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Our Alaskan Cruise dropped us off in Seward, Alaska on the Kenai Peninsula, the morning of June 7. From there we would drive north to Anchorage, then on to Denali, then back to Anchorage and fly home at 12:45 AM, Mon June 13.
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Seward - We took a shuttle to our hotel room, which was a bit disappointing when we found out why we got such a good rate. The two rooms were handicap accessible and were immediately off the lobby. They actually had windows into the lobby!
We then walked back to the marina area, which was a nice walk, and boarded our whale watching excursion. On the 2 hour tour, we saw Orcas, Puffins (sea birds) and the Holgate glacier. We also saw a couple of Grey whales, but they apparently had not learned to 'bubble fish'.
NOTE: We rented a car in Seward to be dropped off in Anchorage that evening. It was $375/day! Although we needed a car to continue our stay in Anchorage, and then go onto Denali, this car was ridiculously expensive. So we dropped it off and then rented a cheaper car for the remainder of our journey. The major expense comes with having separate pickup and drop-offs, so note to self: ditch the separate PU/DO car ASAP!
120-mile scenic drive to Anchorage - We started with a short drive to the Exit glacier just out of Seward. The best view required a short hike, which was nice before our very long drive. We stopped at small town of Moose Pass. Then again at the Trail Lakes Fish Hatchery where the only guy there gave us a private tour.We took a short detour to the Byron Glacier. Then stopped at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. See a video of a baby Muskox dancing! The drive ended at our VRBO home in Anchorage that evening.Anchorage - We spent two nights, but only one full day in Anchorage. That evening, Geoff and I took the car to the airport and traded for a Rav 4. We then all had dinner at Moose Pizza. Mediocre! The next day Sue wasn't feeling well, so Geoff, June, and I rode bikes on the Tony Knowles trail, where the highlight was a Moose encounter. We visiting a chocolate factory with a chocolate falls. That evening, we saw a showing of the Northern Lights video, and a nice meal downtown.
250-mile drive to Denali - After a stop for food at Fred Meyer, we stopped at an old native village just out of town. We detoured to Talkeetna to get a very good view of Denali. Had lunch there, then shortly afterward, accidentally wandered into Mt McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge, where we had the best view of Denali that we would get. Then onto our VRBO home 30 miles south of Denali National Park.
Denali National Park - Early that morning, we drove Geoff and Sue just outside the park at the pickup location for their 120-mile bus excursion. June and I had breakfast just outside the park. We arrived at the park before the toll-takers (turns out they don't really charge anyone unless you have an excursion). Cars are allowed on the main road until mile 17 (Savage Creek). We drove to Savage Creek in the morning, returned to the visitors center where we encountered a mama moose and her two calves, watched a dog sled show, had lunch at a nice cafe, hiked around Horseshoe Lake near the entrance, drove up to Grande Denali Lodge (see the funny signs along the way), drove back to Savage Creek, took a nap in the car, took separate hikes there: June along the creek with many others, I took a 'Stairway to Heaven' hike. Eventually we met up with Geoff and Sue, had dinner in town, and went back south to the VRBO.
NOTE: Denali National Park is at latitude 63 degrees north, the farthest north I have ever been. While we were there, the sunset was around 1am and sunrise about 4 am.
Drive to Anchorage and Flight Home - I woke to a text that Mom died that morning (June 12.) We packed up and drove back to Anchorage. We kicked around there, and eventually went to the airport that evening to catch the plane at about 1AM.
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