Alaska Trip Report 2016

[BluesTraveler]

We have arrived! This is is our first ABD, and I have been very appreciative of others' trip reports so I'll try to pay it forward here. I think I will wait to add pictures until we get home, though, since we are taking them on so many different cameras (both our phones plus my 'real' camera).

Quick background: it is me, DH, and our 2 boys ages 8 and 11. We are all seasoned travelers, but about a year ago I decided I wanted a break from being 'cruise director' on our travels, and wanted to just enjoy a few trips without being the one coordinating all the logistics. Alaska has long been on our list but we didn't want to do a cruise. So, it seemed like the perfect place to try group travel. We considered ABD and Tauck, and choose ABD based in itinerary.

Alaska weather is so dramatically different from where we live (Georgia) that packing was challenging. I will therefore try to include packing tips as I go.

Pre-Day
We had a very long day of travel. We flew first to Atlanta, then plane to Anchorage. Our flight out of Altlanta was delayed about 3 hours, so we got in at 9:30 local time instead of 6:30. There were 2 other families on our flight. Check-in at the Marriott wasn't very smooth, but this is on Marriott, not ABD. Overall, the hotel is completely average. Dated, disorganized staff, small/old bathrooms. But, it is perfectly located and we have 2 connecting rooms, one with king bed and one with 2 doubles. The beds are very comfortable and clean, and the blackout linings are great. So we are fine.

This morning we walked around downtown, which is very easy to navigate. Tons of kitschy tourist shops that our boys (total non-shoppers) loved looking in. We made our way to the Log Cabin Visitor Center, where there was a free shuttle to the Alaska Zoo. The zoo is great. I had read on-line that it is small and nothing to write home about, but I totally disagree. It's lovely and worth doing. Lots of wooded paths, easy to see the animals. We saw our first moose and polar bear ever. Fun. We spend about 1.5 hours and didn't see it all, but we were getting hungry and the shuttle back is only once/hour, so we decided to catch it and head back for lunch.

Weather today was drizzly and chilly. We were fine in long pants, long sleeves, plus fleece or rain jacket. Posters on this board were correct, a rain jacket is a must.

We ate lunch at the Glacier Brewery. Great food (but order salad dressing on the side, they have a heavy hand with the the pour). DH had their IPA and enjoyed it.

After lunch back to the hotel for naps/down time. Our ABD starts this afternoon at 4:30. We met our guides, Emily and Heather, and I already feel like I'm handing the reins over and sitting back to enjoy. There are 33 in our group. 16 are kids/teenagers.

 

[BluesTraveler]

One thing I forgot to add - breakfast was not included in our pre-night stay, but we had not yet done any exploring so we didn't know where a good place to eat would be. And due to the time change, we all woke up starving. So we just ate in the hotel restaurant. Mistake. Food was mediocre, very $$, and there are a ton of coffee shops all around. It would have been easy to find an alternative. Now we know! I think all the rest of our breakfasts are included, so I include this in our trip report so others will know.

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

So excited to read this! There hasn't been an Alaska trip report in a while.

 

[AquamarineSteph]

One thing I forgot to add - breakfast was not included in our pre-night stay, but we had not yet done any exploring so we didn't know where a good place to eat would be. And due to the time change, we all woke up starving. So we just ate in the hotel restaurant. Mistake. Food was mediocre, very $$, and there are a ton of coffee shops all around. It would have been easy to find an alternative. Now we know! I think all the rest of our breakfasts are included, so I include this in our trip report so others will know.

Quick question - were you told that breakfast would be included? We did this tour last year and arrived two days early. Breakfast was included for those mornings BUT we had to ask at the front desk for the cards to take care of our breakfast because the information was not otherwise provided for us. If it should have been included, you might want to talk to your tour guides.

