Anyone been to Alaska??
 

My fiance and I have decided to go to Alaska on our honeymoon! He's been once, but I've never been. I'm so excited! We are taking a cruise from Vancouver down to Whittier with several stops in between. Does anyone have any advice or tips of things we should definitely do? My fiance has already planned some excursions for us but I wanted to see if you guys had any recommendations!

Thanks so much! :)

That's where my husband and I went on our honeymoon last year!!!!!!! It was sooooo incredibly beautiful, quiet and romantic. Which cruise line are you going on? What are the stops on the way? DEFINATELY upgrade your room if you can, we were upgraded to a VIP suite for a very reasonable price and would never do it any other way. Ohhh you are soooooo lucky!! I want to go back!

...... you could visit Eddie, Jack, & Rusty!!! :D

We are cruising on Princess. We made sure to get a suite with a private balcony :)

We are stopping in Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway and doing a scenic cruise in Glacier Bay and College Fjord.

I've never been there. Sorry I can't help. :(

Oh, that sounds fun! :D

I went a few years ago while visiting family in the Yukon! We only went to Haines and Skagway though. If you go to Skagway, there's a train ride you can take and you get some BEAUTIFUL views, waterfalls, forest, the moss-overgrown chilkoot trail, and I believe it's the tallest narrow-guage railway in existence. The bridges are a little scary :)

White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad - Skagway, Alaska

Oh, that's on our itinerary!! Sounds beautiful :)

YES! I've been twice and am going again this FRIDAY (Aug 1). I can hardly wait. It is my absolute favorite place on earth (in the summer, of course). We are not going on a cruise, we are flying into Anchorage, renting a car and going down to the Kenai Peninsula for two weeks.

When you are in Skagway, take the White Pass narrow gauge train. Take the 8 hour trip if you have time. There is also a four hour trip, but do the 8 if you can. That was some of the most spectacular scenery I have ever seen in my life. Emerald Lake is just stunning.

It doesn't sound like you are going up to Denali, but if by chance you do, take a side trip to Goose Lake kennels to see Iditarod champion Jeff King's kennels.

If you have the chance take a float plane or helicopter ride over the glaciers, they are just spectacular from the air. Also, take a whale watching tour.

Do take warm clothes - a jacket or sweater with a hood. Plan on wearing layers because even in the summer it can be quite chilly. It will be cold on the ship out on the deck, especially when you cruise up to the glaciers.

Also, remember that it may rain some everyday - usually not enough to need an umbrella - but do take a rain jacket with a hood.

Be sure to take binocculars (we take two pair so we don't have to fight over them :)) and a good camera - the scenery is just breathtaking.

On every cruise (two) we've taken from Vancouver, it has been really rough when we got up the next morning and many many people get sick. So, we always wear scopalamine patches. Our last cruise, the second day was very bad and half the ship was in bed - but not us with our trusty patches. After that, we really didn't have any more rough water.

Look over the side trips you can take, and do everything that looks interesting - you won't be disappointed!!! It's a once in a lifetime trip - well we are taking it three times because once or twice was just not enough!!!

ENJOY!!!

Glacier Bay is absolutely amazing. It was so incredibly quiet, serene and almost magical...

We stopped at those places too. The only thing I had a problem with was the amount of time on the ship, and the fact that I get really antsy. Even though we had all those stops, I almost went stir crazy just because I am go go go usually and we did a lot of relaxing, which you need after a wedding. Plus, in Skagway we went into the Yukon for a horseback ride and it was over an hour drive on a bus which about made me sick. Other than that, it was amazing. I LOVED Ketchican.

Thanks for all the tips. I already told FI that we need to get a pair of binocculars before we go. I get seasick so I'm a little nervous! Between the ship and the helicopter ride, etc I feel like I'm gonna be naseous a lot! :rolleyes: I'll have to look for those patches you mentioned!

Also, we are going in September so I'm expecting it to be pretty chilly. I got a nice insulated jacket that I hope will keep me warm.

Everyone I've talked to that has been has loved it! I can't wait to go :D

Here are some of our pictures from last year.

1. road between Kenai and Homer
2. at the summit of the White Pass railroad
3. fly fishing on the Anchor river
4. beautiful flowers, note how tall they are!!! :eek:

You have to get the patches from your doctor, they require a prescription. DEFINITELY get some - one patch lasts for 3 days, then you have to put on a new one. You will be fine if you wear them. I get very very seasick and I am fine with them.

Yes, it will be really chilly in September - but that is off season, you are very lucky, because there won't be so many tourists!!!

Those pictures are gorgeous!

That's fireweed, right? It's everywhere up there and BEAUTIFUL! I bought a bunch of fireweed seeds to bring back for my friend who is big into horticulture and landscaping. I don't know if she ever used it though!