nimbushopper Loc: Tampa, FL

Very true!

bob fleer Loc: Annapolis, MD

Alaska Native Heritage Center, then take the Seward Highway drive along the River just beautiful where we saw Beluga whale in September. Keep your eyes on the hill tops and bring your long glass on this drive overlooking the river there are Mountain Goats that live there. We only had an afternoon in Anchorge.

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

How long will you have? We spent two weeks, starting in Anchorage, and rented a car. We spent a few days in Denali National Park (do the full-day bus tour - well worth it! You cannot drive into the park). Then we drove down to Seward and spent a few days - hiking (up to the Exit Glacier, in the State Park along the bay West of town), whale-watching, the museum. Next we went to Homer, where you can do some sea kayaking and deep-sea fishing if you like. From Homer I flew to the Katmai National Park for bear-watching - an awesome experience. You will be there after the main running of the salmon - not sure how good the viewing is in August - probably still a lot of activity. It is an awesome place!

DougS Loc: Central Arkansas

Seward: Kenai Fjords National Park. We used Alaska Saltwater Lodge, both as lodging and small boat (6 passengers) to the fjords. Outstanding ocean wildlife (whale, orca, otters, eagles, sea lions, seals, mountain goats, bear,!), glaciers, and vistas!!! The small boat is the way to go!

The drive into Valdez is possibly the prettiest in Alaska, and that is saying a lot!

Denali, do both the fly around, and the bus all the way back to Kantishna (private vehicles are not allowed, and you wouldn't want to drive THIS road). If you see wildlife while in the bus, speak right up, the driver will stop for photos.

The train is ok, but you can't stop it to take photos, and that road has LOTS of photo opportunities. Drive up the George Parks Highway to Denali NP. Do both, if you have time.

It is a must to go to Lake Clark/Katmai National Parks, for both the bears and the scenery!!!!! Fly over.
Allow days(!) to work around rain/clouds. This is a MUST. When we flew to Katmai, it was scrubbed the 1st day, but got to go the next day. There was another group that didn't get to go, due to not having flex time built into their schedule. You can fly out of Anchorage, Homer, etc. Expect cloudy in August.

p.s. You didn't state how long you will get to be in Alaska... Someday, do the inside passage, road out of Haines thru the Yukon(wow drive), Taylor highway, Wrangell, Juneau/Mendenhall Glacier/Tracy Arm(!), Misty Fjords, Glacier Bay, George Parks Highway, Homer/Kenai Peninsula, haul road, and the places Apaflo mentioned, among Many others!

Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

Here is something to give this some perspective. Namely that when you see a "US weather" map, with Alaska and Hawaii show off to the side, they are not drawn to scale! This overlay map has the correct scale.

http://apaflo.com/misc/overlaymap.jpg

bobmcculloch Loc: NYC, NY

The map, WOW, never realized

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

Gary, very detailed plan.Excellent!

katherineivey Loc: Corinth, Texas

I have been twice. My favorite town is Seward, mainly because I love to cruise Kenai Fjords National Park. You will see eagles, goats, sea otters, whales, sheep, lots of glaciers and stunning scenery. Aug/Sept is best time to visit. No mosquitos, salmon running, great weather. Also, fly over Mt. Denali. Worth every penny!!

Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

Yeah! Now think about this too. Up here in Barrow where I live, we have a borough that stretches from Canada on the East over to Point Hope north of the Bering Straits. Everything north of the Brooks Range is included. It is 94,796 square miles, with only about 9600 residents.

That is an area larger than 39 of the 50 states! And it is just a small part of Alaska.

orrie smith Loc: Kansas

300 miles

Jag1 Loc: Birmingham, Alabama

Japakomon gives many great places to visit. However living in Anchorage I would also suggest driving the Kenai peninsula to Seward or Homer. It's Alaska's playground after all. June, July or August are all months where weather is unpredictable. This past summer was the opposite of last summer re rain or sun. You get what you get when in state. It's stunningly beautiful regardless so just enjoy your visit and prepare for anything.

Japakomom Loc: Originally from the Last Frontier

Oh man, you really need to get around if Seward is your favorite ;) Growing up, that was considered an armpit of a place. All joking aside, there is a lot to see in the Seward area!

Eberhard Brunner Loc: Alaska

Alaska 2017:First question HOW MUCH TIME TO YOU HAVE? WHEN? May and September are good month.
Do you have a budget? Can you hike, bike, paddle?
Keep in mind flying in Alaska is very expensive. For example a one hour flight from Anchorage to King Salmon cost about $500. Cold Bay $1200. Apoflo recommended places like McGrath, Point Lay, Wales and others. Point Lay requires flying to Kotzebue or Barrow and from there to Point Lay. Costly!

Near Anchorage is Powerline Pass for moose photography. A easy two hour drive takes you to SEWARD. Book a 1/2 day tour to Sea Lion, Seals and Wales.
In Seward hike to Exit Glacier. If your in good shape, hike to the Harding Ice Field to photograph goats. From Soldotna or Homer you can fly to see bears at Chinitna Bay.
A three day trip to Katmai is expensive but might be the trip of your life. Lodges in Katmai run from $800 to 1200 a day. Feel free to contact me if you questions.
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rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

Yeah, but the cocktails are great on the big cruise lines.

(Download)

btbg

Are you crazy. You didn't rent a car and drive all over Alaska. Most of Alaska is roadless. Even the parts with roads seldom connect to other parts of the state with roads.

Southeast Alaska other than Haines and Skagway is completely inaccessible without a boat or plane.

The Aleutians same thing. Most of the interior is reached by traveling up rivers in boats or with planes. And even then there are vast miles of Alaskan wilderness that it is likely that no white man has ever seen.

We lived in Alaska for three years and traveled as much as work would allow, but to say that I had been all over the state, no way. I didn't even scratch the surface. It would take a lifetime to see all of just one region of Alaska.

I agree with Apaflo if you really want to see Alaska get away from Anchorage. Don't drive. Fly. Then take a boat from there. Maybe then you will see a small slice of the real Alaska. Two weeks is a nice vacation, but it isn't possible to travel all over the state in two weeks.