Has anyone gone to Alaska?
 

We are thinking of taking a trip to Alaska. Has anyone gone did you like it? What would you do again or not do again?

Alaska is beautiful! I would go again in a heartbeat. If you love the outdoors, it's the place to go. The hiking, biking, fishing, etc. It's just spectacular country to look at and enjoy. How could you not love seeing glaciers and wildfire flowers. I would say "go"!

Are going on a cruise? We took a 10 day trip, doing land first 5 days and cruise the remaining days. If you do a cruise, I'd do the land part first, then just relax on the cruise and take some side trips. It was great. Even found a quilt shop along the way. Also made a lasting friendship with another couple from Wisconsin. I say go for it, whether cruising or not. We'd go again! Also, go to get a picture of Mt McKinley, which usually is hard to get. The best part, our travel agency had a contest for customers to submit photos of their trips. We won, got a free trip to Puerta Vallarta, Mexico!!

Go!!!!!! :-)

My husband & I spent 3 months in Alaska 2010. We have a motorhome which made us very comfortable, it is beautiful (no one can tell you) you have to see it for yourselves. Would we go again-we are talking about it.
If you are driving besure to stop at Watson Lake, Yukon to tour the sign post forest. Let us know!.
I also loved the Yukon---Larger than Life.

Lana
the Quilting Dreamer
Lansing, MI

I have taken a couple of quilt cruises to Alaska. They were great!;We quilted on sea days and went on side trips. My DH went fishing while I checked out the quilt shops. I'd go after I save.my pennies.

My in-laws live in Alaska - its very beautiful and if you love the outdoors its the place for you. It can be quite an adventure getting around - alot of places are either boat to it or fly to it - its very nice- if you love to fish it is so much fun to go fishing there - you actually catch fish - your arms will get tired catching fish. Alaska is expensive - everything has to be barged in or flown in so groceries and everything is much more expensive - I think a cruise would be awesome up there - I have only been to my in-laws place - we fly in to their island and take the ferry when we come back - its definitely an adventure.

Drove to Alaska in 2011 with three other gals. Great trip. one interesting place was the Musk Ox Farm.
Enjoy.
jan j

We went to Alaska June 2002. Loved it! Being Southerners we were always cold but still loved it. Would go again. Our neighbors have been 3 times.
Hubby regrets that we didn't take the overland train. I wanted to but he insisted he had to get back to work. Now every time he tells people about the trip he adds that he wishes we had done it-aw, but never mentions that I tried to get him to. lol

if you can go we took 5 weeks and drove the Alcan highway is a trip of a lifetime we loved Dawson City Yukon and the
top of the world highway to Chicken Alaska is another story we loved Fairbanks and also Skagway you would nrver be sorry that you took the trip go and you will enjoy

My husband and I would love to go and do plan on going "someday". I have done research and since we aren't big fans of crusies are considering traveling on the marine highway, then heading inland in a rental car. Has anyone rented a berth on the marine highway boats? I've heard that its beautiful and get to skirt up the coast closer to shore than the crusie ships can go?

If you have a chance to go don't hesitate. Have been to every state in the US and it is the most beautiful place I have ever been. My husband and I traveled 3 months through Alaska. If you go, buy a Milepost book, it will guide you through Canada and Alaska, every mile, campgrounds, food, lodging and fuel. It is a wealth of information. Enjoy!

Yes and would go again! Our daughter (and future son-in-law) were Park Rangers at Glacier Bay few years ago. We took trips by train, boat, plane, foot and enjoyed them all. An old song came back to me one day as I was hiking. Gordon Lightfoot sang : "Great majestic forests - too silent to be real". The whole experience was wonderful. Our daughter has also been Ranger in Hawaii, Maine, California and Midway Atoll so we get to visit all around. Our son is a college professor in England at Imperial College London so we see Europe too. I hope you enjoy Alaska, but be warned, you won't want to leave.

I lived in Alaska when married to a service member. It is definitely worth visiting. Google quilts shops, they are plenty there. Be sure to take your camera, extra batteries and storage discs. Enjoy your trip.

Used to live there and brother still lives in Anchorage. I have never heard a complaint from anyone who went. Mostly "it was a trip of the lifetime" type comments. I love it.

We are thinking of taking a Road Scholar trip and combining it with a visit to my brother's place. I want to go back to Denali and the Seward Sea Animal Rescue Center.

