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01/17/2009 11:16:04 PM · #1 |
I'm posting this in the out and about forum and hoping you all can give me a lot of advice ... I need it!!
After 35 years of hoping and planning we are going to visit our dream destination ... Alaska. Any advice would be humbly appreciated. We are going in late July/early August and would love suggestions of fantastic photo ops and must see spots. We will be up north for nearly three weeks.
Thanks in advance.
Edit to say: we have chosen to fly to Anchorage, no cruising this time. We want to spend some time visiting friends in Alaska and being on a cruise would severely limit this.
Edit to add: arriving in Anchorage, spending time in Denali (actually staying in the park), plan to hit the Inside Passage, not sure if we can make Juneau ...
Message edited by author 2009-01-17 23:34:32. |
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01/17/2009 11:26:08 PM · #2 |
We cruised to Alaska last year, and I thought it was spectacular! With every turn of the Inside Passage we were treated to new, beautiful views of waterfalls, wildlife, mountains, etc. We didn't go to Denali, but I'd certainly love to do that someday, too. My dad and grandparents went there a decade or so ago, and they loved it.
Not a whole lot of advice to offer, other than bring LOTS of memory cards... because you're going to have some fantastic memories! :) |
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01/17/2009 11:31:04 PM · #3 |
What part of Alaska? We went to the Anchorage area last summer. My sister lives in Wasilla, so she basically set up a ton of great things for us to do.
We halibut fished out of Homer - exhausting, but I totally recommend it. Captain Rob (below) from Big Bear Halibut tours was awesome.
  
Matanuska Glacier was a great photo op as well, though a bit out of the way:
 
Most of the glaciers you see from afar, but Matanuska you can get up close and walk on!
The foliage is lush and the animals abundant.
 
 
We rode the train from Anchorage to Seward and took a boat tour from there.
 
We saw whale spouts from both the fishing boat and the tour boat, but I don't have any pictures of that online.
Anyway, it's awesome and you'll love it! Take a laptop or a ton of CF cards. =)
Message edited by author 2009-01-17 23:34:45. |
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01/17/2009 11:32:49 PM · #4 |
| Oh, yeah - Denali was covered in clouds every day of our two week stay, so don't get your heart set on just that. But there're lodges up there you can call for weather reports. And Denali plane tours - one even lands you on the mountain. But we didn't get up that way. |
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01/17/2009 11:39:38 PM · #5 |
We were there in August 2006.
In the five days there, all we saw was rain, clouds and fog.
At times, we were right in front of a mountain (the signs told us so), but I could NOT see it.
In fact, I saw very little scenery at all, and almost NO animals (the only thing I saw was one mountain goat, a squirrel and a few sparrows).
The only time we did not get rained on was on the boat right in front of the glacier - apparently the cold air kept the rain away.
It was all VERY disappointing and I would never go at that time of year again - we were told it is pretty common to rain like that in August.
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01/18/2009 07:20:07 AM · #6 |
I went in June last year and I think it drizzled 1 day in 14.
2 things I would do again (and again, and again...)
Get to Seward and take the longest boat trip through Kenai that you can - we took a mariah tours captain's choice tour. The advantages are a small boat gets you to places the 150 pass. boats can't, and no crowding for shooting space.
If you end up in Ketchikan, take a Misty Fjords flight seeing trip.
2 things I regret not doing but will on my next trip:
Bear viewing at brooks falls
Hiking the ice caves at Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau |
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01/18/2009 07:30:11 AM · #7 |
I have no advice, Jeanne, but I will say I'm incredibly jealous!! :-)
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01/18/2009 10:12:49 AM · #8 |
Say hi to my in-laws for me, eh? :) I'd love to go to Alaska... someday when my kids grow up and I can leave them at home ;)
I hope you have a ton of fun on your trip and I can't wait to see some photos :) |
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01/18/2009 10:57:05 AM · #9 |
While you are in Anchorage, take the hiking trail up Flattop Mountain. Even if it is foggy and misty below, you will probably find sunshine on the way and be treated to amazing views of fog banks creeping up the peaks. The wild blueberries are starting to get ripe in August, so feel free to pick some and relish the taste. About halfway up, take a rest on the bench and enjoy the view. Listen to the silence. Read the plaque. If you happen to wonder about the person behind the dedication, pm me and I will tell you. Continue your journey to the top and find even more spectacular views. Enjoy your day.
If you get to Homer, be sure to try salmon fishing in the "spithole". If you get there at the right time, the silvers should be running and it will be a lot of fun. If you can find Captain "Old", he does a fantastic halibut fishing tour, and even if the bay is rough, will take to places most people don't see. (Just remember, if a whale breaches in front of you, remember you have a camera around your neck and don't just stand there with you mouth open like I did - my family still laughs at me for that)
Be prepared to fall in love with one of the most beautiful places on the planet :) |
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01/18/2009 12:53:23 PM · #10 |
I was there in august , Landed in Anchorage rented a car and drove to homer , I think it took me 5 or 6 hours , very nice town , Make sure you make hotel reservations there . I took a trip to Katmai NP By seaplane, It was fantastic . I also went to Seward on the way back towards anchorage you can take a Glacier trip there . I drove to Denali NP it took about 8 hours to drive ,Very nice lots of things to do and see . make sure you take the full bus trip into Denali I think it took 12 or 13 hours round trip but it was worth it . Hotels were pricey around $150 a night . By far the best trip I've taken I am going back this year
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01/18/2009 01:42:38 PM · #11 |
Gotta post this one here,since it's pretty much the ultimate Denali view on DPC :-)
R.
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01/18/2009 01:51:55 PM · #12 |
Originally posted by dahkota:
If you end up in Ketchikan, take a Misty Fjords flight seeing trip. |
I won't mention that the day we were in Ketchikan, a flight seeing plane crashed, killing everyone onboard. Eeep... |
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01/18/2009 01:57:03 PM · #13 |
Alaska is the reason I bought a DSLR. We did the cruise and I had a point-n-shoot. Was very frustrating trying to get pictures of the whales... ended up with a bunch of splashes.
Have fun |
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01/18/2009 02:29:14 PM · #14 |
 smurfguy and TLL061 - shame on you both for not visiting me when you came here.
 JerseyGenie, August can be very rainy and not the best time of year to be able to see Denali. June is best for that, and July can be good IF we aren't having a rainy season like we did last summer. Last summer we rained almost everyday. I had planned on going back up to Denali myself but put it off to this year as the rains were non stop. On a clear day, Denali can be seen from Willow, which is still 3 1/2 hours away from the National Park.
I really recommend a hike in Hatchers Pass - which lies between Palmer and Willow. By July the road that goes up and through the mountains should be open, but don't try taking a junker up there. You'll need a car with a decent engine as the road grade can get steep. The views in Hatchers Pass are absolutely gorgeous. I just love hiking this area.
  
