Father-Son trip to Alaska

[VoodooTitan]

Evening fellow forum members. I want to go to Alaska. But I don't want to just "GO" to Alaska, I want to experience it. I'd like to plan a trip for me and my dad to go on vacation there and really get a feel for it. He's getting pretty old and he's been an outdoors kinda guy his whole life, and I know he'd really love it. Because of my recent, constant deployment schedule, I haven't seen him much, and I feel like I need to do this sooner than later. I want to make sure I can do it right, especially if he only gets one chance to go. So, I'd like to know who on this forum has been to Alaska, lives in Alaska, or can talk intelligently about it, and tell me the do's and don'ts of visiting? Best things to see, best places to stay, what to pack for, what to expect, best city to fly into, etc.

I would be interested in off-roading there as well. I have zero problem shipping my 4Runner there, if someone has a reputable company that could get it there for a fair price in a reasonable amount of time. Driving from NC to Alaska would be completely out of the question.

What I'm thinking is flight, hotel, rental vehicle. The activities I'd like to do revolve more around the day hikes, kayaking, plane ride to the glaciers, whale spotting, and national parks. Nothing extreme as my dad isn't as spry as he used to be, but he's still got some pep left. I have no budget but at the same time I'm on an extremely tight budget. I don't want the cheap version of things, I just want to make sure I'm getting what I paid for, and that it's a fair price.

Thanks for taking the time to read and offer whatever you can.

 

[BrianSD_42]

I think what you need to do is get a shipping quote first and then take it from there.

I imagine that shipping will cost somewhere around $1000 - $2000 each way but that is just speculation.

Tomorrow is Monday ..... make some calls!

 

[MyHigh]

Check out on you tube a 12 episode series called "expedition overland"
They have a Yukon/ Alaska trip...

So wish I thought of doing what they have done.....

 

[beverly]

I've lived here since 2010, I could give some advice. Life long Alaskans, feel free to correct me. When are you visiting?

Don't ship your vehicle. Not only will it be $$$ (Shipping a motorcycle from Seattle to Anchorage is $400-500, and that's very small/light compared to a full vehicle.), but there is little offroading here. There aren't a million dirt trails all over the place like other states. The State just built roads from point A to point B, no need for fire roads or anything else. If you're really set on bringing a vehicle, Alaska Trails, Off Road Parks, ATV Trails, Motocross Tracks - AK has some trails. The downside to renting is the cost, but if you're bold you could buy a vehicle, use it, and sell it before you left. People ship their vehicles all the time when moving to and from Alaska, so trailers are constantly flowing. I can't recommend a company for this, I bought my truck up here.

Flying into Anchorage is really the only option, unless you're doing SE Alaska. Anywhere smaller will probably be more expensive, and you'll probably fly through Anchorage on your way there anyways. Most places you'd drive to are 3-4 hours away, not worth flying into somewhere different. You can see more stuff based out of Anchorage versus Fairbanks.

You can day hike your face off within 0-2 hours of Anchorage. Lots of nice day hikes and more serious stuff. There is plenty of info on these online. Want to climb a 5,000 foot peak? The trail head starts three miles outside of Anchorage. Please be prepared though, people often underestimate the mountains because they're so close to the city. A close friend has had near death experiences within eye sight of houses. 70 mph winds, blizzard conditions, they're still mountains!

Sea kayaking is possible in many of the lakes, some are glacier fed. I haven't done any up here, but it's endless. Portage Lake, Eklutna Lake etc. I wouldn't recommend kayaking in the Cook Inlet (near Anchorage) unless you're professional. The bore tide can be 15 mph and the tide differential is something like 27 feet. Some people surf the wave. DO NOT WALK ONTO THE MUD FLATS. I cannot stress this enough, people die on the mud flats. They get stuck and under estimate the tide speed. I would not want to drown while on vacation.

Now on the list of other things to do, that is really up to your budget/time. You won't run out of things to see and do here, it's a huge state (see the map of it overlapping the lower 48). Things are very expensive here in the summer, peak tourist season. Denali (Mt. McKinley to some people..) flight seeing tour out of Talkeetna will run you $400-500 a ticket, for example. You could fish for Salmon on the Kenai river, fish for halibut (and others) in Homer or Seward. You can also fish for salmon in downtown Anchorage. Boat based tours are out of Seward or Whittier. I believe Seward tours are more wild life based (whales, otters, etc) and the Whittier ones are ice based.

