Best itinerary for an Anchorage area visit (Kenai, Homer: train, budget)

[gregir]

My wife and I will be visiting Anchorage for a week in late July. We havea place to stay in Anchorage so that is our base. We are looking for fun unique activites to see and exepreince in Alaska during our week there. I have looked at Seward and would like to go there for a day and maybe take a trip out of there on a boat or somthing along those lines. Not sure if we can vissit Denali or if it would be worth it for a day or two. Open to ideas for fun. Will have a car but like trains if there are an option.

[AKStafford]

I would highly recommend spending some time on the Trip Advisor forums for Alaska.
Alaska Forum, Travel Discussion for Alaska, United States
Basing yourself out of one place in Alaska will mean a lot of extra driving.
What is your budget like?
Typically in a week most people do Denali and Seward.

[paintballa7786]

We drove up to Matanuska glacier (2 hrs one way from anchorage) and hiked on the glacier. That was a blast. 20 dollar entry fee per person and you can go whever you want after that.

[stiffnecked]

You can ride the train but the views aren't all that much better then driving. We don't depend on the trian up here for transportation.

[gregir]

Thanks for the replies- they are helpful. We are visiting family in Anchorage so we are anchored there somewhat. I like the idea of a glacier hike. I would like to go to Seward, I am a sea life and fishing person. Whittier is an other option but I know less about it. Will keep looking and welcome any idea or thoughts anyone has.

[creativelytaylored]

Visiting Lake Ecklutna is wonderful and only a half hours drive from the east side of Anchorage. The views are amazing and well worth a days visit and its free . Every year my family and I drive through Hatchers Pass , its an all day drive through the mountains between here and the valley, amazing views and mountain top fun!

[ysr_racer]

Hatcher Pass / Independence Mine
Talkeetna
Mat Su Glacier
Whittier
Seward
Alaska Wildlife Center
Alyeska Tram

All of those are GREAT day trips.

[soldn2slavery]

What do your hosts recommend? I would imagine they would have some good suggestions.

North of Anchorage:
*Eagle River Nature Center for a good chance as seeing wildlife, easy hiking trails, and nice visitor center.
*Eklutna Lake.
*Thunderbird Falls.
*Hatcher Pass
*Denali, if you have the time

South of Anchorage:
*Potter's Marsh
*Alyeska/Girdwood/Hike to the top of Crow's Pass if you're in shape.
*Seward/Exit Glacier/Kenai Fjord Cruise/Sealife Museum
*Soldotna/Kenai/Homer (stop by the Norman Lowell Studio in Anchor Point on your way to Homer)

I'd skip Whittier. The scenery is pretty, but the town is kind of ugly.

Yes, I know this is a lot of driving, but Alaska's a big state.

As for the train, I enjoyed riding the train up to Denali. You could enjoy the scenery and not have to worry about driving. And you can get up and walk around and enjoy some snacks, if you want.

[AKStafford]

Originally Posted by soldn2slavery

I'd skip Whittier. The scenery is pretty, but the town is kind of ugly.

The town is ugly, but no one goes there for the town. They go there for the Prince William Sound glacier cruises, which are my favorite thing to do in Alaska.

[gregir]

Thanks to the suggestions I am able to provide menu of options to choose from.
We will be visiting the glacier, Seward, and thunderbird falls at a minimum.
My hosts are not residents and do not know much about the area in general. Some friends who are ANC born and raised will be taking us fishing out of Seward and then turning around and coming to Virginia in august where I will take them fishing out of Virginia Beach.
One of them may also have a friend of a fried takes us on a flight seeing trip.
Thanks to all for the ideas and if you ever need to know about Virginia please ask.