Anybody with Alaska experience?

[nitrah55]

We are planning a cruise in late August, followed by 3 days inland. The cruise finishes in Seward, so I'm thinking of train to Anchorage, then pick up rental car to Talkeetna, and 3 nights at Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge.

Any thoughts on better itinerarys, stuff not to miss, stuff to be sure to miss, ease of travel/connections? Or just general criticism, of course.

[earendel]

We are planning a cruise in late August, followed by 3 days inland. The cruise finishes in Seward, so I'm thinking of train to Anchorage, then pick up rental car to Talkeetna, and 3 nights at Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge.

Any thoughts on better itinerarys, stuff not to miss, stuff to be sure to miss, ease of travel/connections? Or just general criticism, of course.

Well, elwing and I are taking a cruise to Alaska in July - I'll let you know. But IIRC there are others here who have taken such trips and I'm sure will have suggestions to offer.

[peacock2121]

You are not bringing me.

That is a bad move.

[MarleysGh0st]

I'd take the Alaska Railroad to Talkeetna, instead of renting a car. And take it further up to Denali National Park, for a visit there. IIRC, you have to take one of the park busses into Denali; no private cars allowed inside the park boundaries.

And if the weather cooperates, Talkeetna has an airport where I got my sighseeing flight up to Mt. McKinley. Absolutely awesome!

[tlynn78]

My Alaska experience was the "Big One" in '64. Don't do that one.


t.

[nitrah55]

You are not bringing me.

That is a bad move.

I shall endeavor to do better next time. Would it help if I brought you back some moose nuggets?

[nitrah55]

I'd take the Alaska Railroad to Talkeetna, instead of renting a car. And take it further up to Denali National Park, for a visit there. IIRC, you have to take one of the park busses into Denali; no private cars allowed inside the park boundaries.

And if the weather cooperates, Talkeetna has an airport where I got my sighseeing flight up to Mt. McKinley. Absolutely awesome!

We get into Seward at 7am. The train for Anchorage leaves at 6pm. The train for Talkeetna leaves the following morning.

If we had the time, I'd go all the way into Denali- we don't have the time. Next time. With Pea, I guess.

[MarleysGh0st]

We get into Seward at 7am. The train for Anchorage leaves at 6pm. The train for Talkeetna leaves the following morning.

If we had the time, I'd go all the way into Denali- we don't have the time. Next time. With Pea, I guess.

That's rotten scheduling!

Sounds like you need to find another way out of Seward faster. You don't want to waste a day in Seward if it means sacrificing a visit to Denali!

Disclaimer: I didn't visit Seward on my Alaska vacation. Are there some sightseeing excursions planned for that day, before going to Anchorage?

[nitrah55]

We get into Seward at 7am. The train for Anchorage leaves at 6pm. The train for Talkeetna leaves the following morning.

If we had the time, I'd go all the way into Denali- we don't have the time. Next time. With Pea, I guess.

That's rotten scheduling!

Sounds like you need to find another way out of Seward faster. You don't want to waste a day in Seward if it means sacrificing a visit to Denali!

Disclaimer: I didn't visit Seward on my Alaska vacation. Are there some sightseeing excursions planned for that day, before going to Anchorage?

There's a good wildlife and history museum in Seward.

[MarleysGh0st]

There's a good wildlife and history museum in Seward.

Okay.

Wildlife museum in Seward or wildlife in Denali?

No contest, IMHO.

[tanstaafl2]

Was in Seward a few years ago. The Sea Life Center was interesting and we took a cruise down the Kenai coast. Stayed at the Edgewater Hotel I believe. I think it would be good to rent a car in Anchorage and drive to Talkeetna. The road is good and it would be easy to drive to Denali for the day. You will have plenty of daylight. Heck I drove from Anchorage to Denali and back in a single day and still had time to take a bus ride into the park. But if you want to go into the park you should think about making a reservation fairly soon as space is limited and can book up fast from what I hear.