Resources

Here are some resources that helped us plan the trip

• For tips on planning, hot deals - http://www.anchorage.net/.
• Accomodation in Anchorage. Hotels are very expensive and are not recommended. We were very happy with B&Bs and enjoyed talking to the owners who're natives of Alaska - http://www.anchorage-bnb.com/
• Accomodation in Denali. Hotels (like Princess Lodge) infront of the Denali entrance are very expensive and the area is commercial. Healy is quiet, scenic and is just 10 miles north.
• Visiting Denali - http://www.ehow.com/how_18087_enjoy-denali-national.html
• Accomodation in Seward. Debra provides free service in locating the ideal B&Bs of your choice - http://www.alaskasview.com/. We booked through Debra. http://www.sewardak.org/ is informative.
• You can get a coupon book for ~$100 at Carr's grocery in Anchorage. This is especially useful if you want to go flight-seeing as it has 1 for 1 coupons.
• Reviews - http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60880-i350-k620325-Anchorage_Sightseeing-Anchorage_Alaska.html
• Dog sled rides - http://www.dogsledrides.com/alaska-denali.php#AKD57

Itinerary

We visited Alaska between 28th June and 4th July 2006 from Phoenix, AZ. We planned the trip a month in advance.

Day 0:

• Flew to Anchorage from Phoenix with Delta Airlines. Reached at 11:30PM Alaska time.
• Rented a car and drove to a Bed & Breakfast in Anchorage - http://toastalaska.com/. Kay is the owner and the place is very clean and homely.

Day 1:

• Had breakfast and started out around 11AM. We had little idea that this was going to be the most scenic drive in Alaska.
• Drove to Girdwood - Gold panning at Coal creek gold mine, took the tram up Alyeska (you can get a 1 for 1 coupon in any Alaska visitor guide), had a local pizza pie for lunch.
• Drove to Portage - Saw portage glacier from the road. You can take a boat to the glacier but the last boat leaves at 4:30PM.
• Hiked to Byron glacier - It's a 1 hour hike give or take. Highly recommend carrying bear bells as this is the bear's backyard. Brought back the purest form of water -at the foot of the glacier- home.
• Came back to B&B and cooked dinner. Throughout the trip, we cooked every dinner. Being vegetarian, this was the easiest way to keep ourselves lively and energetic. It's hard to find vegetarian food in Alaska except in Anchorage.
• Sun probably sets after 2AM. We personally didn't see the sunset in Alaska as we always slept before 2AM.

Day 2:

• Started driving to Denali. Picked up to-go-lunch at Middleway cafe in Anchorage.
• Visited Talkeetna - a small old-fashioned town- on the way to Denali. Spent 3 - 4 hours.
• Reached Healy - 12 miles north of Denali - at 8:30PM. Stayed at Motel Nord Haven - http://www.motelnordhaven.com/. Very neat and cosy place.

Day 3:

• Took the 7:15AM Denali shuttle to Wonder Lake (~80 miles into the park). Private vehicles are not allowed beyond 15 miles into the part. Make advance reservations for this shuttle. Hopped buses and hiked in the park.
• You need to carry boxed lunch. No food and water in the park.
• Completely drained ourselves out with multiple hikes in the tundras. Spotted Grizleys with cubs, moose, dahl sheep, caribous, loads of wild flowers etc...
• Reached the motel at 11:00PM.

Day 4:

• Started driving towards Seward. Enjoyed the scenic drives in Alaska. We stopped for hikes, wild-life and wild flowers on our way.
• Stopped again at Talkeetna on the way. I loved this place. Got a nice view of Mt.McKinley from here.
• Drove by Exit glacier in Seward
• Reached Seward at 11:00PM. Stayed at Fjordland inn - http://www.alaskaone.com/fjordlandinn/. Small but very clean and hospitable place. Mary is the owner of this B&B.

Day 5:

• Left early for a hike to Exit Glacier. We could actually touch the glacier.
• Checked-out and went on a 6-hour Kenai Fjord's National Park cruise beginning 11:30AM. Spotted whales, porpoises, sea otters, seals, various birds. Final destination was a glacier. We were lucky to see glacier calving and heard the roaring that is accompanied with calving. We chose http://www.renowntours.com/ for this cruise. We got a 1 for 1 coupon through www.anchorage.net.
• Mary graciously agreed to let us use a room to freshen up after the cruise before we left Seward.
• Drove to Anchorage and had dinner at a very authentic Italian/Greek cuisine - Pizza Olympia.

Day 6:

• Very unwillingly took the 1:20AM Delta flight back to Phoenix.