1 Day pre-cruise Anchorage - what to do?

[CBowling]

Any suggestions on what to do in Anchorage pre cruise? We get in late on the 12th, and sail the 14th. We have 1 full day of no travel in Anchorage. Any suggestions? This will be our 1st trip to Alaska.

[cjnky]

Rent a car and you can do a LOT in one day in Anchorage! Top priority for me would be the Alaska Native Heritage Center - a fantastic place and will take up half of your day! If you're there on a weekend, hit the Anchorage weekend market. Drive south through the turnagain arm - awesome scenery!! Check out Mt. Hood Float Plane harbor, Airport Park, and Earthquake Park. Anchorage has LOTS to offer!

[steinbird]

I'm also getting in early to anchorage - arriving on June 7th but the cruisetour starts the 9th. We decided to take the Kenai Fjords tour because neither the RCI cruise or cruisetour was going to Kenai Fjords and I've heard rave reviews about it.

[msmoger]

We have 2 days to plan prior to the start of our tour. We're renting a car for the 2 days (which is NOT cheap in Alaska :eek: ).

 

The first day we're also doing the Kenai Fjords National Park Tour with Renown (http://www.renowntours.com/).

 

The second day we're taking a Denali Flightseeing trip with Talkeetna Air Taxi (http://www.talkeetnaair.com/).

 

I also want to try to find some time for the Alaska Native Heritage Center in Anchorage. Everybody says it's great (http://www.alaskanative.net/).

 

Have fun whatever you decide!!:p

[Budget Queen]

We have 2 days to plan prior to the start of our tour. We're renting a car for the 2 days (which is NOT cheap in Alaska :eek: ).

 

The first day we're also doing the Kenai Fjords National Park Tour with Renown (http://www.renowntours.com/).

 

The second day we're taking a Denali Flightseeing trip with Talkeetna Air Taxi (http://www.talkeetnaair.com/).

 

I also want to try to find some time for the Alaska Native Heritage Center in Anchorage. Everybody says it's great (http://www.alaskanative.net/).

 

Have fun whatever you decide!!:p

3r

 

Are you factoring in all your transit time??? You will need to allow at least 6 hours for the round trip drive Anchorage/Seward, then another 2 hours one way to Talkeetna, add in traffic in Anchorage and brief stops. I never recommend Seward as a day trip from Anchorage anyway, just not something I would never do. Denali flightseeing, needs TIME, flights can and do get canceled, you are best to allow 2 days if a priority, otherwise, I would just take my chances and fly out of Anchorage, several long time vendors.

[Budget Queen]

I'm also getting in early to anchorage - arriving on June 7th but the cruisetour starts the 9th. We decided to take the Kenai Fjords tour because neither the RCI cruise or cruisetour was going to Kenai Fjords and I've heard rave reviews about it.

 

Allthough costly, I highly suggest, if you arrive in Anchorage in the afternoon, get out and drive to Seward that day, Kenai Fjords in a day trip is just something, I never recommend. Too much in one day. If you get there the night before then you have the option to take the superior Northwestern Fjords trip. Or the early regular 6 hour trip that gets back around 2pm, then you can at least have a look at Exit Glacier, and spend some time on the drive stopping all along the Arm.

[msmoger]

3r

 

Are you factoring in all your transit time??? You will need to allow at least 6 hours for the round trip drive Anchorage/Seward, then another 2 hours one way to Talkeetna, add in traffic in Anchorage and brief stops. I never recommend Seward as a day trip from Anchorage anyway, just not something I would never do. Denali flightseeing, needs TIME, flights can and do get canceled, you are best to allow 2 days if a priority, otherwise, I would just take my chances and fly out of Anchorage, several long time vendors.

 

 

To answer your initial question, yes I do realize how much travel time is involved. As far as Seward is concerned, this will be our only chance to do a KFNP Tour since we will be sailing out of Whittier. We'll get an early start and we really don't mind this being a very long day. It will be our first full day of the trip so I figure will be plenty revved to go :D .

 

I'm also aware of the distance to Talkeetna, but we're scheduled to give us plenty of time to get there. Also, as they've instructed us to do, we'll call them before leaving (and probably call again during the ride) to make sure the weather is good enough to fly. I know it can change quickly but we're willing to take the chance. I much prefer their trips to the ones out of Anchorage.

 

However, I very much appreciate the advice and will probably continue to give it more thought. :rolleyes:

 

Thanks,

[qiangf2]

I would suggest riding the train to Seward to spend at least one night there. You can take one of the tours offered by Kenai Fjords or Renown. The town itself is quite pleasant to mingle around.