I'm going to Alaska for vacation from 7/15 - 7/22 and was wondering if any of you had any tips, suggestions, or recommendations.

Here's the plan so far:

Fly into Anchorage on Sunday and drive to Seward.
Stay in Seward for 4 nights and go Halibut fishing one day.
Drive to Denali on Thursday.
Stay in Denali until late Saturday to catch a midnight flight back.

Any places I must see? Any tips on what to do in Seward and Denali?

Thanks in advance.

 

Go to Sitka. Visit Sitka Sound Seafood and get me a few jars of their smoked salmon



BREW

 

It's really out of the way, is it worth it? It comes in jars? Can't find a location through Google, though their workers are now represented by International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 200, lol.

 

I've never been there, but a friend of mine when I was in school lived there. He had to fly home for a week and when he came back he had a case or little jars of their smoked salmon. It's smoked, then cut into small chuncks and packed with oil in little jars. It's been a long time since I've had it, but it was the best smoked salmon I've ever had.



BREW

 

Valdez is a nice town to visit, as is Homer. Homer has some great Halibut fishing Anchorage is nice, and if the salmon run is still going... check out Ship Creek that runs right through Anchorage. If its going, get some gear and have fun in the mud. In Soldotna/Kenai area... hop on a float plane and fly over the Cook Inlet and fish for salmon with the bears.

Denali is an amazing site, and be prepared for a long bus ride if you go through the park. The views of McKinley are spectacular. Once at Denali, take Cantwell Highway towards highway 4 for a little bit. This area is un-touched and rarely seen by tourist... as is one of the best places to see. The Highway's are at least easy, they only have a few


Alaska is HUGE.... in 1 week you will see .0025% of the state. You will want to go back. Take that back, I want to go back... and I was there for a Month.

 

I want to take a train ride and to bear hunt, thats about all I want from alaska.

 

Whew, where to start.

Seward a nice little picturesque town about 3 hours from Anchorage... here's some things to check out there:

---Exit Glacier
---Tour of Resurrection Bay (by boat)
---Alaska Sea Life Center
---Train ride between Anchorage and Seward
---Halibut fishing... good, but not as good as Homer

About Halibut fishing: ask what kind of boat they have... NO ALUMINUM They are cheap for the operator, but you'll be pissing blood for the next three days. Also, get a 6 person boat, all day charter. The big "party boats" absolutely suck... you get what you pay for.

Homer, 3.5 hour drive from Seward, or 4.5 hours from Anchorage

---Best Halibut fishing

---Boat tour Kachemak Bay

---Halibut Cove (short trip for lunch at the Saltry) Nice village, although very private, with no public facilities, but the scenery is worth the trip (accessible by boat only from Homer)

---Seldovia: nice little town with a few restaurants and shops (accessible by boat only from Homer)... make sure you meet Andy Anderson, chief of police, friendly guy who, if he has time, will drive you around for a tour

---Flightsee Trip to Katmai National park (from Homer), see where Tim Treadwell met his fate

---Homer Islands and Oceans Visitor Center

---Pratt Museum

---Drive by Bear Creek Dr., and look at my hot looking F-150 (j/k)


When you head north, you can get a package that takes you by train from Anchorage to Denali, and Fairbanks, with an airline flight back to Anchorage

About 2.5 hours north of Anchorage:

Talkeetna

---Base of operations for flightseeing on Mt. McKinley (worth it)

And of course, the summer megalopolis that is Denali park a few hours north of there.

Keep in mind that you are going to spend ALOT of time driving, most likely at 35 mph stuck behind a tourist, stopping in the middle of the road where the speed limit is 65 to take a picture of a moose, or sheep. The times you are going are some of the busiest. Late May, early June are usually better for less rain, and fewer terrorists, I mean tourists. Also, one important note, check with your Halibut charter guy to make sure what the bag limits are for those dates. There was or is legislation pending to limit the daily catch to one per person for a couple weeks in July, when all the tourists will be here. That may or may not make it worth it for you.

Biggest tip: make all reservations in advance, and use a credit card with travel insurance. Dont plan on getting any charter, flightseeing trip, or hotel room without reservations. The weather in late July is very unpredictable (rain/ clouds) and many things can get canceled, or just suck due to weather (like seeing Mt. McKinley)

Hope that helps a little, I know I'm leaving alot out, so if there's anything else you want to know just ask.



I've never had to pay for a flightseeing trip, but I would if they didnt pay me to do it anyway:


yeah, that'd big mac in the background

 

My aunt has been all over the world, and says alaska was the best. She went on a cruise. All i can say is I remember On national lapoon vacation with Chevy Chase, when he was at the Grand Canyon and he looks at it for a few seconds shakes his head and says lets go. I think i would be bored in alaska.

 

Wow! Thanks a TON Akheloce!

 

No Problem... Hope you enjoy your trip... it will be a fast one...7 days isn't even long enough for me to bother spending all that time in an airplane to go to the lower 48!




Oh, one more VERY IMPORTANT THING!!!
if there are more than 5 cars behind you on the road, You MUST pull over, (even if you are going the speed limit) anywhere in the state. Not too many troopers around to catch it, but the locals sure will get pissed. (and there's no permit required to carry a concealed weapon in alaska)

 

I go up there every year, I have some property near Soldotna, you gotta go salmon fishing on the Kenai river! Just put red yarn on a hook! I have pics in my gallery. Also go to Skinny ****s 1/2 way Inn.

http://www.skinny****sak.com

Bring face mask if you can't stand 22 hours of daylight.

 

Seward is nice but I'd much rather spend my 4 days in Homer. I think their scenery is prettier and as akheloce says, their fishing is way better!

Be prepared when you go to Denali, only about 30% of the people who go to view Mt. McKinley actually get to see the mountain. It creates it's own weather and while it can be sunny and warm at the viewpoints the mountain may be shrouded in clouds. If you get to see it, it is truly a spectacular sight.

Another sight that is worth the it, if you have the time. Up the road from Denali toward Fairbanks, the Tanana River valley, beautiful. There's lots more but one week is just not enough time!! Valdez is a pretty place, Cordova and many of the isolated communities on the Prince William Sound are gorgeous areas. A flightseeing tour is a must. Alaska is awesome from the ground but it's breathtaking from the air.

And I'll reiterate akheloce's advice. . .Make all reservations well in advance!!! Things fill up fast during the summer! One more very important thing: Prepare for any and all types of weather, even in July it can get pretty chilly at times!

Check out my gallery for some Alaska photos. . .and have fun!!