Grand Alaska tour - opinions?
James Wortley
is:
1) Fly to Anchorage, overnight
2) Valdez via Matanuska Valley, stop at Worthington Glacier, Valdez museum,
overnight in Valdez
3) Cruise through Prince William Sound, Columbia Glacier, overnight in
Valdez
4) Dive to Fairbanks, Wrangell-St. Elias N.P., overnight Fairbanks
5) Fairbanks, cruise Chena River (Riverboat Discovery III) Alaska
Land/Salmon bake, overnight Fairbanks
6) Drive south Parks Highway to Denali, Nenana, overnight in Denali
7) Denali, Tundra Wildlife Tour, overnight Denali
8) Denali, Alaska Railroad from Denali to Anchorage, overnight Anchorage
9) Anchorage, Alaska Native Her. Centre
10) Bye
Also, what time of year is optimal for this sort of trip? When are
mosquitos, for example, at a minimum? Is June 17th a bad idea?
Thanks,
JKW
Craig
Sounds pretty good. I always liked AlaskaLand's Salmon Bake in Fairbanks
(but would suggest ordering halibut there instead).
Mid-June is skeetery. Mosquitoes are fewer and the chance of actually
seeing Mt. McK in Denali NP would be better in August.
--
Craig Williams
http://wpyr.netfirms.com
Robert Bolton
"James Wortley" <wortl...@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:-a6dnZwd27l...@comcast.com...
(including tourists :>) are the worst in June and July. It can start
to rain in August. Is this a package deal? If not, you may have to
schedule your trip around the available seats for the rides. Don't
worry about the bugs; just bring some spray and you'll be Ok.
I went on the Discovery for the first time last summer. It's fun,but
the Native camp site complex they take you to is not wheelchair
friendly at all. I saw a guy pushing a lady along the paths and he
was having a difficult time. The Valdez Museum is Ok. Fairbanks has
a couple museums too. I was in the Native Heritage Center this
winter. The outdoor exhibits were mothballed for the winter but the
indoors was nice.
If you have some time in Anchorage:
Alaska State Trooper Museum
Open M-F 10-5; Sa noon-4.
The history of law enforcement in Alaska told in exhibits, memorabilia
and photographs. Store.
Located in Fifth Avenue Mall, entrance on 6th Ave.
PO Box 100280
Anchorage AK 99510
(907) 279-5050
Anchorage Museum of History & Art
Open mid-May - mid-Sept: Tu, Th 9-9; Sa, Su, M, W, F 9-6; winter:
Tu-Sa 10-6; Su 1-5.
Admission: Adults $6.50; Seniors $6.50; Youth under 6 and Members
Free.
Exhibits and collections represent Alaska's art, history and Native
cultures. Cafe, library and archives. Store.
Located at 121 West 7th Avenue.
PO Box 196650
Anchorage AK 99519
(907) 343-4326
Heritage Library & Museum
Open M-F noon-4.
Exhibits interpreting Alaska Native culture supported by an extensive
research library. Collection of paintings by Alaska artists.
Located at Wells Fargo Bank, 301 W. Northern Lights Boulevard.
PO Box 100600
Anchorage AK 99510
(907) 265-2834
The Imaginarium
Open M-Sa 10-6; Su noon-5.
Admission: Adults $5; Seniors $4.50; Children 2-12 & under $4.50.
Hands-on science discovery for all ages, tide pool, planetarium.
Store.
737 W. Fifth Avenue, Suite G
Anchorage AK 99501
(907) 276-3179
Oscar Anderson House Museum
Open June 1 - mid-Sept: M-F noon-5 and by special arrangement.
Swedish Christmas tours: first two weekends in December.
Admission: Adults $3; Children $1.
Anchorage's only house museum (c. 1915). Depicts the early history of
Anchorage (1915-1925) and the life style of Oscar Anderson, a
businessman, and his family.
420 M Street
Anchorage AK 99501
(907) 274-2336
Robert
comazombie
> is:
>
This is a lot.......remember the distances involved here, not to
mention little things like road construction.
Me, I'd do it the other way, take the train to Denali from Anchorage,
overnight 1 or 2 nights. Train to Fairbanks, rent a car, go to Chena
Hot Springs, overnight, return to FBX, overnight, maybe, personally
Fairbanks doesn't do much for me, great museum at UAF
though......Drive to Copper Center, overnight or drive all the way to
Valdez and overnight. Take the ferry to Whittier, return to
Anchorage.........
Glitter Gulch in Denali is to be avoided, make sure that you have
reservations if you're going to stay in or around the park.......Take
the school bus into Wonder Lake. If you can, plan to do the solstice
in Fairbanks, or even better take a drive up the Steese to Circle Hot
Springs and spend the Solstice at Eagle Summit. Options, fly from
Fairbanks to Eagle and take the boat down to Dawson.
Drive to Chitina, a charming little ghost town and home of the Copper
River King dipnetting madness......If you're really brave, drive to
McCarthy, although your rental car agency won't like this idea....
What you miss by taking the ferry from Valdez to Whittier is the drive
from Palmer to Glenallen, which can be done in a day trip from
Anchorage. Not to be missed, very scenic.
Optimal time is now trough next May..... Mosquitos ? What's the
weather like ? Windy ? Rainy ? Where are you ? Too many variables,
I was out in the sticks two weeks ago and got ravaged.....Here in
town, nary a one....
Hope this helps....
James Wortley
distances involved, and to really appreciate the state, requires multiple
trips.
JKW