allisons Posted July 22, 2013 Author #126 Share Posted July 22, 2013 I underestimated the amount of time needed in Olympic National Park! It's huge and there's so much to see and do! We won't even get to all of it in 3 days and 2 nights! We could really use another day and night, but I don't think it's feasible! ALASKA: Day 1: fly into Anchorage rent RV or car Dinner – Bear Tooth Theatrepub & Grill Night 1 – Anchorage Day 2: drive from Anchorage to Homer scenic viewing along the drive Night 2 – Homer Day 3: sightseeing in Homer Homer Spit art scene in Homer Dinner – The Homestead Restaurant Night 3 – Homer Day 4: Wildlife Cruise of Katchemak Bay Pratt Museum Dinner - Lands End Resort Night 4 – Homer Day 5: drive from Homer to Portage Glacier Portage Glacier Cruise drive from Portage Glacier to Girdwood Alyeska Tram Dinner – Alyeska Resort Night 5 – Girdwood Day 6: drive from Girdwood to Anchorage return RV or car train from Anchoarge to Whittier board Island Princess SEATTLE: Day 1: disembark Island Princess Amtrak from Vancouver to Seattle rent car sightseeing in Seattle Pike Place Market Space Needle Experience Music Project Science Center (if time) Dinner - Elliott’s Oyster House Night 1 – Seattle Day 2: ferry from Seattle to Bainbridge Island drive from Bainbridge Island to Port Angeles Olympic National Park Visitors Center drive first third of counterclockwise loop around Olympic National Park Hood Canal Hurricane Ridge Marymere Falls Lake Crescent Sol Duc Hot Springs Sol Duc Salmon Cascades Sol Duc Falls Night 2 – Misty Valley Inn or Miller Tree Inn, Forks, WA Day 3: Drive second third of counterclockwise loop around Olympic National Park Hoh Rain Forest Rialto Beach La Push Ruby Beach Kalaloch Beach Dinner - Lake Quinault Lodge Night 3 – Lake Quinault Lodge Day 4: 9:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Quinault Rainforest Tour Lake Quinault Quinault Rainforest Loop drive from Lake Quinault to Olympia Night 4 - Olympia Day 5: sighteeing in Olympia tour of capitol building drive from Olympia to Seattle return car board HAL ms Amsterdam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allisons Posted July 23, 2013 Author #127 Share Posted July 23, 2013 My husband is not sold on the idea of the Wednesday cruise and spending time in Seattle/Washington state. He is still reconsidering the Saturday cruise and spending the full week in Alaska beforehand. He wants to see a fully flushed out itinerary for that option as well. I guess it's no surprise that I clenched my teeth and had TMJ/jaw pain for the first time in ages yesterday! Day 1: fly into Anchorage rent RV or car Dinner – Bear Tooth Theatrepub & Grill Night 1 – Anchorage Day 2: drive from Anchorage to Homer scenic viewing along the drive Night 2 – Homer Day 3: sightseeing in Homer Homer Spit art scene in Homer Dinner – The Homestead Restaurant Night 3 – Homer Day 4: Homer Ocean Charters Wildlife Cruise of Katchemak Bay Pratt Museum Dinner - Lands End Resort Night 4 – Homer Day 5: drive from Homer to Portage Glacier Gray Line of Alaska Portage Glacier Cruise drive from Portage Glacier to Girdwood Alyeska Tram Dinner – Alyeska Resort Night 5 – Girdwood Day 6 - ferry from Whittier to Valdez Night 6 - Valdez Day 7: Stan Stephens Cruises Columbia Glacier Cruise sightseeing in Valdez Night 7 - Valdez Day 8: drive from Valdez to Anchorage scenic viewing along the drive Night 8 - Anchorage Day 9: return RV or car train from Anchorage to Whittier board Crown Princess Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Assateague Island Princes Posted July 23, 2013 #128 Share Posted July 23, 2013 The only "glitch" I see if your drive from Valdez to Anchorage - it isn't as short as you might think because you have to go up the Richardson Highway to the Glenn Highway, then across and down to Anchorage - I'm thinking maybe 5-6 hours (without scenic stops, etc.)? Perhaps you should consider an overnight in between Valdez and Anchorage? Or just take the ferry back from Valdez instead of driving. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allisons Posted July 23, 2013 Author #129 Share Posted July 23, 2013 The only "glitch" I see if your drive from Valdez to Anchorage - it isn't as short as you might think because you have to go up the Richardson Highway to the Glenn Highway, then across and down to Anchorage - I'm thinking maybe 5-6 hours (without scenic stops, etc.)