Help me plan a trip to Alaska

I know we have a few folks that live/lived there, and many more than have visited. We are going to Alaska in September, second week. We are arriving in Anchorage and renting an RV. We are already going whale watching on the 10th. Unfortunately, a cruise or bush plane ride is out of the question unless there is a really inexpensive option for a family of 5. We are looking to do some once-in-a-lifetime stuff, but I really want a locals perspective, or someone that has been there a few times. 

I was thinking checking out ice caves would be great

We'd love to see wildlife, I don't suspect that'll be too hard.  

I know this is vague, but I'm looking for suggestions.  

Thanks in advance.

Get the latest copy.  I bought one ten years ago and still dream......someday.

It’s all in here.   

Nothing is cheap.

We did a day fly in and fish thing and asked for "lots of fish please" They put me and the new bride on a lake that was so polluted with Pike that we were getting a bit concerned for our wellbeing! We played "What wont they bite on".

Halibut fishing was a bust fish wise, but the long boatride to the fishing hole was spectaculare and something we would not have seen from the road.

The parks fill up fast, so even daytrips are sold out in some places.

We camped half the time and had some spectacular beach spots. The never getting dark thing is weird in a tent. Did I mention hotels were expensive?

Most memorable food was Seafood. A tai seafood curry made my head pop off and I dream of it until now. Awesome.

At times you will feel like you are in a camper parade, because you are.

Mosquitos. They are a thing.

I've never been that far north, but I've got family in Ketchikan, I've been there several times.

I've never been on a whale watching tour, but every time we've been out fishing, either guided, or in my brother's boat, we've seen a whale or two.  I'd suspect, if you're trying to see whales, you shouldn't have any trouble finding them.  There's eagles everywhere too, seeing bald eagles up there, are like seeing crows down here.

Porpoises, seals, sea lions, whales, all pretty common.  I lost a real nice halibut to an shiny happy person sea lion when we were up there about a month ago, stole my fish and 300' of line trying to fight to get the fish back.  Fishing about 600 yards south of West Rock, which happens to be a sea lion rookery.  Sea lions stink, like really stink, pungent, just FYI.

Fishing and cabbing are some of my favorite things to do up there.  You've not had crab until you've had it straight from the ocean.

Freshwater fishing is fun up there too.  Trout, salmon, steelhead, etc.  You'll be too late for salmon runs, but trout fishing should be good.

Hiking, fishing, boating, are what I like to do. 

Ketchikan has A LOT of touristy stuff too, it's usually your first or last stop on an Alaskan cruise.  I don't know if any of the cruises actually go to Anchorage?  I think most stop at Seward or Whittier on the north end.  If they do go to Anchorage, there'll be plenty to keep you occupied, all of those towns really cater to the cruises.  Though, the cruise season normally ends sometime in September, so depending on how late you're going, most of the seasonal hospitality folks may have gone home already.

I once took a boat and fly tour out to Misty Fjords, it was gorgeous, and I'm glad I did it.  However, with the number of tour planes that have gone down in the past 4-5 years, I'm hesitant to do it again.  The very plane we were on, on that trip, De Havilland Otter, crashed into a mountain, killing everyone onboard, exactly 2 weeks after we flew on it.  Different pilot, but same plane, tragic, and a little unnerving.

I don't have any Anchorage specific info, but I'd be happy to answer any questions I can.

Just did 11 days in Alaska

average hotel stay was 268 a night

denali was 375 a night 

This was my iternary:

Rented car in anchorage headed to girdwood 

1000 Arlberg Avenue | Girdwood, AK 99587 - address for TRAM 

Hike Winner Creek Trail and it starts at the entrance to the aerial tram at Alyeska. (LUNCH) 601 Crow Creek Rd, Girdwood, AK 99587

Aerial Tram - tram is $32 adult, $15 kids. AFTER 7 PM, its $15 for all. 

Wildlife Conservation Center - 10 min from Girdwood.  Takes 1 hour to see it. Mile 79 Seward Hwy, Girdwood, AK 99587. CLOSES 7 PM 


Kenai Fjord HIKE- EXIT GLACIER Turn on to Herman Leirer Road, commonly called "Exit Glacier Road," at mile 3 of the Seward Highway (AK-9). Proceed 8.4 miles. The road will end at the parking lot for the nature center. 

Ressurrection Bay Tour - 12 PM with Meal Crab. Check in 1 hour before your departure time at 1304 4th Ave. Seward, Alaska 99664 -5 hour tour. Fantastic fox island

we saw hige himpback for 20 min next to us feeding

Sea Life Center (2 hours) 8 am - 9PM 


Stop at Walter Harper Talkeetna Ranger Station . Great info of the mountain 
Talkeetna Riverfront Park 


Denali - PM reservation TOUR - bus 
Anchorage:
Hotel Captain Cook 

Anchorage Aviation Musuem
Ship Creek
Halmon Hatchery mile upstream from Ship Creek
Man Made waterfall there - Jumping Salmon. 

Ice cream downtown wildscoops

Drive up to Glen Alps for the overlook. Climb Flat Top Mountain there for better views. 

Rent bikes and ride the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail. - Trail very close to Captain Hook hotel.

anchrorage zoo

Eat as much fresh fish as humanly possible. Like... a lot. 

In the last 12 months i have been to japan twoce , hawaii, once, and alaska once

if i had to rank alaska had rhe worst fish. Sure its better than lower 48, but hawaii and japan were a class above, tokyo especially 

the halibut in alaska was good

My wife and I have been trying to get my brother on board with us driving the alcan up, sleeping in the camper, driving around, and flying back thethen him flying up, taking over the camper, doing his own driving around, and him driving the alcan back.  We can't seem to get dates that work. 

Hey there, Anchorage guy here.

Here's my thread from my travels around the state over the last few years. If you see anything fun in there that you have questions about let me know.

https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/off-road/exploring-alaska-in-a-87-fj60/109109/page1/

If you are in Anchorage, swing by the house for some halibut and beer.

-Jay

crankwalk said:

Hey there, Anchorage guy here.

 

Here's my thread from my travels around the state then last few years if you see anything fun in there that you have questions about let me know.

https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/off-road/exploring-alaska-in-a-87-fj60/109109/page1/

 

If you are in Anchorage, swing by the house for some halibut and a beer.

 

-Jay

Thanks jay. I’ll read for sure. Less than a month before the trip. We’re excited 

I haven't been back since I lived up there in the early '80s, but my wife and I have been hoping to go up there if things ever settle down enough in our lives.   I personally would try to get as far away from Anchorage as possible to avoid the tourist traps, however traveling with a group of 5 limits things a bit.  

I don't know how physically active you guys are but the easiest way to get on a glacier is Matanuska Glacier about 2 hours north east of ANC. Unfortunately its privately restricted so you have to pay something like 25-30 a head to get out there. Once you pay, It's all easily accessible to walk out on to it in about 20 minutes though.

Traveling with a family can get expensive for sure though with you coming in Fall (Mid September is fall here for sure), the prices should be lower for the things that are still open.

Moose's Tooth pizza in Anchorage is delicious. We don't do just seafood. Seriously.

Alaska Wildlife Conservatory in Portage south of Anchorage is fantastic and better than the Zoo x 1000. All the wildlife you want to see in AK and it's on an amazingly beautiful chunk of land. If you have to see a polar bear though, go to the zoo.

I have 2 kayaks you can borrow if you find time to float around.

Just send me a message if you have any other questions and I'd be happy to help out. Sorry, I didn't see this thread a month ago when you were planning!