Planning 1st Trip - Suggestions Please!!

[pmoments]

We are planning a before land tour on our own. We are two adults with a 11 yr daughter. Was planning on one way rental car from Fairbanks to Archorage. Any suggestions would be welcomed. Thanks!!

 

Day 1, Sat, Jun 21 – LV BWI for Fairbanks – Do depending on time - see Riverboat Discovery and El Dorado Mine

 

Day 2, Sun. Jun 22 – Leave Fairbanks and drive to Denali - do a schuttle bus into the park (hotel for the night)

 

Day 3, Mon., Jun 23 – Morning more of Denali then on to Talkeetna

(stay at Talkeetan Alaska Lodge) do the Wilderness Jetboat Adventure (the three rivers one)

 

Day 4, Tues, Jun 24 – Talkeetna morning drive to Anchorage (stay at Anchorage Marriott)

 

Day 5, Wed, Jun 25 – City Tour of Anchorage, Alaska Native Heritage Center

 

Day 6, Thur, Jun 26 – Take train from Anchorage to Seward by train due the 6 hr Kenai Fjords tour

 

Day 7, Fri, Jun 27 – Seward (see Exit Glacier and Sealife Museum before board the Radiance at 9 pm for 7 day.

 

At the end of the cruise which will be Fourth of July fly back from Vancover to BWI.

 

Any help suggestions would be greatly appreciated. We have only booked the cruise so far.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Have done the Anchorage Native Heritage Center, Did the Museum in Seward and the Kenai Fjords -- loved them all - great choices.

[Budget Queen]

Most westbound flights into Fairbanks arrive late afternoon, at the earliest. You will not have time for anything much in Fairbanks, if you expect to be on a Denali Park shuttle the next day. I suggest you add another day for Fairbanks, otherwise skip it and go into Anchorage, where there are more flight options, and far cheaper rental cars.

 

You can certainly have plans for your Talkeetna/Anchorage transit day, which will have you on the road, 3 hours at the most. You can side track some sights that will add a few hours, use this day for more.

 

As a suggestion- day 2 drive to Denali Park, day 3 shuttle into park to Fish Creek, can drive to Talkeetna, do your boat tour next am, then to Anchorage.

 

You might want to consider switching around your Seward plans, do Exit Glacier, Sealife Center etc, maybe add Seavey's on your first day, then do Kenai Fjords the next. If of interest, it would allow you to get the farthest with Northwestern trip- the best in my opinion. Or take the 8am trip and have more time for sightseeing in the afternoon. It is going to be a LONG day for everyone, taking an early 4++ hour train ride, then rush to a 6 hour boat trip. You will enjoy it more the next day in my opinion.

[pmoments]

Thanks for the comments.

 

BQ - Sounds like I would be better just going in to Anchorage and skip Fairbanks. Would it be better the first day to stay the night in Anchorage or start driving part way to Denali?

[Budget Queen]

Thanks for the comments.

 

BQ - Sounds like I would be better just going in to Anchorage and skip Fairbanks. Would it be better the first day to stay the night in Anchorage or start driving part way to Denali?

 

Depending on your flight, driving to Talkeetna may be a nice idea?? But if coming from a long flight, then adding at least 5 hours to get to Denali Park, may be overextending yourself??

[pmoments]

Made some changes and comments or suggestions would be great!! Looking for a hotel in Anchorage just to sleep one night do dinner and the hertiage center, maybe have a schuttle to the train. Thanks for looking!!!

 

Day 1, Sat, Jun 21 – Fly from BWI to Anchorage, rental car and drive to Talkeetna and staying at the Talkeetna Cabins

-

Day 2, Sun. Jun 22 – drive to Denali and do two nights at Denali Lakeside Lodging (Toolshed), check out the visitors center

 

Day 3, Mon., Jun 23 – Denali Park do shuttle bus to Fish Creek

 

Day 4, Tues, Jun 24 – drive back to Talkeetna Mahay Wilderness Jetboat Adventure the 5 hrs. to Devils Canyon, stay at Talkeetna Cabins again.

 

Day 5, Wed, Jun 25 – drive to Anchorage for the night, check out city & Alaska Native Heritage Center, was thinking of the Comfront Inn Ship Creek

 

Day 6, Thur, Jun 26 – take the train from Anchorage to Seward stay at Holiday Inn Express Seward. Spend the day seeing Exit Glacier & Sealife Museum.

 

Day 7, Fri, Jun 27 – do the Renown Kenai Fjords tour board ship at 9 pm

 

At Port was think in of the following:

 

Juneau - Zipline w/Alaska Canopy Adventures and Whale watching w/Harv

& Marv

 

Skagway - Yukon Railroad & Bus Tour w/Chilkoot Charters

 

Icy Strait – Halibut fishing not sure with who yet???

 

Ketchikan – Misty Fjords w/Island Wings

 

Any suggestion/comments would be great.

[Budget Queen]

This is a wonderful itinerary that you have though out and planned well. You have plenty of time to enjoy your destinations and no marathon driving. :) Some great tours lined up certainly. Have a great time. :)

[pmoments]

Thank you, Budget Queen and others for all your help and suggestions. This board has been great. BQ, I see you are from NY, my family is from Johnson City, NY. Thanks, again!!