One of the best ways to enjoy an amazing Alaska family vacation is to be able to have a flexible schedule to go to the places you want, and do the things you want. Touring Alaska independently without worrying about getting to the next reserved hotel is the kind of vacation your family will greatly enjoy. With an RV you can visit all of the must-see sights at your own pace, and stop for the night when you feel like it. Drive on your Alaska family vacation with a rented RV! A regular-sized 20-something foot recreational vehicle can be quite overwhelming for people who are used to driving a regular sedan, but make no mistake, for the kids, the RV rocks!
Instead of packing and unpacking at each hotel along the way, just taking along your lodging with you all the time is a great idea. Traveling around Alaska, after all, requires long drives from point A to point B. With all the RV parks all around the state, exploring Alaska on a motor home is just very easy.
Plan a trip to south central Alaska and begin your family vacation to Alaska in Anchorage, where the best place to stay is at the Anchorage RV Park. There are a lot of RV rentals in Anchorage, all you have to do is pick which one works out for you. Tour companies even help families plan their RV trips and give them safety tips on driving an RV. You will find how amazingly comfortable it is to be lodging an RV when you start unpacking all your things and stacking them in the RV drawers. Everything just fits! Stock the cabinets with food and other essential supplies and you are off!
The best way to introduce the wildlife in Alaska in this family vacation is a stop at the Alaska Zoo. Apt to their slogan, Connecting People With Animals, the interactive attractions in Alaska Zoo will surely be a great way for your children to get acquainted with their favorite animals and some of the world’s most endangered species. Driving from Anchorage to Portage Glacier is truly worthwhile. Be alert and have your cameras ready for wildlife sightings as you skirt the shores of Turnagain Arm. Upon arrival at Portage Lake, check on the cruise schedule and board the ship that will give you an hour cruise you will forever remember. The iceberg-dotted Portage Lake will definitely leave you speechless.
Take another long drive (about two hours) from Whittier to Seward where you can find the Alaska SeaLife Center located just along the Seward Highway. The Alaska SeaLife Center offers up-close and personal experience with Alaskan marine wildlife. Admission rates vary depending on the season, but you can be sure that they will always be affordable – young kids can even get in free of charge!
Drive 2 hours or so to Kenai and spend the night at the Diamond M Ranch RV Park. At Diamond M Ranch RV Park, fishing opportunities are available. Take another day cruise around the rocky and rugged Chiswell Islands the next day, a natural or wildlife area that is considered a sanctuary of nesting Alaskan birds. Right after the cruise, drive 3 1/2 hours north to Hope and enjoy the views of the Inlet and the Chugach and Kenai Mountains. At Hope, board the boat and cruise along the College Fjords, and you are sure to bring home some of the best pictures of your Alaskan family vacation.
Take the 2-hour drive to Palmer for the last stop of your Alaska family vacation with the RV. At Palmer, you can head to the Reindeer Farm and pet, feed and photograph the very friendly adult and baby reindeer or check out gigantic vegetables and monster trucks at the Alaska State Fair. Conclude your one-of-a-kind RV vacation with a stop at the Mat-Su Visitor Information Center where you can find not only informative and educational materials about the development of the Mat-su Valley, but also purchase souvenirs and other memorabilia for yourselves and your family and friends back home.
Head back to Anchorage to return your rented RV. As you do so, take this opportunity to reflect on the trip with your family. All the things seen and learned made the long hours of driving well worth it. Top it off with your children’s unending reliving of everything that has happened during your trip convinces you that this is indeed an Alaska family vacation they will never forget.
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wow O_o this is great!
I have to agree with everyone. This looks just like a photo! You never cease to amaze me! This has to be your best work yet! Definitly lookin’ forward to more masterpieces from you, Will. : D
I've driven the Alaskan highway 8 times and spend a lot of each summer staring at the words "Winnebago" as I try to get places.
If you go up the main route of the Alaskan Highway, the whole thing is paved. Less any 5-10 mile stretches undergoing road consruction in the summer. Gas stops at decent intervals. Campgrounds, free parking areas, roadhouse with showers. All very doable.
