Alaska,landscape suggestions?

We have booked a two week tour/cruise to Alaska, beginning in Fairbanks on 9/4/13. There will be 2 days and several hours at other times that we will be on our own to enjoy and take photos.
Starting with 1 1/2 days in Fairbanks then taking train to Denali Park. Will be in Denali a full two days then taking a bus to Seward. After sailing from Seward we will visit Glacier Bay, at ports in Haines, Juneau, Ketchikan and Vancouver.
Plans have already been made to raft the Tanana and Nenana rivers, level 3 and 4 rapids which will not be 60D friendly, so I will most likely leave the camera behind on this leg.
My question to any one that has been there or familiar with Fairbanks/Denali,and Haines as well, what would you say are the must see areas as for landscapes.
I have the option of going with a local pro photographer at Denali and also Haines for 4 hour shoots and am considering doing this as they say they will take a person to the best locations with best light with no crowds. Also considering going it alone but know that precious time can be used quickly when in an area that is totally unfamiliar.

Any advice is appreciated and thanks for your reply,
Grizz1

I went to Alaska in 2006 and had the time of my life.

While in Fairbanks you should go to Creamers Field An excellent place for birds.

The Large Animal Research Center was interesting also.

Have to go to work I post more suggestions tomorrow.

I got some great panoramic shots from the south edge of the Tanana valley near the Richardson Highway east of North Pole.

I enjoyed the sternwheel "steamboat" ride to the mouth of the Chena at the Tanana - lots of photo opportunities there.

At Denali, I snapped landscapes everywhere I went. We were lucky enough to see McKinley two of the days we were there. It keeps changing as you move up the valley, and the scope is just breathtaking. Rock outcrops, wildlife, rivers & streams, and all sorts of things in between. Very different landscape than the lower 48. I was with a group of Boy Scouts, so I didn't really have an opportunity for a guided photo tour, but can easily see that could be a help!

Have fun!

Thanks Grizz, I'm going to check those out, see if I can get to them with the time I have. Creamers Field looks very interesting.If I can get into some waterfowl I think I may well see some new birds to me.
We would enjoy LARS too, putting these ideas on my list.
Chadmcm, glad to hear about the river boat ride, we will be on it, have been wondering what the scenery was like. I'm thinking Denali will be awesome, hope to see Mt McKinley but have to take what we get of course. We have decided to go on a 11 to 13 mile raft ride in Denali on the Nenana river so my photography tour looks like it will be in Haines.
We have been on the inside passage of Alaska before but never inland at all, this time we should see totally different landscapes. I've never talked to anyone yet that has been disappointed in the scenery so we are truly looking forward to this trip.
Thanks again guys, Grizz1

I have absolutely nothing helpful to add, I just saw the thread title so I had to check it out. I am totally jealous right now as Alaska is my dream photoshoot location. Of course, given my current location and choices, anywhere other than HERE would be a wonderful photoshoot location. I hope you have a great trip and get a lot of great pictures! Oh, and if it were me, I'd probably go with the local photographer to ensure that you get the best shots at the locations you visit. Good luck!

Fitness Freak, hope you can go some day and live your dream photoshoot, this is mine for sure. When we went to Alaska before, we only had point and shoot cameras with us, came back with some very nice shots. Since that time I have purchased the 60D and other items in my sig and though I'm light years away from being a pro I have learned a lot. I'm not very good with landscapes but Alaska is a great place to shoot and hopefully I will come home with some nice photos. I have also added another 60D body to my camera bag as I'm familiar with it and now will not have to change lenses constantly. My very little experience of Alaska has been that a wide lens and long lens are needed, often nearly at the same time.I have much to see and learn on this trip and will be sharing when I get back home.