12 day Inland Land DIY prior to Cruise from Whittier

Question

We are a couple age 65 in good health traveling to Alaska for our second time to see scenery, glaciers, animals, sea life, local people, train ride, light hiking, historical places, relaxing pace trip. I am thinking of renting a car for the first part of the trip round trip out of Anchorage and after dropping it off taking the train to Seward and do those days with public/ paid transportation and ultimately leaving out of Whittier on the cruise to Vancouver. The dates are July 9-20 for the land and July 20-27 for the cruise. The cruise dates are the only thing fixed by traveling with others. My sister and her husband of similar age/ interests may join us on this trip as well. I have created a tentative itinerary below with some lodging thoughts/ activities ; but, need your input. I may have our pace too slow... Should I include other places? Last time we went to Denali we took the ~8 hour East Fork Shuttle and saw most animals past the ~4 hour shuttle turn around spot. With the park only open to mile marker 43, is that equivalent to the ~8 hour shuttle run last time or the ~4 hour shuttle?

Jul9: Arrive at Anchorage, Anchorage Museum and perhaps Alaska Native heritage Center, stay at Anchorage. Rental car non airport pickup? Get rental car & supplies.

Jul10: Drive to Palmer (1 hour), Drive to Matanuska Glacier (1 ½ hour). Easy guided hike on Matanuska Glacier with MICA (Ice Fall Trek $/person – 3 hours) or Nova

.Overnight Palmer (Pioneer Motel) (Sheep Mt. Lodge, Glacier View, AK) Palmer farmer's market. Stay at Palmer.

Jul11: Palmer farmer's market, Palmer Visitors Center, Wasilla for Iditarod HQ film and (usually) $10 short wheeled dog cart ride, Musk Ox Farm, hiking somewhere along the way. Reindeer Farm – Grandpa Tom VIP Tour, Old Glenn Hwy sightseeing (Knit Glacier) stay at Palmer.

Jul 12: Drive to Talkeetna, (2 ½ hours), Talkeetna to overnight. (Denali Firesides Cabin & Suites). Hike either at Eagle River Nature Center just north of ANC, or at Talkeetna (Lakes hike). Try to find lodging that has a possible view of The Mountain, since this is your best chance to see it

Jul 13: Drive to Denali Visitor Center (3 ½ hours), Entrance activities such as hiking, visitor center displays & film, free Ranger-led hike, free Ranger sled dog demo (no ride), entrance hike, etc. Overnight near Denali (did you check VRBO? stay at Denali (Healey for lodging). (Denali Park Hotel?)

Jul 14: East Fork Shuttle to mile 43, book at ReserveDenali.com. You can get off to hike if you want to, flagging down a later shuttle to head back to the entrance. Many folks enjoy hiking at the turnaround point, heading down the stairs and walking along the riverbed for nice views. You can ask the driver for other suggestions. Entrance activities as time allows

July 15: Drive to Anchorage(6 hours) Stay in Anchorage. Drop Rental Car

Jul 16: Coastal Classic Train Anchorage to Seward (~3 ½ hours)– Gold Star Class. Stay Seward (Seward Windsong Lodge)

Jul 17: 6 hr. wildlife/glacier cruise of Kenai Fjords NP (Harbor 360 Hotel)NP. Check Major Marine or Kenai Fjords Tours. Maybe evening taxi out to Exit Glacier (the only land access to KF NP).

Jul 18: In Seward, Resurrection Bay, Sea Life Center; Dog Sled Tour – Seavey Dogsled Ride – shuttle pickup

Jul 19: Board bus to Exit Glacier ($ per person), Glacier View Loop Trail, Glacier Overlook Trail. Stay at Seward.

Jul 20: Seward Bus transfer to Whittier departs Seward at 1:10 pm, arrives Whittier at 3:45 pm ($ per person) https://www.alaskacoach.com/schedule/ Or if you’d like to spend some time in Whittier, book a taxi to there or book Bear Valley Road Runner ($ per person). Board NCL Jade for cruise by 2:00pm).

