Finally Off to ALASKA in July!!!!

[SRA_Fl]

Finally going to Alaska first week in July. Going to cruise up and spend four or five days in Ak starting in Seward. Going absolutely insane researching things and places to do and see.
Theres just not going to be enough time nor money to do everything I would like to do love to fish, see eagles,bears and other wildlife, go to denali ect ect ect.

Anyone with experience have any tips.
Particularly any experience with bear viewing trips and bus tours in denali.

[Tom Reichner]

Finally going to Alaska first week in July. Going to cruise up and spend four or five days in Ak . . .

Theres just not going to be enough time nor money to do everything I would like to do love to fish, see eagles,bears and other wildlife, go to denali ect ect ect.

You're absolutely right - there won't be enough time. I see you're from Miami . . . 5000 miles of travel each way, just to spend 4 or 5 days?

Those few days are gonna be gone before you can snap your fingers. Maybe it will be a good trip to whet your appetite for a longer trip sometime when you have a few weeks or a month.

[416bw]

What towns will you be stopping at on the cruise up?

[SRA_Fl]

Ketchikan, Juneau, skagway and Icey strait Point and ending in Seward
then will be staying in Ak 4-5 days and fly home from Anchorage

[blair6878]

Alaska is on my short list. What is the best time to go?

[416bw]

Ketchikan, Juneau, skagway and Icey strait Point and ending in Seward
then will be staying in Ak 4-5 days and fly home from Anchorage

Well, lets see... you mentioned bears. The only one of those towns in SE Alaska with brown bears is Icy Strait Point (otherwise known as Hoonah, before they built the tourist area) on Chichagof Island. You may see black bears in the other areas. Your best bet for brown bears will be Denali NP, although the Alaska Range is the boundary were brown bears become grizzly bears.

But back to SE Alaska (I live in Sitka. It's on the outside, ocean side, and most cruise ships bypass us due to fuel costs and the fact we don't have a dock. We don't want a dock, you'll see why in the other towns.)

In Juneau, if the weathers nice you'll have to get up to the top of the mountain. That's either the Mount Roberts Tram, or a golf cart ride up through a garden...

http://www.glaciergardens.com/

We've done both, and for pictures the Glacier Gardens may present more opportunities than the tram. Juneau is also a good place to ride a helicopter up to the Mendenhal Glacier. You will pass a couple other glaciers, but none so accesible and close to an airport. Mendenhal is not a tidewater glacier, you'll see those farther up your cruise.

Haven't spent much time in Ketchikan or Skagway. Obviously the White Pass train is the big deal in Skagway.

Can't see you passing up the Denali bus ride. It's darn near a whole day affair from the gate, all the way back, and out again. But that's where the most wildlife pictures are taken.

Are you flying south from Anchorage?

[416bw]

Alaska is on my short list. What is the best time to go?

Late-May thru early September. Unless you're looking to shoot the northern lights. ;)

[SRA_Fl]

Well, lets see... you mentioned bears. The only one of those towns in SE Alaska with brown bears is Icy Strait Point (otherwise known as Hoonah, before they built the tourist area) on Chichagof Island. You may see black bears in the other areas. Your best bet for brown bears will be Denali NP, although the Alaska Range is the boundary were brown bears become grizzly bears.

But back to SE Alaska (I live in Sitka. It's on the outside, ocean side, and most cruise ships bypass us due to fuel costs and the fact we don't have a dock. We don't want a dock, you'll see why in the other towns.)

In Juneau, if the weathers nice you'll have to get up to the top of the mountain. That's either the Mount Roberts Tram, or a golf cart ride up through a garden...

http://www.glaciergardens.com/

We've done both, and for pictures the Glacier Gardens may present more opportunities than the tram. Juneau is also a good place to ride a helicopter up to the Mendenhal Glacier. You will pass a couple other glaciers, but none so accesible and close to an airport. Mendenhal is not a tidewater glacier, you'll see those farther up your cruise.

Haven't spent much time in Ketchikan or Skagway. Obviously the White Pass train is the big deal in Skagway.

