Three pre-cruise days in Denali...Any suggestions?

[ocean.queen]

Six of us are spending three days in Denali before our August 9th Dawn Princess cruise. Anyone have suggestions for things we just must do while we are there??

Thank you in advance.

[Budget Queen]

Will you have a car??? 3 days is a long time in Denali Park for me. Of course there is the Shuttle bus- but going when you are I would only go to Eielson. Another day you can do a guided ranger hike if of interest. see the sled dog demo, take a flight, rafting?? What is your interest for spending so much time there??? Then plan from there. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img] Here is the Denali web site to get you started. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]http://www.nps.gov/dena/home/visitorinfo/activities/index.htm

[ocean.queen]

Hi Budget Queen...I knew you'd come through for me. Took your previous advice & have allowed plenty of time for travel between Anchorage & Denali.

Yes..I have rented a van. The six of us arrive in Anchorage on Thursday at noon, we will drive to Denali River Cabins, sleep, and plan to do the shuttle (as you suggested) to Eilson early on Friday. We will have Friday pm & all day Sat. for other activities...then we have ALL Sunday to work our way back to Anchorage.

I was looking at Denali Air for a flightseeing trip or thinking of a day drive to Fairbanks. Do you have anymore info on the sled dog demo???

Kathy

[ocean.queen]

Found the info for the sled dog demo...Thanks for the link!! Made reservations for the shuttle bus, also.

Kathy

[Budget Queen]

Fairbanks is a 2 hour drive from Denali Park and yes worth a visit, you may want to resched a night there? Plenty to see and do, [url="http://www.explorefairbanks.com"]www.explorefairbanks.com[/url]

Suggestions- Fairbanks U museum, a look at their botanical gardens, raindeer farm, musk oxen farm (email me for directions, if needed [email]budgetqueenalaska@yahoo.com[/email] ), Ice Museum, North Pole- especially necessary if you have small children to mail to ( I mailed several postcards of my last trip to my 2 nephew's classes of my winter adventures, they especially like the Santa messages [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img] ) Public Lands -small exhibits. Creamer's Field, several gold mine tours, River boat ride. Pioneer Park- great salmon bake. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

[gonnago]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Fairbanks is a 2 hour drive from Denali Park and yes worth a visit <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Budget Queen is so right about this. Fairbanks had so much to offer and we had so little time. It is one of the towns to which I would like to return.

Pioneer Park (formerly Alaskaland) is free even. And the Alaskan Pipeline is close by there.

[I]"Thanks to all for your help & advice. Our May 28th cruise was much better for it!"[/I]

[ocean.queen]

Thanks everyone! We've all decided to use day #2 to explore Fairbanks...then try to get a flightseeing trip scheduled early our last day before we head back to Anchorage.

[whenzuc]

check out Knik Glacier tours and also Mat-su Glacier trekking

[url="http://www.knikglacieradventures.com/tour.html"]http://www.knikglacieradventures.com/tour.html[/url]

micaguides.com

these tours look outrageous and you can drive to them from anchorage on the way to Denali. i can't wait until July 1 for me.

[Budget Queen]

For clairfication- MICA guide tour is NOT on the way to Denali park and trekks Matanuska Glacier, there is no Mat Su glacier.