Author Topic: Alaska Master Thread  (Read 189385 times)

Offline wonderlust

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Re: Alaska Master Thread
« Reply #340 on: June 17, 2014, 12:46:00 PM »
I have a plethora of various  airline miles( as most ppl on ddf) which Milage programs offer the best value for economy from east coast?

Offline henche

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Re: Alaska Master Thread
« Reply #341 on: June 17, 2014, 12:55:12 PM »
I have a plethora of various  airline miles( as most ppl on ddf) which Milage programs offer the best value for economy from east coast?

Try flying Alaskan direct from Newark, using AA miles. I'd say that's the best value.

Online Something Fishy

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Re: Alaska Master Thread
« Reply #342 on: June 17, 2014, 01:00:53 PM »
Make sure you also check cash prices. Sometimes they're really low - I paid $172 for ANC-MSP-LGA on DL last summer.
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Offline wonderlust

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Re: Alaska Master Thread
« Reply #343 on: June 17, 2014, 08:45:18 PM »
Try flying Alaskan direct from Newark, using AA miles. I'd say that's the best value.
Thanks that sounds real sweet.

Offline wonderlust

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Re: Alaska Master Thread
« Reply #344 on: June 17, 2014, 09:03:31 PM »
Make sure you also check cash prices. Sometimes they're really low - I paid $172 for ANC-MSP-LGA on DL last summer.
Wow. What's the shortest time frame that is still reasonably worth going for? 6days?

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Re: Alaska Master Thread
« Reply #345 on: June 17, 2014, 09:10:14 PM »
Wow. What's the shortest time frame that is still reasonably worth going for? 6days?

I went Sun-Thu.
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Offline bem684

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Re: Alaska Master Thread
« Reply #346 on: July 30, 2014, 08:13:09 PM »
A friend of mine has been RVing for the past 12 months with his family all over the western US, Canada, and Alaska.  He's also a professional photographer so he has some nice shots if you are interested in seeing them.  This link takes you to the day or two before they entered Alaska, but day 1 started in Monsey and there's a "Trip Map" page with an interactive google map so you can find any day from that map.

http://lookbeforeyoulive.com/?p=4770

Offline meshugener

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Re: Alaska Master Thread
« Reply #347 on: July 31, 2014, 12:35:00 PM »
A friend of mine has been RVing for the past 12 months with his family all over the western US, Canada, and Alaska.  He's also a professional photographer so he has some nice shots if you are interested in seeing them.  This link takes you to the day or two before they entered Alaska, but day 1 started in Monsey and there's a "Trip Map" page with an interactive google map so you can find any day from that map.

http://lookbeforeyoulive.com/?p=4770
This is sick
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Offline whYME

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Re: Alaska Master Thread
« Reply #348 on: July 31, 2014, 04:16:58 PM »
A friend of mine has been RVing for the past 12 months with his family all over the western US, Canada, and Alaska.  He's also a professional photographer so he has some nice shots if you are interested in seeing them.  This link takes you to the day or two before they entered Alaska, but day 1 started in Monsey and there's a "Trip Map" page with an interactive google map so you can find any day from that map.

http://lookbeforeyoulive.com/?p=4770
Wow, that is just so awesome on so many levels.
I don't think I've ever been so jealous in my entire life...

Offline 12HRS

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Re: Alaska Master Thread
« Reply #349 on: July 31, 2014, 05:07:37 PM »
Wow, that is just so awesome on so many levels.
I don't think I've ever been so jealous in my entire life...

+1

Just need more time to read through all the posts.

Online Joe4007

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Re: Alaska Master Thread
« Reply #350 on: July 31, 2014, 05:11:10 PM »
This is sick
Wow, that is just so awesome on so many levels.
I don't think I've ever been so jealous in my entire life...
"The difference between you and him and him and me isn't different at all: we’re all different.” ~ Jarod Kintz

Offline meshugener

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Re: Alaska Master Thread
« Reply #351 on: July 31, 2014, 09:00:20 PM »
"The difference between you and him and him and me isn't different at all: we’re all different.” ~ Jarod Kintz
"The trouble with quotes on the Internet is that it's difficult to determine whether or not they are genuine." - Abraham Lincoln
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Offline Achas Veachas

