Alaska HELP!
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From: Groton CT
Alaska HELP!
We're off to Alaska on Sat 8/16 - renting an RV for 16 days (wife & 9 yr old boy) - planning to go from Anchorage to Fairbanks back via Palmer and then the Kenai Pennisula.
Any suggestions in terms of fishing, horse-back riding, kid's activities, etc? I have all my salmon gear and look forward to bringing a few silvers home.... if anone lives up there or has visited in the past, any & all tips/suggestions would be very welcome!!!!!!!
We're stoked! 1st time to AK and this is going to be a blast!!!!
TIA.....Mike
Any suggestions in terms of fishing, horse-back riding, kid's activities, etc? I have all my salmon gear and look forward to bringing a few silvers home.... if anone lives up there or has visited in the past, any & all tips/suggestions would be very welcome!!!!!!!
We're stoked! 1st time to AK and this is going to be a blast!!!!
TIA.....Mike
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From: Groton CT
lol.... I'll be sure to have my wife post the videos on You Tube of me running down a trail with a couple salmon and a bear chasing after me... 
We honestly don't have a real solid idea of what we're doing..... however it will be fun no matter what...... being from NJ though, all I can think of is a northern version of "My Cousin Vinny"......
I wonder what the "yutes" of Alaska are like......
We honestly don't have a real solid idea of what we're doing..... however it will be fun no matter what...... being from NJ though, all I can think of is a northern version of "My Cousin Vinny"......
I wonder what the "yutes" of Alaska are like......
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From: Whitehorse, Yukon
I've been there twice and really enjoyed myself both times.
If you get a chance to check out Skagway, there's a lot of Goldrush History there to take in.
From there you can take the marine highway to Juneau, as well as a few other towns.
I have fond memories of Juneau, I was once stranded there with 12 cents in my pocket and no way home.
I ended up at the mercy of Juneau hospitality, and bummed a ride back to Skagway on a 4-seater Piper.
Northern people are a different breed.
Some of the best folks you will find anywhere.
Have a safe trip.
If you get a chance to check out Skagway, there's a lot of Goldrush History there to take in.
From there you can take the marine highway to Juneau, as well as a few other towns.
I have fond memories of Juneau, I was once stranded there with 12 cents in my pocket and no way home.
I ended up at the mercy of Juneau hospitality, and bummed a ride back to Skagway on a 4-seater Piper.
Northern people are a different breed.
Some of the best folks you will find anywhere.
Have a safe trip.
to the OP: do a helo tour onto a glacier. heard they were boatloads of fun! dont forget the train ride
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From: Off the Road, Alaska
OK, First you want to prioritize what you want to do. While 16 days may sound like a lot of time, you're going to spend a lot of time driving. If you're rushing, makes the trip no fun. Plan on the Kenai Peninsula for fishing, since you dont have a boat. Most guys hit the Russian river, since it's convenient, right on the highway. It's going to be crowded though! Theres also the Kasilof, and of course the Kenai itself. I'm not up there right now, so I don't know where is hot right now, but if you swing by Sportsmans Warehouse in Anchorage, they have a pretty good chart of fishing reports.
With the kids, make sure you get over to Seward to go to the Sea Life center. Also, by Portage, there's a wildlife center where you pay a few bucks, and can see all the Alaska wildlife (bears, moose, musk-ox, etc) in one place.
Head down to Homer, and consider either a sightseeing boat trip with a company like Rainbow tours, or even better, a Halibut charter. With the Halibut charters, it's worth it to go all day in a 6-pack, but be cognizant of the wife and kids... it's a long day, and the water is always a little rough.
Most of the Interior is great for the scenery (Denali), and the rivers, but there might not be a whole lot to do, especially for the kids.
Whatever you do, don't be afraid to ask questions. Especially when it comes to fishing. The laws are pretty tricky for an outsider, and the rules are different on different rivers, and even different parts of the same river.
Theres some pretty good horseback riding opportunities on the Kenai as well. There's a place in Cooper Landing (right by the Russian/ Kenai Rivers) that I heard was good, but I don't remember the name.
You can also go on ATV tours... lots of places, just google.
That's all I can come up with now.
Oh, and MOST IMPORTANT!
In Alaska, since most of the roads are 2 lane, there's a law that says if there are 5 or more vehicles behind you, you MUST pull over as soon as practical. There's a huge amount of RV drivers who putter along on a sunday drive, while locals, just are trying to get where they need to go- it REALLY pisses us off. Theres also a lot of accidents caused by this, since so many people try to pass.