 

[BluesTraveler]

Quick question - were you told that breakfast would be included? We did this tour last year and arrived two days early. Breakfast was included for those mornings BUT we had to ask at the front desk for the cards to take care of our breakfast because the information was not otherwise provided for us. If it should have been included, you might want to talk to your tour guides.

You know, I'm honestly not sure. We booked so long ago, and I didn't make a note of it. The Marriott in general has been so disorganized - when we checked in the woman checking us in had no idea what ABD was, took forever for her to find our room keys, etc. I'm just chalking this one up to now we know better.

 

[BluesTraveler]

Day 1 - Welcome reception/dinner

We had a very nice welcome reception at the hotel and went over introductions and logistics. Our guides seem genuinely excited that this trip is so kid/teen heavy and their enthusiasm is infectious.

Dinner was at Bridge Seafood, a restaurant that sits over a salmon river. Great setting. Food was good. The big treat was the unlimited crab legs. Something about eating messy food with your hands gets everyone laughing and talking.

After dinner we hit the bed. Jet lag is for real, y'all.

 

[acndis]

So excited to follow along!

We are on this trip next year (just got the first two legs of my flights--I am doing crazy things with mileage awards). We are spending our pre-days in Seattle. It sounds like that may be a good way to combat the jet lag. Can't wait to hear more!

 

[sayhello]

Oh, yay! So glad to see an Alaska trip report! I don't think I've seen one since I did mine in 2009! I love this trip, and think the few changes they've made are good ones. Looking forward to hearing about it!

Sayhello

 

[tink1970]

I love trip reports...especially in cooler weather climates

Looking forward to more!

 

[carpenta]

Thank you Blues Traveler for you taking us along with you on your trip. We also went a number of years ago and agree with Sayhello how you find the changes .

 

[BluesTraveler]

Day 2

We have had a wonderfully active day. It was drizzling a bit this morning, and we were scheduled for the bike ride. The guides had a Plan B in place, but the group was up for biking despite the rain. The drizzle kept up until we were all set up and ready to go. As soon as we were underway...it started raining hard. But honestly, it was fine. People seemed happy to be out and about, and the scenery was gorgeous. And, we practically had the trail to ourselves. We all rode 3 miles, and with the exception of one hill, it was easy going. The bus met us at the 3mile mark, and you had the option of stopping there or going another 2 miles. A few people stopped there but most rode the additional 2 miles. They were more challenging but it felt good to get a workout in. The bus met us at the end of the 2 miles, where there was a tent set up with snacks, hot cocoa, and outside the tent a fire pit for s'mores. It was perfect. There is nothing like a toasted marshmallow when you are cold and wet. (Note - I hope that is not a spoiler. It's not in the itinerary, but the guides mentioned it during the ride, so I don't think it was intended as a big surprise.)

We had the bald eagle presentation there, which I think everyone enjoyed.

At this point we were all supposed to go to the Alaska Native Heritage Center, but everyone was soaked to the bone. So we did a quick detour to the hotel so folks could change. Packing tip: if you have waterproof shoes, bring them. If you don't, definitely bring a change of shoes. (Hairdryers are great for drying out running shoes, I have discovered today.) Everyone had rain jackets, but a number of people also had rain repellant pants. Brilliant.

Another packing tip: bring twice the number of pairs of socks that you think you need. I had extra shoes for everyone, but I didn't think about socks. We are running low already, so as soon as I'm done typing this I'm making a quick stop at Nordstrom for more socks for everyone.

We did lunch and then a couple hours at the ANHC. They split up the kids and adults, and this is one of those times that I thought, this is exactly why we wanted to try this group travel. With just us, our kids would not be into this sort of place. But when split up from us and with other kids, they were much more engaged.

My impression from the itinerary was we would have much of this afternoon free. Actually we didn't get back to the room until 4. I'm going sock hunting momentarily, and then we are heading to dinner. It has definitely been a great day.

 

[BluesTraveler]

So excited to follow along!