So far I haven't seen any negatives! That alone says a lot. DH and I went up our first time in 1983 and it turned out to be a world changer for us. We were in our 43 and 51 at the time and had chosen to back pack for 5 weeks (using the 6th week of our 2 year-combined vacation) to go up and back on the "Alaska Marine" ferry (we were deck passengers).

It was glorious! We took our time on our 5 seperate trips, hitch-hiked (was very common in Alaska then) and savoured every moment. On the last week of our camping DH said, "Next monday I'll be back at the office (dealing with problem children, and worse, problem parents... he had chlldren he had been working for die at the hands of their parents, although the courts had removed them the mother, usually, got them back because of "budget" problems of the state). I looked at him and thought WHY should anyone have to do a job they don't want to do. 15 years was long enough! It took us a year to get our ducks in a row but we sold everything and worked in Asia at mission schools, a very rewarding job! We came home when my dad need us 10 years later.

We would never choose to go by cruise ship because it isn't "our thing". But the ferry deck is awsome! If one person sees something they call out and everyone runs and gets to see it also. If you drive up, go one way on the Cassier hwy (if you come from the south, turn west at Prince George and north on the Cassier; it is shorter, and at that junction area there are 3 towns with totems featured, not for tourists but for local families. A mile or two beyond that junction going north is one of the best native craft shops at the best prices you'll find. You can return by the Al-Can just to see it. Get a current "mile post" book if you drive.

Our oldest son, a troubled lad, went to Alaska when he was about 20 and was astounded that there is a "real" place in this world that doesn't think of "styles, 'in' things", "what others want you to do," etc. You can be yourself. Now he is an engineer with two beautiful children. Three years ago our summer trip with the children (a tradition) was to go to Alaska (we took 3 up, ages 6, 7, and 8 and met the other two up there), took 10 days to go and come back, stopped at every rest stop (first stop: "Grammy, there is NO toilet, only a big chair and a great big hole" AKA outhouse)! Took a bin of books and activities, lots of nutritious snacks, and it was a great trip!

Oh dear, don't let me REALLY get started talking about the glorys of Alaska!:D

We lived in Alaska for 14 yrs and we LOVED it. The scenery is gorgeous and the air is clean. We loved seeing all the different kinds of animal life there and especially enjoyed having Moose bed down in our back and front yard when we lived in Ancorage!! The stores sell things you can only find in Alaska too!! The Fireweed flowers must be blooming up there about now! I hear they had snow last week in Anchorage!

If you get a chance to go and see native dancers it is so worth it!!
GO you will love it!!

I went on an Elder Hostel 2 week trip 14 years ago. I loved it. I would have a summer home in Valdez if I could. We spent a week in Anchorage and a week in Valdez. The trips are so well organized. I would like to see other parts of Alaska. Hawaii was my fov place before the trip to Alaska. One of the other ladies in the group and I hired a small plane tour. Breathtaking scenery. I have been to all but 2 or 3 states, Alaska is my favorite, but all have something to see that is different than home. I think Elder Hostel goes under another name now, you could probably Google it.

we lived in Alaska for 5 years, and it was wonderful! would I go for another visit, YES in a heart beat! A milepost is a must have, so much info in it. So much wild life and such beauty, well there are just no words, I say GO! and have a wonderful time!

Definitely on my bucket list, we will be rving when we go...

Yes we did. Great ride and informative. Some cruise ships are now banned from the glaciers inlets because of polluting the water. Be sure to take the train ride, unbelievable construction for 'back then". Skagway is small but wonderful. Be warned if you like diamonds, plenty, plenty of shops as its duty free. I didn't buy any, rather went for the native crafts. Food is good and cheap. Veggies are amazing sizes due to endless summer sun! Hotels are reasonable, hostels more fun especially for us "mature" types. Hiking is the best and you may get lucky and see wildlife, just be smart and follow the rules. Rangers (ahem, daughter and son-in-law best, of course) are all helpful. Then go into the Yukon! You won't want to miss any of it. Read up on the area before you go, get good guide books at your library or go online. Let us know about your trip when (if) you return :)

My husband and our four sons go to Alaska every summer to fish for salmon. They would not miss this trip for anything.
They camp out or rent a cabin and fish all day long, They each brought home their limit about a month ago. So we will have salmon all winter long, a lot of it smoked. I have not been there, but have seen many pictures that they have taken.
We have also known several people who took the cruise and loved it. GO, GO,GO

go go go.......... oh the wildlife... and the scenery!!!
( expensive tho)

Alaska is a unique place with spectacular scenery, wildlife and the people. I live here year round and as a transplant from England it was certainly different. You do what you need to and go where you need to go. You take into account the weather and roads and plan for it. Some things are more expensive but you manage or grow your own. We are very lucky to have many wonderful quilt stores here to include some to the islands and remote areas. If you take a cruise enjoy the planned activities but take the time to go wander around the towns yourself. There is a lot to see and do in most of the places in Alaska. If you want to see a Glacier come to Seward, we have one of the few landlocked glaciers that you can get right up close to it. We also have a neat quilting store here. Just tell us where you heard about us, we enjoy that.

