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.

[mabynack]

Kidoo wrote:

johnwalkerpa1 wrote:

mabynack wrote:
I'm planning on taking my first trip to Alaska when I retire in 2018. I'm interested in taking photos of wildlife and scenery. Can anyone recommend the best time of the year for that type of sightseeing? How much time and money would you recommend?

There are thousands of variables in your questions but I'll offer two suggestions to start..

1. I like the fall colors (and by fall, in Alaska, I mean mid-August to late September) for general landscape and wildlife photography but that's mostly a personal preference..
2. If you want bear pictures, time it with the salmon runs.

Bears and salmon goes hand in hand. I was in Valdez on the 4 of July 2012, never saw a bear, I was there on he 20 of July 2014, plenty of bears, plenty of salmon. Same in Hyder, you have to be there in late July or early August.

Thanks. I'll modify my timetable accordingly.

[fanrgs]

PA12DRVR wrote:
Probably some sort of heresy, but if I had limited time: I'd skip any part of the Kenai Peninsula except for a day or a few in Seward and concentrate on Valdez/PWS instead; I'd skip spending anytime in Fairbanks other than to restock and pass-through and would instead spend a longer time in the McKinley area, Valdez, and I'd skip Anchorage except as a pass-through.

Couldn't agree more. On our 2013 RV trip, I went back to Valdez for the first time in 40 years and couldn't imagine why I waited so long. Although Valdez has grown (there was no Alyeska pipeline terminal in 1973), I now prefer it to anywhere on the Kenai.

And I had to spend so much time in Anchorage when I was working in Alaska that on our way to the Kenai we just stopped for some stocking up and an anniversary dinner at Simon & Seafort's. On the way back through a few weeks later, our only Anchorage stops were at traffic lights.

[c_traveler2]

I have agree with a lot of the replies, time seem to fly by. We spent 34 days in Alaska and only 14 days going through Canada. My DW and I plan on going back in 2018 and setting aside a lot more time for both Canada and Alaska, both places are so large that you need the time to see the place.

[colliehauler]

2lazy4U wrote:
I usually travel without maps. I study the route before I go, then forget half of it. Needless to say, I'm often "lost" and this is when I see the best stuff - off the beaten path.

The road less traveled. I do the same thing.

[Kidoo]

johnwalkerpa1 wrote:

mabynack wrote:
I'm planning on taking my first trip to Alaska when I retire in 2018. I'm interested in taking photos of wildlife and scenery. Can anyone recommend the best time of the year for that type of sightseeing? How much time and money would you recommend?

There are thousands of variables in your questions but I'll offer two suggestions to start..

1. I like the fall colors (and by fall, in Alaska, I mean mid-August to late September) for general landscape and wildlife photography but that's mostly a personal preference..
2. If you want bear pictures, time it with the salmon runs.

Bears and salmon goes hand in hand. I was in Valdez on the 4 of July 2012, never saw a bear, I was there on he 20 of July 2014, plenty of bears, plenty of salmon. Same in Hyder, you have to be there in late July or early August.

[toedtoes]

Crowe wrote:
f you don't have the time, wait until you do. No timetable is the only way to go.

Great philosophy but not practical. Some may never make it to "no timetable" or for other reasons may never have the time to "stroll". I'd rather see a place briefly than not see it at all. One of my favorite trips was 7500 miles in three weeks when I used to tent. Did I spend as much time as I wanted to at the places I saw-absolutely not-but I've got one helluva war story, some of the best memories EVER and would never want to change the experience. Now I do things much slower than I did back then and spend time revisiting some of the old places with a new appreciation. It's all in what you make of it.

I agree. I'd rather enjoy what I can than die never enjoying anything.

[Crowe]

f you don't have the time, wait until you do. No timetable is the only way to go.

Great philosophy but not practical. Some may never make it to "no timetable" or for other reasons may never have the time to "stroll". I'd rather see a place briefly than not see it at all. One of my favorite trips was 7500 miles in three weeks when I used to tent. Did I spend as much time as I wanted to at the places I saw-absolutely not-but I've got one helluva war story, some of the best memories EVER and would never want to change the experience. Now I do things much slower than I did back then and spend time revisiting some of the old places with a new appreciation. It's all in what you make of it.

[Mootpoint]

We went for 2 months. It felt like all we did was drive constantly. Not nearly enough time. If you don't have the time, wait until you do. No timetable is the only way to go.

[2lazy4U]

I usually travel without maps. I study the route before I go, then forget half of it. Needless to say, I'm often "lost" and this is when I see the best stuff - off the beaten path.

[toedtoes]

mabynack wrote:
I travelled to New Mexico last year with a group of GIs. When we were trying to decide where to eat, two of us wanted something local and the other three wanted to go to Hooters. I always like to try the local foods, beers, and wines when I travel. It's all part of the experience. I can get overpriced chicken wings anywhere.