? Perhaps you should consider an overnight in between Valdez and Anchorage? Or just take the ferry back from Valdez instead of driving. That shouldn't be a problem for us! We drove from Fairbanks to Anchorage this summer. We made plenty of scenic stops and still got in plenty early. We left Fairbanks at 8:00 a.m. We got to Anchorage by 6:00 p.m. It was a great drive and a great day! We had a hearty breakfast at the Cookie Jar before departing Fairbanks, had plenty of granola bars and water for the drive, and then went straight to a hearty dinner at Moose's Tooth Pub and Pizzeria as soon as we got into Anchorage. Then we headed straight to the hotel, repacked the suitcases for the flight home, and went to bed early. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allisons Posted July 23, 2013 Author #130 Share Posted July 23, 2013 We had met people who told us about taking a dinner cruise to Gull Island and eating at the restaurant there. I hadn't been able to find what they were talking about. I just realized it was the ferry to Halibut Cove and dinner at The Saltry Restaurant! Yum! We're definitely doing that! I've also flushed out a lot more info about meals, lodging, timing of tours, sightseeing, etc. This is really coming along! My husband wasn't wrong! I think I'm leaning towards this also! The following summer, we can plan an entire proper week in Washington state! Or maybe we should drop the second cruise and do it instead! Day 1: fly into Anchorage rent RV or car Dinner – Bear Tooth Theatrepub & Grill Night 1 – Anchorage (RV, Comfort Inn Ship Creek, or Hotel Captain Cook) Day 2: Breakfast - Snow City Cafe drive from Anchorage to Homer scenic viewing along the drive Lunch - St. Elias Brewing Company, Soldotna Dinner - The Chart Room Restaurant Night 2 – Homer (RV, Lands End Resort, Good Karma Inn, or Walkabout Cottage) Day 3: Breakfast - ????? sightseeing in Homer Homer Spit art scene in Homer Lunch - ????? 5:00 p.m. ferry from Homer to Halibut Cove Dinner – The Saltry Restaurant 9:00 p.m. ferry from Halibut Cove to Homer Night 3 – Homer (RV, Lands End Resort, Good Karma Inn, or Walkabout Cottage) Day 4: Breakfast - ????? Pratt Museum Lunch - ????? 1:00-3:30 p.m. Homer Ocean Charters Wildlife Cruise of Katchemak Bay sightseeing in Homer Homer Spit art scene in Homer Dinner - The Homestead Restaurant Night 4 – Homer (RV, Lands End Resort, Good Karma Inn, or Walkabout Cottage) Day 5: Breakfast - ????? drive from Homer to Portage Glacier Lunch - ????? 1:30-2:30 p.m. Gray Line of Alaska Portage Glacier Cruise drive from Portage Glacier to Girdwood Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center Alyeska Tram Dinner – Seven Glaciers Restaurant Night 5 – Girdwood (RV, Alyeska Resort, or Hidden Creek Bed & Breakfast) Day 6: Breakfast - ????? sightseeing in Girdwood Lunch - ????? 12:45 p.m. - check in for ferry 1:45-7:30 p.m. ferry from Whittier to Valdez Dinner - ????? Night 6 - Valdez (RV or Best Western Valdez Harbor Inn) Day 7: Breakfast - ????? sightseeing in Valdez pipeline terminal 12:00-7:00 p.m. Stan Stephens Cruises Columbia Glacier Cruise Lunch - Stan Stephens Dinner - ????? Night 7 - Valdez (RV or Best Western Valdez Harbor Inn) Day 8: Breakfast - ????? drive from Valdez to Anchorage scenic viewing along the drive Lunch - somewhere along the drive Dinner - Snow Goose Restaurant & Sleeping Lady Brewing Company Night 8 - Anchorage (RV, Comfort Inn Ship Creek, or Hotel Captain Cook) Day 9: Breakfast - Snow City Cafe return RV or car train from Anchorage to Whittier board Crown Princess Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allisons Posted July 23, 2013 Author #131 Share Posted July 23, 2013 Whoa! We did not realize that the ferry will cost us $360 if we have a 22’ RV or $283 if we have a car up to 15’! Wow! That’s expensive! Is it worth it?! Is going to Valdez really worth it?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allisons Posted July 23, 2013 Author #132 Share Posted July 23, 2013 Never mind! My husband how now changed his mind back and decided on the Wednesday cruise and Seattle/Washington state. I just received the following e-mail, "Looks like the matter is decided. Homer and then Washington." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allisons Posted July 24, 2013 Author #133 Share Posted July 24, 2013 Would the RV option be more feasible if we rent bikes? Could we get around Homer on bikes? Could we get around Valdez on bikes? I know that we could get around Seward on bikes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allisons Posted July 24, 2013 Author #134 Share Posted July 24, 2013 This is our FINAL itinerary! I put my foot down with my husband last night! I can't take this back and forth anymore! I'm not his personal travel agent and concierge! He wants everything! It's simply not possible in one trip! We'll have to return to Alaska, Seattle, and the Pacific Northwest in the summer of 2015! ALASKA: Day 1: fly into Anchorage rent RV or car Dinner – Snow Goose Restaurant & Sleeping Lady Brewing Company Night 1 – Anchorage (RV, Comfort Inn Ship Creek, or Hotel Captain Cook) Day 2: Breakfast - Snow City Cafe drive from Anchorage to Homer scenic viewing along the drive Lunch - St. Elias Brewing Company, Soldotna Dinner - The Chart Room Restaurant Night 2 – Homer (RV, Lands End Resort, Good Karma Inn, or Walkabout Cottage) Day 3: Breakfast - ????? sightseeing in Homer Homer Spit art scene in Homer Lunch - ????? 