Alaska
Feb 21, 2017 07:17:04 #
Zaydewise wrote:
We want to see Denali National Park, animal and bird life, and some interesting other parks and towns. We thought of flying into Anchorage and then renting a car. ...
Except for Denali you can't drive from Anchorage to the best and most interesting places in Alaska.
If you really want to drive though, go to Nome to rent a car and drive 1) to Safety, 2) if possible to Council, and 3) 75 miles up the Teller Highway. It isn't a park, but that is easily better than Denali (which is also very much worth seeing).
Visit a smaller village for the most adventure. Aniak and McGrath are wonderful places. Unalakleet, Shishmaref, Wales, Point Hope, Anaktuvuk Pass, and Kaktovik are great places. Larger towns (with better hotels and organized tours) to visit are Bethel, Nome, Kotzebue and Barrow.
Personally I would suggest a trip to Barrow in late June, along with a side trip to one or more of Atqasuk, Nuiqsut and/or Wainwright. Catch a Nalukataq, the Blanket Toss, celebration and see the sun high in the sky all night long. Barrow is perhaps the most adventurous place in Alaska, challenged only by Dutch Harbor. Three days in Barrow blows away any 900 miles of highway driving.
Feb 21, 2017 08:09:43 #
[quote=Apaflo]Except for Denali you can't drive from Anchorage to the best and most interesting places in Alaska.
Right on every count Apaflo- though I noticed Ft. Yukon wasn't included in the list... and you're right there, too. As a concession, however, I'd throw in a drive, from Fairbanks, up the Steese Hwy to Central, Circle and Circle Hot Springs. Don't know if the Spirngs is still open... hope so ... but to me, it was always a great trip, never knew what you'd see, or who, and the bar was always full of stories- especially in winter. One of my favorite ways to spend a weekend...
Right on every count Apaflo- though I noticed Ft. Yukon wasn't included in the list... and you're right there, too. As a concession, however, I'd throw in a drive, from Fairbanks, up the Steese Hwy to Central, Circle and Circle Hot Springs. Don't know if the Spirngs is still open... hope so ... but to me, it was always a great trip, never knew what you'd see, or who, and the bar was always full of stories- especially in winter. One of my favorite ways to spend a weekend...
Feb 21, 2017 08:42:11 #
fuminous wrote:
Right on every count Apaflo- though I noticed Ft. Yukon wasn't included in the list... and you're right there, too. As a concession, however, I'd throw in a drive, from Fairbanks, up the Steese Hwy to Central, Circle and Circle Hot Springs. Don't know if the Spirngs is still open... hope so ... but to me, it was always a great trip, never knew what you'd see, or who, and the bar was always full of stories- especially in winter. One of my favorite ways to spend a weekend...
Yes, I should have included more places in the Interior. Fort Yukon and Galena perhaps...
You are right about the Steese Highway! There are a few odd places, such as Livengood, Bettles, and others up the Elliot Highway similar to those you mention that can be reached on the road system. My favorite was always Mentasta, on the Richardson Highway. But one problem with all of them is that a part of their culture disappears as soon as people start driving into the village. Nobody is actually interested in "accidental" visitors who have no idea where they are, so the innate friendliness is lost very quickly.
Fly into any of the other villages and people are aware that you probably know little about their home, but you didn't get there by accident and obviously are interested in where they live.
Feb 21, 2017 11:09:12 #
The different parts of Alaska each have their own charm and interest. Of course the easiest access is South Central Alaska and the Kenai Peninsula as they are all on the highway system, as it Fairbanks and surrounding area. While the interior of Alaska, the Alaska Peninsula, the Aleutians, the west and arctic coasts are very interesting, far different from the other areas, just be aware that it can be very expensive to get to those places. That's unfortunate, as those place mentioned by apaflo are worthwhile to visit. Unfortunately, unlike the lower 48 states, we have no statewide highway system, so while you can get in your car down there, you will need to get into an airplane and fly to these places. But if you can do it, great.
The Steese Hwy out of Fairbanks was mentioned. That's a great drive, although much of it is unpaved. It goes for 160 miles and ends at the village Circle on the banks of the Yukon River. Circle Hot Springs outside of Central, as far as I know, is closed down. But as with any long trip, make a list of the main things you want to experience and plan the trip to include those, then anything else you encounter on the way is a bonus.
