Alaska

To the OP. If you have two weeks and the money, and you want to visit Alaska, I suggest that you go for it. Two weeks is better than zero weeks.

I agree with others that your best bet is to fly to Anchorage and rent a vehicle of choice. I suggest you go to Denali for a couple of days, and take the bus/tour to the end of the road. This is a long day trip. You might see the mountain or you might not, only 30% of visitors actually see the top. But, you may see lots of wildlife on the trip into the park. You might want to consider a short trip on the Alaska RR. We took the Hurricane Turn Train out of Talkeetna (between Denali and Anchorage) on a day trip. I also recommend taking a few days to explore the Kenai Peninsula. Seward, Homer, and one of our favorites was the Beluga Point Campground in the town of Kenai.

Best wishes on your trip.

sweetnoni wrote:
Need to know more about camping in Alaska. The proximity of grocery stores, etc. What kind of hook ups are offered at the state lands CG's. Are there alot of private CG to choose from ?

It's not the wilderness trip you've heard about from many years past. There are large groceries in the bigger towns and small ones elsewhere. State parks don't have hookups. Private RV parks are gravel parking lots, not 'resorts'. They're only open a few months a year. You'll encounter road construction...just drive slow.

Basically, the trip to Alaska is just a long one - no different from heading to the western states in the lower 48. Don't think of the trip as one long one. Just go day by day, don't rush and you'll get there and have plenty of time to explore the whole state. Keep in mind that Canada and the Yukon will be just as beautiful so plan on spending time there, also.

Don't put off a trip to Alaska because everything isn't perfect, time available, money, as you may find out your stars never will align for going.

Excellent advice. I look at major trips sort of like starting a family. You question your timing and think you can't afford them but you manage. Flexibility is a must. IMHO there's two ways to look at budgeting:

1. Decide on a fixed amount and plan your activities, length of travel, etc., accordingly.
2. Decide what you want to do, how much it's going to cost, and put "X" number of dollars away weekly to achieve that goal. Requires discipline but not undoable.

The large towns are not much different in Canada and Alaska, than in the lower 48. Smaller communities will have more limited grocery stores with higher prices. Very few of the government campgrounds will have site hookups. Most private campgrounds are more of the large gravel parking lot types but will have partial or full hookups, but not many have 50 amp service but some do so check their ads or give them a phone call ahead of time.

Before going to Alaska or Northern Canada, , spend time thinking and talking about your interests and what you want to see and do. Some people like to fish and others don't care to wet a line. Photography is a biggie on many visitor's agendas, some mainly of wildlife others like mountains and general scenery shots. As a person addicted to northern travel, prior to each trip, I go through my old photos to see what I have missed, which shots need to be replaced due to poorer quality, etc. then I pick a general theme of what I want to photograph. One trip I concentrated on Alaska Hwy roadhouses. For me personally, having grown up on a ranch in dry southern Oklahoma, I find water, lakes, rivers hot springs, large mountain ranges fascinating. But for folks from the Pacific North West, generally are not as interested since they live daily with water and mountains.

I don't believe it is possible to see all of Alaska in one lifetime, from personal experience. For just over 25 years, living in rural Alaska, I tried my best to see it all, but never saw over about 3/4 of it and most of that was in the air. I spent about one and a half years of 8 hour days, in the sky above Alaska, LOL. Did try to wear out 5 airplanes I owned, a half dozen RVs, six or so boats and a bunch of cars and trucks. So the point is, we all have so much time to travel and there is no perfect length of time to travel the north country. Use what you have and enjoy it. I have had numerous old people tell me they are sorry they waited so long to go to northern Canada and Alaska. (Old people are anyone older than me and I am 73 now ). For some, one trip is enough for them, others like many of us on this forum are addicted to northern travel and make numerous return trips to Alaska.

Reminds me of being asked by a 30 year old what I thought of their starting to college since they would be at least 34 years old by the time they graduated. My reply was, how old will you be in four years if you don't go Bach to school. Don't put off a trip to Alaska because everything isn't perfect, time available, money, as you may find out your stars never will align for going.

Need to know more about camping in Alaska. The proximity of grocery stores, etc. What kind of hook ups are offered at the state lands CG's. Are there alot of private CG to choose from ?

Moved to RVing in Alaska for more input.

Thanks. A cruise won't work due to motion sickness issues. Went on one for a long weekend and messed me up for 4 months afterwards, even with meds. I am looking into doing a rail tour with stops along the way as a possibility. Denali really interests me for a visit.

Took my first trip in 14 to a remote lodge out of kodiak as I wanted fishing without the crowds. Was a great trip. Lots of fish, great place and food. Folks took a cruise once and did not like it, could not see much due to fog, including a trip to denali. Next trip will be more exploring this great land. Pm for the place on Kodiak.

I spent 4 months touring Alaska from Cincinnati, OH. Round trip. Almost all of that time was spent in Alaska. I'd already been to the western states and some Canadian Provinces a few times. But a friend of mine that lives about 5 miles from me, spends his summers up there. He has a cottage on the Kenai Peninsula and spends his time hunting and fishing. After I left his place, I headed for Denali and was lucky enough to see it when the peak wasn't covered in clouds.
FWIW, I drive a 'C' and pull a Jeep Wrangler. There were some places off the main highways where I was glad I had the Jeep. Be prepared to face road work. They have a pretty short season to patch holes. Would I do it again? Probably not. Did I love the one trip? You bet! One other thing. When you see a gas station, fill up. Hard to guess when you'll get to the next one. I hauled a 5 gallon can of gas with me just in case, but never needed it.

I agree that, with that short a time, flying up and renting an RV would make more sense that spending half or more of your vacation just getting there. I saw almost as many rental RVs as owned ones. I was there for almost three months this past summer and can't wait to return! :)