Trip Expectations

[Veebyes]

Looking at some poster's trip plans leaves me wondering just how these folks expect to see anything on their trip to Alaska.

We have been 3 times round trip from MD. Each time trip duration was over 125 days. Each time we came back wondering where the time went?

So many seem to think that Canada can be crossed in a couple of days & there is nothing to see in Canada

Dead WRONG in both cases.

More wildlife is seen in Canada. Last time we were almost a month in Canada northbound & a couple weeks southbound.

Time is figured into the trip for some weather days &possible service days. It is not like you are doing a quick whip around the lower 48 doing the National Parks.

[toedtoes]

Naio wrote:
I am so much the person who would go to Paris and skip the Eiffel tower. It would not even occur to me to go check it out. The Paris flea markets, on the other hand... :).

Personally, I would likely skip Paris altogether... but if I was IN Paris then I would see the Eiffel Tower. I wouldn't go to San Francisco without seeing the Golden Gate Bridge, I wouldn't go to Rome without seeing the Colosseum. If I went back? I'd likely wouldn't see them a 2nd time - but I wouldn't skip them the 1st time round even if it meant my schedule was a bit more stressfull.

[SBradley]

I agree go slow, spend time in Canada take as may routes and side trips as possible. Skip Paris, I can't imagine you will ever see anything better than this.

Watch the short video check out those feet.

Posted by Sue Thomas; go to the link below.

http://yukonsights.ca/20160305_Lynx.html

Thank you, Sue for sharing.

S Bradley

[Naio]

I am so much the person who would go to Paris and skip the Eiffel tower. It would not even occur to me to go check it out. The Paris flea markets, on the other hand... :).

[lizzie]

When my children were growing up I wanted them to see as much of the USA and Canada as possible. We started out with a maximum of three weeks in the summer and we were tent camping. We left late afternoon of the first day of my vacation and drove through the night the first night out and the last night going home. By using seven days to go and come, we had two weeks to sight-see. It is amazing how much we could cram into that time. When my third son was born, I took a considerable cut in pay to contract with a school system (I was a child psychologist) so that I could have six weeks off in the summer. Wow! What we could do with six weeks is incredible. Now, we are retired and go with the flow. We spent 90 days on our last trip to Alaska and it was not nearly enough. This year we plan to stay "as long as it takes". My advice? Do what you can when you can. You will never regret one minute of it. lizzie

[toedtoes]

This comment is made on pretty much every travel website out there. Most people who are working will try to get as much "seeing" is as they can simply because they don't want to waste hard to come by vacation time on sitting around watching the world.

On a regular travel forum I visit, new posters will post their itinerary for Paris on the board and all the longtime, frequent travelers will invariably tell them "skip the Eiffel Tower - it's overrated. Instead go sit at an outdoor cafe and people watch". Because, of course, slowing down and taking your time and just "experiencing" Paris is the important thing. What they have forgotten is that when they first visited Paris, they too just HAD to see the Eiffel Tower. I couldn't imagine making my first trip to Paris and when I get home saying "oh, I didn't bother to go see the Eiffel Tower - it's overrated"...

I know my travel style is not appreciated by all. I am comfortable with how I travel and I have learned that I'd rather do it my way than someone else's way. As such, I accept that others prefer to do it their way and that's OK. If someone wants to rush through a trip, then let them. Nobody's gonna die from it.

[Chiefelectusn]

I have been going to Yellowstone NP for 62 years, I see different things every time I go and always see the Park like it is my first trip.
I see the average tourist jump out of his car run up take a picture and jump back in the car and head down the road.
We spent 115 days last year on our trip to Alaska and return to Florida. I have already started a list of things we missed or want to see again. Going up through BC and then our return back through BC by a different route was magnificent, and whetted my appetite for our trip to Banff & Jasper this year.
I read with interest people who are in a hurry and saw last year people in a hurry to get to Alaska and back. They see nothing, enjoy nothing and wonder why.
I got lots of information, suggestions from people on this site. #1 was go slow, take your time, look, see, touch, smell and savor the adventure! Thanks to all for that!

[souraider]

It is not like you are doing a quick whip around the lower 48 doing the National Parks.

I didn't know there was a quick way to see the national parks in the lower 48...everybody's time constraints and finances are different.

[4X4Dodger]

Well it depends on what one wants to focus on. While the Yukon is spectacular and has many animals I am not sure any case can be made that there are more to be sighted there than in Alaska.

British Columbia is beautiful but the part that you travel though to my mind is not as scenic as either the Yukon or Alaska for sure. Therefore for me I will spend more time in the Yukon and Alaska.

I have driven it before and lived and worked in Alaska so I may see it a bit differently.

I think for the majority of people going to Alaska the goal IS ALASKA. With limited time they probably want to focus on their goal. I cant fault that reasoning.

[gbopp]

stickdog wrote:

Not everyone has the time for extended travels we had to wait for retirement.

I think that is the big reason. Look at how many RV's travel the interstate highways, many are only interested in getting from point A to point B in the shortest amount of time.

There are probably a few forum members wondering how you can possibly see anything on a round trip from MD to Alaska in 125 days, that's not nearly enough time. 🙂

[stickdog]

We spent 118 days from the time we crossed the Canadian border in May till we returned South in August spent about 21 days in Canada going and coming. Barely scratched the surface in both Canada and Alaska.

We plan on returning again in 2018 to see the many places we missed in both.

Not everyone has the time for extended travels we had to wait for retirement.

[tonymull]

Veebyes wrote:
Looking at some poster's trip plans leaves me wondering just how these folks expect to see anything on their trip to Alaska.

We have been 3 times round trip from MD. Each time trip duration was over 125 days. Each time we came back wondering where the time went?

So many seem to think that Canada can be crossed in a couple of days & there is nothing to see in Canada

Dead WRONG in both cases.

More wildlife is seen in Canada. Last time we were almost a month in Canada northbound & a couple weeks southbound.

Time is figured into the trip for some weather days &possible service days. It is not like you are doing a quick whip around the lower 48 doing the National Parks.

X2