5:00 p.m. ferry from Homer to Halibut Cove Dinner – The Saltry Restaurant 9:00 p.m. ferry from Halibut Cove to Homer Night 3 – Homer (RV, Lands End Resort, Good Karma Inn, or Walkabout Cottage) Day 4: Breakfast - ????? Pratt Museum Lunch - ????? 1:00-3:30 p.m. Homer Ocean Charters Wildlife Cruise of Katchemak Bay sightseeing in Homer Homer Spit art scene in Homer Dinner - The Homestead Restaurant Night 4 – Homer (RV, Lands End Resort, Good Karma Inn, or Walkabout Cottage) Day 5: Breakfast - ????? drive from Homer to Portage Glacier Lunch - ????? 1:30-2:30 p.m. Gray Line of Alaska Portage Glacier Cruise drive from Portage Glacier to Girdwood Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center Alyeska Tram Dinner – Seven Glaciers Restaurant Night 5 – Girdwood (RV, Alyeska Resort, or Hidden Creek Bed & Breakfast) Day 6: Breakfast - ????? return RV or car train from Anchorage to Whittier board Crown Princess SEATTLE: Day 1: disembark Island Princess Amtrak from Vancouver to Seattle rent car check in at hotel, dump bags at hotel sightseeing in Seattle Pike Place Market Lunch - Pike Place Market Space Needle Experience Music Project Science Center (if time) Dinner - Elliott's Oyster House Night 1 – Seattle (hotel, downtown, will use Hotwire) Day 2: Breakfast - Starbucks check out of hotel, load bags into car ferry from Seattle to Bainbridge Island sightseeing in Bainbridge Island Lunch - Bainbridge Island drive from Bainbridge Island to Port Angeles check in at B&B, dump bags at B&B Olympic National Park Visitors Center Hurricane Ridge Dinner - Port Angeles Night 2 – Port Angeles (Colette's B&B, Sea Cliff Gardens B&B, Eden by the Sea B&B, Domaine Madeleine B&B, or George Washington Inn) Day 3: Breakfast - B&B check out of B&B, load bags into car drive first half of counterclockwise loop around Olympic National Park Lake Crescent Marymere Falls Hoh Rain Forest check in at B&B, dump bags at B&B Rialto Beach La Push Dinner - Forks Night 3 – Forks (Misty Valley Inn B&B or Miller Tree Inn B&B) Day 4: Breakfast - B&B check out of B&B, load bags into car Drive second half of counterclockwise loop around Olympic National Park Ruby Beach Kaloloch Beach Lake Quinault Quinault Rainforest Loop drive from Lake Quinault to Olympia check in at B&B, dump bags at B&B Dinner - Olympia Night 4 - Olympia (Swantown Inn B&B or The Inn at Mallard Cove) Day 5: Breakfast - B&B check out of B&B, load bags into car sighteeing in Olympia tour of capitol building drive from Olympia to Seattle return car board HAL ms Amsterdam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allisons Posted July 24, 2013 Author #135 Share Posted July 24, 2013 Hidden Creek Bed & Breakfast has a 2-night minimum! Bummer! She gave me recommendations of The Carriage House B&B and Glacier View B&B. I will check those out. I will also check out other B&Bs in Girdwood listed on TripAdvisor. :( Good Karma Inn and Walkabout Cottage are about ~15 miles outside of Homer! Yikes! We don't want to stay outside of Homer. I found B&Bs in Homer listed on TripAdvisor. However, they're even more expensive than Lands End Resort! Ugh! :( Comfort Inn Ship Creek and Hotel Captain Cook are very expensive! In fact, every hotel in downtown Anchorage is very expensive except for the Ramada! We might just have to suck it up and stay there again. It is just for 1 night. Or perhaps the RV is our best bet after all. Especially given the challenges finding lodging everywhere we're going. :( I'm having a much easier time with the lodging for the Washington state portion! Whew! I've decided on Colette's Bed & Breakfast for Port Angeles, Misty Valley Inn B&B for Forks, and Swantown Inn B&B for Olympia. Yay! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allisons Posted July 24, 2013 Author #136 Share Posted July 24, 2013 We'll just stay in Anchorage the last night in Alaska, instead of Girdwood! That will make it easier to return the car or RV very early in the morning anyway! ALASKA: Day 1: fly into Anchorage rent RV or car Dinner – Snow Goose Restaurant & Sleeping Lady Brewing Company Night 1 – Anchorage (RV or Ramada Downtown) Day 2: Breakfast - Snow City Cafe drive from Anchorage to Homer scenic viewing along the drive Lunch - St. Elias Brewing Company, Soldotna Dinner - The Chart Room Restaurant Night 2 – Homer (RV or Lands End Resort) Day 3: Breakfast - ????? sightseeing in Homer Homer Spit art scene in Homer Lunch - ????? 