Our 2024 Alaska Adventure--including planning!

[hmcrn]

On 6/7/2024 at 12:14 PM, kchamp27 said:

That was awesome reading to get me going on our trip next year. Almost has me convinced to start a new thread but I still have so many unanswered decisions for our trip.!

 

Agreed! We are going next June, and this has given me LOTS to ponder!  

I will be back with further questions!  

[carriepride]

Hi all, I feel like i'm fan-girling all over this post.  I'm planning our Alaska bucket-list trip for late next summer  2025 - last week of August, land DIY portion, 1st week of September southbound cruise out of Whittier on NCL Jade.  I've only gotten through page 8 of this thread and I love you all.  I'm a massive planner when it comes to trips and to find so many likeminded individuals that obsess over trip planning makes me feel so happy!!  i had to jump to the end of the thread to see if people were still posting.  I'd like to share my itinerary and get feedback from those of you who have just completed your Alaska experience!  I'm hoping some folks are still watching this thread.

[kchamp27]

Hey @carriepride I loved this thread as well being a planner!  We are also doing a DIY land portion in last July next year followed by a southbound cruise from Whittier to Vancouver. I would absolutely love to see your itinerary and share mine for ideas!  We are planning on flying into Fairbanks, going to Dentali, going to Talkeenta, Mantanuska Glacier and then Anchorage. All in 6 days! 

[carriepride]

 

Heres week one - Land portion I'm thinking so far:

Tuesday, August 26, 2025

Fly Ft. Meyers to Anchorage

P/U Rental car

Hotel near airport

Grocery shop/Dinner

Wednesday, August 27, 2025

Drive to Seward, stopping for sights

Alaska wildlife conservation Center

Check in at Resurrection Lodge on the Bay

Thursday, August 28, 2025

Alaska Sealife Center morning

4 Hour Kenai Fjords Wildlife Cruise at 12:30

Friday, August 29, 2025

1.5 hour kennel and dog sled tour @9:30

Drive to Talkeetna

Thunder Bird Falls hike in Chugach State Park (1 mile each way)

Check into Air bnb - Christiansen Cabin

Saturday, August 30, 2025

DEVIL’S CANYON ADVENTURE - Jet Boat tour into Denali - 5 hour rt.

Sunday, August 31, 2025

check out of air bnb

Denali Experience Flightseeing Tour from Talkeetna w/ N2

Drive to ANC - stops along the way

Drop Car at airport, Check in to hotel

Monday, September 1, 2025

Train to Whittier

Board NCL Jade

Edited August 23 by carriepride
formatting

[no1racefan1]

On 8/23/2024 at 3:37 PM, carriepride said:

 

Heres week one - Land portion I'm thinking so far:

Tuesday, August 26, 2025

Fly Ft. Meyers to Anchorage

P/U Rental car

Hotel near airport

Grocery shop/Dinner

Wednesday, August 27, 2025

Drive to Seward, stopping for sights

Alaska wildlife conservation Center

Check in at Resurrection Lodge on the Bay

Thursday, August 28, 2025

Alaska Sealife Center morning

4 Hour Kenai Fjords Wildlife Cruise at 12:30

Friday, August 29, 2025

1.5 hour kennel and dog sled tour @9:30

Drive to Talkeetna

Thunder Bird Falls hike in Chugach State Park (1 mile each way)

Check into Air bnb - Christiansen Cabin

Saturday, August 30, 2025

DEVIL’S CANYON ADVENTURE - Jet Boat tour into Denali - 5 hour rt.

Sunday, August 31, 2025

check out of air bnb

Denali Experience Flightseeing Tour from Talkeetna w/ N2

Drive to ANC - stops along the way

Drop Car at airport, Check in to hotel

Monday, September 1, 2025

Train to Whittier

Board NCL Jade

This sounds like an awesome itinerary!

[abbydancer2003]

On 8/23/2024 at 2:37 PM, carriepride said:

 

Heres week one - Land portion I'm thinking so far:

Tuesday, August 26, 2025

Fly Ft. Meyers to Anchorage

P/U Rental car

Hotel near airport

Grocery shop/Dinner

Wednesday, August 27, 2025

Drive to Seward, stopping for sights

Alaska wildlife conservation Center

Check in at Resurrection Lodge on the Bay

Thursday, August 28, 2025

Alaska Sealife Center morning

4 Hour Kenai Fjords Wildlife Cruise at 12:30

Friday, August 29, 2025

1.5 hour kennel and dog sled tour @9:30

Drive to Talkeetna

Thunder Bird Falls hike in Chugach State Park (1 mile each way)

Check into Air bnb - Christiansen Cabin

Saturday, August 30, 2025

DEVIL’S CANYON ADVENTURE - Jet Boat tour into Denali - 5 hour rt.

Sunday, August 31, 2025

check out of air bnb

Denali Experience Flightseeing Tour from Talkeetna w/ N2

Drive to ANC - stops along the way

Drop Car at airport, Check in to hotel

Monday, September 1, 2025

Train to Whittier

Board NCL Jade

That's a great itinerary, although it's a lot of driving.  I'm not sure exactly how you can tweak to avoid it though.

[kchamp27]

Looks great! We may need to come back again for those spots!!

Here is ours right now.

 

Sunday 

Arrive Fairbanks, pick up rental

If time, dinner at Alaska Salmon Bake and dinner show at Pioneer Park

Regular chain hotel

 

Monday

Running Reindeer in the morning

Drive to Denali, check in at McKinley Cabins

(Dinner show at Princess Lodge if unable to go on Sunday due to flight time)

 

Tuesday

On/off bus system into Denali

Doggonit 7 pm tour

 

Wednesday

Leave early and drive to Talkeenta

Maybe 12:00 or 2:30 Jet Boat River Cruise

Drive to Sheep Mountain

 

Thursday

Mantanuska Glacier hike with MICA

ATV evening ride from Sheep Mountain

 

Friday

Drive to Anchorage

Maybe go to Wildlife Conservation Center?

Laundry?, Drop off rental

Get chain hotel reservation

 

Saturday

Train ride from Anchorage to Whittier to board ship

 

[SightCRR]

Here is a great video on the MICA guides at Matanuska glacier. They hobby rock climb fyi.  Start at 8:15.  Alaska RV Life: It's Time For The Thing We All HATE (youtube.com)

 

[kchamp27]

On 8/27/2024 at 6:26 PM, SightCRR said:

Here is a great video on the MICA guides at Matanuska glacier. They hobby rock climb fyi.  Start at 8:15.  Alaska RV Life: It's Time For The Thing We All HATE (youtube.com)

 

That is definitely more intense than I was thinking 🤣that looks amazing though!