Thank you I never thought of Rving there. Great tips.

oh what a nice thread. i sure would like to go. need to just get our ducks in a row, and some stuff sold, so we aren't tied to the farm so much.

YES and it is gorgeous. I went last year (2011) with a couple. We drove to VanCouver from N.C., did the 7 day cruise and on land then drove back across the country as he doesn't like to fly. I enjoyed ALL of the trip and it took 28 days round trip. This country is just beautiful and I enjoyed the drive as well as the state of Alaska. We did the train ride and it was beautiful, as well as the glaciers (sp). Scagway was awesome also. We went to several different places and I was in AWE the whole trip. They want me to join them on a trip to Hawwaii next year and again, we will drive across country (different routes) and back again. Just hope I can save up enough money for this trip. By all means go, it will be a trip of a life time.

We have been on three cruises to Alaska. The last one was two years ago. I call it God's country. To me it is one of the most beautiful places on earth!

We went on a 7 day Holland America cruise and everything was wonderful!
Beautiful state! Met lots of neat people and great quilt shops!

been up there 5 times. go you won't be sorry. plenty of quilt shops.

Where to start? I have been there 17 times and still haven't had enough of the beautiful scenery and wildlife! I have flown there, and we have driven up the highway. Depending on what you like, there is something for everyone! It is definitely THE place for those who love nature. If you will be traveling on your own, be sure to buy a copy of THE MILEPOST at any major book store or online. It will tell you about every place in Alaska and on the way to Alaska; great maps if you are driving also. The longer you can stay, the more you will see, and I guarantee you will leave wanting to return-again and again!

Go, agree no one can tell you about it, it's so vast. And bring a sign to post about where you hail from.

If you want to travel by RV - fly into Anchorage and go to ABC rentals - at the airport. If you reserve by December of one year and go the following summer you can save half the cost. They have a website you can check out. I loved fishing - had a blast fishing for salmon in the Kenai river. Lots of great quilt shops. I came home the last time thinking that Alaska is where the earth is still being made - so raw and undeveloped and beautiful. I also recall thinking we could never move to Alaska because we aren't nice enought - everyone we met was helpful, friendly and welcoming.

My daughter and her family lives in Alaska, It's beautiful I would move there in a minute.

I live in Kenai, Alaska. I have also lived in Juneau and Anchorage. Really enjoy the summers--not so much the winters-always fear of falling.

Living in Alaska we have been on the marine highway system many times. Our move to Alaska was on a large ferry--we call them Blue Canoes. There are private rooms and an entire level for vehicles. The food is good--cafeteria style and much jostling for the front row seats. There are plenty of quilt/fabric shops throughout the state. Any time of the year bring jackets or sweaters. One thing to remember--every road deadends except those going in and out of Canada. So, you will doing lots of backtracking.

The fireweed has gone to seed and most trees have lost their leaves. We have plenty of moose who eat everything--lots of wire fences around the trees and shrubs everywhere. A beautiful state but it is always nice to visit the "Lower 48" which I call the real world. Shipping and postage are expensive and many places still regard us as another country or won't ship to us or Hawaii--only the Continental states. Other than that--we can get most everything here that we need.

Dodie mentions driving the Alcan highway. My husband and I drove the Alcan from Anchorage down to Houston, Texas in 1955. What a trip! All gravel roads then and, following the Milepost guide (still published, I think) we stopped every other night where we could find a cabin to sleep in--not many around then! We had to stop for over an hour one time to wait for an elk herd to cross the road. Alaska was still a territory then, not yet a state. We lived in Anchorage for three years out on Cook Inlet. The area where our little house was ended up out to sea in the big earthquake in the 1960s. How I loved that place! We camped often on the Kenai pennisula. Truly God's country. I know it has changed a lot in the almost 60 years since we were there, but it must still be beautiful country. Go!