5:00 p.m. ferry from Homer to Halibut Cove Dinner – The Saltry Restaurant 9:00 p.m. ferry from Halibut Cove to Homer Night 3 – Homer (RV or Lands End Resort) Day 4: Breakfast - ????? Pratt Museum Lunch - ????? 1:00-3:30 p.m. Homer Ocean Charters Wildlife Cruise of Katchemak Bay sightseeing in Homer Homer Spit art scene in Homer Dinner - The Homestead Restaurant Night 4 – Homer (RV or Lands End Resort) Day 5: Breakfast - ????? drive from Homer to Portage Glacier 12:00-1:00 p.m. Gray Line of Alaska Portage Glacier Cruise drive from Portage Glacier to Girdwood Alyeska Tram Lunch - Alyeska Resort Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center drive from Girdwood to Anchorage Dinner - Bear Tooth Theatrepub & Grill Night 5 – Anchorage (RV or Ramada Downtown) Day 6: Breakfast - ????? return RV or car train from Anchorage to Whittier board Crown Princess SEATTLE: Day 1: disembark Island Princess Amtrak from Vancouver to Seattle rent car check in at hotel, dump bags at hotel sightseeing in Seattle Pike Place Market Lunch - Pike Place Market Space Needle Experience Music Project Science Center (if time) Dinner - Elliott's Oyster House Night 1 – Seattle (hotel, downtown, will use Hotwire) Day 2: Breakfast - Starbucks check out of hotel, load bags into car ferry from Seattle to Bainbridge Island sightseeing in Bainbridge Island Lunch - Bainbridge Island drive from Bainbridge Island to Port Angeles check in at B&B, dump bags at B&B Olympic National Park Visitors Center Hurricane Ridge Dinner - Port Angeles Night 2 – Colette's B&B, Port Angeles Day 3: Breakfast - B&B check out of B&B, load bags into car drive first half of counterclockwise loop around Olympic National Park Lake Crescent Marymere Falls Hoh Rain Forest check in at B&B, dump bags at B&B Rialto Beach La Push Dinner - Forks Night 3 – Misty Valley Inn B&B, Forks Day 4: Breakfast - B&B check out of B&B, load bags into car Drive second half of counterclockwise loop around Olympic National Park Ruby Beach Kaloloch Beach Lake Quinault Quinault Rainforest Loop drive from Lake Quinault to Olympia check in at B&B, dump bags at B&B Dinner - Olympia Night 4 - Swantown Inn B&B, Olympia Day 5: Breakfast - B&B check out of B&B, load bags into car sighteeing in Olympia tour of capitol building drive from Olympia to Seattle return car board HAL ms Amsterdam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PennyAgain Posted July 24, 2013 #137 Share Posted July 24, 2013 The Comfort Inn Ship Creek offers advantage for the train. That Ramada Inn is nasty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allisons Posted July 24, 2013 Author #138 Share Posted July 24, 2013 The Comfort Inn Ship Creek offers advantage for the train. That Ramada Inn is nasty. Yeah, but it's cheap! And clean! We managed there for 3 nights this summer! Tough call! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Assateague Island Princes Posted July 24, 2013 #139 Share Posted July 24, 2013 Very surprised that Hidden Creek has a 2 night minimum. Must be the time of year you are going, because we only stayed one night (early June this year), and they didn't say a word about us only staying there one night. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allisons Posted July 24, 2013 Author #140 Share Posted July 24, 2013 Very surprised that Hidden Creek has a 2 night minimum. Must be the time of year you are going, because we only stayed one night (early June this year), and they didn't say a word about us only staying there one night. You were so lucky! I begged the innkeeper! I even asked if we could stay July 4th and July 8th, but she said no, that it has to be 2 consecutive nights! I was so disappointed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Assateague Island Princes Posted July 24, 2013 #141 Share Posted July 24, 2013 Oh, I'm so sorry that didn't work out for you, I think you really would have liked the place. But now that I see you are going over July 4th, a big holiday and obviously prime vacation season, they probably institute the 2 night minimum for those time periods. Oh well, back to the drawing board, hope you find something nice elsewhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allisons Posted July 25, 2013 Author #142 Share Posted July 25, 2013 Oh, I'm so sorry that didn't work out for you, I think you really would have liked the place. But now that I see you are going over July 4th, a big holiday and obviously prime vacation