Planning an Alaska Trip (Questions/Advice Sought)
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: TUS and any place close to a lav
Programs: UA 1.6MM
Posts: 5,423
Planning an Alaska Trip (Questions/Advice Sought)
All,
I need help planning an Alaska Trip for late July. The group will be with older senior citizens, so we won't be doing any hiking or any extraneous movement.
Here's somethings we absolutely want to see:
Wildlife - Hopefully see some wildlife via the bus tour of Denali?
The Philips Cruise via the Alaska Railroad described by Seat 2A (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/24026860-post13.html)
Alaska Native Heritage Center
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
Here's a proposed itinerary
Day 1 - Fly Boston to Anchorage
Day 2 - See Alaska Native Heritage Center and relax/adjust to time change, pick up snacks/food for Day 3
Day 3 - Day Trip! Take Alaska Railroad to Whittier and a Philips Cruise. Return to Anchorage via Alaska Railroad
Day 4 - Drive to Denali, stay at hotel near park entrance.
Day 5 - Bus tour of Denali, return to hotel near park entrance
Day 6 - Drive back to Anchorage, see the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center and potentially fly back to the lower-48 on the redeye.
Thoughts? My girlfriend's parents are coming to the states for a visit (from Thailand) and they wish to visit Alaska and see some "ice and animals."
I need help planning an Alaska Trip for late July. The group will be with older senior citizens, so we won't be doing any hiking or any extraneous movement.
Here's somethings we absolutely want to see:
Wildlife - Hopefully see some wildlife via the bus tour of Denali?
The Philips Cruise via the Alaska Railroad described by Seat 2A (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/24026860-post13.html)
Alaska Native Heritage Center
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
Here's a proposed itinerary
Day 1 - Fly Boston to Anchorage
Day 2 - See Alaska Native Heritage Center and relax/adjust to time change, pick up snacks/food for Day 3
Day 3 - Day Trip! Take Alaska Railroad to Whittier and a Philips Cruise. Return to Anchorage via Alaska Railroad
Day 4 - Drive to Denali, stay at hotel near park entrance.
Day 5 - Bus tour of Denali, return to hotel near park entrance
Day 6 - Drive back to Anchorage, see the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center and potentially fly back to the lower-48 on the redeye.
Thoughts? My girlfriend's parents are coming to the states for a visit (from Thailand) and they wish to visit Alaska and see some "ice and animals."
#2
Moderator, OneWorld
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: SEA
Programs: RAA RIP; AA ExEXP
Posts: 11,795
All,
I need help planning an Alaska Trip for late July. The group will be with older senior citizens, so we won't be doing any hiking or any extraneous movement.
Here's somethings we absolutely want to see:
Wildlife - Hopefully see some wildlife via the bus tour of Denali?
The Philips Cruise via the Alaska Railroad described by Seat 2A (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/24026860-post13.html)
Alaska Native Heritage Center
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
Here's a proposed itinerary
Day 1 - Fly Boston to Anchorage
Day 2 - See Alaska Native Heritage Center and relax/adjust to time change, pick up snacks/food for Day 3
Day 3 - Day Trip! Take Alaska Railroad to Whittier and a Philips Cruise. Return to Anchorage via Alaska Railroad
Day 4 - Drive to Denali, stay at hotel near park entrance.
Day 5 - Bus tour of Denali, return to hotel near park entrance
Day 6 - Drive back to Anchorage, see the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center and potentially fly back to the lower-48 on the redeye.
Thoughts? My girlfriend's parents are coming to the states for a visit (from Thailand) and they wish to visit Alaska and see some "ice and animals."
I need help planning an Alaska Trip for late July. The group will be with older senior citizens, so we won't be doing any hiking or any extraneous movement.
Here's somethings we absolutely want to see:
Wildlife - Hopefully see some wildlife via the bus tour of Denali?
The Philips Cruise via the Alaska Railroad described by Seat 2A (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/24026860-post13.html)
Alaska Native Heritage Center
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
Here's a proposed itinerary
Day 1 - Fly Boston to Anchorage
Day 2 - See Alaska Native Heritage Center and relax/adjust to time change, pick up snacks/food for Day 3
Day 3 - Day Trip! Take Alaska Railroad to Whittier and a Philips Cruise. Return to Anchorage via Alaska Railroad
Day 4 - Drive to Denali, stay at hotel near park entrance.
