Trip to Alaska - any tips? (1 Viewer)

[Banger]

We are heading on a family trip at the end of June for 2 weeks to Alaska with my family (18 of us all together). We're going to be on a cruise with a few stops for 7 days and then on land for 7. We're hitting Juneau, Ketchikan, Seward and another couple towns. Doing a big train ride, seeing where they raise the sled dogs, a zodiac ride to some glaciers, a lumber jack show and some other stuff.

The big debate were having right now is to go on the helicopter ride and land on the glaciers vs a seaplane that flies around them. Never been on either and wife is leaning seaplane because she thinks it's safer and it's about $100 cheaper per person. I view it as my one opportunity to get up there and $400 or so I the grand scheme of my life is pretty insignificant.

Has anyone done the trip? Anything to do or avoid? Any advice?

 

[Mookie]

Do the seaplane. Alaska is immense and that is the best/only way to get off the beaten path. I also recommend getting out on the water if you can. I spent a summer in Halibut Cove, which is across Kachemak Bay from Homer. It is a beautiful area with lots of great fishing, hiking, sightseeing activities. I highly recommend it. Have fun.

 

[kutta]

I have done the family cruise as well as a yearly fishing trip with my guy friends. On the cruise, we did a helicopter ride to the top of a glacier up to where they train the Iditarod dogs. We got to drive the sleds around the camp. It was probably the highlight of the trip. Really amazing. We also took a raft ride down one of the rivers and lots of bears and bald eagles. That was great too.

Make sure to get a balcony room, no matter what. Waking up in the morning and having hot tea on your private balcony was super cool. The scenery is breathtaking.

If you have time, try to schedule a fishing trip. Salmon is more fun than halibut, but the king run is really bad this year. The end of June is probably a bit early for the red run also, so maybe halibut would be best. Talk to a guide and they can help.

Let me know if you have any questions. We have been on lots of vacations and my kids all say Alaska was their favorite.

 

[NutterButter]

I have done the family cruise as well as a yearly fishing trip with my guy friends. On the cruise, we did a helicopter ride to the top of a glacier up to where they train the Iditarod dogs. We got to drive the sleds around the camp. It was probably the highlight of the trip. Really amazing. We also took a raft ride down one of the rivers and lots of bears and bald eagles. That was great too.

Make sure to get a balcony room, no matter what. Waking up in the morning and having hot tea on your private balcony was super cool. The scenery is breathtaking.

If you have time, try to schedule a fishing trip. Salmon is more fun than halibut, but the king run is really bad this year. The end of June is probably a bit early for the red run also, so maybe halibut would be best. Talk to a guide and they can help.

Let me know if you have any questions. We have been on lots of vacations and my kids all say Alaska was their favorite.

What age did you take your kids? Trying to decide what the best range is to get in these types of vacations.

 

[kutta]

I have done the family cruise as well as a yearly fishing trip with my guy friends. On the cruise, we did a helicopter ride to the top of a glacier up to where they train the Iditarod dogs. We got to drive the sleds around the camp. It was probably the highlight of the trip. Really amazing. We also took a raft ride down one of the rivers and lots of bears and bald eagles. That was great too.

Make sure to get a balcony room, no matter what. Waking up in the morning and having hot tea on your private balcony was super cool. The scenery is breathtaking.

If you have time, try to schedule a fishing trip. Salmon is more fun than halibut, but the king run is really bad this year. The end of June is probably a bit early for the red run also, so maybe halibut would be best. Talk to a guide and they can help.

Let me know if you have any questions. We have been on lots of vacations and my kids all say Alaska was their favorite.

What age did you take your kids? Trying to decide what the best range is to get in these types of vacations.

The kids were 12, 14, and 16. I wouldn't do it if they were too much younger than that.

 

[The Dreaded Marco]

I have done the family cruise as well as a yearly fishing trip with my guy friends. On the cruise, we did a helicopter ride to the top of a glacier up to where they train the Iditarod dogs. We got to drive the sleds around the camp. It was probably the highlight of the trip. Really amazing. We also took a raft ride down one of the rivers and lots of bears and bald eagles. That was great too.

Make sure to get a balcony room, no matter what. Waking up in the morning and having hot tea on your private balcony was super cool. The scenery is breathtaking.

If you have time, try to schedule a fishing trip. Salmon is more fun than halibut, but the king run is really bad this year. The end of June is probably a bit early for the red run also, so maybe halibut would be best. Talk to a guide and they can help.

Let me know if you have any questions. We have been on lots of vacations and my kids all say Alaska was their favorite.

What age did you take your kids? Trying to decide what the best range is to get in these types of vacations.

We spent 3 weeks in Alaska when our daughters were 9 and 5. They loved it. Still probably our favorite family vacation we've ever taken.

 

[Tony Jabroni]

Duck Farts in Dutch Harbor

 

[Rohn Jambo]

See the salmon run if you can... easy catch'n and good eat'n. One of my buddy's FIL lives in Alaska and he ships him some fish every so often.

 

[Banger]

Thanks for the thoughts guys. I love fishing and you talked me into getting a guide and fishing one afternoon.

 

[kutta]

Thanks for the thoughts guys. I love fishing and you talked me into getting a guide and fishing one afternoon.

Make sure to go with a guide who will clean and pack your fish for you. You don't want to hunt around for someone to do it for you.