There are a lot of moose within city limits of Anchorage, don't **** with them. I'm serious, they are huge and will stomp your brains in. Bears are more rare, but still carry bear spray when hiking. Don't wear those stupid bells, worthless. I would try and camp as much as possible, to save on hotel costs. If you or your dad is a veteran, he could get discount hotel rooms on JBER. Also look into the military lodging in Seward. (EDIT: I see you're Navy, so these are definite options.) One idea to look into is the train. It'll take you up to Denali Nat'l Park or down to Seward, the station is right in downtown Anchorage. That might save you days on rental car.

Things to pack: Head nets, bug spray, bear spray (best to buy it here), rain gear, Xtratufs, camera.

Let me know if there is any specific or more info you'd like. Have a great time, Alaska is unforgettable to millions (1,960,000 in 2013!) of people who visit each year.

 

[iBison]

I have a friend that lives in Anchorage and is a kayaker and teaches kayaking for NOLS I believe. If you want to kayak around there I could ask him if he would mind if you email him. If so have some plans or ideas what, where and when you want to do in place first. He may know reputable rafting and other guides services, he's always been very outdoorsy.

Bear spray can not be taken on plains or amtrak. Buy it there and give it to someone before you leave there. Same with stove canisters if you take a stoves. Read the TSA rules on stoves. You should be able to pack a jetboil but it would be better to ship it. You may be able to ship it to an REI store there if there is one.

 

[Titanpat57]

Don't have anything to add other than that's a very admiral thing to do for your Pops....I'm sure it will create unforgettable memories for you both...enjoy

 

[JoeBand]

my dad and i did a long trip in a gen 2 4runner (GRT- the Gutless Red Truck- Gertie). an unforgettable trip, all the more special being with my dad.
enjoy your trip!

 

[NewguyNY]

I grew up in North Pole, just south of Fairbanks. I spent 18 years there. It is a fantastic place. The whole state is has it's pluses and minuses. Flying into anchorage is definitely a good idea. It's a bit more $ to continue on up to Fbks. You can drive the haul road if you want to to get up above the arctic circle, but be sure you rent from a company that allows this as most prohibit the Dalton hwy because it's so rough on vehicles. 60mi nw of Fbks is Chena Hot Springs that's a pretty cool place to go and there is some great scenery and some decent off roading along the way.
A good trip that I've done a few times is taking hwy 2 south from Fbks, through Tok and Glenallen then turning left to go to chitna. Fantastic salmon fishing there on O'Brien creek. Then proceed on to McGrath. 7 hours of 25-30 mph. Glorified trail that they call a road but once you get there is it spectacular. There is a gold mine that you can check out and a live glacier to walk out on.
Back on hwy 2 you can head back north to Paxson lake and turn left onto the Denali Hwy. Awesome scenery here and a very low level of traffic. At the other end of the hwy is Denali state park. Turn left and head south toward anchorage. In willow you can turn left and take the Hatcher Pass road. This is seasonal and only open a short time during the summer but it is well worth the wait. Great off roading trail that takes you over to independence mine near Palmer. Then just an hour or so south and your in anchorage.
I've done all the above in one trip and took a week and a half or so doing it. Great time and I'll definitely be doing it again whenever I get back up there.
If I were you I'd plan on being there late June to the middle of July. That is the best weather time frame up there.
Good luck and have fun!

If you plan on camping in the bush please do your due diligence and study up regarding safe camping in bear country. No cooking where you sleep. Store food away from camp in a tree etc. I'd also recommend buying a shotgun from a pawn shop when you arrive and selling it back to them when you leave. Well worth the money you will spend on the whole deal to have one with you. No wait time on shotguns and long guns up there.

 

[jstim]

I lived in Anchorage for 4 years, and my house is still up there while I am stuck in North Carolina.

Great places to go and things to see. You can hike or walk just about wherever. Great trails right in and around Anchorage like Flat Top. Nothing incredibly hard to hike.

There really isnt a lot of 4 wheeling, unless you go somewhere out like Jims Creek, and that place can turn slightly sketchy if you dont know the area.

Best time I would suggest is August time. Hit up the Silver Salmon runs, and grab a charter and go catch yourself some halibut.

Seeing the country, take the train. Its an amazing trip, and there isnt any driving. Go to Talkeetna, stay at the Roadhouse. The view is great, and the food is too. Seward is a good trip to take, so is seeing Homer. You cant skip an oppertunity to go to the Salty Dog, and stay at Lands End Resort.

There is so much to do and experience that if you just pick a couple things that you really want to do, and just wing the rest. The people are friendly and will help. Since you are military, check out staying on JBER, and at the Seward Military Resort. Its cheap, and you can book fishing charters through them too.

 

[White 4x4runner]

Only offroading i know of is going out to kink glacier from Palmer. Last time i went out there a dude flew past us in a runner. We found the car later that night stuck up to the doors in the mud.