I want to come visit Alaska from the UK - Totally confused as when to come..

[Barkingowl]

Originally Posted by stiffnecked

I'd like to have coffee with those three but at Sam & Lee's instead of Pepe's.

I would like to try Sam & Lee's too. I should ask Majik if he'd be up to that.

[Redwing]

Tom

A similer thread appeared on another forum so i've copied part of my reply for you as he too was a fellow english man looking to visit Alaska:

I am an Englishman who has spent a reasonable amount of time in Alaska, the “warning” is only half in jest – it is addictive!!.

I spent the summer of 2004 up there , then returned for spring, summer and fall off 2005. I met so many wonderful people and had so many amazing experiences, I feel more at home in Alaska than the uk and don’t get me wrong I love England. I kayaked around humpback whales, fished for monster salmon, hiked solo in to the wilderness, helped out on a photo shoot up in the arctic with national geographic, ate walrus/caribou/muktuk with inupiat friends, sat in a rusty old van as polar bears feasted on whale carcasses and slammed there paws on to the windows, saw the northern lights and probably most amazing was seeing two polar bears fighting with an interior grizzly, never in my wildest of wildest dreams did I think I would be involved in anything to do with the polar bears – luck and opportunity came together big time.

I also packed a mossberg 500 pump action shot gun with slugs but take it from me and others on here – stick with the bear spray. I have been shooting 25 years here in the uk but shooting a charging bear is a whole different ball game.

I have had a fair spread of experiences up there from a “tourist” perspective, the Alaskan people are great as you have already seen from some of the offers on this forum. For what its worth if you would like some advice from a fellow Englishman, feel free to private message me and I’ll drop you my phone number.

And the best bit, I’ve just become the owner of 1 acre of Alaska – told you it was addictive.


I've been as far south as Ketchiken and as far north as Kaktovik, the same offer I will extend to you regarding help with your trip planning


ATB

Jason

[cjs123]

Originally Posted by Moose Whisperer

Can someone visiting from afar experience everything Alaska has to offer in 2-3 weeks? Of course not. But that has nothing to do with whether one goes to the “right place” to experience the “Real” Alaska; it’s simply due the physical limitations of time and logistics.

Agreed...took one 2-week trip to Australia and another 6-week trip to Africa; while obviously unable to experience everything [or even most things!], will always be glad to have caught a glimpse of both. Amazing.

Hope to catch a glimpse of Alaska someday, too.

[ychow8]

in 5 days i will be in alaska on a third trip. first by cruise ship in 2009.
second in mid august 2011. now 3rd..this time with a friend, drive from anchorage to fairbanks, then on to pudhoe bay by road - guided.
from there, fly to kaktovik to see polar bears.
see aurora.
back to fairbanks-anchorage, head to kodiak or kenai looking for grizzlies. wish could see polars, grizz, wolves, etc....whales...total 9-10 day tour.
can anybody give me tips....price....where to buy warm stuff?
YCHOW