If you want to take the Cassiar Highway option, you'll see more of the Coast Range mountains (impressive) but have 250 miles of pretty good gravel road. And have to buy gas during the daytime, No midnight gas stations on that route. Similarly, the "Top of the World" route through Dawson City and past Eagle, AK is less traveled, less paved, but has its own beauty.
Worth it? When I'd gotten to all fifty states, I was going back to Alaska the most often. If you're up for months on the road, it is the obvious place to go if you are looking for scenery, critters and wide open spaces.
I wouldn't worry about mechanical issues. There are services available anywhere you go and other motorhomers are very helpful if you get stuck or need something.
I notice a lot more motorhomes driving at 45-50 mph presumably to save gas. Certainly don't plan on 800 mile days, but figure on averaging 40-45 mph and enjoying the scenery.
In Alaska, if you are driving under the speed limit and there are five vehicles behind you, it is illegal to go past a turn-off with letting people pass.
Some people load motorhomes on the state ferry in Bellingham, WA, come up the inside passage and start driving north from Haines, AK. Saves the first 1700 miles. (Or saves it for the return trip).
You need to go to your vet and get a health record and have their shots caught up on also. Have those records readily available when you cross the border. If they have AKC papers, it wouldn't hurt either, just to prove their identity.
I flew my friends 2 dogs and 3 cats to Alaska for them when they moved there. The Airlines (Alaska) said to have a current Health Record and the shots up to date when I took them to fly. You should be OK then. For safety's sake, you could call the border patrol and ask what is required also.
omg so you played this on ur keyboard x)
cool man and lots of respects to ALL of youre paintings
it feels like my brain doesn’t want to believe that is a painting and more of a picture. haha
LOL! I have to keep watching this! so Beautiful! Musics Perfect!
I think most RV companies just use a ferry for Seattle to Anchorage, but you can contact local RV dealerships and see if they need anyone to do that, or if they know another dealership who does. Also contact dealerships in Anchorage. Just get on yellowpages.com and search. Start dialing numbers. Good luck!
Depends on where in Alaska you'll be traveling. In Southeast Alaska (Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka, Skagway, etc.), you'll want pants and layers on top – tee-shirt for when it's warmer and you're hiking around, flannel shirt over that, and a raincoat. Take sneakers for walking around and hiking boots if you plan to be more rugged. A hat and sunglasses will be nice to reduce glare when on water or glacier.
buy a copy of the milepost guide book. a must for driveing in alaska.
i missed your stuff man
If you can manage to sleep in the Hummer, it would be cheaper and easier to drive it.
I have seen most of the state from the air, and I have to say nothing compares to it. Around Southcentral I would recommend Homer, Seward, Kodiak, Denali National Park, Girdwood, Valdez/Prince William Sound. In Southeastern Alaska I would suggest Sitka, Juneau, and Haines. I highly recommend taking a flightseeing tour out of Talkeetna (near Denali).
First off, there is no reason you can't combine mode of transit in one trip and reap the benefits of each which I see as:
Cruise: Minimal planning on your part, no need to navigate or drive, gorgeous costal scenery, many on-shore excursions offered ($$!), 7 square meals a day <G>, all the shipboard amenities, can be combined with airfare and/or land tours. But is limited to SE AK ("inside passage") and/or Prince William Sound which are gorgeous but a small fraction of the state.
Rent-a-car (presumably out of Anchorage): Cheapest option (if you car camp) and let's you get to Denali NP, Fairbanks, Kenai, Seward, Homer, Valdez, etc. Check the mileages – I enjoy doing the 500 miles from Kenai to Fairbanks in a day, but I'm a serious road warrior. You have the most flexibility and can set your own schedule. But if it is rainy or cold you can feel cooped up (unlike on a train or ship). You also have the burden/pleasure of doing all the driving and the pre-trip planning. Consider the off-airport off-brands like rent-a-wreck if price is important to you.
RVing is the most flexible but gas prices are running $2.29 (ANC) to $2.59 (rural) and will likely be $0.20 more in summer. If it replaces your hotel bills and most of your restuarant costs you can come out ahead, especially for a family. Definitely nicer than car camping if there's rain or mosquitos. Fred Meyers and WallMart let you park for free in their lots. Hardly a wilderness experience but a cheap way to see the sites in Anchorage, Soldotna, and Fairbanks. Driving an RV is not very relaxing unless you have experience with bigger rigs.
