<p>My wife and I want to go to Alaska for the first time, but we don’t know where to start. We’ve thought about a cruise, of course, but we’re open to other ideas as well. If we do cruise, we’re not looking for a big ship; the smaller ones are more our style. We want some adventure, but nothing too rugged (my wife, who loves to fish, has health concerns that limit her activities a bit). We want to take about a week and spend up to 3K a piece. Any suggestions about cruise lines, lodges, outfitters, etc. would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!</p>
<p>We saw Alaska for the first time aboard a Lindblad cruise ship. It was a great experience. The ship held about 70 passengers. Food was wonderful and plentiful. Accomodations were nice, comfortable and clean but not fancy. We hiked with naturalists, kayaked, took tours on zodiac boats and generally saw Alaska close up and personal. We started the tour in Sitka and ended in Juneau. Lots of information, lots of beautiful scenery, lots of wildlife (including whales, bears, eagles, sea lions, to name a few) and one of the best trips we have ever taken. I’d recommend this cruise line.</p>
<p>Outside of Denali the interior is BORING. Unless you fly into the bush there are few animals or anything else to see. Thye drive from Anchorage to Homer is decent and you can fish at some great spots and visit a couple of coastal cities which are not that interesting either. I think one of the cruises is the best way to see most of the good stuff. Ketchikan is OK with a few good sights. Juneau is larger and more of a city. Have not been to Sitka. Seward only has the sea life museum which is good.</p>
<p>We went with Lindblad to Costa Rica and Panama several years ago. Best trip ever.</p>
<p>We HATED the cruise (Holland America). The food, the atmosphere, the smoke, the stops along the way, the entertainment, the cardplaying, the chintsy selling of second-rate artistic reproductions, and the marketing of tanzanite.</p>
<p>We took a cruise there, and then a week in and around Anchorage and Denali, a few years ago. The cruise part was fine, but dispensible. We were on a Regent Seven Seas ship – not super-huge, but much bigger than Linblad. Not cheesy at all, and fabulous for my wheelchair-bound mother.</p>
<p>Of the cruise-y places we visited, we liked Sitka best. It had the least sensational landscape, and it was isolated, but it felt like a place where it would be worth spending some time. In the sensational department, we took a helicopter up onto the Mendenhall Glaciar from Juneau, and did ice-hiking on the glaciar. That was unbelievable! So other-worldly. It was expensive (I’ve repressed how expensive), but really worthwhile. But modest stuff – kayaking in bays, rivers, ponds – was also really worthwhile.</p>
<p>We took a Cruise West trip up the inland passage a few years back on a small boat, spending the nights on shore in accomodations they provided. There was a naturalist on board, the other passengers seemed mostly to be teachers, and the boat was small enough that it could head to shore and cut engines whenever someone spotted a bear or something else interesting to watch. Food wasn’t great, but the experience was. Definitely look for a smaller boat.
We also rented an RV and drove down the Kenai peninsula. You can pull over anywhere and spend the night. And, we’ve gone to Denali – taking a bus up and a train back.
I’d like to go back and use the ferry system.</p>
<p>For the truly adventurous, there are a few “re-purposed” fishing boats that have been converted to charters. If you want to see south-eastern Alaska and BC up-close and personal, this would be a great choice. You would probably get to steer the boat sometimes, too. In a 70-foot boat travelling at 8 knots, you’d have to be more interested in the cruise than in the destinations, though.</p>
<p>EDIT: I found another alternate cruise that I’d read about – <a href=“http://www.alaskacharters.com/[/url]”>http://www.alaskacharters.com/</a>.</p>
<p>A couple of thoughts from a former travel agent…cruise the inland passage a real treat-a small cruise line such as Linblad a great choice.or…take the local ferry system–a bit more rugged, but certainly more colorful–(we took our daughter-age 10 on a Carnival cruise-we hated it-but she loved it)–Take the train to Denali-and spend more than 1 night-try to book min 3 nights–you will never forget it-Have Fun!</p>
<p>I have always wanted to go to Alaska but haven’t done it yet. However, I have heard amazing things about the Lindblad cruise (everything mwmom said and more!). I believe they are somehow affiliated with National Geographic.</p>
<p>Whatever you do, you MUST take an excursion to see sea otters in the wild. You will never forget it. Even if you get bored at the zoo, watching the otters play will be a highlight of your trip.</p>
<p>A helicopter ride – preferably landing on a glacier – is another must-do. I thought the glacier would be boring (I mean, I’ve seen snow and ice before), and I only went along to keep my mother company. It was one of the most fascinating and beautiful places I have ever been.</p>
<p>My inlaws are presently on a Lindblad cruise in Antartica. They seem to be more education oriented then some of the other cruise lines.</p>
<p>Fly into Anchorage, rent a car and spend a few days doing day trips. Fly up to Fairbanks, look around for a couple days, and then take the train back to Anchorage, stopping on the way for a few days at the nice lodges near Mt. McKinley National Park. Go in Aptil/May or Sept/October.</p>
<p>I’ve been longing for an Alaskan trip too so I’m going to follow this thread. Does any one know the best time to go and see the Northern Lights?</p>
<p>add me as one other person considering an alaska trip, which I’ve dubbed the ‘Al Gore excursion’. I’m interested in anyone who has done the visit via the Ferry system and their experiences. Also, am looking for an economical way to visit (so Lindblad is out).
oaklandmom, from a quick google it looks like the best time to see the Northern Lights is December to March <a href=“http://fairbanks-alaska.com/northern-lights-alaska.htm[/url]”>http://fairbanks-alaska.com/northern-lights-alaska.htm</a></p>
<p>thanks, avoidingwork, I guess either I plan really quick (not about to happen…I’m in the midst of selling my house) or plan for next year.</p>
<p>We did a small-boat Alaska cruise with Goldbelt Tours <a href=“http://www.goldbelttours.com/[/url]”>http://www.goldbelttours.com/</a> in 1999and had a wonderful time. They are owned by Alaskan native Americans (Tlingit) and spend a lot of time on the native American culture as well as providing a great cruise that goes to places the other boats don’t go to. There were 42 cabins on our boat, about 96 people.</p>
<p>If you have kids, backroads.com has family multisports or camping(more economic) trips to Alaska.</p>
<p>I’ve never been to their Alaska trip. If someone else did, please share your experiences. I did have a camping trip with them to San Juan Islands and it was wonderful. Their trips are geared toward more sports-oriented active type of vacations.</p>
<p>Went with S and b/f a few summers ago. B/f will not consider a cruise, so we flew and rented a car. Explored Denali, etc. Stayed in some cabins, took boat rides for a day. Would definitely do the helicopter ride. If you are interested in more details of a week’s tour, I’ll be glad to offer suggestions.</p>
<p>We spent ten days in Alaska a couple of years ago, in late August, and had a fabulous time. We rented a car and drove from Anchorage to Fairbanks, back down to the Kenai Peninsula to Seward and Homer. We toured the small towns, hiked, took the 11 hour bus tour at Denali (long day, but well worth it), toured glaciers, saw tons of wildlife. We enjoy traveling and sight seeing at our own pace, so the flexibility of driving suited us. We do plan to go back in a few years for a cruise, and I’ve been keeping track of your wonderful suggestions. If you’re spending a couple of nights at Denali, I would highly recommend this bed and breakfast. <a href=“http://www.denalidomehome.com/[/url]”>http://www.denalidomehome.com/</a></p>