Best of Alaska with 4 to 6 weeks
We are planning a trip to Alaska from Colorado late May 2014 to early July 2014. For those of you that have gone, what would you suggest to be the best places to spend our limited time. We are p...
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I've got a bit different view ( I guess) than some of the others. While it always depends on your personal interests, I don't see the Kenai as a place to go to UNLESS you're using it as a jumping off spot to go fishing, flightseeing, etc.
If I had 4 - 6 weeks to go from Colorado - Alaska - Colorado, I'd suggest:
- Spend plenty of time in Western B.C.
- Spend plenty of time in the Kluane and Destruction Bay area (I know all of this is in Canada, but I always found it very scenic)
(for Alaska....)
- My favorite area to drive is the Denali Highway. Relatively rough gravel road, but I'd take 3 days or more for this......I think this drive should be made if you can even if backtracking is required
- Drive to Fairbanks on the Glenn/Parks Highway. Enjoy Talkeetna on the way up. Enjoy the spectacular mountain scenery before and around Cantwell and Healy.
- Stop at Denali National Park for as long as you can put up with all the tourists. :) If you're into hiking and backpacking, take a couple of day hikes away from the buses.
- Take a riverboat cruise in Fairbanks
- Enjoy the various Museums in Fairbanks, including at UAF
- Drive the old highway from Fairbanks to Glenallen. See just a touch of the real Alaska.
- Drive from Glenallen to Valdez. Nicest (IMNSHO) pavement drive in AK.
- Take a cruise (Stan Stephens is good) out of Valdez.
- (Maybe) take either the fast ferry or the slow ferry from Valdez to Anchorage or backtrack Valdez - Glenallen and drive from Glenallen to Anchorage.
- (Assuming they're still in business next year) Stop for coffee and pie at the Eureka Roadhouse
- In Anchorage, visit the museum (Anchorage) and the Alaska Flight Museum (at Ted Stevens International Airport); view the busiest seaplane base in the world (Lake Hood) if so inclined
- Take a sightseeing tour out of Anchorage to see McKinley.
- Drive to Girdwood; eat dinner at 7 Glaciers or at Double Musky
- Drive on down to either Seward or Homer (longer!); catch a charter for Halibut.
- Head back :(
If I had 4 - 6 weeks to go from Colorado - Alaska - Colorado, I'd suggest:
- Spend plenty of time in Western B.C.
- Spend plenty of time in the Kluane and Destruction Bay area (I know all of this is in Canada, but I always found it very scenic)
(for Alaska....)
- My favorite area to drive is the Denali Highway. Relatively rough gravel road, but I'd take 3 days or more for this......I think this drive should be made if you can even if backtracking is required
- Drive to Fairbanks on the Glenn/Parks Highway. Enjoy Talkeetna on the way up. Enjoy the spectacular mountain scenery before and around Cantwell and Healy.
- Stop at Denali National Park for as long as you can put up with all the tourists. :) If you're into hiking and backpacking, take a couple of day hikes away from the buses.
- Take a riverboat cruise in Fairbanks
- Enjoy the various Museums in Fairbanks, including at UAF
- Drive the old highway from Fairbanks to Glenallen. See just a touch of the real Alaska.
- Drive from Glenallen to Valdez. Nicest (IMNSHO) pavement drive in AK.
- Take a cruise (Stan Stephens is good) out of Valdez.
- (Maybe) take either the fast ferry or the slow ferry from Valdez to Anchorage or backtrack Valdez - Glenallen and drive from Glenallen to Anchorage.
- (Assuming they're still in business next year) Stop for coffee and pie at the Eureka Roadhouse
- In Anchorage, visit the museum (Anchorage) and the Alaska Flight Museum (at Ted Stevens International Airport); view the busiest seaplane base in the world (Lake Hood) if so inclined
- Take a sightseeing tour out of Anchorage to see McKinley.
- Drive to Girdwood; eat dinner at 7 Glaciers or at Double Musky
- Drive on down to either Seward or Homer (longer!); catch a charter for Halibut.
- Head back :(
