Vancouver, BC to Alaska info needed
Hi folks, I am in the early stages of planning a road trip north from our new home in Vancouver, BC. We are looking to spend about 14 days in total around June, July, August 2013. We want to camp (Pic...
Forum Discussion
Sue, I have always heard, "you can't go home again" and it took me a long time to understand what that old adage meant. Many people try to go home for many reasons, to be close to family that remains there, friends in that area or just trying to reclaim their youth and a less stressful time of their life.
In Alaska, the most popular vacation stop for many, is Hawaii. We made dozens of trips there in the 25+ years we lived in Alaska. To fly down to Anchorage from Fairbanks, where it might be -40°F or colder, get on a kerosene queen headed for the Islands and 80°F was great. Many of our friends and acquaintances, upon retirement in Alaska, decided to move to Hawaii. Don't believe any made it for over 2 years, before they moved again, generally to the islands off the coast of Washington, such as Friday Harbor or the coast in the Seattle area.
Hawaii just wasn't the same living there, as when vacationing to them. One friend described Hawaii, as just boring after about 6 months, everyday was about the same temperature, they had done all the tourists stuff multiple times, the islands are too small to really take a long drive, etc.
My wife Pat and I thought about Hawaii when we decided to retire in Alaska so one year we spent just over a month there in a condo, rented a car, etc. Our daughters loved it as we were on the beach, they were elementary school ages at the time. But my wife and I soon found it very different, than when we would vacation there a couple of times a year for a week or two. So realized it wasn't for us, so upon retiring, we moved to western Colorado, so our daughters could have growing up experiences, much more like we had as children.
Many of the retirement books I read, prior to finally retiring, advised not to move to a place where you liked to play, for living there is so different. I think I missed the part, where they probably talked about, never moving from western Colorado to Florida. (in my top 10 list of the dumbest things I have ever done)
For me and I suspect most of us, the trip to our destination is as pleasurable as getting to the destination. I can see how your (sue's) running from Vancouver Island to the Yukon on trips could get tiring. You wanted to be in the Yukon, not on the way. I have to watch it or I will feel the same way as I head to Alaska. Alaska is where I want to be, not watching grass grow in some camping spot along the way. Some people have told me I need to take a month or more to get to Alaska, instead of the 10 driving days I often do. My comments usually are that they can take 30 days if they wish but I will do the trip in 10 driving days, giving me an extra 20 days to spend in northern Canada and Alaska. I will be fishing a salmon stream or hiking a wilderness trail in Alaska, while they are still plodding along on some highway is North America, headed north.
Sure would be boring if we were all the same and like the same ways of doing things. :)
In Alaska, the most popular vacation stop for many, is Hawaii. We made dozens of trips there in the 25+ years we lived in Alaska. To fly down to Anchorage from Fairbanks, where it might be -40°F or colder, get on a kerosene queen headed for the Islands and 80°F was great. Many of our friends and acquaintances, upon retirement in Alaska, decided to move to Hawaii. Don't believe any made it for over 2 years, before they moved again, generally to the islands off the coast of Washington, such as Friday Harbor or the coast in the Seattle area.
Hawaii just wasn't the same living there, as when vacationing to them. One friend described Hawaii, as just boring after about 6 months, everyday was about the same temperature, they had done all the tourists stuff multiple times, the islands are too small to really take a long drive, etc.
My wife Pat and I thought about Hawaii when we decided to retire in Alaska so one year we spent just over a month there in a condo, rented a car, etc. Our daughters loved it as we were on the beach, they were elementary school ages at the time. But my wife and I soon found it very different, than when we would vacation there a couple of times a year for a week or two. So realized it wasn't for us, so upon retiring, we moved to western Colorado, so our daughters could have growing up experiences, much more like we had as children.
Many of the retirement books I read, prior to finally retiring, advised not to move to a place where you liked to play, for living there is so different. I think I missed the part, where they probably talked about, never moving from western Colorado to Florida. (in my top 10 list of the dumbest things I have ever done)
For me and I suspect most of us, the trip to our destination is as pleasurable as getting to the destination. I can see how your (sue's) running from Vancouver Island to the Yukon on trips could get tiring. You wanted to be in the Yukon, not on the way. I have to watch it or I will feel the same way as I head to Alaska. Alaska is where I want to be, not watching grass grow in some camping spot along the way. Some people have told me I need to take a month or more to get to Alaska, instead of the 10 driving days I often do. My comments usually are that they can take 30 days if they wish but I will do the trip in 10 driving days, giving me an extra 20 days to spend in northern Canada and Alaska. I will be fishing a salmon stream or hiking a wilderness trail in Alaska, while they are still plodding along on some highway is North America, headed north.
Sure would be boring if we were all the same and like the same ways of doing things. :)