Day 5 - Bus tour of Denali, return to hotel near park entrance
Day 6 - Drive back to Anchorage, see the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center and potentially fly back to the lower-48 on the redeye.
Thoughts? My girlfriend's parents are coming to the states for a visit (from Thailand) and they wish to visit Alaska and see some "ice and animals."
Since you'll still be on east coast time, leave Anchorage early in the morning on Day 3 (7 AM will still feel like 11 AM) and stop in Girdwood at the Alyeska Bake Shop - http://www.thebakeshop.com/ - for breakfast before continuing to Portage and the tunnel to Whittier. Do the cruise, then stop at the wildlife center when it's over, then back to town. Long day, but very satisfying.
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: MN
Programs: Lots of programs, dirt on all of them!
Posts: 11,938
I agree with gardyloo. Use day six to maybe stop in Talkeetna.
For Denali book a SHUTTLE bus to Eielson or Wonder Lake not a tour bus. Its cheaper and goes further.
For Denali book a SHUTTLE bus to Eielson or Wonder Lake not a tour bus. Its cheaper and goes further.
#4
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: SNA
Programs: AAdvantage Gold, AS Mileage Plan, SPG Gold
Posts: 343
I've driven by but never been to the Wildlife Conservation Center, but on Portage Glacier Road, (on the way to Whittier) just before the first tunnel is the Begich Boggs Visitor Center. The Begich Boggs VC is a nice place to stop and learn about ice and animals and history. They have a movie there too, free to those with a National Park Visitor Pass. Plus they have clean restrooms. Years ago, you could see the Portage Glacier from there, but it has since retreated around a bend and isn't visible anymore.
#5
Moderator, OneWorld
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: SEA
Programs: RAA RIP; AA ExEXP
Posts: 11,795
#7
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 11
All,
I need help planning an Alaska Trip for late July. The group will be with older senior citizens, so we won't be doing any hiking or any extraneous movement.
Here's somethings we absolutely want to see:
Wildlife - Hopefully see some wildlife via the bus tour of Denali?
The Philips Cruise via the Alaska Railroad described by Seat 2A (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/24026860-post13.html)
Alaska Native Heritage Center
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
Here's a proposed itinerary
Day 1 - Fly Boston to Anchorage
Day 2 - See Alaska Native Heritage Center and relax/adjust to time change, pick up snacks/food for Day 3
Day 3 - Day Trip! Take Alaska Railroad to Whittier and a Philips Cruise. Return to Anchorage via Alaska Railroad
Day 4 - Drive to Denali, stay at hotel near park entrance.
Day 5 - Bus tour of Denali, return to hotel near park entrance
Day 6 - Drive back to Anchorage, see the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center and potentially fly back to the lower-48 on the redeye.
Thoughts? My girlfriend's parents are coming to the states for a visit (from Thailand) and they wish to visit Alaska and see some "ice and animals."
I need help planning an Alaska Trip for late July. The group will be with older senior citizens, so we won't be doing any hiking or any extraneous movement.
Here's somethings we absolutely want to see:
Wildlife - Hopefully see some wildlife via the bus tour of Denali?
The Philips Cruise via the Alaska Railroad described by Seat 2A (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/24026860-post13.html)
Alaska Native Heritage Center
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
Here's a proposed itinerary
Day 1 - Fly Boston to Anchorage
Day 2 - See Alaska Native Heritage Center and relax/adjust to time change, pick up snacks/food for Day 3
Day 3 - Day Trip! Take Alaska Railroad to Whittier and a Philips Cruise. Return to Anchorage via Alaska Railroad
Day 4 - Drive to Denali, stay at hotel near park entrance.
Day 5 - Bus tour of Denali, return to hotel near park entrance
Day 6 - Drive back to Anchorage, see the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center and potentially fly back to the lower-48 on the redeye.
Thoughts? My girlfriend's parents are coming to the states for a visit (from Thailand) and they wish to visit Alaska and see some "ice and animals."
That's my recommendation. Let me know if you have any other questions.