Trip Review - July DIY Land + Cruise

Question

Well....we went to Alaska July 7 - July 21. I wrote a very detailed (and long) trip review - but appears it didn't post. Rewriting, but admittedly, won't be as robust this go round.

Flew into Anchorage - stayed at Parkside Guest House. Exceptional. Highly recommend. Rooms are very large (there are only 3 rooms/suites). Great woodwork. Good location. Carly is an amazing host - very accommodating. Breakfasts were good. Would definitely stay again. Dinner at Moose's Tooth - plan to wait (we felt fortunate to only wait 20 minutes for a table). Pizza and beer was great and loved the vibe.

Drove to Seward - cloudy day but still a beautiful drive. We did several of the stops. Ate lunch at Chair 5 in Girdwood, primarily because it was one of the few places open. It was acceptable. We stopped at the Alaska Wildlife Conservatory. Honestly, I would skip for the price. We preferred to drive the loop - the walk isn't long but there are some boring gaps. We have seen most of this wildlife before. We saw bison, musckox, 2 reindeer, 3 wolves, 1 black bear, 2 brown bears, etc. Not worth the price of the ticket in my opinion (they charge by person not by car)

Stayed just outside Seward at Bell in the Woods B&B. We would definitely stay here again. Only 10 minutes to Seward. Favorite thing was having a hot tea and listening to the jazz they had playing (not live) each evening).

Major Marine 6.5 hour Kenai Fjords Tour. Oustanding! Seats were assigned so no racing to get on. Lunch was simple sandwiches but surprisingly good and well coordinated. Saw lots of wildlife but the highlight was the humpback whales bubble-net feeding on the herring! So cool! At the glacier we had margaritas with glacier ice. I would highly recommend this tour.

3/4 day trip with Cooper Landing Fishing Guide salmon fishing on the Kasilof River. Weather was beautiful and sunny (and it was for the rest of our trip). It was crowded, but our guide found a good spot and ensured we had some space. We caught our limit in sockeye and he directed us to a processing place to take them home.

Seward dining:

- Cookery - we loved. They don't take reservations so we got there when they opened. Very cute place. We had halibut, salmon, oysters and soup - would go back again for sure.

- Ray's - we really enjoyed this. Definitely a bit more touristy, but the view was great - we had a corner table by the window overlooking the harbor. Food was good. For food/price, I'd pick the Cookery, but this was still very good and I would return.

- Gold Rush Bistro - okay. more casual (no alcohol) and family oriented. Food was average. Good option for families.

Headed back to Anchorage for a 2nd stay at Parkside Guest House. We dined at Jen's - it was a nice dinner.

We did Fly Katmai for a day trip to Brooks Falls. I know there are lots of debates and people think that its too expensive for a day trip and you really have to stay the night. It was expensive. But it was exceptional!! Maybe at a different time it wouldn't be worth it, but going in July in the midst of a peak salmon run - unbelievable. I had never been in a float plane but felt extremely safe. We flew direct Anchorage to Brooks (did not stop in King Salmon). After bear school, we headed to the first bridge. There was so much action at this first bridge, my husband never left here. I went down to the falls. There were a few bears from the falls viewing platform but the action was really at Ripples bridge/overlook. These animals are amazing and I still can't believe my pictures. They day was gorgeous and this is an experience we still can't stop talking about. I would do this again in a heartbeat.

After getting back to Anchorage, walked down to Humpy's downtown. Bar/bar food but it was good. Then we flew to Juneau for our cruise.

Juneau - as part of the cuirs we were at the Baranof. It's old and outdated, but we had a pleasant stay. Our room was clean and decent and in good walking distance to everything. We did the Tram - wish we hadn't. Unless you are going to hike, there really isn't much up there. Although the view was good the food was average and overpriced. For the price of the tram, I wish we would have skipped. Had a very good dinner of crab legs at Hangar - would return.

Cruise bus to Glacier Gardens (honestly - this was a joke and tourist trap), a stop at the overlook of Mendenhall and then we were on the ship and off. We cruised with American Cruise Lines (< 170 people) and overall the cruise was exceptional. I could constantly mention - but just know we saw beautiful scenery and wildlife every single day!

Haines: We did a raft excursion on the Chilkat River through the Eagle Preserve. Beautiful sunny day. I had hoped to see more eagle, but we still saw several and our guide was really good. We definitely enjoyed it. Afterwards we walked around Haines, enjoyed the small museum about Tlingit history and did a tasting at Port Chilkoot Distillery.

Glacier Bay: Wonderful day cruising and seeing the wildlife. Another beautiful day and the glaciers were beautiful.