With the kids, make sure you get over to Seward to go to the Sea Life center. Also, by Portage, there's a wildlife center where you pay a few bucks, and can see all the Alaska wildlife (bears, moose, musk-ox, etc) in one place.
Head down to Homer, and consider either a sightseeing boat trip with a company like Rainbow tours, or even better, a Halibut charter. With the Halibut charters, it's worth it to go all day in a 6-pack, but be cognizant of the wife and kids... it's a long day, and the water is always a little rough.
Most of the Interior is great for the scenery (Denali), and the rivers, but there might not be a whole lot to do, especially for the kids.
Whatever you do, don't be afraid to ask questions. Especially when it comes to fishing. The laws are pretty tricky for an outsider, and the rules are different on different rivers, and even different parts of the same river.
Theres some pretty good horseback riding opportunities on the Kenai as well. There's a place in Cooper Landing (right by the Russian/ Kenai Rivers) that I heard was good, but I don't remember the name.
You can also go on ATV tours... lots of places, just google.
That's all I can come up with now.
Oh, and MOST IMPORTANT!
In Alaska, since most of the roads are 2 lane, there's a law that says if there are 5 or more vehicles behind you, you MUST pull over as soon as practical. There's a huge amount of RV drivers who putter along on a sunday drive, while locals, just are trying to get where they need to go- it REALLY pisses us off. Theres also a lot of accidents caused by this, since so many people try to pass.
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From: Somewhere near the back of beyond
OK, First you want to prioritize what you want to do. While 16 days may sound like a lot of time, you're going to spend a lot of time driving. If you're rushing, makes the trip no fun. Plan on the Kenai Peninsula for fishing, since you dont have a boat. Most guys hit the Russian river, since it's convenient, right on the highway. It's going to be crowded though! Theres also the Kasilof, and of course the Kenai itself. I'm not up there right now, so I don't know where is hot right now, but if you swing by Sportsmans Warehouse in Anchorage, they have a pretty good chart of fishing reports.
With the kids, make sure you get over to Seward to go to the Sea Life center. Also, by Portage, there's a wildlife center where you pay a few bucks, and can see all the Alaska wildlife (bears, moose, musk-ox, etc) in one place.
Head down to Homer, and consider either a sightseeing boat trip with a company like Rainbow tours, or even better, a Halibut charter. With the Halibut charters, it's worth it to go all day in a 6-pack, but be cognizant of the wife and kids... it's a long day, and the water is always a little rough.
Most of the Interior is great for the scenery (Denali), and the rivers, but there might not be a whole lot to do, especially for the kids.
Whatever you do, don't be afraid to ask questions. Especially when it comes to fishing. The laws are pretty tricky for an outsider, and the rules are different on different rivers, and even different parts of the same river.
Theres some pretty good horseback riding opportunities on the Kenai as well. There's a place in Cooper Landing (right by the Russian/ Kenai Rivers) that I heard was good, but I don't remember the name.
You can also go on ATV tours... lots of places, just google.
That's all I can come up with now.
Oh, and MOST IMPORTANT!
In Alaska, since most of the roads are 2 lane, there's a law that says if there are 5 or more vehicles behind you, you MUST pull over as soon as practical. There's a huge amount of RV drivers who putter along on a sunday drive, while locals, just are trying to get where they need to go- it REALLY pisses us off. Theres also a lot of accidents caused by this, since so many people try to pass.
With the kids, make sure you get over to Seward to go to the Sea Life center. Also, by Portage, there's a wildlife center where you pay a few bucks, and can see all the Alaska wildlife (bears, moose, musk-ox, etc) in one place.
Head down to Homer, and consider either a sightseeing boat trip with a company like Rainbow tours, or even better, a Halibut charter. With the Halibut charters, it's worth it to go all day in a 6-pack, but be cognizant of the wife and kids... it's a long day, and the water is always a little rough.
Most of the Interior is great for the scenery (Denali), and the rivers, but there might not be a whole lot to do, especially for the kids.
Whatever you do, don't be afraid to ask questions. Especially when it comes to fishing. The laws are pretty tricky for an outsider, and the rules are different on different rivers, and even different parts of the same river.
Theres some pretty good horseback riding opportunities on the Kenai as well. There's a place in Cooper Landing (right by the Russian/ Kenai Rivers) that I heard was good, but I don't remember the name.
You can also go on ATV tours... lots of places, just google.
That's all I can come up with now.