Thanks for your help!

Answer

Your Alaska DIY itinerary is thoughtfully planned and balances scenic drives, wildlife viewing, light hiking, and cultural experiences. Here is a detailed review and some suggestions for optimization.

Overall Pace

The itinerary is moderate and should be comfortable for two active 65-year-olds, especially with built-in days for easier activities like museum visits and light hiking. You are not cramming too much in a single day, which is good for enjoying each location.

Anchorage Arrival – July 9

Arriving in Anchorage, visiting the Anchorage Museum and Alaska Native Heritage Center is ideal for orientation. Picking up your rental car outside the airport can save time and avoid airport surcharges, but ensure logistics for drop-off later. Stocking up on supplies here is smart.

Matanuska Glacier & Palmer – July 10–11

Matanuska Glacier guided hike (Ice Fall Trek) is a great choice for light adventure.
Palmer overnight stays at Pioneer Motel or Sheep Mountain Lodge are suitable; the local farmers market and visitor centers offer authentic Alaskan small-town experiences.
July 11 activities: Wasilla Iditarod HQ with dog cart rides, Musk Ox Farm, Reindeer Farm VIP tour, and short hikes offer a mix of local culture and wildlife. Be mindful of driving distances and rest times.

Talkeetna – July 12

The 2.5-hour drive from Palmer to Talkeetna is reasonable. Staying at Denali Firesides Cabin & Suites is convenient. Aim for lodging with a view of Denali, as clear views are rare but memorable. Consider short hikes or riverside walks in Talkeetna.

Denali National Park – July 13–14

July 13: Enter via the Visitor Center, do easy hikes, ranger programs, and sled dog demonstrations. Overnight at Denali Park area accommodations like Healey or Denali Park Hotel is ideal.
July 14: East Fork Shuttle to mile 43 is equivalent to the ~8-hour shuttle you did previously, so it offers excellent wildlife viewing. Get off to hike along the riverbed, enjoy the scenery, and flag down later shuttles for flexibility.

Return to Anchorage – July 15

The 6-hour drive back to Anchorage is long but manageable if you leave early. Consider scenic stops along the Parks Highway.

Seward – July 16–19

July 16: Coastal Classic Train from Anchorage to Seward (~3.5 hours) in Gold Star Class is scenic and relaxing. Stay at Seward Windsong Lodge or similar.
July 17: Kenai Fjords NP 6-hour cruise – excellent for glaciers and wildlife. Optional evening visit to Exit Glacier.
July 18: Seward exploration – Resurrection Bay, Alaska SeaLife Center, Seavey Dogsled Ride shuttle pickup.
July 19: Bus or taxi to Exit Glacier, do Glacier View Loop Trail and Glacier Overlook Trail for light hiking.

Whittier Transfer – July 20

Alaska Coach Works offers transfers from Seward to Whittier (~2.5 hours). Aim to arrive with time to board your cruise by 2:00 PM. If you want to explore Whittier briefly, consider a short taxi ride from the drop-off point.

Additional Recommendations

Your itinerary is well-paced, but adding a scenic detour on the Parks Highway (like Byers Lake or Denali Viewpoints) could enhance wildlife spotting without adding too much time.
If clear weather is forecasted, consider a short flightseeing tour from Talkeetna for glacier and Denali views—it’s a unique perspective.
Ensure reservations for Matanuska Glacier tours, Denali shuttles, and Kenai Fjords cruises are made early, as July is peak season.
Pack layers and rain gear for variable weather, and bring binoculars for wildlife viewing.

Overall, your plan balances activity, relaxation, and sightseeing effectively. The East Fork Shuttle to mile 43 provides equivalent wildlife viewing as your previous 8-hour East Fork experience, so you should have a comparable Denali experience this time. The pace is appropriate for a relaxing yet comprehensive Alaska land tour before your cruise.

12 day Inland Land DIY prior to Cruise from Whittier

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