The Steese Hwy out of Fairbanks was mentioned. That's a great drive, although much of it is unpaved. It goes for 160 miles and ends at the village Circle on the banks of the Yukon River. Circle Hot Springs outside of Central, as far as I know, is closed down. But as with any long trip, make a list of the main things you want to experience and plan the trip to include those, then anything else you encounter on the way is a bonus.
Feb 21, 2017 11:59:25 #
Zaydewise wrote:
My wife and I are planning a trip to Alaska and need some advice. How easy is it to drive and explore the state without going on a cruise? Can you recommend someone to help us with the trip?
Avoid the cruise ships. The main goal of those things is to get you to spend as much time shopping as possible.
Rent a car or RV and set your own itinerary. The Kenai peninsula is spectacular. Take a day cruise out of Seward on Kenai Fjord Tours. Check out Homer as well. Further north on the way to Denali is the town of Talkeetna. Worth a visit. Best fishing out of Seward is July and August.
Photos on my website.
Feb 21, 2017 12:03:09 #
You can see quite a bit from the roads. Homer, Seward, Whittier, Valdez, Girdwood, Anchorage, Talketna, Denali, Fairbanks, and many other places are on the highway system. And beautiful scenery abounds everywhere you go. And I highly recommend a train trip from Anchorage to Seward or Anchorage to Denali and day cruises out of Seward or Whittier . . . You will get different views and perspectives. I've been here 30 years and have been to all the places I listed above as well as King Salmon, Galena, Kodiak, and Shemya by air. Unless you have unlimited funds and years of time, you'll miss a lot, but you'll see a lot also. I still find beautiful sights daily right here in town (Anchorage). Whatever you do, you'll enjoy and appreciate . . .
Feb 21, 2017 13:24:03 #
Zaydewise
Loc: Nashville TN
gwong1 wrote:
I did this trip with my brother-in-law almost six years ago. We had a blast and saw a lot of Alaska from the highways, which were in good condition. If I were to do over again, I would change a thing. I am attaching a spreadsheet of our adventure. Enjoy your trip. Gary
Thanks that was great info
Feb 21, 2017 13:31:41 #
Feb 21, 2017 14:34:26 #
Zaydewise wrote:
My wife and I are planning a trip to Alaska and need some advice. How easy is it to drive and explore the state without going on a cruise? Can you recommend someone to help us with the trip?
Glad you asked. I'm planning such a trip. hopefully this year.
Feb 21, 2017 16:18:25 #
Feb 21, 2017 16:36:57 #
LarryFB wrote:
My wife and I retired in August 2001 and became fu... (show quote)
Our trip to Alaska is similar. My wife and I bought an older RV for our 25th Wedding anniversary vacation. I did an online journal of the trip that can be found at ( http://jerryandsandi.com/alaska/ ).
Here are a couple comments. If traveling from the lower 48, up the Alaska Highway, it is a long long long trip. When you get to Alaska find the coupon book that have all the touristy things in them, or buy it online ahead of time. It is $100, but some of the coupons pay for the book. There are day cruises out of Seward which are well worth the expense. Denali is a disappointment to most. (It is not visible most days of the year including much of summer and the animals are typically not very close to the road (imagine that!).). We skipped going to the Arctic circle, partly because of time and the stories about how the roads going up there are.
Jerry
Feb 21, 2017 17:18:45 #
I'm planning a trip to Alaska with my car and will take the ferry from Seattle through the inland waterways to Skagway or a close by port and drive through the state without the long road trip via Canada. I will take the ferry back from Homer after fishing there.
Feb 21, 2017 17:20:05 #
Feb 21, 2017 17:25:57 #
ysam45 wrote:
Roads only go a short distance out of towns. Makes driving a bit hard.
Not necessarily true. From Anchorage it's 365 miles to Fairbanks on the Parks Hwy, and 425 miles via the Glenn and Richardson Hwys. From Palmer it's 280 miles to Tok. About the only towns with short roads, that I know of are Juneau, Sitka and Ketchikan, not including a number of villages in the rural communities.
Feb 21, 2017 18:02:35 #
orrie smith wrote:
There is only one hiway I believe, you may need to take guided tours in Glacier National Park, and fly or boat to other destinations.
Glacier National Park is in Montana.
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