| Author |
Message |
    
sac
Supporter
Username: Sac
Post Number: 3654
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, August 4, 2006 - 10:15 pm: | 
|
We are seriously considering a two to three week trip to Alaska next summer with two kids (ages 12 and 15 then), two parents and two grandparents. We are starting to research and plan now, so I'm looking for suggestions, resources, etc.
Some general parameters -
We are interested in taking a ferry trip in the Inside Passage (not a cruise ship) possibly all the way from Bellingham, Washington, or possibly a shorter section. I think that we may need to put in our reservation request for this in the next couple of months, so pinning this down may be the first thing on our planning agenda.
We definitely want to see several National Parks and visit places where there are birds and other wildlife (but who doesn't in Alaska?)
Strenuous hiking is probably not on the program, especially for Grandma (two knee replacements), but we do like to get out and walk on a leisurely basis and some of us might be up for some moderate hikes.
Activities like sea kayaking, white water rafting, etc. are definitely "on the list" especially for the teenager and her father.
Economizing wherever possible is desirable although we realize that, no matter what we do, this will be an expensive trip.
(For those who have read my blog, these are the OTHER grandparents who are quite a lot younger than my parents and still in major travel mode in their early retirement.)
|
toad
Citizen
Username: Toad
Post Number: 145
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Monday, August 7, 2006 - 5:05 am: |
|
Drive through Hatcher Pass between Willow and Palmer. Unbelievable vistas. It's a dirt/gravel road in some areas but driveable. You must enter no later than 2pm. |
Hillsider
Supporter
Username: Hillsider
Post Number: 92
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Monday, August 7, 2006 - 9:26 am: |
|
The ferry trip through the inside passage is really nice... Walk over to see some petroglyphs at Ketchikan (sp)...
Hike to the glacier (muir?) in Jeneau... take a boat ride to see more Glaciers and seals and bear...
My wife and I went there in Summer of 2001, took the ferry, but camped on the deck  had to book in January... went to Denali and Sitka (the best totem poles anywhere) and the Artic Circle...
Excellent trip...
|
Daniel M. Jacobs, PP, AICP
Supporter
Username: Conrail
Post Number: 124
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Monday, August 7, 2006 - 1:32 pm: |
|
The ferries through the inside passage are great. My wife has declared it the best trip we ever took (I don't agree). You can rent berths on board the ferries, if you don't want to camp out on deck with the Eurotourists -- the berths are very economical. We flew to Juneau and took boats between towns on the passage and then returned home from Juneau (Continental Airlines). One place not to miss is Haines, Alaska and neighboring Fort Seward. You can stay in the old BOQ and the hotel owner will even pick you up at the ferry. The diner downtown is also good and we overheard great conversations there. We also paid for a kyak tour in Haines that was worth every dollar. . . |
sac
Supporter
Username: Sac
Post Number: 3668
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, August 7, 2006 - 8:37 pm: |
|
The BOQ hotel in Haines sounds great. I'm not finding anything with some preliminary internet searching - do you have any contact info for it? |
Daniel M. Jacobs, PP, AICP
Supporter
Username: Conrail
Post Number: 126
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Monday, August 7, 2006 - 10:28 pm: |
|
We stayed in: www.hotelhalsingland.com Remember, the building is very, very old, so the fittings are not modern (steam heat, old plumbing), but it is wonderfully antique. If the owners are the same, they are very nice people.
There is another smaller one in the old fort that looked good (but we only saw the outside): www.fortsewardbnb.com
I can't remember the name of the kayak tour company, but there can't be more than one or two in Haines. It is a VERY small town. We also climbed Mt. Ripinsky (OK, not all the way), which gave great views of the passage and the mountains behind it. |
|
Closed: New threads not accepted on this page