| Author | Message | ||
Itzpetergriffin Comedian Username: Itzpetergriffin Post Number: 1291 Registered: 04-2012 Posted From: 4.14.7.158 Rating: N/A |
@ JP_rocks, @ bigbang...can you please PM ur email, have some questions... | ||
Bingo Junior Artist Username: Bingo Post Number: 587 Registered: 11-2012 Posted From: 73.35.1.44 Rating: N/A |
@Jp_rocks and @Bigbang.. thanks again for your suggestions. We have finally booked the tickets.. will be in Alaska for 5 days. Returning flight is on 5th day at 7:30 PM. Here is the schedule I came up with to cover most of the must-not-miss items you mentioned. Any suggestions on what tweaks I can make to make the trip even more memorable? Day 0 - Landing in Anchorage midnight Day 1 - Drive to Matanushka Glacier in the morning (2hrs). Will definitely do the Ice fall Trek (3hrs according to MICA site). Any other suggestions if we have time left? Stay the night there. Day 2 - Start to Valdez in the morning. Google says 3:30 hrs. So probably takes us about 6 hrs with all the stop and go activity. Will take the Columbia Glacier boat tour if time permits. Stay the night there. Day 3 - Kayaking trip in Glacier Bay. Drive back to Anchorage (6hr journey). Stay the night in Anchorage. Day 4 - Start to Seward in the morning. Kenai Fjords Tour. Sledge dog tour. Stay the night in Seward. Day 5 - Drive to Whittier. Portage Glacier Tour. Return to Anchorage by 5pm and take the return flight at 7:30PM. I wish we had couple of more days available to do the Denali trip.. hopefully we get to do it in the future. But for now we are concentrating only on South Alaska. | ||
Amaravathi_road Junior Artist Username: Amaravathi_road Post Number: 272 Registered: 09-2016 Posted From: 165.156.39.59 Rating: N/A |
if I go on cruise from Seattle,WA do I need any visa? I heard it may cross Canada squinted eye is lot better than blind | ||
Bigbang Junior Artist Username: Bigbang Post Number: 8 Registered: 02-2017 Posted From: 191.236.58.17 Rating: N/A |
Yes, went with 2 kids 15 and 11 last summer. 9 yo should be fine but 5 yo may get impatient if driving a lot. Then again that differs from child to child, but they would absolutely enjoy other experiences with activities and attractions. Depending on the areas you would like to cover and in how many days, I am sure you can come up with a plan. Let me know if you have specific questions | ||
Itzpetergriffin Comedian Username: Itzpetergriffin Post Number: 1290 Registered: 04-2012 Posted From: 50.29.99.98 Rating: N/A |
Bhayya, u went with Kids? I am looking for an itinerary that works for 4 of us ( 2 kids 9 & 5) | ||
Jp_rocks Hero Username: Jp_rocks Post Number: 18006 Registered: 06-2009 Posted From: 73.36.15.73 Rating: N/A |
depends on what you want from a vacation..alaska is still not that crowded whereas hawaii is.. i think hawaii is more expensive | ||
Bigbang Junior Artist Username: Bigbang Post Number: 7 Registered: 02-2017 Posted From: 191.236.58.17 Rating: N/A |
lol... That includes all shopping expenses like clothing and gear for Alaska weather down to parking fee at airport | ||
Chantichanti Side Hero Username: Chantichanti Post Number: 2397 Registered: 08-2008 Posted From: 205.204.186.15 Rating: N/A |
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Bigbang Junior Artist Username: Bigbang Post Number: 6 Registered: 02-2017 Posted From: 191.236.58.17 Rating: N/A |
Family of 4, flying from southeast corner $14,800 | ||
Chantichanti Side Hero Username: Chantichanti Post Number: 2396 Registered: 08-2008 Posted From: 205.204.186.15 Rating: N/A |
Alasks Vs Hawaii... edhi better? | ||
Chantichanti Side Hero Username: Chantichanti Post Number: 2395 Registered: 08-2008 Posted From: 205.204.186.15 Rating: N/A |
Babai.. entha ayyindi trip cost? | ||
Bingo Junior Artist Username: Bingo Post Number: 586 Registered: 11-2012 Posted From: 73.35.1.44 Rating: N/A |
thanks a lot dude.. | ||
Bingo Junior Artist Username: Bingo Post Number: 585 Registered: 11-2012 Posted From: 73.35.1.44 Rating: N/A |
thank you very much.. we will definitely go for the ones you advised. just sent PM. | ||
Bingo Junior Artist Username: Bingo Post Number: 584 Registered: 11-2012 Posted From: 73.35.1.44 Rating: N/A |
Not enough PTOs bro.. only have 6 days of PTOs left in the year that we need to make best use of. Hopefully will get to do another trip in the future. | ||
Bigbang Junior Artist Username: Bigbang Post Number: 5 Registered: 02-2017 Posted From: 191.236.58.17 Rating: N/A |