Sailing through Frederick Sound to Petersburg - beautiful

Petersburg - we did an excursion to LeConte Glacier with Zach from Peelers Alaska. I wasn't expecting much given how many glaciers we had seen but this was unbelievable1 Being on a boat of only 6 people - we got so close!!! There were so many seals on the ice. And we saw not one but two huge pieces calve off the glacier. Absolutely amazing day!!! Finished with a harbor walk and learned all about the different types of fishing boats.

Sailed the Wrangell Narrows to Wrangell - another beautiful day

Wrangell: Anan Bear Conservatory. During peak they only allow 60 permits so not too crowded. Not sure what to expect after seeing the brown bears of Brooks, but we loved this day. The black bears and all the cubs had so much personality! We even saw a little cub climb onto mom and hold on for dear life while she crossed the river. Even our guide said he had never seen that. Absolutely great day! Did a tour of town - Petroglyph underwhelmed - definitely needed the guide to understand what we were looking at. But the Wrangell museum was really good and we enjoyed that! We actually saw more eagles here than in Haines - so many good pictures.

Sailed back up to Tracy Arm/Endicott Arm - another beautiful sunny day. Each glacier was different and we still enjoyed this one. Such an experience when you are on a smaller ship that can get close. Highlight of the day was seeing an eagle perched on an iceberg and another one hunting for fish.

Then back to Juneau and flight home.

I often have buyer's remorse - but I didn't regret a single thing on this trip. Vacations often don't live up to expectations, but this was absolutely amazing. Don't hesitate - run to Alaska. We can't stop talking about it and reliving it. Amazing!

Answer

This trip review provides a detailed overview of a two-week DIY land-and-cruise adventure in Alaska during July, focusing on both land experiences around Anchorage and Seward, as well as a small cruise with American Cruise Lines.

Anchorage Stay: The trip began with a stay at Parkside Guest House, which received high praise for its spacious rooms, exceptional woodwork, excellent breakfasts, and accommodating host. The central location also made exploring downtown Anchorage convenient. Dinner at Moose’s Tooth was recommended for its pizza, beer, and lively atmosphere.

Drive to Seward: The scenic drive included stops such as Chair 5 in Girdwood for lunch and the Alaska Wildlife Conservatory. While the Conservatory offered a chance to see wildlife like bison, muskrats, reindeer, wolves, and bears, it was considered overpriced relative to the experience.

Seward Stay and Activities: Accommodation at Bell in the Woods B&B was highly recommended for its proximity to Seward, cozy atmosphere, and relaxing evenings with tea and music.

Kenai Fjords Tour: A 6.5-hour Major Marine tour provided assigned seating, well-coordinated lunches, and abundant wildlife sightings, including humpback whales bubble-net feeding, making it a highlight of the trip.
Fishing Trip: A 3/4-day guided salmon fishing excursion in Cooper Landing yielded successful sockeye catches. The guide ensured the group had space and assisted with fish processing.
Seward Dining Recommendations:
- Cookery – highly recommended for seafood; get there early as no reservations are accepted.
- Ray’s – scenic harbor views, good food, but more touristy.
- Gold Rush Bistro – casual, family-friendly, average food.

Return to Anchorage: Second stay at Parkside Guest House, with dinner at Jen’s recommended.

Brooks Falls Fly-In: A day trip via Fly Katmai to Brooks Falls was described as exceptional, particularly during peak salmon run in July. The experience included bear sightings and safe float plane travel, considered well worth the cost.

Juneau and Cruise: The cruise portion included stays at the Baranof (clean, walkable to town), with highlights and critiques of excursions:

Tram in Juneau: Scenic views, but food overpriced; not essential unless hiking.
Glacier Gardens & Mendenhall Overlook: Cruise bus tours considered touristy.
American Cruise Lines: Small ship (<170 passengers) offering daily scenic and wildlife experiences.
Haines Rafting Excursion: Beautiful day on Chilkat River; guide helpful for eagle spotting.
Glacier Bay: Excellent day with glaciers and wildlife sightings.
Petersburg and LeConte Glacier: Small boat excursion (6 people) with close glacier views and seal sightings; highly recommended.
Wrangell and Anan Bear Conservatory: Limited permits kept crowds small; enjoyable black bear and cub sightings, plus eagles.
Tracy Arm/Endicott Arm: Stunning glaciers, wildlife, and unique iceberg encounters.

General Observations: The reviewer emphasizes the high quality of the experiences, particularly the wildlife viewing, scenic drives, and smaller-scale cruise benefits. Some attractions were noted as touristy or overpriced (Alaska Wildlife Conservatory, Glacier Gardens), but overall, the combination of DIY land adventures and a small cruise delivered an unforgettable Alaskan experience. The trip was consistently described as exceeding expectations and highly recommended for anyone considering Alaska in July.

Trip Review - July DIY Land + Cruise

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