 
You should also go for a nice easy hike in Eagle River at the Nature Center. The trails are nice and there is a lot to offer for photographers. This is one of m favorite hiking areas too. Go back a couple miles in and you'll find the Yerts which can be rented.
  
There is lots to see and do. If you have time for an old DPCer, I'd love to meet up with you while you're here. PM me and I'll give you my cell phone number when you get here.
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01/19/2009 09:50:40 AM · #15 |
I only wish I had a DSLR when I went to Alaska back in '98...my photos pale in comparison to the shots posted here.
I will tell you though that Alaska is an amazing place to visit. Everywhere you go the scenery is spectacular.
My dad and I didn't do much hiking since he isn't in the best health, but we thoroughly enjoyed going on a whale watching cruise out of Seward as well as a glacier cruise. Even with my shoddy camera, we ended up with some wonderful Orca and glacier photos.
As mentioned above - Homer was a great little town to check out. We also stopped at the Alaska State Fair while we were there and had a great time.
Denali was by far my favorite stop on the trip though. We did see plenty of wildlife (bear, moose, caribou, fox and even a wolf) and we did get to see the moutain peeking out from behind the clouds. |
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01/19/2009 01:53:44 PM · #16 |
So far this is what we have decided on. We have about 2 1/2 weeks. We are going to spend some time with friends in the Anchorage area. We are going to spend some time on the Kenai Peninsula--Homer, Seward, Whittier, etc. (3-4 nights). We are going to spend some time in Denali Park (4 nights. Two nights in the park and two nights outside the park.
Becaise we are limited we are ruling out Juneau and Fairbanks.
YIKES, the choices are getting harder and harder.
We are spending time in Denali, because it has been our dream for decades. We are not crazy and are not depending on seeing the mountain. We know there are lots of things to do/see there besides the elusive sighting of Denali peak. Having said that we still would love to see it!
We are also going to leave some time for stopping and seeing other things/sights/towns/views that we find delightful.
While in Kenai area we hope to do a glacier cruise and while in Denali area a wildlife or scenic raft trip. Perhaps a plane/helicopter viewing trip also ... if we can afford it. |
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01/19/2009 03:01:47 PM · #17 |
| sounds like a plan good luck |
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