Originally Posted by
jackal
Originally Posted by
edsh
Thanks very much to both of you for your ideas. I think Fairbanks would be a nice 'return to civilization' break in the middle of the week before heading back through Wrangell.
I had one other question. Having never been to Alaska the image I have is gained only through a mental montage of Discovery Chanel episodes so please forgive any inaccuracy. The activity I came up with is putting on a wet suit and kayaking through a crystal blue sea of floating icebergs with baby seals (or polar bears) swimming by. If you can stop laughing long enough, can you suggest if this is possible around Valdez/Anchorage or along the cruise route we plan during the second week: Skagway, Juneau, Ketchikan.
Not too many icebergs on the southern shores of Alaska in August (unless you take a boat cruise out to a glacier), and polar bears don't usually venture south of the Brooks Range (a good 200 miles north of Fairbanks).
A good site with comprehensive listings of activities (aside from Wikitravel, which is good but is user-updated and is occasionally missing some things) is
http://www.alaska.org. It's run by some people I know and isn't too influenced by paid listings (as far as I know; that's The Milepost's downfall), and they do make good value judgments and only post the stuff that's worthwhile.
My sister has gone Kayaking in Prince William Sound and it is a very cool experience from what I hear. No polar bears this far south, but you do get to see whales, dolphins, sea otters, puffins, etc... (of course- one could take a cruise out of Seward or Whittier to see this too, but if you enjoy kayaking...
)
Fishing also could be an option...
I am guessing your flying up to ANC and driving around the state, heading back to ANC and then somehow getting to Whittier... how? There are buses... but the Alaska Railroad is the way to go! It actually deviates from along the highway for a while, there's a nice dining car, and observation cars too ^
And if not enough... local FT'ers always are looking for excuses to visit - so here's the
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/commu...up-thread.html
Have a great trip though and welcome to Alaska!