Can't see you passing up the Denali bus ride. It's darn near a whole day affair from the gate, all the way back, and out again. But that's where the most wildlife pictures are taken.

Are you flying south from Anchorage?

Thanks for the info.
the website you provided wont come up Ill try researching it.

Flying south out of anchorage 5 dyas or so after the cruise ends in Seward.
May try to scrape my pennies together and get to Homer and out to Katmai.

[stathunter]

At the end of your trip in Seward-- take the day boat excursion to see all the wildlife at the keni- fjords boat tour in Seward.
Then take Alaska railroad to Anchorage--- then the next day take Alaska Railroad to Denali-- spend the one day bus tour in Denali
There are tons of other places I would recommend but these are the easiest.

[sidg]

If you are in Ketchikan at the end of the day (which I doubt it as it sounds like you will be on a cruise ship) go south out of town to the end of the road and watch the black bears come down the river looking for fish. Otherwise take the bus into Danali (even more than one day) and keep your eyes open for what you will see.
Enjoy it but next time plan on taking more time. We spent 5 weeks traveling to and from Alaska and it still wasn't enough time.

[Tom Reichner]

You're absolutely right - there won't be enough time. I see you're from Miami . . . 5000 miles of travel each way, just to spend 4 or 5 days?

Those few days are gonna be gone before you can snap your fingers. Maybe it will be a good trip to whet your appetite for a longer trip sometime when you have a few weeks or a month.
Scott,

I'm sorry - I misunderstood what you wrote. So you're doing the cruise PLUS 4-5 days afterwards - awesome! That will give you a great Alaska experience! It'd be great to see you post some images from the trip when you return.

-Tom

[SRA_Fl]

Scott,

I'm sorry - I misunderstood what you wrote. So you're doing the cruise PLUS 4-5 days afterwards - awesome! That will give you a great Alaska experience! It'd be great to see you post some images from the trip when you return.

-Tom

No problem. and I will most definately post pictures.
I think I am going to rent a 100-400mm to take on the trip

[sparker1]

After a cruise (only) to Alaska, we had to go back in our motorhome (2004) and spend a couple months. Now that is a great trip. Denali is hit or miss with grizzlies close enough to shoot. The last leg of the bus tour was boring. Some got off and hiked while we rode the long last leg and return. They saw bears not far from the bus route that we missed.

Ketchikan was good for eagles when we were there. They swooped right down to the ship. Took a power boat tour that was hardly worth it. Would prefer staying and seeing the town.

Anchorage is a nice town, but (for me) just a nice town. Given limited time, I would pass it up in favor of another day in Denali or somewhere else. If you can get to Portage Valley (30-40 miles south of Anchorage), there are hanging glaciers, waterfalls, beautiful lakes, etc. Portage Lake is formed by glacier melt and has icebergs. For a small fee, you can take a boat that goes right up to Portage Glacier, beautiful. Also, it is close to the town of Whittier, I liked better than Seward.

A flight over Mt McKinley is special. Get one at Denali or Talkeetna (another special little village).

From Homer, there are boat tours to Seldovia and other quaint towns. You get sea life on the way (puffins, sea otters, birds, etc.).

Visit a Russian Orthodox church. Ninilchik is one of the most scenic, but Kenai and Eklutna are also good.

If you have time, Valdez is a great little town and there are several good waterfalls nearby, not to mention several glaciers. Worthington glacier is beautiful. A boat tour from Valdez is also worthwhile.

You will want more time, so carefully choose what to do.

[JerelXTI]

Finally going to Alaska first week in July. Going to cruise up and spend four or five days in Ak starting in Seward. Going absolutely insane researching things and places to do and see.
Theres just not going to be enough time nor money to do everything I would like to do love to fish, see eagles,bears and other wildlife, go to denali ect ect ect.

Anyone with experience have any tips.
Particularly any experience with bear viewing trips and bus tours in denali.

Make sure you post some of your pictures of your trip to Alaska. I'm going to make sure I start shooting as soon as I get back to Fairbanks Alaska this September. Can't Wait.