Oh, and MOST IMPORTANT!
In Alaska, since most of the roads are 2 lane, there's a law that says if there are 5 or more vehicles behind you, you MUST pull over as soon as practical. There's a huge amount of RV drivers who putter along on a sunday drive, while locals, just are trying to get where they need to go- it REALLY pisses us off. Theres also a lot of accidents caused by this, since so many people try to pass.
akheloce covered it pretty good. I'm not aware of any children's activities but then my kids were much older when we lived there. Most folks up there are friendly as Habibi says, a whole different breed. I always called the northern attitude Alaskatude.
Denali is a must, whether you take the bus into the park or just view it from the highway. It's sometimes difficult to see, since it generates it's own weather, it can be sunny on the highway and the mountain will be shrouded in fog and clouds. We were lucky, it was clear as a bell the day we were there.
Most of all, have fun!! Alaska is a unique experience that I would recommend to anyone!
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From: Groton CT
Thanks for all the suggestions/advice!!
As we're flying into Anchorage and picking up the RV there, our initial plan is to head up to Denali for 2-3 days and then head up to Fairbanks for 1-2 days and back down to Anchorage via Delta Jct/Glennallen, stopping in Palmer for the Alaska State Fair. From there, we'll spend the next 8-9 days on the Kenai Pennisula.
akheloce - thanks for the advice on fishing! Although I'll go out halibut fishing, my wife & son will hang in Homer for the day or take the ferry to Seldovia. (both don't do too well on small fishing boats) Also - thanks for the heads-up on 5 car rule.... I usually pull over anyways when I'm driving slow...
A big question is it worth the extra time/cost to go up to Fairbanks? Or should we just cut across the Denali Hwy and use the extra time on Kenai? (yes, RV is OK for gravel roads) Any advice on this would be great!
thanks...
As we're flying into Anchorage and picking up the RV there, our initial plan is to head up to Denali for 2-3 days and then head up to Fairbanks for 1-2 days and back down to Anchorage via Delta Jct/Glennallen, stopping in Palmer for the Alaska State Fair. From there, we'll spend the next 8-9 days on the Kenai Pennisula.
akheloce - thanks for the advice on fishing! Although I'll go out halibut fishing, my wife & son will hang in Homer for the day or take the ferry to Seldovia. (both don't do too well on small fishing boats) Also - thanks for the heads-up on 5 car rule.... I usually pull over anyways when I'm driving slow...
A big question is it worth the extra time/cost to go up to Fairbanks? Or should we just cut across the Denali Hwy and use the extra time on Kenai? (yes, RV is OK for gravel roads) Any advice on this would be great!
thanks...
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From: Somewhere near the back of beyond
Fairbanks...hmmm, we didn't do much there but...the arctic circle is only a couple of hundred miles from Fairbanks up the Dalton Highway. I wish we had gone up there when we were in Fairbanks, not many folks can say they've been to the arctic circle!
Also...about 15 miles southeast of Fairbanks is North Pole, Alaska which is where you'll find Santa Claus House. It's a great Christmas Gift shop, open year round and your son might like that. I bought a tree ornament for each of my sisters and my mom there. It's a neat place.
Also...about 15 miles southeast of Fairbanks is North Pole, Alaska which is where you'll find Santa Claus House. It's a great Christmas Gift shop, open year round and your son might like that. I bought a tree ornament for each of my sisters and my mom there. It's a neat place.
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From: Groton CT
AKheloce/WMR (and others!) - we're back home now in NJ since Wed and just want to say thanks again for all your suggestions/help with Alaska.... I've attached a few pics below. (BTW - "Alaska Horsemen" is the name of the riding place @ Kenai Lake - wife went for a 1/2 day ride)
We had an absolute great time - overall weather worked out very well & the people we met along the way had to be some of the most friendliest people we've ever met!! (to the extent one fisherman went way out of his way to show us how to do the "Kenai flip" and lent his own fishing pole to my wife to use)
Mt McKinley/Denali
Denali Highway (120 mile gravel road)
Coming in on a float plane @ Lake Hood/Spenard
Exit Glacier near Seward
We had an absolute great time - overall weather worked out very well & the people we met along the way had to be some of the most friendliest people we've ever met!! (to the extent one fisherman went way out of his way to show us how to do the "Kenai flip" and lent his own fishing pole to my wife to use)
Mt McKinley/Denali
Denali Highway (120 mile gravel road)
Coming in on a float plane @ Lake Hood/Spenard
Exit Glacier near Seward