We are on this trip next year (just got the first two legs of my flights--I am doing crazy things with mileage awards). We are spending our pre-days in Seattle. It sounds like that may be a good way to combat the jet lag. Can't wait to hear more!

Yes, definitely. There are some folks who did a full pre-weekend and there are folks like us that just came in the day before. Those of us who came in the day before are definitely dragging more. If I had to do it again I would spend 2-3 pre nights in Seattle or Vancouver, and come into Anchorage the evening before. I do think the zoo is worth making time to see.

 

[DizMagic]

Can't wait we are 11 days away on the adults only departure. We are originally from Georgia and now live just over the border in sc. We are doing the Atlanta to anchorage route. A little concerned about the 8 hour non stop flight - any issues? Keep the packing tips coming!!!

 

[AquamarineSteph]

Can't wait we are 11 days away on the adults only departure. We are originally from Georgia and now live just over the border in sc. We are doing the Atlanta to anchorage route. A little concerned about the 8 hour non stop flight - any issues? Keep the packing tips coming!!!

We flew hometown to Atlanta to Anchorage last year, and the Atlanta to Anchorage leg was great. We had no issues, and it was a wonderful flight. Don't forget to stand up and stretch your legs and walk around a bit so that you're not sitting for the entire time.

The most amazing thing was that Anchorage was VERY cloudy and foggy when we landed. I didn't believe that the ground was down there until it appeared right before we touched down. I had great appreciation for that flight crew!

 

[hilarys]

Thanks for doing this trip report. It is on our radar for 2019 for a multi-generational trip. When you have time I would love to hear your thoughts on what parts of the itinerary you liked better when compared to Tauck.

I totally agree with your point on the kids and group travel. We have now done two ABD's and our kids love them. I have never heard them complain about a single activity because they always have their buddies to hang out with. It also keeps the sibling rivalry way down (unfortunately it does not eliminate it .

 

[BluesTraveler]

Can't wait we are 11 days away on the adults only departure. We are originally from Georgia and now live just over the border in sc. We are doing the Atlanta to anchorage route. A little concerned about the 8 hour non stop flight - any issues? Keep the packing tips coming!!!

We had a 3 hour delay once we were on the plane - no fault of delta. We were taxiing to the runway when it became apparent a passenger was so drunk that he needed to be removed from the plane. By the the we returned to the gate and he was escorted off, a storm rolled through. So our 8 hour flight turned into 11 hours on the plane. Painful. Thankful for iPads, don't know how parents traveled without them!!

 

[BluesTraveler]

Day 2, continued
Just a quick note that last night we ate at the new 49th State Brewery restaurant. It was great. The breweries here are worth checking out!!

On the road now for Denali, more later.

 

[BluesTraveler]

Day 3

It's amazing how much travel is all about expectations. Day 3 was a big travel day, so I had very low expectations for the day and was bracing myself for lots of bus time. It turned out to be a very fun day, and the travel flew by.

We left the Marriott at about 8:00 and drove 2.5 hours to Talkeetna. Those hours went by very quickly. The guides showed a movie, and folks were just chatting and looking out the window at the scenery. We then had a little over an hour in Talkeetna. This is home base for folks who are climbing Denali. There are more gift shops, but also lots of good people watching, since this is where the serious hikers are. There's no way my kids can go in and out of small gift shops for an hour, but the guides had given us all scavenger hunt sheets and this was a good place for finding a bunch of those items. That was a nice way to stretch legs.

We then had lunch at Talkkeenta Lodge. Gorgeous setting, very good food. We ate outside so grab your sunglasses and jacket. It was cool but pleasant. Sadly no glimpse of Denali! Kids all had the chance to run around down a big grassy hill.

More later...

 

[carpenta]

Funny we did not see Denali on our trip on the ground but we had a great view of her when we flew from Anchorage to Fairbanks.

 

[sayhello]

We didn't see Denali while we were in the park, but saw it clear as a bell on the drive down to Girdwood!!

Sayhello