season, they probably institute the 2 night minimum for those time periods. Oh well, back to the drawing board, hope you find something nice elsewhere. Absolutely! You're totally right! We're just going to not stay in Girdwood. We're just going to stay in Anchorage instead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allisons Posted July 25, 2013 Author #143 Share Posted July 25, 2013 Okay! I booked the Comfort Inn Ship Creek in Anchorage and the Lands End Resort in Homer. My husband rented bikes in Homer in case we do the RV. I think now we're good to sit on this for a while until we finally decide between the RV and car/hotel. ALASKA: Day 1: fly into Anchorage rent RV or car if RV, go to grocery store to buy groceries for breakfasts and lunches Dinner – Snow Goose Restaurant & Sleeping Lady Brewing Company Night 1 – RV or Comfort Inn Ship Creek, Anchorage Day 2: Breakfast - RV or Comfort Inn Ship Creek drive from Anchorage to Homer scenic viewing along the drive Lunch - St. Elias Brewing Company, Soldotna if RV, pick up rental bikes if car, go to grocery store to buy groceries for breakfasts and lunches Dinner - The Chart Room Restaurant Night 2 – RV or Lands End Resort, Homer Day 3: Breakfast - RV or hotel room sightseeing in Homer Homer Spit art scene in Homer Lunch - RV or hotel room 5:00 p.m. ferry from Homer to Halibut Cove Dinner – The Saltry Restaurant 9:00 p.m. ferry from Halibut Cove to Homer Night 3 – RV or Lands End Resort, Homer Day 4: Breakfast - RV or hotel room Pratt Museum Lunch - RV or hotel room 1:00-3:30 p.m. Homer Ocean Charters Wildlife Cruise of Katchemak Bay sightseeing in Homer Homer Spit art scene in Homer Dinner - The Homestead Restaurant Night 4 – RV or Lands End Resort, Homer Day 5: Breakfast - RV or hotel room if RV, return rental bikes drive from Homer to Portage Glacier 12:00-1:00 p.m. Gray Line of Alaska Portage Glacier Cruise drive from Portage Glacier to Girdwood Alyeska Tram Lunch - Alyeska Resort Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center drive from Girdwood to Anchorage Dinner - Bear Tooth Theatrepub & Grill Night 5 – RV or Comfort Inn Ship Creek, Anchorage Day 6: Breakfast - RV or Comfort Inn Ship Creek return RV or car train from Anchorage to Whittier board Crown Princess SEATTLE: Day 1: disembark Island Princess Amtrak from Vancouver to Seattle rent car check in at hotel, dump bags at hotel sightseeing in Seattle Pike Place Market Lunch - Pike Place Market Space Needle Experience Music Project Science Center (if time) Dinner - Elliott's Oyster House Night 1 – Seattle (hotel, downtown, will use Hotwire) Day 2: Breakfast - Starbucks check out of hotel, load bags into car ferry from Seattle to Bainbridge Island sightseeing in Bainbridge Island Lunch - Bainbridge Island drive from Bainbridge Island to Port Angeles check in at B&B, dump bags at B&B Olympic National Park Visitors Center Hurricane Ridge Dinner - Port Angeles Night 2 – Colette's B&B, Port Angeles Day 3: Breakfast - B&B check out of B&B, load bags into car drive first half of counterclockwise loop around Olympic National Park Lake Crescent Marymere Falls Hoh Rain Forest check in at B&B, dump bags at B&B Rialto Beach La Push Dinner - Forks Night 3 – Misty Valley Inn B&B, Forks Day 4: Breakfast - B&B check out of B&B, load bags into car Drive second half of counterclockwise loop around Olympic National Park Ruby Beach Kaloloch Beach Lake Quinault Quinault Rainforest Loop drive from Lake Quinault to Olympia check in at B&B, dump bags at B&B Dinner - Olympia Night 4 - Swantown Inn B&B, Olympia Day 5: Breakfast - B&B check out of B&B, load bags into car sighteeing in Olympia tour of capitol building drive from Olympia to Seattle return car board HAL ms Amsterdam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allisons Posted July 25, 2013 Author #144 Share Posted July 25, 2013 I don't think we should pick up the car the day we're in Seattle. We won't need it. We'll just have to find and pay for parking. I think we should pick it up the next morning. I'm changing the reservation. ALASKA: Day 1: fly into Anchorage pick up RV at Great Alaskan Holidays or pick up car at Enterprise downtown if RV, go to grocery store to buy groceries for breakfasts and lunches Dinner – Snow Goose Restaurant & Sleeping Lady Brewing Company Night 1 – RV or Comfort Inn Ship Creek, Anchorage Day 2: Breakfast - RV or Comfort Inn Ship Creek drive from Anchorage to Homer scenic viewing along the drive Lunch - St. Elias Brewing Company, Soldotna if RV, pick up rental bikes at Cycle Logical or Lands End Resort if car, go to grocery store to buy groceries for breakfasts and lunches Dinner - The Chart Room Restaurant Night 2 – RV