Carrs was sadly bought out by Safeway a few years ago, but the employees have fought hard to retain at least some small semblance of the locally owned store it used to be.

That said, there is also a sushi counter at the Carrs on Abbott.

I'd for sure hit up New Sagaya or City Market (the New Sagaya branch downtown) over Carrs, though.

My guess is you won't need lodging near Denali. 10am Kenai Fjords tour won't get you back to Seward until later that afternoon. So you won't get to Denali until well after midnight. With a 5am shuttle bus (not bus "tour"), just sleep in your car at the WAC but be sure to set an alarm so you don't miss the bus.

And wow, what a difference in itineraries between what you are planning and the one in this thread for the exact same dates.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/alask...ys-alaska.html

chunky, if you're still following this thread: do the denali bus ride! Truly a highllight of the trip (just back this morning). I do think who you happen to get for a driver makes a huge difference. We had a woman named Wendy going out, another driver coming back. Saw many animals, and had a nearly non-stop fascinating narrative all the way to Eilson (sp?) visitor center. I wanted to go back with her, but we ended up getting off the bus. Our second driver, no kidding, lapped her on the way back. No narrative, no animal sightings. The good thing was it was a camper bus and we got to talk with some very interesting hikers, climbers, kayakers. I doubt you can book with Wendy, but if she's working, maybe you can get off your bus and on to hers if your driver isn't much fun. (They don't have to do anything but drive.)

Budget tips: fill tank in Wasilla. Check gas price at Talkeetna junction. Yesterday it was the same price as Wasilla and Anchorage, much higher elsewhere up the road, up to $.50/gal higher. You could refill at Talkeetna both ways if price still holding. There's a hundred mile or so stretch from Cantwell to Trappers * (maybe junction? two word town) coming back toward Anchorage, with no fuel,then another 5 or 10 miles to the Tesoro station at Talkeetna turn off.

Try to eat grocery food instead of restaurant food a couple meals a day. I didn't go that far, but two of us easily spent $100/day on meals, many of which were mediocre. I was really worried about carrying food and water into the park as there is no food or water for sale on the road. BUT, the bus station area has a snack bar with coffee/expresso, plenty of options for the bus, as well as gear, so don't spend a lot of time or mental energy gathering up lunch. You can refill your water bottle at Eilson VC, and they actually have flush toilets there. In fact there are porta-potties along the road, so, ladies especially, if you've been fretting over using a tiny tundra bush for a pit stop, worry no more.

Get a good map. Frommers 2010's pullout map is useless, the area maps better. None of the hotel maps, the rental car map, or the Frommers area maps showed the route out of Anchorage. (It's 6th Avenue, just head toward the mountains and it turns into highway 3). I was amazed at how little park information, maps, etc was available at Denali's bookstore. Maybe I missed the section. I did buy an interesting booklet: Denali Road Guide by Kris Capps. $6.95


In Anchorage, don't park in the pay lots. You can pay $1.00/hr at Penney's, or feed the meter on the streets. In the lots, you have a choice of $5 or $10 for up to 2 or 4 hours, respectively. Of course, 3 hours would have been perfect at the Alaska Museum, but we had to rush as they threaten truly draconean repercussions if you're late.


In Seward, Major Marine has a new high speed Catamaran that can get you out to the glacier on the 1130 6 hour ride. If budgeting, skip the so-so $19 buffet and bring a sandwich and brownie. Bar available and a few snacks.

I want to thank you for your original post since it was most helpful to me to read the great advice you got before my trip.

The camper bus drivers generally are not as talkative as the shuttle bus drivers. But the camper buses are generally far less crowded. But some of the drivers of the camper buses are very talkative - Alan, Scott, Gary and Mona for example. And as you said, you can always hop off one bus and on to another.

It really depends. Last time I was on the Parks Highway, it was about the same price the entire way from Anchorage to Denali except in Cantwell. Once the station at the Talkeetna Junction was CHEAPER than Fairbanks. So you just never know.

Good point. I actually rarely eat out when I travel in AK. When I camp, I have a grill and cook my own meals. Make my own picnic lunches. I find that I get by eating very well on $10/day (almost all grocery-bought meals, usually 1 meal out).

Few maps of Denali except the topo maps available. Without trails, there is not much to map! But an excellent guidebook for hiking in Denali is the book by Ike Waits. Kind of the Bible for hiking in Denali.

For Alaska, I rarely use a map. So few roads. Many east-west roads in Anchorage lead to Muldoon that heads out of town.

For someone on a budget, one of the best ideas is to buy a coupon book to get a bunch of tours 2-for-1. But with the OP's itinerary, he hardly has time for many tours.

Don't forget our very own Seat 2A on FlyerTalk is more infamous for being a Denali driver. If you get him, I understand you're in for a treat.

Trapper Creek, probably.

In Anchorage and Fairbanks, there is plenty (even avoiding fast food) to eat for under $10 per meal. Outside of the bigger cities, it's not quite as easy, but most roadhouses will have burgers and sandwiches for probably $15 total (with a soda and tip). If you're going between Denali and Fairbanks, stop at the Monderosa Bar just north of Nenana--probably the best burger in the state.

Anchorage (and even Fairbanks) has some world-class cuisine, though, and if you have a few extra dollars, it's definitely worth splurging on a meal or two. Check out Simon and Seafort's, Orso, Glacier BrewHouse, Kincaid Grill, Jens, Southside Bistro, Moose's Tooth, and Bear Tooth. Even a good meal at most of those won't set you back more than $30 (maybe $50 with drinks and tip at Simon's or Orso).

Highway 3? What's "Highway 3"? Never heard of such a road.

I'm actually not sure what the Penney's garage charges (I'll take your word that it's $1/hour), but the transit center garage (owned and operated by the Municipality) is only a couple blocks west (on 6th between H and G), and I know for sure it only charges $1/hour. The 5th Avenue Mall garage (on 5th between B and C) is also not unreasonable (it's also operated by the Muni, if I recall correctly), but I probably use it once a year. Both of the the Muni-operated garages are MUCH better deals than the Diamond Parking-operated surface lots.

I don't think you can. Furthermore, the drivers themselves are not on a set schedule--they bid and bump on and off of schedules all the time. Most don't even know what days--much less which specific bus--they're going to work until a week or even a few days before they go.