The Alaskan Railraod is a great way to get from Anchorage to Denali and on to Fairbanks. Partly because you are 12-15 feet up and you have better views of the scenery and wildlife. You can also get to Seward or Whittier (could connect with a cruise) on the RR. Good if you want no driving responsibilities and need a way to connect the bigger destinations.
If you are considering a cruise, you probably wouldn't consider hitchhiking (which works better up here than in the 48 states).
Fly-in camps are mostly oriented to hunting and fishing. They are expensive but offer the hunter-gatherer wannabe opportunities unlike anything back home.
Another option you didn't mention is the Alaska State Ferry. It can take you throughout SE AK and for cheap! You can start in Bellingham, WA and go as far as Haines easily with a few ships each summer all the way to Whittier, Seward and Homer. A one-way ticket gives you unlimited time at every stop (just grab the next ferry going in your direction). You'd still have land costs (and no swimming pool, casino, floor shows, etc while on board), but you get to see the same scenery, whales and eagles that people pay Princess Cruises thousands of dollars for.
Most of the state is not accessible by any of the above modes – you need to hop Alaska Airlines or Pennair to Nome, Barrow, Bethel, Kotz, etc and then charter a boat or small plane from there. But for a first trip to AK, stick to the Inside Passage and/or the road system. There's a wealth of spectacular things to see and do, plenty to keep you busy for many weeks. On future trips, you'll have your bearings and be able to focus on what most interests you.
My personal favorite is a road-trip/car-camping and to travel the whole Alaskan Highway ("Alcan") to get up here. Then you really have an appreciation of how fricking big even a 1/4 of the state is and how far (physically, culturally, scenically, climatically, politically) it is from the 48 states. While I've done it in 51 hours from Seattle, you really need a week in each direction plus the time you'll spend in AK at Denali NP, etc.
When I first saw this I was like “that’s a photo.” SO INCREDIBLE.
Good news: You may start to get some freezing nights at the end of your trip (well, not in Valdez and Homer, but inland) and that really knocks down the squitters. Also, the fishermen and motorhomes are largely gone, so there are fewer crowds and traffic.
The fleece jacket is a good plan. Add a unlined rain shell (goretex or just waterproof nylon) and layer them – one, the other, or both.
You can get some seriously strong and cold winds come down off a glacier. It is a local phenom, but that's where you are planning to go. You'll want the hat and light gloves then too. NIghts can be 50F, maybe 45F.
You don't need any dress-up clothes. Clean Levi's are fine. Carhartts and you'll look like a local. Dockers and you'll look like a tourist or a lawyer on this way to the courthouse. Remember, everyone you'll see each day, doesn't know you wore the same thing yesterday.
Shorts? Mostly, no. Days will be generally be 60F, but could be 75-80F if a late heat wave hits Fairbanks. So toss in one pair.
We do have stores up here, so if you forget something, it is easy to get.
Other concerns: if you're going to fish, get a mosquito headnet so they don't fly up your nose, ears, etc. Bring or (buy up here) DEET bug repellent.
Other tips: The shoreline in Seward is a big public RV park with great views (the land is unstable so it can't be built on). Fred Meyers in Soldotna and some in Anchorage let motorhome park for free. Come to see the Great Land and stay at a supermarket/superstore. Convenient, though, because you can get a pair of socks and bad Chinese deli food inside.
Strongly consider a day tour in Resurrection Bay / Kenai Fjords NP out of Seward. Calving glaciers, sea mammals, etc Bring scopolamine or dramamine if you need it.
As more RVs drive 45-50mph to save gas, I'll point out that Alaska law (and common courtesy) prohibit you passing a turn-off if you have 5 or more vehicles behind you.
Alaskaland ( Pioneer Park ) in Fairbanks is worth 1/2 a day.
In Anchorage, the art and history museum is good and the Native Cultural Center is very good.
You're too late for kings, but the silvers are running then and they are fun to have on the line. There are also halibut out of Homer.
Generally, you've plotted out some of the high spots. Certainly the scenic ones.
What about Denali NP ("Mt McKinley")? That's the best place to see lots of critters.
wow it looks as if it was taken by a camera, awesome work man
Hey will,, man could i get the mp3 for this tune??? please is absolutely amazing.