or Lands End Resort, Homer Day 3: Breakfast - RV or hotel room sightseeing in Homer Homer Spit art scene in Homer Lunch - RV or hotel room 5:00-6:00 p.m. ferry from Homer to Halibut Cove Dinner – The Saltry Restaurant (6:00-7:30 p.m. or 7:30-9:00 p.m.) 9:00-10:00 p.m. ferry from Halibut Cove to Homer Night 3 – RV or Lands End Resort, Homer Day 4: Breakfast - RV or hotel room Pratt Museum Lunch - RV or hotel room 1:00-3:30 p.m. Homer Ocean Charters Wildlife Cruise of Katchemak Bay sightseeing in Homer Homer Spit art scene in Homer Dinner - The Homestead Restaurant Night 4 – RV or Lands End Resort, Homer Day 5: Breakfast - RV or hotel room if RV, return rental bikes to Cycle Logical or Lands End Resort drive from Homer to Portage Glacier 12:00-1:00 p.m. Gray Line of Alaska Portage Glacier Cruise drive from Portage Glacier to Girdwood Alyeska Tram Lunch - Alyeska Resort Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center drive from Girdwood to Anchorage Dinner - Bear Tooth Theatrepub & Grill Night 5 – RV or Comfort Inn Ship Creek, Anchorage Day 6: Breakfast - RV or Comfort Inn Ship Creek return RV to Great Alaskan Holidays or return car to Enterprise downtown 8:45 a.m. check in at train station 9:45 a.m.-12:05 p.m. Glacier Discovery train from Anchorage to Whittier board Crown Princess SEATTLE: Day 1: disembark Island Princess 9:00 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Amtrak motorcoach from Vancouver to Seattle check in at hotel, dump bags at hotel sightseeing in Seattle Pike Place Market Lunch - Pike Place Market Space Needle Experience Music Project Science Center (if time) Dinner - Elliott's Oyster House Night 1 – Seattle (hotel, downtown, will use Hotwire) Day 2: Breakfast - hotel or Starbucks check out of hotel 7:30 a.m. pick up rental car at Budget downtown 8:45-9:20 a.m. ferry from Seattle to Bainbridge Island sightseeing in Bainbridge Island Lunch - whatever restaurant the hotel recommends in Bainbridge Island drive from Bainbridge Island to Port Angeles check in at B&B, dump bags at B&B Olympic National Park Visitors Center Hurricane Ridge Dinner - whatever restaurant the B&B recommends in Port Angeles Night 2 – Colette's Bed & Breakfast, Port Angeles Day 3: Breakfast - Colette's Bed & Breakfast check out of B&B, load bags into car drive first half of counterclockwise loop around Olympic National Park Lake Crescent Marymere Falls Hoh Rain Forest check in at B&B, dump bags at B&B Rialto Beach La Push Dinner - whatever restaurant the B&B recommends in Forks Night 3 – Misty Valley Inn Bed & Breakfast, Forks Day 4: Breakfast - Misty Valley Inn Bed & Breakfast check out of B&B, load bags into car Drive second half of counterclockwise loop around Olympic National Park Ruby Beach Kaloloch Beach Lake Quinault Quinault Rainforest Loop drive from Lake Quinault to Olympia check in at B&B, dump bags at B&B Dinner - whatever restaurant the B&B recommends in Olympia Night 4 - Swantown Inn Bed & Breakfast, Olympia Day 5: Breakfast - Swantown Inn Bed & Breakfast check out of B&B, load bags into car sighteeing in Olympia 10:00-11:00 a.m. tour of capitol building drive from Olympia to Seattle return car to Budget downtown board HAL ms Amsterdam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geekypenguin Posted July 26, 2013 #145 Share Posted July 26, 2013 Good Karma Inn and Walkabout Cottage are about ~15 miles outside of Homer! Yikes! We don't want to stay outside of Homer. I found B&Bs in Homer listed on TripAdvisor. However, they're even more expensive than Lands End Resort! Ugh! :( The Good Karma Inn is 6 miles from downtown Homer, 12 miles from the tip of the spit, where Lands End is. You didn't mention that you were wanting to stay on the spit. If you are focused on doing things on the spit only, that would make sense. We were in Homer to relax, enjoy the scenery, and fish, and the Good Karma was perfect for that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allisons Posted July 26, 2013 Author #146 Share Posted July 26, 2013 The Good Karma Inn is 6 miles from downtown Homer, 12 miles from the tip of the spit, where Lands End is. You didn't mention that you were wanting to stay on the spit. If you are focused on doing things on the spit only, that would make sense. We were in Homer to relax, enjoy the scenery, and fish, and the Good Karma was perfect for that. We're not specifically focused on the spit. Downtown also. We're doing a wildlife cruise, dinner cruise to Halibut Cove, the Pratt Museum, art galleries, and the art scene in general. Any lodging recommendations? