Originally Posted by
Miss0033
Fiance wants to take a train at least once. I think train to Seward is a good bet but looks like most glacier/wildlife cruises we want to do leave before train gets there in the am and the boat returns after the train has left seward for the pm. So we would have an extra day before and after, if we dont arrange for another type of travel. I know we want 2 days in Seward, 3 might be much if we only have 8 days total.
Check again. Kenai Fjords, for example, has an 11:30am departure on their National Park Tour (the most popular one) that gets you back at 5:30pm. That would work perfectly with a train layover, although you wouldn't get to see anything else in Seward that day. Major Marine has a similar tour at similar times. That said, the train ride is beautiful and worthwhile, but if time is limited, the flexibility of a car may be a better value.
I'll let
fti comment if the longer, slower cruises (they tend to cover the same territory, just on slower, non-catamaran boats) or the full-day Fox Island cruise are worth doing.
Originally Posted by
Miss0033
Is stopping at Alyeska to do the tram worth it? Ive heard the double Musky has amazing food, but is it worth stopping for those 2 things?
Both are worthwhile (the former only in clear weather, though). You won't be able to do that if you take the train. However, Girdwood is close enough to Anchorage (35-45 minutes) that you can drive back to Girdwood from Anchorage if you want to check them out.
I'll have to let
fti et al. answer the rest of your questions.