BajaNomad

AKgringo and others; Tell me about traveling to Alaska

JZ - 6-6-2022 at 09:02 PM

Seriously thinking about taking my three kids (20, 20, 18) and the wife up to Anchorage in late July or early August.

Give me some advice on what to see, what to do, and where to go?



[Edited on 6-7-2022 by JZ]

advrider - 6-6-2022 at 10:31 PM

Do it, it is amazing. I spent 14 days fishing and hiking in Alaska years ago and can't wait to go back! We rented a motorhome in Anchorage and drove all over the state. People were amazing. The prices are high but remember everything is shipped/truced in.

Wow...where to start?

AKgringo - 6-7-2022 at 07:45 AM

Are you planning to drive up through Canada, or are you going to fly in and rent a vehicle? Taking a ferry from WA state is another option, but it is probably a bit late to reserve a space. How much time do you have?

My favorite time to be in south central Alaska is right now, it is the best balance of weather, daylight hours (the solstice is in two weeks), bugs and tourists have not really arrived yet, but the salmon have!

Prices near Anchorage are nowhere as bad as they used to be in relation to the lower 48 states. Big box stores and national chains have kept the prices close to what you are used to, and there is no state sales tax. Fuel is also much cheaper than in CA!

If you plan on touring around the state, or driving up there, get a copy of The Milepost. It will have all the destinations you would consider visiting, and a heap of information. Even a copy that is a couple of years old would be helpful, and keep in mind that the current edition will still have some out of date information by the time it is printed.

mtgoat666 - 6-7-2022 at 08:19 AM

Quote: Originally posted by JZ  
Seriously thinking about taking my three kids (20, 20, 18) and the wife up to Anchorage in late July or early August.


July/august are height of bug season.
There are a lot of bugs! Billions upon billions!
June and September are good times to avoid bugs, have acceptable weather. June if you want to fish salmon. Grayling and trout fishing is great, much better than trout fishing in lower 48 where everything is fished out.

I generally don’t recommend cruises, but cruising in Alaska (departing seattle) is good way to see the SE.

The ferry from seattle is great trip.

advrider - 6-7-2022 at 08:31 AM

I will agree with goat on the bugs, crazy big and thirsty... We plan to spend the summer up there in a couple of years with our trailer. We are going to take the ferry as far North as we can and then heading back slowly.
My mom cruised the inside passage several times and was always amazed. She cruised the world and that was her favorite.

AKgringo - 6-7-2022 at 08:59 AM

Even in mid-summer, the bugs on the Keni peninsula are nothing like the ones in the interior, and almost non-existent along the coastline.

For a short, low budget cruise, I would recommend a loop around south central which includes taking the state ferry between Valdez and/or Serward or Haines.

Which highways, and side trips to take will depend on how much time you have, and what you are driving. A run down to Homer, or up to Denali Park are good options.

There aren't a hell of a lot of roads to explore, but things are pretty spread out with long distances between services on some routes. If you consider the Denal highway, keep in mind that it is unpaved, with no services!

pacificobob - 6-7-2022 at 05:02 PM

No see em, white Sox, horse flies, mosquitoes...yup the interior has them all.
They especially like chichackos.

BajaTed - 6-7-2022 at 08:04 PM

Travel far on Denali HWY?
Get new paint job for truck when done.

AKgringo - 6-7-2022 at 08:18 PM

Quote: Originally posted by BajaTed  
Travel far on Denali HWY?
Get new paint job for truck when done.


It has been a few years, but I have crossed over that road a couple of times. The nature of the rock base on parts of it is a very high tire hazard from shards of broken rocks.

It was a nice drive though, and not a lot of traffic! I saw a travel article done by someone who probably had never been to Alaska, because the photo supposedly taken on the Denali highway was a recognizable landmark along the paved Glenn highway 100+ miles south of there!

JZ - 6-7-2022 at 09:11 PM

Is it worth driving from Anchorage to Fairbanks?

mtgoat666 - 6-7-2022 at 09:30 PM

Quote: Originally posted by JZ  
Is it worth driving from Anchorage to Fairbanks?



The train is my fave option for that route.

Not much to see in Fairbanks, though….

[Edited on 6-8-2022 by mtgoat666]

Don Pisto - 6-7-2022 at 09:52 PM

Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666  
Quote: Originally posted by JZ  
Is it worth driving from Anchorage to Fairbanks?



The train is my fave option for that route.

Not much to see in Fairbanks, though….

[Edited on 6-8-2022 by mtgoat666]


who doesn't love trains! and bikes and parks?;)

advrider - 6-7-2022 at 11:27 PM

Do some research on trains, there are a few I've seen over the years that look amazing. Homer is very cool town, and the fishing was worth the drive. There are fish everywhere, streams are full of salmon and trout, we caught something at spot we tried.

JDCanuck - 6-8-2022 at 07:50 AM

So you are planning on taking a cruise or the Alaska State ferry from Prince Rupert, BC? If driving instead, I would take the Cassiar route through upper British Columbia after driving west to Terrace and Taking the Cranberry crossover. Amazing drive through the lava fields north of Terrace, then tie into Cassiar highway at the Cranberry Junction up to Watson Lake, Yukon and head west to Alaska from there. 58 km of rough gravel, not nearly as rough as Baja roads, to do the crossover.

JDCanuck - 6-8-2022 at 07:54 AM

No rattle snakes, no Black Widow spiders and no Scorpions, just watch out for the bears, and of course those ornery hermits you might happen across. AKGringo is one of the milder friendlier ones.
If you do drive up, I will be happy to provide you with scenic interesting routes up through BC as it is my favourite, most often travelled route up North on Touring bike rides. Options are taking ferries from North Vancouver Island to Prince Rupert, transferring there to Alaska State ferries to Ketchikan and driving from there, but you would miss a whole lot of fantastic roads on the trip up.

[Edited on 6-8-2022 by JDCanuck]