We are headed to Kodiak in mid September next year. We have been to this area and lodge several times and love it. We have also been down the inside passage on the ferry system and on another trip been to Girdwood, Whittier and the Kenai peninsula.

On the trip in September, we really want to take a flight around Denali but not wanting to take a bus tour into the park since being stuck on a bus isn't our cup of tea. We scheduled this flight two years ago and had no flexibility...and it was cancelled due to weather. Trying to schedule it in September with a jaunt down to Valdez in between.

Current thoughts are:

Sept 7 Arrive Anchorage at 330 pm Get car
Sept 7 Stay in Talkeetna
Sept 8 Schedule Denali Flight and sight see
Sept 9 Leave Talkeetna, Drive to Whittier and take ferry ride (5 1/2 hours) to Valdez. Stay in or around Valdez.
Sept 10 Drive around to Palmer Area
Sept 11 - open in case Denali flight from 8th gets cancelled we can reschedule or do something else around Denali
Sept 11 stay in Anchorage
Sept 12 fly to Kodiak
Sept 13-17 Raspberry Island Lodge.
Sept 17 Fly Home.

So, looking for suggestions/recommendations/modifications to the bolded part of this....or things to do enroute from one place to another especially from those that have lived in the area. We are very flexible for those 4 days. As you can tell, we have no problem driving - and know that weather is hit and miss.

Thanks

Former Valdez resident here. Haven't been back since 2006.
The ferry is a great way to go. Relax and enjoy the cruise. Watch out for icebergs and Killer Whales.

In Valdez, you've basically got the Best Western at the Harbor.
http://www.valdezharborinn.com/

Or, the old Totem Inn looks like it's remodeled and moved upscale from what it used to be.
https://totemhotelandsuites.com/

That time of year, you might start to get some snow up in the mountains around Valdez but hopefully nothing in town while you're there. Valdez does average over 20 feet of snow a year.

Thanks.

The road to Denali Backcountry is officially closed till 2023 due to the rockslides. If you land at the backcountry airport and get out you would be one of very few people there sightseeing. That is the only way people are going to get to the backcountry lodge in 2022.

Thanks. Will look at that.

You're correct, the Totem has been greatly remodeled and I'd highly recommend staying here if visiting Valdez. I was here last summer for work for 3 nights. I'll stand that the drive to Valdez along the Richardson Highway is the best stretch in the State. If time allows, take the side venture to McCarthy and take a mine tour.

Did not know about the mine tour....will add it!

Thanks.

Skip Valdez hit up Seward.

Straight Talk said:

---

Skip Valdez hit up Seward.

---

We have been to Seward, and the Kenai minus Homer.

Probably just stay in Valdez and drive around to Palmer, and perhaps take in some sights toward Wragell then between Glenallen and Palmer with glaciers…..

Seward and the Kenai are cool though….

Couple of photos from trip to Kodiak in 2019.

We stayed in a pretty nice Airbnb in Valdez. Took a boat trip to see glaciers and animals, had a pretty good time.

You'll be missing an amazing drive been Glenallen and Valdez. Highly recommend that drive.

Thanks. Looks like that will be part of our itinerary

Some work photos from my S Richardson trip this past summer...

These bridges cross the Lowe River inside of Keystone Canyon





This is the Lowe River just outside of the Canyon on the Glenallen side



This is the Lakina River Bridge on near McCarthy



My assistant walking the catwalk on the Kuskalana River Bridge (Rd on the way to McCarthy)



Just for fun I'll share a couple of images of us Inspecting the Hurricane Gulch Bridge on the Parks Hwy (Near Denali)