TravelGuides

(TGA) - Hi everyone! I need some help. I want to take my parents and 2 children on a dream trip to Alaska in June 2010. My parents are 68 years old. They’re healthy but not terribly fit – they won’t be doing long hikes but would get around fine for short trails. Children are ages 7 and 10. Kids are mature and greatly enjoy the outdoors. I’m hoping my sister can join us too. Funds are limited (I’m a teacher…need I say more?), so I have to be very smart with my money where I can. This will likely mean cutting down the length of this trip and/or staying in some very basic accommodations (but please no on-the-ground camping for me!).

Below are some questions I have followed by my current itinerary which I developed from reading so many of your terrific posts:

**If I splurge for bear tour and visit Homer, Kenai Fjords, PWS, Girdwood, does it make sense to cut Denali in the interest of time/money? I don’t want to run everyone ragged but it seems that everyone loves Denali. It’s a difficult choice. Maybe I should cut out another town?

**I can probably swing the trip as is provided we stay in hostels/cabins some of the time. How are the beds in these places? Is this like sleeping on the ground? None of us need fancy accommodations (in fact quirky can be good I think) but my back requires more than a piece of foam for a good night’s sleep.

**Should I move the days around to make more sense? Are there “must-see” activities that I have missed?

**Will I be missing out by not cruising southeastern Alaska? This one really nags at me.

**Where should we kayak/canoe? Should the 5 or 6 of us opt for a small boat tour over a larger day cruise?

Thank you SO MUCH for all the time that so many of you donate to helping us pursue our passion for travel!!!

Day 1 Atlanta to Seattle

Day 2 Seattle to Anchorage

(breaking the trip up because the ATL/ANC trip seems SO LONG!! Is this necessary?

Day 3 Anchorage to Girdwood

Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. Cable Car/Tram at Alyeska

Day 4 Girdwood with day cruise - PWS (Sound Eco Tour vs bigger boats)

Day 5 Girdwood to Homer

Day 6 Homer

Bears – Emerald Air, K Bay, or Bald Mountain

Day 7 Homer to Seward

Cooper Landing? Canoe or Kayak? Alaska Sea Life Center. Seavey’s Ididaride? Exit Glacier?

Day 8 Seward

Kenai Fjords National Park. (bigger boat vs. 6 person tour?)

Day 9 Seward to Wasilla/Palmer

Eklutna?? Musk Ox farm. Independence Gold Mine (or gold tour need Girdwood?

Day 10 Wasilla/Palmer to Denali

Day 11 Denali – 3 for price of 2 shuttle.

Day 12 Denali – Park again if weather wasn’t ideal day 11. Or raft or flightsee?

Day 13 Denali – Park again then drive to Anchorage (skip park if we’ve been lucky w/ weather Day 11/12)

Day 14 Anchorage to Seattle

Day 15 Seattle to Atlanta

All input is welcome! Thanks again. Karen
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Why would you say such a thing??? I went with Bald Mt. Air in September. What “safety” issues are you talking about??? The plane I was on was full with 10 passengers. Besides, what difference does the size of the group—whether 6, 10 or even 20--have to do with enjoying the experience??? We spent about 5 hours with bears constantly in sight, usually 4 or 5 of them but up to 13, often all around us (in front, beside, behind), several times as close as 10 to 12 feet away. And I have a photo showing a bear 6 feet away from one of the other groups (there were 2 other groups that day, though I don’t know what outfitters they were with). No “safety” issues at all with anyone. I was totally at ease, and this tour was a highlight of my trip.

A Denali bear-viewing experience doesn’t even begin to compare with that, though I was lucky enough to see several bears there including a mama with cubs crossing the road in front of our bus. I’m not knocking Denali at all, but if anyone wants to “experience” bears rather than just see them (and usually just in the distance), I highly recommend a bear-viewing tour with ANY reputable company.

That said, I don’t know the minimum age allowed on the bear-viewing tours. A seven-year old might be too young. Also, where the flights go changes during the summer, so in June you might not get the close-up bears that we did, or see as many of them (salmon are a big attraction for them later in the summer, and draw them in large numbers).

I also wouldn't spend 4 days travelling to/from Alaska. A waste of precious time, and you're up in the air even when you're not (pardon the pun). I'd suggest something like:

Dep. ATL US Airways 5:50pm, short layover in Phoenix, arrive ANC 1:53 a.m. (kids can sleep most of the way, having burned off steam earlier in the day playing with their friends). Plan to overnight near the airport and sleep in, then pick up your rental vehicle mid-morning or later--have you considered renting an RV? If you all get along, with kids and older people it's sure handy having the bathroom and fridge there whenever you want them.

Return trip: redeye departs ANC 12:48 a.m. (so you all sleep most of the first leg), short layover Phoenix again, arrive ATL 4:53 pm.

Both trips are about 11 hours total.
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Oops, left out the quote at the beginning of my post:

"Bald Mountain takes big groups (20 people or more), too big to fully and safely enjoy such expensive trip."
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Hi Karen

I don't think there will be bears for you to see that early in the season out of Homer......you could save money right there and see them (and the new cubs) in Denali.....I know, not the same as being up close and personal, but you will not see bears fishing for salmon if it is too early for the salmon runs......

Welcome back MM.....looking forward to your trip report !!
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OOops,guess my eyes haven't focused yet this morning....thought your title said May 1st, not My 1st.....
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I have had some nieces and nephews visit (ages 8-10)they really enjoy Hatcher Pass (independence Mine), Crow Creek Mine (Girdwood), and the Wildife Conservation Center (Portage). The kids seem to really enjoy the boat tour out of Seward and Exit glacier is free. With such a large group you may want to think about one of the coupon books (lots of 2 for 1). I have used the Northern Lights book and they have coupons for PWS tours, the SeaLife Center, the Wildlife Conservation Center and some lodging. They also have some good food coupons. I would also skip the bear viewing for the sake of some extra time and money in Denali and elsewhere.
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Vive la difference! We all have such differing views & it's wonderful to celebrate our varying viewpoints.

Since you have stressed that funds are limited, Karen, I would not cut Denali in the interest of time/money- I think it is one of the greatest wonders of our state & also one of the best bangs for the buck, IMHO.

Remember, we have a huge state & it's impossible to do it all in a short 2 weeks. It takes us locals a lifetime to even scratch the surface of the expanse of Alaska.

My suggestion is to prioritize each of your family member's goals and then go from there. That way you can tell if it is best to do a cruise of southeast, trip to Denali, bear tour, Kenai Fjords, or whatever!??

Just know that whatever you decide will be wonderful!

Welcome back, Manitoba Maple! We all can't wait for your trip report!
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Is Crow Creek Mine similar to Independence Mine? If so, which do you guys enjoy more? Thanks
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