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greatam Posted July 26, 2013 #147 Share Posted July 26, 2013 Day 2: Breakfast - RV or Comfort Inn Ship Creek drive from Anchorage to Homer scenic viewing along the drive Lunch - St. Elias Brewing Company, Soldotna if RV, pick up rental bikes at Cycle Logical or Lands End Resort if car, go to grocery store to buy groceries for breakfasts and lunches Dinner - The Chart Room Restaurant Night 2 – RV or Lands End Resort, Homer Day 3: Breakfast - RV or hotel room sightseeing in Homer Homer Spit art scene in Homer Lunch - RV or hotel room 5:00-6:00 p.m. ferry from Homer to Halibut Cove Dinner – The Saltry Restaurant (6:00-7:30 p.m. or 7:30-9:00 p.m.) 9:00-10:00 p.m. ferry from Halibut Cove to Homer Night 3 – RV or Lands End Resort, Homer Day 4: Breakfast - RV or hotel room Pratt Museum Lunch - RV or hotel room 1:00-3:30 p.m. Homer Ocean Charters Wildlife Cruise of Katchemak Bay sightseeing in Homer Homer Spit art scene in Homer Dinner - The Homestead Restaurant Night 4 – RV or Lands End Resort, Homer Day 5: Breakfast - RV or hotel room if RV, return rental bikes to Cycle Logical or Lands End Resort drive from Homer to Portage Glacier 12:00-1:00 p.m. Gray Line of Alaska Portage Glacier Cruise drive from Portage Glacier to Girdwood Alyeska Tram Lunch - Alyeska Resort Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center PLEASE FORGET THE RV With this schedule, where in the heck are you going to park that RV??? As I posted previously, there is VERY limited parking on the Spit. And on the 4th of July??? Just to drive from one end of the Spit to the other could very easily take you 1/2 hour (it is only 5 miles but the traffic gets that heavy). You will have a heck of a time finding parking at Land's End for an RV. The parking lot is relatively small when you take into consideration that the parking lot is not only for the hotel but for some of the condos AND the restaurant. Same thing with the Homestead on a busy week. NO PARKING for an RV on a crowded weekend. In addition, since you don't want to just pull over someplace and camp, if you insist on the RV, you better make reservations for one of the RV parks NOW. The one by the Fishing Hole fills up far in advance. The rest of the RV's are just camping-no water hookup, no electric or sewer. And I would guess the one further down the Spit fills up even faster. The RV park by the Fishing Hole sometimes REALLY stinks if the fish are spawned out and there are a lot of dead ones laying around. I have refused to get out of the car when I have gone to pickup DH from fishing (he usually catches a ride from our condo at Land's End but if he has fish, he wants a ride back). Renting bikes works for some things but on a heavy week like 4th of July, you are truly taking your life in your own hands and it could be very dangerous. LOTS of people with their rented RV's going fishing at the Fishing Hole and a lot of them don't drive well in those RV's. I don't know how many times I have been almost creamed by someone in their rented RV backing out onto the Spit Road from the RV park at the Fishing Hole. They just start backing out and don't pay much attention. Lots of people with too much to drink and floundering around in Homer. I wouldn't even get on a motorcycle during 4th of July week, let alone a bicycle. From Land's End to town (Pratt Museum), it is about 8 miles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allisons Posted July 26, 2013 Author #148 Share Posted July 26, 2013 PLEASE FORGET THE RV With this schedule, where in the heck are you going to park that RV??? As I posted previously, there is VERY limited parking on the Spit. And on the 4th of July??? Just to drive from one end of the Spit to the other could very easily take you 1/2 hour (it is only 5 miles but the traffic gets that heavy). You will have a heck of a time finding parking at Land's End for an RV. The parking lot is relatively small when you take into consideration that the parking lot is not only for the hotel but for some of the condos AND the restaurant. Same thing with the Homestead on a busy week. NO PARKING for an RV on a crowded weekend. In addition, since you don't want to just pull over someplace and camp, if you insist on the RV, you better make reservations for one of the RV parks NOW. The one by the Fishing Hole fills up far in advance. The rest of the RV's are just camping-no water hookup, no electric or sewer. And I would guess the one further down the Spit fills up even faster. The RV park by the Fishing Hole sometimes REALLY stinks if the fish are spawned out and there are a lot of dead ones laying around. I have refused to get out of the car when I have gone to pickup DH from fishing (he usually catches a ride from our condo at Land's End but if he has fish, he