Thank you and trip report

Question

First, I would like to say thank you to all the experts on this forum board who helped us plan a wonderful trip to Alaska! We had a great 2 week trip in a beautiful state!

Day 1 - Flight to Anchorage. Picked up rental car and drove to Point Woronzof for a faint view of Denali, planes landing, etc. Picked up supplies for the week as we take picnic lunches so we can eat wherever we are as we travel and sightsee. Stayed in Anchorage.

Day 2 - Drove the Seward Hwy with lots of scenic stops. Went to Kenai Fjords NP and hiked the Exit Glacier loop. Drove into Seward and stayed the night there.

Day 3 - Went on Major Marine's 6 hr KFNP cruise. It was great! The scenery was beautiful. We saw orcas, humpbacks, sea lions, harbor seals, and puffin. We saw Aialik Glacier and there was lots of calving activity. We drove to Wasilla that night.

Day 4 - We drove to Talkeetna to flightsee. The morning flights were good, but the weather changed on us after takeoff. We could not see Denali. We drove up to Denali NP and went the visitor center. We took the bus and hiked the Savage River Loop trail. We had dinner in town, and then hiked the Horseshoe Lake trail. We stayed in Healy.

Day 5 - We took the East Fork Transit Shuttle. We saw a moose, bald eagle, golden eagle, caribou, dall sheep far away, and a grizzly bear far away at the M43 turnaround point. We took a picnic lunch and hiked at the riverbed. Came back and saw the sled dog demonstration. Hiked McKinley Station Trail. Denali stayed hidden again today. Rangers said wildfire smoke was very strong this year.

Day 6 - We hoped our last day in Denali NP would let us see Denali ... and it did! We hiked the Mountain Vista Trail and the Savage Alpine Trail (from the MV parking lot to the SR parking lot) as we were told it was easier that way. We agreed at the end of the hike. We enjoyed all our hikes in Denali. We left that afternoon for Palmer. In Wasilla, we drove the Fishhook roads to see the Little Susinita River and the Independence gold mine area. We did not have time to walk around there as it was closing, but it was pretty to see. We stayed in Palmer.

Day 7 - We drove the Glenn Hwy. We stopped other see Matanuska Glacier and hiked at the state rec area. We drove all the way to Wrangell St Elias NP. We saw some of the mountains but not all because of the wildfire smoke. We hiked around the VC. We drove to the Eagle River area to stay that night.

Day 8 - We returned the rental car in Anchorage and took the ACT transfer bus to Whittier to board the Sapphire Princess.

Day 9 - We sailed to Hubbard Glacier. As we entered the bay, we could see Mt. St. Elias. The bay was full of ice and fog, so we could not get back to Hubbard Glacier.

Day 10 - We sailed into Glacier Bay NP. It was beautiful. We saw humpbacks and sea otters. We saw Margerie, Lamplugh, and Johns Hopkins glaciers.

Day 11 - We were in port at Skagway. We took the Bennett Scenic tour with Chillkoot Tours with the train ride us and bus back. It was beautiful! We walked around town that afternoon.

Day 12 - We were in port in Juneau. We took a Princess excursion with Gastineau whale watching and to Mendenhall Glacier. It was a small group tour and our guide and boat captain were great! After that we walked around Juneau as far as the governor's mansion.

Day 13 - We were in port in Ketchikan. We walked around the town in the rain enjoying the totem poles, Creek St, etc.

Day 14 - We sailed the inside passage. Another pretty day.

Day 15 - We docked in Vancouver and flew home.

It was an amazing trip. I hope this helps people in their planning. We were busy the whole time but managed it with no problems and enjoyed everyday. Thanks again to everyone who helped us plan!

Answer

Thank you for sharing such a detailed trip report! It sounds like you had an incredible two-week adventure combining both land travel and a cruise in Alaska. Your itinerary is a great example of how to balance sightseeing, wildlife viewing, and outdoor activities while managing logistics like rental cars and transfers.

Highlights from your trip include:

Anchorage: A good starting point for stocking up supplies and quick sightseeing, such as Point Woronzof.
Seward & Kenai Fjords NP: Hiking the Exit Glacier loop and taking a 6-hour cruise provided an amazing opportunity to see marine wildlife including orcas, humpbacks, sea lions, and puffins, as well as glaciers with calving activity.
Talkeetna & Denali NP: Even with weather challenges, you were able to experience flightseeing, bus rides, and multiple hikes including Savage River Loop, Horseshoe Lake, Mountain Vista Trail, and Savage Alpine Trail.
Wildlife: You spotted moose, bald and golden eagles, caribou, dall sheep, and a grizzly bear—highlighting the diversity and abundance of Alaskan wildlife.
Palmer & Matanuska Glacier: Scenic drives and short hikes provided a good mix of glacier viewing and exploration along the Glenn Highway.
Wrangell St Elias NP: Even with wildfire smoke, you enjoyed the visitor center and mountain scenery.
Cruise portion (Sapphire Princess):

Hubbard Glacier: Ice-filled bays and majestic mountain views, despite some fog limiting visibility.
Glacier Bay NP: Stunning glaciers like Margerie, Lamplugh, and Johns Hopkins, plus marine life including humpbacks and sea otters.
Skagway: Bennett Scenic tour via train and bus, plus time exploring town.
Juneau: Small group whale watching and Mendenhall Glacier excursion, plus walking tour of downtown and the governor's mansion.
Ketchikan: Walking around town, enjoying totem poles, Creek Street, and local culture.

Tips and insights from your experience:

Combining a rental car trip with a cruise allows for flexibility in exploring interior Alaska and coastal destinations.
Wildlife sightings are weather-dependent, but even a few glimpses can make the trip memorable.
Weather can change rapidly, especially in mountainous areas, so it’s wise to plan activities with flexibility.
Picnic lunches are a smart way to maximize sightseeing time while keeping costs and logistics manageable.
Small group excursions on cruise days enhance the experience and provide better opportunities for wildlife viewing and learning from guides.
Planning a mix of hikes, scenic drives, and towns/cities ensures a well-rounded Alaska experience for all ages.

Overall, your trip report is an excellent resource for anyone planning a similar Alaska itinerary. It highlights the balance of active exploration, wildlife encounters, and scenic travel, while showing how to manage timing, transportation, and weather challenges effectively.

Future travelers can use your day-by-day breakdown to help plan their own land-and-cruise combination, ensuring they experience the best of Alaska’s natural beauty, wildlife, and local culture.

Thank you and trip report

More Alaska (AK) Travel Questions

The attractions mentioned in this question

Popular Destinations

Popular Travel Questions