An older women and her much older mom are planning a trip to Alaska. Mom has already done the Cruise thing and doesn't want to do that again. Both are interested in Hiking and taking pictures and just in general enjoying nature. Neither have any survival skills, neither have they ever shot a gun, much less owned one. So I was wondering what you all have to suggest?
I have looked at Denali Wilderness lodge and staying there for 3 or 4 nights. A couple of nights in Anchorage on either side of that. Anyone else want to weigh in?
What about Ultimathule? Anything to do there if you don't hunt.

Oh, and my Mom gets motion sickness so I do not take her flying - small airplanes will kill a whole day for her, flight/recovery. Same goes for boats. She flies smokers and takes a couple of hours to recover depending on the flight.

I've lived and played in Alaska for 44 years. I sit on the couch and look at Turnagain Arm and the Kenai Mountains. Paradise by most folks' standards. Flat Top and O'Malley Peak are right up the road a mile or two. Bird Ridge and Powerline Pass are just a few minutes away. McHugh Creek, Ressurection Pass, Skyline... So many choices right in Anchorage's back yard. Here's a link to an excursion I'd like to take.

http://www.nps.gov/klgo/planyourvisit/chilkoottrail.htm

Dianna The Millinnium in Anchorage is a nice place and you can sit and watch float planes operate all day long.

Diana please look for my PM.
DP

Read Denalipilot's PM

Depends on what you want. Are you looking for a pretty easy back country hike, staying in a pretty darn nice forrest service cabin, enjoying a spectaular view of the surrounding mountains and pulling nice trout out of a pristine mountain lake, or are you looking to be pampered at a lodge? You have just about unlimited possibilities for just about anything inbetween.

http://www.recreation.gov/camping/Junea ... dex=Search

One of my favorite cabins to hang out at. It is an easy hike in, and I am sure you can scare up one of us to fly the gear in for you to alot of these places.

Here are some places that I enjoyed in 2008: Lake Hood Inn in Anchorage next to the Millenium Hotel, Susitna Lodge in Talkeetna, Touch of Wilderness B&B in Healy near Denali, Bell in the Woods B&B in Seward, Alyeska Resort in Girdwood. If you plan on seeing Denali, I'd recommend around June 1 since the bus system starts then and all the roads are open. Mosquitoes aren't too bad then but they and the tourists get worse later in June. I think the Alaska Railroad is a good way to travel from Anchorage to Denali. It wasn't open when I was there in early May, but when I go back I plan to go in late May and early June and take the train to Denali. Spring breakup occurred around May 10 when I was there.

Meclizine. Used to be by prescription, now OTC. Have her try that for the commercial flight to AK. No after effects for most flyers. Wife loves it on bumpy days in the light planes.
Sitka is a beautiful spot. Not as many tourists. Hot springs, Russian culture.
Boat trip to Glacier Bay, pretty memorable. Hope she has FUN

When you're doing your planning, make some contingency plans for possible bad weather!

Based on your post, one indoor activity immediately comes to mind. Find a gun range in Anchorage and get an instructor to show you how to safely fire a gun! It's fun, and it's a sense of accomplishment as you quickly learn to control the firearm with precision. The rules of gun safety are also quite valuable to have, even if you don't own a firearm. For instance, you may eventually encounter a firearm that someone has left at your home or your place of business and wish to verify that it is unloaded without accidentally discharging it in the process.

pokette wrote:An older women and her much older mom are planning a trip to Alaska. Mom has already done the Cruise thing and doesn't want to do that again. Both are interested in Hiking and taking pictures and just in general enjoying nature. Neither have any survival skills, neither have they ever shot a gun, much less owned one. So I was wondering what you all have to suggest?
I have looked at Denali Wilderness lodge and staying there for 3 or 4 nights. A couple of nights in Anchorage on either side of that. Anyone else want to weigh in?
What about Ultimathule? Anything to do there if you don't hunt.

Oh, and my Mom gets motion sickness so I do not take her flying - small airplanes will kill a whole day for her, flight/recovery. Same goes for boats. She flies smokers and takes a couple of hours to recover depending on the flight.

About anything (obviously) is going to require a flight and/ or boat ride, unless driving via the Alcan from the United States through Canada. That would be great if you've the time. We had a good relationship with a travel agent in Haines, AK that might be of some help http://alaska4you.com

Personally I'd stay in Denali at 907's lodge in the heart of Denali and I'm sure she'll enjoy ANC on each side for sure! Happy travels

That would be Denali's lodge , look for his PM!

Dianna,

There are LOTS of ways to enjoy Alaska without flying or boating. Many have mentioned Denali, that's an obvious one. Consider going to the Wrangells, specifically visit McCarthy. There is a VERY nice lodge there, that requires only that you park your car and walk across a foot bridge, unless they've now got a bridge across. Be aware that most rental car companies in AK prohibit going off paved roads with their cars, however.....and the road in to McCarthy is a long gravel one.

As noted by a few folks, Anchorage has a lot to offer, and so does Fairbanks. In Fairbanks, take a ride on the Riverboat Discovery, visit Dredge Number 8 and take one of the gold mine tours north of town. While in FAI, have dinner on the deck at Pikes or the Pump House, or better yet, at both. The Museum at the University of Alaska is a great place to spend a few hours, and isn't as crowded since the tour bus outfits no longer take their customers there (the museum refused to pay the tour companies...good for them).

