmer if I can fit it in? For example, from Seattle, most flights to Alaska leave in the afternoon or evening, and you arrive in Anchorage late in the day. This is where my dad and grandfather always used to go out and had great luck! Is a bear tour worth it? After all, I grew up in Alaska and I go back to explore my home state at least once per year and twice in both 2021 and 2022. Thanks for reading, Cady! Its on my short list! Beautiful autumn colors too. Thanks in advance. Ive never done a flightseeing tour for bears, but I think the greatest variety of option will be available from Anchorage. There isnt a ton to do in Hope, but it gives you a good picture of what life is like outside the cities in Alaska. Secondly, If we just do land tour or fly out to Anchorage whats should be our best places to visit in 7days itinerary? We are planning to go the first week of September. I would prefer not to have to book a hotel every day. Valerie, can you provide any information about Valdez, Alaska? Without stopping, it will take you about 2 and a half hours without traffic. Thank you!! I recommend staying in McKinley Village near the park (as I did in this post), as the only place to stay *in* Denali requires a 12-hour bus trip each way! Im not a cyclist and Ive never heard of tours like this. With your help we finally made it and it seems to have been worth the wait. Happy travels, wherever you go next! Valerie, amazing postmost helpful info Ive read for my familys first trip to Alaska (summer 2021)! It's amazing fishing and scenery make it a jewel in the crown of Alaska tourism. There are also several hiking trails that do not require taking one of the park buses. If you [ignored my advice and] chose to rent a car for Days 3-10, youll arrive in Anchorage around 4:30pm. I recommend doing the drive in the morning and booking a tour of Matanuska for the afternoon. Most trips include two spectacular, can't-miss national parks, Denali and Kenai Fjords. I am an experienced hiker but backpacker not so much and I love the outdoors but love sleeping indoors (!) For dinner, try 49th State Brewing (my fave) or the Glacier Brewhouse. Denali is a must for wildlife; if youre heading south to Seward too, the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center should also be high on your list! There are moose signs everywhere when youre driving around Alaska! Thanks, Betty PS not sure if youve been to Miami, but if you havent and decide to visit, I can certainly share some tips on where to go. I want to book one flight or helicopter tour. An Alaska road trip is the best way to explore the expansive, remote, and rugged 49th state. Read on to find out where and how you can catch a glimpse. Additionally, I have not done an RV trip so I am not confident to recommend where you could rent RVs or where you should stay with your RVs.
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