 

[Abraham]

It's awesome. Enjoy every minute. You won't want to leave.

 

[Osaurus]

Inside Passage is a very nice trip. Sea Plane and it's not close.

 

[Banger]

Inside Passage is a very nice trip. Sea Plane and it's not close.

really? I'm surprised, I thought for sure the helicopter would be the way to go. we were arguing about it again this weekend and some family members were bringing up the fact that they rode in a helicopter and got motion sickness which wasn't helping my cause....maybe I should just go for the seaplane.

 

[E-Z Glider]

Fishing is a must. They'll pack/smoke/ship everything home to you. Its not really cheap, but how often do you have fresh salmon / halibut that you caught yourself? I assume you're doing the bus ride to Mt Mckinley? If you're adventurous, you should also do an overnighter in Denali. You need to plan ahead though to get the permits, bear safety training, etc. Its the one thing I wish we would've done while there. If you make it to Dawson City, Yukon be sure to have a sourtoe cocktail (hopefully its been replaced by now). We did the land/sea combo thing when my daughters were 8 and 10. Everyone loved it.

 

[George Jefferson Airplane]

 

[kutta]

Inside Passage is a very nice trip. Sea Plane and it's not close.

really? I'm surprised, I thought for sure the helicopter would be the way to go. we were arguing about it again this weekend and some family members were bringing up the fact that they rode in a helicopter and got motion sickness which wasn't helping my cause....maybe I should just go for the seaplane.

We did a helicopter and it was great. I never did a sea plane so I can't speak to its awesomeness.I would recommend salmon fishing instead of halibut if you have the choice. Halibut is hard work and pretty far out into the ocean. It's not as fun as salmon, IMO.

 

[Banger]

Fishing is a must. They'll pack/smoke/ship everything home to you. Its not really cheap, but how often do you have fresh salmon / halibut that you caught yourself? I assume you're doing the bus ride to Mt Mckinley? If you're adventurous, you should also do an overnighter in Denali. You need to plan ahead though to get the permits, bear safety training, etc. Its the one thing I wish we would've done while there. If you make it to Dawson City, Yukon be sure to have a sourtoe cocktail (hopefully its been replaced by now). We did the land/sea combo thing when my daughters were 8 and 10. Everyone loved it.

I would love to do that but I've got my 7 and 9 year old kids along with us so I don't see that happening this trip unfortunately. We are going to the park though which I'm really looking forward to.

Nothing about the trip is cheap so it comes with the territory..I'd just love to catch some huge salmon and cook em up for my buddies at home. Would be pretty cool.

WTF? with respect to that drink?? that's nuts and as adventurous as I am I think I'll pass on the mummy toe....

 

[Dickie Dunn]

We didn't do the fishing last year, but did do some kayaking and a cruise in the Kenai Fjords to Holgate Glacier. We hiked to Exit Glacier as well near Seward, since we were staying right down the road.

Later in the week took the bus up to Denali and took a trip inside the park, then took the train back to Anchorage. I was a bit disappointed by the city, but nothing else. Would do it again in a heartbeat.

The drive from Anchorage to Seward is awesome, but I would have liked to see how the train trip would have been.

 

[SWC]

hereis what i know brohan if you do something bad in the matsue valley then the alaska state troopers will probably arrest you with a lot of guns drawn and kneel on your head or possibly drive you out on a snowmobile and somehow be really polite while they do it i love that show on nat geo take that to the bank brohans

 

[E Street Brat]

We did the inside passage cruise last summer and had a great time. I can't speak of the seaplane but the helicopter ride and walking around on a glacier was super cool.

We also did a whale watching boat trip that was pretty cool.

 

[oso diablo]

Banger, how was your trip?

I am looking at Alaska for a 50th birthday trip in late Summer. Want to do an 2 or 3 day kayak trip out of Seward (after flying into Anchorage)

Then, debating between Denali NP and Wrangell - St. Elias NP (if i can't work in both trips)

 

[Don Quixote]

Good bump, oso. I'll have to look through this thread. I recently booked a cruisetour (Fairbanks to Vancouver) for July.

 

[CGRdrJoe]

Banger, how was your trip?

I am looking at Alaska for a 50th birthday trip in late Summer. Want to do an 2 or 3 day kayak trip out of Seward (after flying into Anchorage)

Then, debating between Denali NP and Wrangell - St. Elias NP (if i can't work in both trips)

While in Anchorage be sure to stop by the Great Alaskan Bush Company, unless your traveling with your wife!

 

[Don Quixote]

Seems a good place to put this question. Wanted to check to make sure I'm doing the right excursion choice here... in Juneau, I have the choice between an excursion to Mendenhall Glacier or Tracy Arm. Tracy Arm is a full-day excursion, so I wouldn't be able to do anything else. My initial thought was Mendenhall Glacier because it is so well-known, but some researching indicates Tracy Arm is more impressive to see. So, I was going with Tracy Arm. Am I making the right choice here?

(If it matters, I'm planning to do a landing on a glacier excursion while in Denali by Mt. McKinley. So, I don't feel it is necessary to do again for Mendenhall.)

 

[AcerFC]

:sehorn:

Taking an Alaskan cruise next summer

 

[SWC]

my advice is to take a camera brohans you will see a lot of nice stuff and will probably want to remember it when you get home take that to one to grow on bank bromigo