Roll Call Alaska 2013
Just thought I'd start a thread regarding who will be starting up to Alaska in 2013. It would be nice if we could share information so everyone has a memorable and safe trip. We will be leaving aroun...
Forum Discussion
Hi from Northern Arizona,
We are heading west the first week in March and then making our way up the West Coast and over to Victoria/Vancouver Island around Memorial Day. We board a ferry in Port Hardy (n. tip of Vancouver Island) to Prince Rupert on June 1 and go from Prince Rupert to Ketchikan on June 4. We'll be stopping for several days each in Sitka and Juneau (with a side excursion to Glacier Bay) and ending in Haines on June 25. After that we're doing the reverse loop to Valdez, Anchorage, Seward, etc. and visiting Denali near the end of our trip about the end of August.
This is our 4th trip to Alaska and the 2nd in the RV. We made a similar trip in 2010 (but drove to Prince Rupert). I did a photoblog here if anyone's interested: Warner's Alaska Trip 2010
Can't say enough good things about the Toursaver coupon book. We saved over $400 on our Glacier Bay trip after deducting the cost of the book. Another book that's never mentioned which I have found useful (even though it's somewhat out of date) is the Rough Guide to Alaska. I have the 2004 version but Amazon is selling the 2007 version here: Rough Guide to Alaska 3
Some recommendations:
In Ketchikan, take the Deadliest Catch tour. Expensive but I thought worth it -- particularly the end where they "chum" for eagles!! The tour is mostly in Tribal Reservation waters so they have fewer restrictions than in AK proper.
In Wrangell, take the jet boat tour to Le Conte glacier. There's a coupon in the book. It's a small boat and you are down close to the water and up close and personal with the icebergs. Lunch stop at Petersburg, so you can skip a ferry stop there.
If you head into (or out of) Skagway, make a trip down to Atlin. We left the RV at Tagish and did a day trip. Charming little town (resort and gold rush area in BC with an old lake steamer).
If you end up in Chicken, take the little walking tour of old Chicken to see Tisha's schoolhouse. Buy the book "Tisha" at the Town of Chicken campground store (or get it online before you go -- there's a Kindle edition). Gives a good understanding of what life was like in that area.
Heading out (or in) on the Cassiar, camp at Dease Lake and drive your toad down to Telegraph Creek. There are some 20% grades, but not long ones, and the scenery is spectacular. Didn't need 4-wheel drive (although we had it) but the road might be a tiny bit scary for city folk. We live in the boonies here in AZ, so we thought it was like a super highway. ;)
Best views of Denali, if it's visible, are at the North and South viewpoints in Denali State Park, and of course, in Talkeetna. Go through the lobby or walk around to the back side of the Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge for a spectacular view. Also stop by Mary's McKinley Lodge for a bite to eat and enjoy the view of The Mountain. The original owner, Mary Carey, wrote "Alaska: Not for a Woman" (available in the gift shop, and used at Northern Lights in Anchorage or on Amazon). It's an interesting account of life in Talkeetna, early McKinley climbing and pilot Don Sheldon.
Make the detour to Hope on your way between Anchorage and Seward.
In Homer, be sure to take the excursion to Halibut Cove, with lunch or dinner at The Saltry.
If you're looking for eagles in Sitka, I got some great photos behind McDonald's. I think there's a fish processing plant nearby.
Will post more recommendations when I think of them.
Looking forward to seeing some of you up there!
We are heading west the first week in March and then making our way up the West Coast and over to Victoria/Vancouver Island around Memorial Day. We board a ferry in Port Hardy (n. tip of Vancouver Island) to Prince Rupert on June 1 and go from Prince Rupert to Ketchikan on June 4. We'll be stopping for several days each in Sitka and Juneau (with a side excursion to Glacier Bay) and ending in Haines on June 25. After that we're doing the reverse loop to Valdez, Anchorage, Seward, etc. and visiting Denali near the end of our trip about the end of August.
This is our 4th trip to Alaska and the 2nd in the RV. We made a similar trip in 2010 (but drove to Prince Rupert). I did a photoblog here if anyone's interested: Warner's Alaska Trip 2010
Can't say enough good things about the Toursaver coupon book. We saved over $400 on our Glacier Bay trip after deducting the cost of the book. Another book that's never mentioned which I have found useful (even though it's somewhat out of date) is the Rough Guide to Alaska. I have the 2004 version but Amazon is selling the 2007 version here: Rough Guide to Alaska 3
Some recommendations:
In Ketchikan, take the Deadliest Catch tour. Expensive but I thought worth it -- particularly the end where they "chum" for eagles!! The tour is mostly in Tribal Reservation waters so they have fewer restrictions than in AK proper.
In Wrangell, take the jet boat tour to Le Conte glacier. There's a coupon in the book. It's a small boat and you are down close to the water and up close and personal with the icebergs. Lunch stop at Petersburg, so you can skip a ferry stop there.
If you head into (or out of) Skagway, make a trip down to Atlin. We left the RV at Tagish and did a day trip. Charming little town (resort and gold rush area in BC with an old lake steamer).
If you end up in Chicken, take the little walking tour of old Chicken to see Tisha's schoolhouse. Buy the book "Tisha" at the Town of Chicken campground store (or get it online before you go -- there's a Kindle edition). Gives a good understanding of what life was like in that area.
Heading out (or in) on the Cassiar, camp at Dease Lake and drive your toad down to Telegraph Creek. There are some 20% grades, but not long ones, and the scenery is spectacular. Didn't need 4-wheel drive (although we had it) but the road might be a tiny bit scary for city folk. We live in the boonies here in AZ, so we thought it was like a super highway. ;)
Best views of Denali, if it's visible, are at the North and South viewpoints in Denali State Park, and of course, in Talkeetna. Go through the lobby or walk around to the back side of the Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge for a spectacular view. Also stop by Mary's McKinley Lodge for a bite to eat and enjoy the view of The Mountain. The original owner, Mary Carey, wrote "Alaska: Not for a Woman" (available in the gift shop, and used at Northern Lights in Anchorage or on Amazon). It's an interesting account of life in Talkeetna, early McKinley climbing and pilot Don Sheldon.
Make the detour to Hope on your way between Anchorage and Seward.
In Homer, be sure to take the excursion to Halibut Cove, with lunch or dinner at The Saltry.
If you're looking for eagles in Sitka, I got some great photos behind McDonald's. I think there's a fish processing plant nearby.
Will post more recommendations when I think of them.
Looking forward to seeing some of you up there!