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Re: Alaska Master Thread
« Reply #352 on: July 31, 2014, 09:42:55 PM »
"The trouble with quotes on the Internet is that it's difficult to determine whether or not they are genuine." - Abraham Lincoln
The most inane musing of the commonest of folk can be made to sound important by affixing the name of a famous philosopher at the end.  -Plato

Offline meshugener

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Re: Alaska Master Thread
« Reply #353 on: July 31, 2014, 10:10:35 PM »
The most inane musing of the commonest of folk can be made to sound important by affixing the name of a famous philosopher at the end.  -Plato
  ;D
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Offline jaywhy

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Re: Alaska Master Thread
« Reply #354 on: August 03, 2014, 10:03:48 AM »
A friend of mine has been RVing for the past 12 months with his family all over the western US, Canada, and Alaska.  He's also a professional photographer so he has some nice shots if you are interested in seeing them.  This link takes you to the day or two before they entered Alaska, but day 1 started in Monsey and there's a "Trip Map" page with an interactive google map so you can find any day from that map.

http://lookbeforeyoulive.com/?p=4770
Wow.

Offline GreatFoodinMiami

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Re: Alaska Master Thread
« Reply #355 on: August 24, 2014, 02:00:29 PM »
Just returned from 8 days in Alaska with the family (4 children). Best thing I ever did. Dan, sorry, you were wrong. I am not suicidal. had an absolutely amazing time.

Not going to write a lengthy trip report as I simply do not have the time or energy.

Families who are interested, feel free to post Q's or PM me. My trip was very different than SF's as I went with kids (ages 4-14)


Offline sky121

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Re: Alaska Master Thread
« Reply #356 on: August 24, 2014, 02:04:41 PM »
What about a short TR? Can we get one of those ?
"Not all who wander are lost"

Offline GreatFoodinMiami

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Re: Alaska Master Thread
« Reply #357 on: August 24, 2014, 02:48:50 PM »
Ok. Here's where I went:

Thursday
Thunderbird Falls - http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/maps/thunderbirdfallsguide.pdf
Not worth making a trip for this, but if it happens to be on the way to somewhere, as it was for me, then well worth it.

Talkkeetna Air Taxi - Plane ride into the mountains with glacier landing. -
http://www.talkeetnaair.com/
Very expensive, though the memories / experience will last a lifetime. If you can figure it into your budget, do it. Of all the private flights to the mountains with glacier landings, this one is the most affordable.

Friday
Hatcher Pass -
http://www.alaska.org/detail/hatcher-pass
Absolutely awesome! maybe the best thing I did in Alaska.
It's free.

Raindeer Farm in Palmer
http://www.reindeerfarm.com/Pages/default.aspx
Great fun for the kids.
Genuinely unique to Alaska
Total cost was about $45

Shabbos
Shabbos at the Residence Inn (Marriott) next door to the Chabad House.
They have a 2 bedroom room, with a "full" kitchen.
May be pricey.

Paid for Shabbos lunch at the Chabad House. Considered it Tzedaka. Was well worth getting fed and not having to make my own meal.

Sunday
Beluga Point
http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=viewinglocations.belugapoint
Great to climb the rocks and hope to see beluga whales, and depending on the time of month, a bore tide.
Free

Bird Creek
http://www.alaskanoutfitting.com/fishing/birdcreek/birdcreek.shtml
Great place to watch fishermen do their thing
If you can or want to, i believe you can rent fishing equipment and join the fun.

Hike up Mount Alyeska
http://www.alyeskaresort.com/events-activities/summer-hiking-trekking.aspx
For adults and children, who can make it up the 2.5 mile hike, with 2,300 ft elevation.
For those who cannot make it, there is a cable car that takes you to the top.
The cable car cost money to go up, free on the way down.
Warning! you may encounter a bear. make sure you have either, bear spray, a gun, or someone accompanying you who has bear spray or a gun.
Approximate cost is $45.

Drive down the Seward Higway to Seward. One of the most scenic rides you will ever do.

Monday
Wildlife Boat Cruise
https://www.majormarine.com/kf/kenai-fjords-halfday-wildlife-cruise/
MAKE SURE YOU TAKE YOUR DRAMAMINE BEFORE GETTING ON THIS BOAT.
Wildlife varies. We saW seals and whales up close. Bald eagles, porpoises and mountain goats from a distance.
About $300.

