Alaska Adventure Planning

Hooray for planning trips! I am so excited to share Alaska with you and would absolutely enjoy handing out some pointers. Truthfully now is the time to plan and have everything booked by mid-March of next year. The best time to visit is mid-summer (of course) and the weeks surrounding the 4th of July are always my favorite time to see Alaska.

Fly into and out of Anchorage – the flights will most likely have you landing in the late evening or early morning so plan to spend the first night or two in Anchorage. Rent a car for the best mobility.

First on the recommendation list would be to ride the rails on the Alaska Railroad and the day trip to Spencer Glacier is just the ticket to purchase. Riding the train from Anchorage to Fairbanks with a stop in Denali is a good trip too. Or even just Anchorage to Denali and back to Anchorage on a bus. The draw back to taking the train on either of these venues is you are locked into lodging just outside the Denali National Park’s entrance somewhere in Glitter Gulch and I do not think any of my friends would enjoy that at all. Glitter Gulch is very touristy, pricey and for the most part is not local people for the lodging.

Drive through Hatcher Pass, start at the Palmer end of Fishhook Road and visit Independence Mine. Hatcher Pass is a fabulous drive and the road will lead you to the Parks Highway at Willow. Some rental car companies do not allow you to drive their cars up Hatcher Pass, so it would be good to check with them beforehand. While in the Hatcher Pass area take a hike on a mountain side and enjoy all the wildflowers in bloom in July. Once at the end of the road take a right hand turn and head towards Talkeetna. In Talkeetna stay at Traleika Cabins, their Sultana Cottage or the Birchcrest Cabin both have good views of Denali, and Whitney is good people. There are places to eat in Talkeetna but you can also pack your own supper and breakfast fixings if you choose. Take a flightseeing tour out of Talkeetna to Denali with K2 Aviation or Talkeetna Air Taxi either will show you a good time. I think Whitney’s husband flies for Talkeetna Air. If the weather is not good they will cancel but when the weather is good it is totally worth the cost. Talkeetna is a quirky historic town that is fun to explore so spend a day or so here.

Drive to Denali National Park – Broad Pass just south of Cantwell has great views. Stay the night at Carlo Creek Lodge mile 224 on the Parks Highway. Eat at Creekside which is right across the street from Carlo Creek Lodge and also up the road to mile 229 at the restaurant called 229 Parks. Visit the touristy area called Glitter Gulch which is just outside the park’s entrance, and is where all the major hotels and gift shops are located; also be sure to visit Denali National Park’s great visitor’s center. Make plans to get up early the next day and take the bus ride back into the park. Get your tickets ahead of time for the first bus that goes back into the park. It will be a full day, and be sure to ride all the way back to Wonder Lake!

Head back south, stay in Anchorage and the next day take the Alaska Railroad ride to Spencer Glacier. This will take the entire day also and is totally worth the time. Another night in Anchorage and the next day drive to Whittier on the Seward Highway. Be very careful on this stretch of road, we have a house rule – no passing other cars on the Seward Highway – EVER! Unless there is a passing lane, of which there are only a few official passing lanes. The Seward Highway is a narrow busy stretch of road and too many drivers get in too big of a hurry which causes accidents.

Stop at the Portage Glacier Visitor Center before you drive through the Anderson Tunnel and once in Whittier take your glacier tour with either Phillips Cruises or Major Marine Tours, both do a great job and Prince William Sound is a fabulous must see area in Alaska. After the tour go to the Swiftwater Café (only open in the summer months) in Whittier for some fresh fish before you drive back through the tunnel and to your lodging somewhere in Girdwood. Explore Girdwood and drive to Seward in the early afternoon. Stay in Seward the night and drive out to Exit Glacier. We have not stayed in Seward overnight in a long while so I do not have any lodging suggestions, but I bet Trip Advisor will guide you to the right place.

Let me know if your Alaska travel plans would be for another part of the state, and I will make other suggestions.

Of course when you are in town we will go to supper together at Glacier Brewhouse or Simon & Seaforts, your choice! Enjoy planning your Alaska adventure!