Hope my trip summary below will help out you and any other future travelers. We went to Alaska for 10 days and felt like we could have easily spent 10 more days and there would still be places left to be covered. But, you work with whatever your schedule permits. I used previous threads from Jp, Anand and Simba (Thanks to all in retrospect) to customize my itinerary. Day 0: Arrival in Anchorage Day 1: Matanuska Glacier - Ice Trekking + Zip Line; Drive to Valdez for overnight stay Day 2: Kayaking in Valdez Glacier (Columbia might be better option if you can spend more time here) Drive back to Wasilla for overnight stay Day 3: Bus/Tram tour of Denali National Park (Got lucky with cloud cover to spot Mt. McKinley bright and clear) Day 4: White water rafting at Denali + Flight Seeing from Talkeetna with Glacier landing in DNP (For me this was the highlight of the trip. $400 a pop for 4 people can be steep, but it is well worth it. Afterall, you don't go to Alaska very often) Day 5: Drive to Homer + Kachemak Bay (Overnight stay) Day 6: Drive to Seward - Exit Glacier Day 7: Kenai Fjords Tour Day 8: Whittier - Glacier Quest Cruise Day 9: Portage Glacier + Alyeska Ski resort (This was an open day and was not planned ahead but turned out be a grand finale to the trip) Day 10: Return flight After visiting Alaska, I feel like you cannot go wrong with whatever place you decide to explore. Drive to and from Valdez was breathtaking. I felt like a huge poster of mesmerizing scenery was pasted in your field of vision. Seward was amazing. Homer was pretty cool. Each and every place met expectations and then some. Except for strenuous hiking/trekking activities, pretty much all family members including small children can easily manage and enjoy the drives, walking, day cruises and wild life. Perhaps, next time (whenever that is) I will explore north of Denali, Fairbanks. | ||
Jp_rocks Hero Username: Jp_rocks Post Number: 18003 Registered: 06-2009 Posted From: 73.36.15.73 Rating: N/A |
ledu bedaru..we went on an elaborate 10 day trip but we did not do the arctic circle thing....winter lo oste happy ga ma lake michigan meeda walking seyachu..why go to extreme north pole? northern lights kosam povachemo aa place ki.... | ||
Jp_rocks Hero Username: Jp_rocks Post Number: 18002 Registered: 06-2009 Posted From: 73.36.15.73 Rating: N/A |
bro IMHO these are over rated and these were the disappointments of our trip (we didn't do the train trip) denali was over rated....we saw better scenery during the drive to valdez and even in seward-whittier..mckinley was covered in clouds (which is the case 50% of the time)... my opinion is if a couple is going without the kids, they should be "doing" things together..not watching things....they'll probably get used to the scenery in a couple days..but they'll remember the adventures they've done for a lifetime | ||
Jp_rocks Hero Username: Jp_rocks Post Number: 18001 Registered: 06-2009 Posted From: 73.36.15.73 Rating: N/A |
i would change the itinerary to the following: Day 0: Land evening-night time in Anchorage Day 1: Drive to Seward, take Kenai Fjords Park Park Cruise (6 hrs), drive back to Anchorage that night - it may be possible for you to also do the sledge dog tour..it's fun to be on a vehicle pulled by dogs....if you are not up to it, you could do a simple hike to "bear glacier"...its a beautiful place..you can also do some kayaking over there since its just the two of you guys...I also recommend to stay the night there in Seward - anchorage is boring.. Day 2: Drive to Matanushka Glacier, do the icefall trek, stay the night..if you stay in seward, Portage glacier is right on the way so you can probably do the portage glacier boat tour and then go to matanuska..go for "MICA TOUR GUIDES" in matanuska.... Day 3: Drive to Valdez in the morning and drive back to Anchorage night time....i think you should allocate at least half a day just for the drive to valdez...it is beautiful - take your time to drive to valdez..there are some wayside waterfalls that are beautiful as well....once you get to valdez, my recommendation is to take it easy and enjoy the unique town..i don't think you'll have much time to do anything else..if you have the time, go for a boat tour to columbia glacier..it's the largest glacier in NA......i recommend you stay the night there..and then in the morning do a kayaking trip in columbia glacier bay..it is a very easy paddle (it was our first ever kayaking when we did ours over there) - calm bay, plenty of time, you'd be kayaking through blue glacial bergs..the only sounds you will hear are that of sea gulls and wild life....it is a guided tour so you will be