wants a ride back). Renting bikes works for some things but on a heavy week like 4th of July, you are truly taking your life in your own hands and it could be very dangerous. LOTS of people with their rented RV's going fishing at the Fishing Hole and a lot of them don't drive well in those RV's. I don't know how many times I have been almost creamed by someone in their rented RV backing out onto the Spit Road from the RV park at the Fishing Hole. They just start backing out and don't pay much attention. Lots of people with too much to drink and floundering around in Homer. I wouldn't even get on a motorcycle during 4th of July week, let alone a bicycle. From Land's End to town (Pratt Museum), it is about 8 miles. In my mind, the RV is definitely out. My husband it not willing to say that definitively yet. But I think it will definitely go that way. Do you have any lodging recommendations? We were in Seward this summer July 5-6. We didn't notice any congestion or traffic. We were under the impression that Seward is a real hot spot for July 4th due to the Mount Marathon, etc. Will it be any worse in Homer July 5-8 than what we experienced in Seward? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greatam Posted July 26, 2013 #149 Share Posted July 26, 2013 In my mind, the RV is definitely out. My husband it not willing to say that definitively yet. But I think it will definitely go that way. Do you have any lodging recommendations? We were in Seward this summer July 5-6. We didn't notice any congestion or traffic. We were under the impression that Seward is a real hot spot for July 4th due to the Mount Marathon, etc. Will it be any worse in Homer July 5-8 than what we experienced in Seward? Seward is close enough to Anchorage that people drive home. So you don't have the congestion that you do in Homer. There is a yearly halibut fishing derby plus the Fishing Hole which is stocked by Alaska Fish and Game. LOTS of people go to Homer and stay 3 days to a week. It is usually VERY crowded on 4th of July week. And since the 4th is on Friday in 2014, it will be really crowded. Our condo is already rented for the entire week of 4th of July, 2014. As far as lodging, what do you want? Of course, there is Land's End and the Land's End condos (which are privately owned but under a rental/management agreement with Land's End). There are numerous B & B's. My favorite place if we don't stay in our condo (sometimes it is rented when we want to go to Homer) is Sea Lion on the Spit. NOT fancy like some of the condo's (ours is one of the first built and rather plain). But oh, the views from Sea Lion (I think they are better than Land's End). And the landlords are artists which own a gallery on the first floor. There are only two spaces and they might be booked already. But if this is your kind of place, book EARLY. Don't wait. The price is right and it is right on the Spit. http://www.sealiongallery.com/cove/index.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allisons Posted July 26, 2013 Author #150 Share Posted July 26, 2013 Seward is close enough to Anchorage that people drive home. So you don't have the congestion that you do in Homer. There is a yearly halibut fishing derby plus the Fishing Hole which is stocked by Alaska Fish and Game. LOTS of people go to Homer and stay 3 days to a week. It is usually VERY crowded on 4th of July week. And since the 4th is on Friday in 2014, it will be really crowded. Our condo is already rented for the entire week of 4th of July, 2014. As far as lodging, what do you want? Of course, there is Land's End and the Land's End condos (which are privately owned but under a rental/management agreement with Land's End). There are numerous B & B's. My favorite place if we don't stay in our condo (sometimes it is rented when we want to go to Homer) is Sea Lion on the Spit. NOT fancy like some of the condo's (ours is one of the first built and rather plain). But oh, the views from Sea Lion (I think they are better than Land's End). And the landlords are artists which own a gallery on the first floor. There are only two spaces and they might be booked already. But if this is your kind of place, book EARLY. Don't wait. The price is right and it is right on the Spit. http://www.sealiongallery.com/cove/index.html Oh no! Should we try to rebook our trip for a different time period? How bad will it be? Will everything be overly crowded? Will we not be able to get into restaurants? Will museums and galleries be crowded? What kind of congestion exactly are we talking about? Now I'm very concerned! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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