My sibling went to NYC for 4 days. The only thing she saw was the inside of Hard Rock Cafe... She had a great time and loved her 4 days in NYC. Not my cup of tea, but it worked for her.

I don't consider myself a picky eater, but I'm in no way an adventurous eater, so I understand folks who don't want to try local cuisines. With a group, I'd do as PA12DRVR suggests - that way I can go light on the local and, if it wasn't to my tastes, grab something with the beers afterwards.

[mabynack]

PA12DRVR wrote:

mabynack wrote:
I travelled to New Mexico last year with a group of GIs. When we were trying to decide where to eat, two of us wanted something local and the other three wanted to go to Hooters. I always like to try the local foods, beers, and wines when I travel. It's all part of the experience. I can get overpriced chicken wings anywhere.

Why not have lunch at a local place and then have the after lunch beers at Hooters? 🙂

Seriously, for Alaska, what I'd suggest:

- The absolute best time to see wildlife is when you've saved enough $$ to allow you to take all the flightseeing trips you can, including those the stop at Spot XYZ to see the bears/moose/whales, etc.
- FWIW, while I don't photograph too much while flying, I can see more moose/bear/caribou...and certainly sheep...in 2 hours flying than in a weeks worth of driving.
- Waterborne trips can get this done as well
- Without setting that aside, generally, if you can go to salmon streams during the runs, you'll have better chance of seeing bears than otherwise;
- I'm not sure how it works nowadays, but if you can stay for a while in Denali/McKinley and take the bus quite a few times, you'll have a good chance of seeing quite a few animals; there is a direct relationship between the number of days away from the visitor center and the chance of seeing animals;
- If this is within your ability / interest, do the drop off thing in Denali/McKinley: get dropped off, hike/camp away from the road for a few days, return to the road, get pickedup. Even being a few miles away from the road, you're likely to see more animals.
- Your point about towing in snow is noted, but if you can visit Alaska after hunting season (generally that means late September) you'll have a slightly better chance of seeing animals from the road system than earlier in the year....one reason being that there are fewer leaves if nothing else.

Thank you for the advice. I will modify my trip plan.

[PA12DRVR]

mabynack wrote:
I travelled to New Mexico last year with a group of GIs. When we were trying to decide where to eat, two of us wanted something local and the other three wanted to go to Hooters. I always like to try the local foods, beers, and wines when I travel. It's all part of the experience. I can get overpriced chicken wings anywhere.

Why not have lunch at a local place and then have the after lunch beers at Hooters? 🙂

Seriously, for Alaska, what I'd suggest:

- The absolute best time to see wildlife is when you've saved enough $$ to allow you to take all the flightseeing trips you can, including those the stop at Spot XYZ to see the bears/moose/whales, etc.
- FWIW, while I don't photograph too much while flying, I can see more moose/bear/caribou...and certainly sheep...in 2 hours flying than in a weeks worth of driving.
- Waterborne trips can get this done as well
- Without setting that aside, generally, if you can go to salmon streams during the runs, you'll have better chance of seeing bears than otherwise;
- I'm not sure how it works nowadays, but if you can stay for a while in Denali/McKinley and take the bus quite a few times, you'll have a good chance of seeing quite a few animals; there is a direct relationship between the number of days away from the visitor center and the chance of seeing animals;
- If this is within your ability / interest, do the drop off thing in Denali/McKinley: get dropped off, hike/camp away from the road for a few days, return to the road, get pickedup. Even being a few miles away from the road, you're likely to see more animals.
- Your point about towing in snow is noted, but if you can visit Alaska after hunting season (generally that means late September) you'll have a slightly better chance of seeing animals from the road system than earlier in the year....one reason being that there are fewer leaves if nothing else.

[mabynack]

I travelled to New Mexico last year with a group of GIs. When we were trying to decide where to eat, two of us wanted something local and the other three wanted to go to Hooters. I always like to try the local foods, beers, and wines when I travel. It's all part of the experience. I can get overpriced chicken wings anywhere.

[toedtoes]

mabynack wrote:
I was in the Air Force and was stationed near Frankfurt, Germany. We lived in a leased building about 30 miles from the base and there was an American "Mayor". My wife and I asked him for recommendations on where to eat and things to see and he replied that he had lived there for four years and had never eaten or shopped downtown.

I had a co-worker there who was single and his great claim to fame was that he had never set foot outside the base.

Both of these guys hated Germany and couldn't wait to get back to the states.

I'm the opposite. My wife and I immersed ourselves in the culture. We learned enough German to get around and we shopped and ate downtown. We lived in a little German village for more than a year and no one spoke English. I loved it and would have gladly spent my whole 22 year career over there.

Great comment. I think those who have the best memories and experiences are those who accept a place for what it is. I've known a lot of folks who go somewhere expecting it to be a certain way, and when it's not, they are miserable the entire time. It's OK to have preconceived ideas, but don't hold the world to them.