An extra day in Anchorage?

[scottbet]

We arrive in Whittier after a northbound cruise on Coral Princess and will take the scenic train to Anchorage where we will pick up a rental car. We have the rest of Wednesday and all of Thursday before flying back home. We were thinking about driving to explore Homer or another area? What would you do with the extra day? We do have a hotel reserved in Anchorage both Wednesday and Thursday night.

[lukydog]

I would also be interested in what ideas anyone has for an afternoon and evening in Anchorage before taking the train to Denali the next day. Recommendations for hotels or bed & breakfast?

[Gardyloo]

Answered on your other thread.

[Glaciers]

You don't have nearly enough time for either Denali or Homer.

 

Yes, what Gardyloo wrote in the other thread.

 

The best use of time would be to rent a car in Whittier and explore Turnagain Arm. Glacier cruise in Whittier, Portage Glacier, Wildlife Conservation Center, Girdwood/Alyeska. Check out the brown bear fishing in Bird Creek. He made a showing several times throughout the day recently.

 

You could still do this with your train plans but will be backtracking the same direction you came from on the train.

 

Matanuska Glacier is 2 hours north of Anchorage and excellent for a guided trek.

[laughing husky]

it would be a long drive to Homer....I suspect you would be driving all day just to turn around again and drive back. From Anchorage with the construction going on you can figure a 7 hr drive without stops....Lots to do in the Anchorage

Bowl as was stated. and just for you information, if there is an accident, you may be in traffic and at a dead stop for up to 8 hours. There was a horrific accident on the road to Seward last Friday.... The road was totally closed for 9 hours....There were roughly 1000 people trying to get to Seward to catch their HAL ship....It waited several hours past the time it was supposed to sail. It doesn't happen often, but it happens often enough for you to think about timing...

[teachatthebeach]

We went to the Palmer Reindeer Farm. My 10 year old DD loved feeding the reindeer and elk.