Feedback on draft DIY itinerary May 2017

[skrapngal]

Yes, I realize this is still more than a year out, but hey, I'm a planner LOL

 

Thoughts and suggestions on this itinerary please.

 

Saturday May 20

Arrive Anchorage in evening, pick up rental car at airport, check into B&B

 

Sunday May 21

Breakfast: B&B

Drive to Denali, lunch Talkeetna

Check in to lodging (TBD), grab supper

Jeff Kings 7PM tour

Monday May 22

Grab breakfast and bag lunch

Denali Toklat Shuttle by 9AM

Black Diamond Wagon Tour 5:45PM, supper included, back to lodging (TBD)

Tuesday May 23

Check out, grab breakfast

Return drive to Anchorage, lunch in Wasilla

Musk Ox Farm, Reindeer Farm

Grab supper, back to B&B

Wednesday May 24

Breakfast at B&B

Anchorage Trolley, Anchorage museum/Native American Centre, ULU factory?

Lunch and supper on the go, back to B&B

Thursday May 25

Breakfast at B&B

Turnagain arm scenic drive, Crow Creek Mine, Girdwood; Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center

Lunch and supper on the go, back to B&B

Friday May 26

Check out B&B, brown bag breakfast

Return rental downtown Anchorage

Park Connection express transfer Anchorage/Seward

Major Marine 6 hr tour (11:3-5:30), lunch onboard

Board Radiance of the Seas, supper onboard, depart 8:00

[mapleleaves]

Good for you. Many advantages to being a planner.

The itinerary looks good ! No glaring errors with travel times.

 

I always suggest a stop at the Eklutna Spirit Houses, just outside Anchorage. Only about 5 minutes off the hwy exit. I stop there every trip; it tugs at my heart. The orthodox church is lovely too.

http://eklutnahistoricalpark.org/

 

No interest in Matanuska Glacier? It's less than 2 hrs from Wasilla. Might be an interesting location to overnight instead of Anchorage. And you would still have time the next day for your planned Anc activities.

Maybe even o/n in Girdwood on Wed and Thurs .. it's only 45 minutes s of Anc. Girdwood Guest House might be a good fit for your group.

 

The advantage of an early trip into Denali is the baby animals. Plus things are starting to green up so the animals are busy grazing after their hungry winter. Hopefully you'll see a few babies on your trip. Good luck!

Edited March 23, 2016 by mapleleaves

[Alaskanb]

Looks good to me.

[cyndepet]

I completely understand the planning! We just booked a July 2017 Southbound and I've already been researching like crazy to maximize the limited pre-cruise time we will have! I thought we "had" to do Denali, but the more I read, the less interested I am. And DH has zero interest in spending that much time on a bus! There are just so many options - you are fortunate to have so much time before you cruise.

[shadowmeboy]

Yes, I realize this is still more than a year out, but hey, I'm a planner LOL

 

Thoughts and suggestions on this itinerary please.

 

Saturday May 20

Arrive Anchorage in evening, pick up rental car at airport, check into B&B

 

Sunday May 21

Breakfast: B&B

Drive to Denali, lunch Talkeetna

Check in to lodging (TBD), grab supper

Jeff Kings 7PM tour

Monday May 22

Grab breakfast and bag lunch

Denali Toklat Shuttle by 9AM

Black Diamond Wagon Tour 5:45PM, supper included, back to lodging (TBD)

Tuesday May 23

Check out, grab breakfast

Return drive to Anchorage, lunch in Wasilla

Musk Ox Farm, Reindeer Farm

Grab supper, back to B&B

Wednesday May 24

Breakfast at B&B

Anchorage Trolley, Anchorage museum/Native American Centre, ULU factory?

Lunch and supper on the go, back to B&B

Thursday May 25

Breakfast at B&B

Turnagain arm scenic drive, Crow Creek Mine, Girdwood; Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center

Lunch and supper on the go, back to B&B

Friday May 26

Check out B&B, brown bag breakfast

Return rental downtown Anchorage

Park Connection express transfer Anchorage/Seward

Major Marine 6 hr tour (11:3-5:30), lunch onboard

Board Radiance of the Seas, supper onboard, depart 8:00

 

Looks like fun! Hope you enjoy it!

[txwriter]

I completely understand the planning! We just booked a July 2017 Southbound and I've already been researching like crazy to maximize the limited pre-cruise time we will have! I thought we "had" to do Denali, but the more I read, the less interested I am. And DH has zero interest in spending that much time on a bus! There are just so many options - you are fortunate to have so much time before you cruise.

 

I am the same way! We booked our May 2017 trip in December. I did all the research early and found Denali just wasn't for us (I'm taking my mother). We are choosing to concentrate our time in and around Anchorage and on the Kenai Peninsula.

 

I'm biding my time for the one year mark when I'll be able to start booking more things, but I have the basic itinerary (very basic). We are going to leave some room for flexibility on several days, because you never know how you'll feel or what the weather will be until that day,

[cruisin0218]

It looks good. The only concern that I would have would be that you may be cutting your time too close to try and do the shuttle and be back in time for the 5:45 pm wagon tour. You never know how many stops the shuttle will be making for wildlife, etc. I would suggest eating that night at one of the restaurants just outside the park. We called restaurants when we got off the shuttle at the WAC and did not have a problem being seated.

Edited March 28, 2016 by cruisin0218

[skrapngal]

It looks good. The only concern that I would have would be that you may be cutting your time too close to try and do the shuttle and be back in time for the 5:45 pm wagon tour. You never know how many stops the shuttle will be making for wildlife, etc. I would suggest eating that night at one of the restaurants just outside the park. We called restaurants when we got off the shuttle at the WAC and did not have a problem being seated.

 

We'll keep that in mind. However, the shuttle at that time of the year only goes to Toklat, so it is only 6.5 hours. We can always plan to leave by 8 to allow for more time.