Alaska photo suggestions (Page 3): In Juneau forego the bus tour and take a taxi. If you've met a photography interested couple on the boat share the taxi with them. Save $ and avoid...

Bob Link

In Juneau forego the bus tour and take a taxi. If you've met a photography interested couple on the boat share the taxi with them. Save $ and avoid the herd. Pray for good weather in the SE. I've celebrated the 4th there one year in shorts and a T shirt and another in full rain gear and long under wear. In Anchorage consider driving south along the Kenai arm to the Ski resort- Near by is the Double Muskie restaurant- worth a visit.
I think the gardens Charlie mentioned are in Victoria

Joel Wieman

July is perfect for bear viewing. Contact Rust’s Air Taxi in Anchorage. They have guides and boats for save viewing about an hours flight from Anchorage. We go there a couple of times a year on our own and have a great time.

CamB Loc: Juneau, Alaska

Bob Link wrote:

In Juneau forego the bus tour and take a taxi. If you've met a photography interested couple on the boat share the taxi with them. Save $ and avoid the herd. Pray for good weather in the SE. I've celebrated the 4th there one year in shorts and a T shirt and another in full rain gear and long under wear. In Anchorage consider driving south along the Kenai arm to the Ski resort- Near by is the Double Muskie restaurant- worth a visit.
I think the gardens Charlie mentioned are in Victoria

In Juneau you don’t have to take a big bus tour. My tour maxes out at 14. Often we do it with 10 or 12. We have nice 26 passenger vehicles so everyone has plenty of room. We go to the glacier, do a one mile walk on a great trail and go whale watching in our own very cool boat. And it’s all about photography. Check your ships tours, find the one that does all this and that’s us and often me. I won’t even give you the company name to keep this from becoming a commercial but we are the only ones that do this. Mostly local guides.
...Cam

RayF Loc: New Jersey

I went on what I believe was that exact trip. The photo ops are unlimited. I would have two suggestions:
1) Take the extended trip into Denali. We saw upward of ten bears. Of course we never saw the mountain.
2) In Juneau try to hook up with Bear Creek Outfitters. They have a float plane trip to a coastal island with many bears. It is definrtly weather permitting but they will easily issue a refund if cancelled.

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

CamB wrote:

I liked your Juneau suggestion of driving North Douglas and walking to a beach. That will take them past my house and to my favorite dog walking spot.
...Cam

That was one of my dad’s favorite places to go for a walk on the beach, other than Sandy Beach in Douglas. In fact, I have a photo I took of him a couple years before he died.

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

IDguy wrote:

I recommend Harv and Marv for whale watch in Juneau. Six pack boat if available. They pick you up at boat and take you by Mendenhal on your way back. Much nicer than large boats cruise line uses.

I don’t mean to be smart, but having lived in Juneau, how do you get to Mendenhall Glacier by boat? Or do you get on a bus somewhere during the tour? Just curious.

CamB Loc: Juneau, Alaska

Wingpilot wrote:

I don’t mean to be smart, but having lived in Juneau, how do you get to Mendenhall Glacier by boat? Or do you get on a bus somewhere during the tour? Just curious.

I think they mean they pick you up in a van at your cruise ship and take you to the glacier by van on the way back to your ship.

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

CamB wrote:

I think they mean they pick you up in a van at your cruise ship and take you to the glacier by van on the way back to your ship.

Ah, that makes sense.

What’s amazing to me is how much the glacier has retreated. We moved to Juneau from Fairbanks in 1959, and none of the rock you currently see was visible, and the toe of the glacier was nearly up to where the visitor center is now. Back then it was quite impressive.

Josephschmaeling

If you have the time and the $$$, take a float plane trip to Brooks Falls in Katmai NP. I did it from Homer in 2006 for about $600 pp. I know it is available from Anchorage too. Considering the longer distance and inflation, it might be $1000 pp. I know that's an expensive excursion, but it's a once in a lifetime photo opportunity. You've seen the bears in the falls in national geographic and on tv. You can take the same photos. Take a medium to long zoom like 100-400. You will get some incredible shots. I guarantee you'll get shots you can enlarge and hang on your wall. You'll be talking about them forever. It's about a 2 hour plane ride to land on the lake. You get a briefing from the park rangers and then walk about a mile to the platform next to the falls. You'll have about 3-4 hours there to shoot. Unforgettable.

CamB Loc: Juneau, Alaska

Wingpilot wrote:

Ah, that makes sense.

What’s amazing to me is how much the glacier has retreated. We moved to Juneau from Fairbanks in 1959, and none of the rock you currently see was visible, and the toe of the glacier was nearly up to where the visitor center is now. Back then it was quite impressive.

In the summer it changes almost daily. Sad to see it. Alaska is on the front line of climate change and is now part of every tour.
...Cam

Delta1502

Wingpilot wrote:

I don’t mean to be smart, but having lived in Juneau, how do you get to Mendenhall Glacier by boat? Or do you get on a bus somewhere during the tour? Just curious.

Don’t worry I won’t be replying any longer

Cracker-barrel Philosopher Loc: Duluth, MN

fourlocks wrote:

Next July, my wife and I are doing a "Land/Se... (show quote)

Lived in Fairbanks 30 years and in Denali regularly. 2 Points - a) if you go into Denali, sit on the left side of the bus. b) Ask how far into the Park the bus goes. If it doesn't go as far as "Stony Hill," you won't get a good view of the mountain if it's out regardless of what the sales/guide tells you. Have fun and hope this is useful.

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

Delta1502 wrote:

Don’t worry I won’t be replying any longer

Huh? I was referring to a post by IdGuy, and was posted in jest. I didn’t intend to offend anyone. Please, don’t stop posting.

D_Bird Loc: Fairbanks, Alaska

Denali National Park tour:
Great tour that I would recommend to any and all. (I have lived in Fairbanks for over 50 years.) Unfortunately - The Park Service had put out a notice that they might close the Denali National Park Road to all vehicles at 45-mile. Most of the great scenery is beyond that point and any of the good views of Mt Denali is beyond there. (The road is being classified as hazardous.)

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

D_Bird wrote:

Denali National Park tour:
Great tour that I would recommend to any and all. (I have lived in Fairbanks for over 50 years.) Unfortunately - The Park Service had put out a notice that they might close the Denali National Park Road to all vehicles at 45-mile. Most of the great scenery is beyond that point and any of the good views of Mt Denali is beyond there. (The road is being classified as hazardous.)

There seems to be a landslide issue at that location. The article I read stated that they may have to relocate the road there to avoid the problem.

You’ve lived in Fairbanks a long time. We lived there from 1955 to ‘59, when my dad got transferred to Juneau.