guided by a seasoned local kayaker - very safe Day4: Portage Glacier, Whittier Day5: Visit around Anchorage and flyback and to your question on ice fall trek vs climbing.....which ever one you pick, MAKE SURE YOU ASK THEM THAT YOU NEED TO ABSOLUTELY SEE THE ICE FALLS (these are the pristine glacial sheets (not the muddy ones) that you will get to only if you ask for it...go ahead and tip the guide upfront and tell him that you are looking for ice falls and glacial pools and ice caves...nothing less....tip him well and believe me, they will break all the rules and show you the best places.....climb vs trek doesn't really matter - climb is fun, it is not difficult, very easy...whatever you do, make sure you ask for these things.. and pls do not miss the kayaking adventure in valdez....years from your trip, you will probably remember matanuska trek and valdez columbia glacier kayak.. pm me and i'll share my personal pics | ||
Asdf Legend Username: Asdf Post Number: 32007 Registered: 12-2014 Posted From: 24.6.217.145 Rating: N/A |
anuska ani sadivaa  | ||
Driverramudu Megastar Username: Driverramudu Post Number: 21670 Registered: 02-2009 Posted From: 166.170.15.83 Rating: N/A |
Here is my email Driver.ramudu79 at gmail Driving is my PASSION. Ball or Bimmer does not matter. | ||
Driverramudu Megastar Username: Driverramudu Post Number: 21669 Registered: 02-2009 Posted From: 166.170.15.83 Rating: N/A |
Pls give your email to contact I do take inputs from you before I make plan to go there AIA Driving is my PASSION. Ball or Bimmer does not matter. | ||
Simba Megastar Username: Simba Post Number: 22610 Registered: 02-2008 Posted From: 69.114.206.202 Rating: N/A |
We did as part of the trip. We flew into Barrow, Ak. Spent a day exploring the place, the research labs.... met the natives called inuits, checked out their homes, schools, museums... played with them and shared some food. Best thing we did on the trip. | ||
Simba Megastar Username: Simba Post Number: 22609 Registered: 02-2008 Posted From: 69.114.206.202 Rating: N/A |
you are limiting yourself to southern Alaska. Where is scenic train from Anchorage to Fairbanks? Where is Denali National Park? How about Mt. MCKinley, the tallest mountain of North America continent? Fairbanks and surroundings have lot to offer. There is lot more to Alaska than what you planned. You need to plan few more days to accommodate all points of interest. | ||
Driverramudu Megastar Username: Driverramudu Post Number: 21668 Registered: 02-2009 Posted From: 166.170.15.83 Rating: N/A |
Bro did you go to xtreme north pole Me in a plan to go and would walk on ocean  Driving is my PASSION. Ball or Bimmer does not matter. | ||
Bingo Junior Artist Username: Bingo Post Number: 583 Registered: 11-2012 Posted From: 73.35.1.44 Rating: N/A |
@Jp_rocks bhayya, thanks for the tips. According to your suggesions, is this itinerary feasible? Day 0: Land evening-night time in Anchorage Day 1: Drive to Seward, take Kenai Fjords Park Park Cruise (6 hrs), drive back to Anchorage that night Day 2: Drive to Matanushka Glacier, do the icefall trek, stay the night Day 3: Drive to Valdez in the morning and drive back to Anchorage night time Day4: Portage Glacier, Whittier Day5: Visit around Anchorage and flyback At Matanushka Glacier, do you suggest icefall trek or Ice climbing? Its going to be my and my wife - we aren't particularly athletic so if climbing is too intensive we would avoid it. | ||
Jp_rocks Hero Username: Jp_rocks Post Number: 18000 Registered: 06-2009 Posted From: 73.36.15.73 Rating: N/A |
5 days would be very less but i strongly recommend you guys spend at least 5 days..my picks for the trip: 1. Matanuska Glacier icefall trek or ice climbing trek..must and should jilebi idi 2. Portage glacier 3. Valdez - beautiful town with excellent columbia glacier 4. Kenai Fjords National Park 5. sEWARD-wHITTEIR Drive keka..excellent scenery 6. Drive from Matanuska Glacier to Valdez is Adharaho especially at Thompson pass go in August - september may be too cool...enjoy the trip | ||
Bingo Junior Artist Username: Bingo Post Number: 582 Registered: 11-2012 Posted From: 73.35.1.44 Rating: N/A |
Yep one more of those threads ..  We are planning 3-4 day trip to Alaska in August/September this year. Once we decide which places to visit, will book the tickets accordingly, whether returning on 4th day or 5th day. So, must see places enti and how to plan the itinerary suggestions ivandi plz. I read that Northern Lights will be very poor/invisible during that time of the year. So planning to skip Fairbanks. |