Tuesday
Seavey's Dog Sled
http://www.ididaride.com/
Great fun for the kids and genuinely something you will only do in Alaska.
About $250.

Exit Glacier
http://www.nps.gov/kefj/planyourvisit/exit-glacier.htm
Yes. SF, will tell you that there are better. But if you do not want to spend the whole day in the car driving, and / or your 5 year is not up for a crazy hike, this will do just fine. We were able to go to the bottom of the glacier and climb on the ice. Graet hike.
Not worth it to hike to the top of the mountain to see the glacier from a distance. Hike to the "toe" and feel and climb on the glacier from the bottom up.
Free

Wednesday
Fishing
http://www.sewardfishingclub.com/
This company has lots of negative reviews online and they may be deserved. They had a groupon running and I took advantage of it.
If you are an experienced fisherman and are looking to catch a ton of fish, this may not be the charter you should choose. But if you have no experience fishing and just want to have a good time, and maybe catch a few fish, this is a great choice. The crew was excellent with my kids. We caught 7 fish, sent 5 back and kept the two salmon.
$450

Thursday
Drove slowly back to Anchorage to catch out evening flight. Stopped at some lakes / small hikes, that we missed on the way down.
Stopped at portage lake for lunch. Happened to be, there were a few SMALL icebergs floating around.
Me personally, I would not waste my time and money on the portage glacier cruise. It's proibably very similar to going on the Maid of The Mist. You go out there, take a few pictures and come back. <Much better idea, if you can, is to rent a kayak and / or stand up paddle-board and go out to the glacier yourself. That's a whole day activity in itself.
Free, unless you rent the board / kayak.

A drive to Whittier, through the one way tunnel is a awesome drive, so I was told by the locals, but did not have time.

Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
http://www.alaskawildlife.org/
Great fun for the kids and if you have not yet seen a moose or a bear, you will see one here.
$35 max per car.

A few things to note:
Alaska is expensive. I had free airfare, but paid for rental car, hotels, food and entertainment.
My guess, is that for one week, you need to budget $3,500 for the 1st person and then $500 for each additional person. This doe NOT include airfare.

There are few national chain hotels outside of Anchorage. Don't expect to be able to get hotels with points. Joe's Cabins does not take points.

Use public restrooms when you find them. Most parks have outhouses. Ok for the boys. Not much fun for the girls. When you find a real bathroom, use it!

Fill up with gas, whenever you can. Gas is expensive in Alsaka and not always readily available. There will be multiple stretches of 40, 50 or even 90 miles, where you will not find gas.

I prepared lots of meat and chicken in advance. Made hamburger patties, bought think sliced chicken breasts, cold cuts and steaks. Marinated the meat and chicken, made the hamburger patties in advance, vacuum packed them in meal portions.
Here's the vacuum that I bought. worked just fine. http://www.walmart.com/ip/FoodSaver-FreshSaver-Handheld-Vacuum-System/15777783

Here is the grill that I used:http://www.amazon.com/Fuego-Element-Portable-Gas-Grill/dp/B004PZN2SS
I bought it on woot for $58. If you can have it shipped directly to Alaska, that's probably a good idea.

Any cooler can be used to transport your fish back to the mainland. Alternatively, every supermarket in Alaska sells cardboard boxes with Styrofoam inserts which fit perfectly with airplane luggage regulations.

There's no perfect time to go to Alaska, each month seems to have it's pro's and cons. I went in August, just returned. My guess is that July is best. by the time I got there, the berries had all been picked, the salmon had already done their upstream swimming, which means that the bears were not readily available.

I loved the long days, Shabbos was a challenge, though the Chabad House starts Shachris at 10:30, followed by a kiddush and then mincha, which goes on until about 3PM. Shabbos ended at 11:30, the week I was there. In July, you might find it ending at 1am.
« Last Edit: August 24, 2014, 03:14:00 PM by GreatFoodinMiami »

Offline smart brit

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Re: Alaska Master Thread
« Reply #358 on: August 24, 2014, 05:51:21 PM »
Thanks for the report!
Contemplating going with kids or not!

Offline GreatFoodinMiami

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Re: Alaska Master Thread
« Reply #359 on: August 24, 2014, 08:43:25 PM »
Not sure how old your kids are, but if they are old enough to appreciate it, ABSOLUTELY take the kids. You will give them an experience that they will never forget.