The Alaska Railroad has "vista dome" passenger cars. Get a ticket on one of them from Anchorage to FAI. You could fly commercially in to ANC, train to Denali, get off there for a few days, then back on the train to FAI, and fly commercially out of FAI.

In Seward, south of Anchorage--a GREAT Sea Life Center. Go visit Seward. Beautiful drive if nothing else. Lots to see along that road.

And, you could park your Mom for a few hours while in Talkeetna and YOU could take a glacier flight. Trust me, this will be well worth the expense, and it'll be the flight of a lifetime. They only land on the glaciers early in the season, so early June would also be my recommendation for a trip.

Lots to see, and hopefully you'll both have a GREAT time.

MTV

Diana - what me to ferry your cub there for you so that you can have a little more fun??

And, you could park your Mom for a few hours while in Talkeetna and YOU could take a glacier flight. Trust me, this will be well worth the expense, and it'll be the flight of a lifetime. They only land on the glaciers early in the season, so early June would also be my recommendation for a trip.

Love this idea, will have to talk to her about early June now.

I think the fly into ANC bus to Denali, stay a couple of days, train back to ANC then to visit my Aunt and Uncle in Vancouver... too much to do in a short time.

Diana - what me to ferry your cub there for you so that you can have a little more fun??

John - I was hoping you would fly along with me in a couple of years when all of my children have moved out - assuming none of them move back

Gold panning is another thing one can do. If your coming for a week you will need more time.
What time of the year are you planning to come up to Alaska?

Ken in North Pole, Alaska

Lets say I change our plans and leave on or about 1 June, fly to ANC, first night there. Head towards Denali, with a stop in Talkeetna for a cub ride to a glacier - who would I talk to about that? Then a few nights in Denali, and the train ride back. I talked with my Mom and she said she likes trains so that is a go. Thanks for all the help... keep it coming!

I used Talkeetna Air Taxi for a C185 tour of Denali and landing on the Ruth Glacier. They did a nice job and the C185 was in good shape. Here's their website: http://www.talkeetnaair.com/. I don't like flying in a group so my wife and I were the only C185 passengers. It's not inexpensive, though. If you want to spend less, consider one of their group flights in a Beaver or Turbine Otter. Give yourself a few days of weather cushion for the best flight. Denali makes its own weather. We had to reschedule our flight due to weather but were fortunate to have enough time in Talkeetna to find a beautiful, calm day for the flight. I think morning flights are better. Denali's weather is unpredictable but an overcast layer seemed to form later in the morning. We flew back under the overcast until leaving the park. The scenery is unbelievable. Also unbelievable is that people climb those mountains.

If you want another great flying adventure, I'd recommend a helicopter ride from Girdwood around the Prince William Sound. My wife and I used Alpine Air Alaska (http://alpineairalaska.com/) for a 1.5 hour flight in a Robinson R44. We landed on a rock in Prince William Sound and watched the glaciers calve about 200 yards away. Excellent pilot and the helicopter was brand new. This was not an inexpensive flight either.

An Alaska trip can be amazing without big money and big complexity. A leisurely walk on the Coastal Trail in Anchorage on a nice afternoon is about as nice a way to spend a couple of hours as anything you can do. Sitting on a rock outcropping along Turnagain Arm watching the tide change is pretty darn spectacular, too. No charge for admission and there's nothing like it. You can spend $2K a day per person to get pampered in a remote lodge or you can enjoy what's here on the cheap. To me, south central Alaska's greatest beauty is in the coastal areas where mountains meet the sea. Homer, Seward, Whittier, Valdez, Girdwood, south Anchorage.... all spectacular. I never get tired of looking at this place and always try to not take it for granted. Take your time and soak it in. I've had 1,144 consecutive two week stays in Alaska and I haven't come close to doing everything I want to do or seeing everything I want to see. For short term visitors my best advice is to slow down and savor your time. Don't get consumed with trying to pack in too much too fast. There's no joy in that.

SB

mtv wrote:Dianna,

There are LOTS of ways to enjoy Alaska without flying or boating. Many have mentioned Denali, that's an obvious one. Consider going to the Wrangells, specifically visit McCarthy. There is a VERY nice lodge there, that requires only that you park your car and walk across a foot bridge, unless they've now got a bridge across. Be aware that most rental car companies in AK prohibit going off paved roads with their cars, however.....and the road in to McCarthy is a long gravel one.

MTV

Mike/Dianna

Just an up date on McCarthy. The foot bridge is still the only way into town, but there are a number of vans that shuttle people about the area if they don't want to walk. And the 60 mile dirt road from Chitina to McCarthy has been substantially upgraded by DOT. You probably won't even get a flat tire now. Here is a link to the Kennicott lodge that you mentioned.

http://www.kennicottlodge.com/?utm_sour ... ign=alaska

There is also a nice lodge in McCarthy that is a bit more rustic: http://www.mccarthylodge.com/

And, if one were up for a 20 minute small airplane ride out of McCarthy, they could stay at the Ultima Thule lodge and do some back-country adventuring: http://www.ultimathulelodge.com/

Here also is a web site for Wrangell Mountain Air as it gives a nice feel for the overall Wrangell/McCarthy adventure.

http://www.wrangellmountainair.com/