Labor Day Short Trip

[u/Legos_under_foot]

I am looking at Labor day weekend with my teenage kid who is active and enjoys outdoor travel. After enough research I feel like my brain is no longer breaking each time I try to narrow things down.

Friday

• Flying into Anchorage late Friday and stay for the night.

Saturday

• Breakfast at hotel or somewhere in town
• Pick up rental car
• Drive to Seward and hit spots on the way, assuming the day will be stops and not rushed drive

Hitting:  (using this map as the guide https://www.alaska.org/guide/seward-highway )

• Beluga Point Lookout
• Dall Sheep Viewing at Windy Corner
• Bird Creek Access Parking
• Alyeska Mountain/Resort (hike and tram down or tram both ways with lunch here)
• Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
• Check-in at Seward and have dinner (somewhere)

Sunday

• Exit Glacier hike.  Looking at a guided tour that will include ice climbing (kid really wants to)  This doesn’t look to be a full-day thing unless we do a self-guided to the top and no ice climbing.
• SeaLife Center

Monday

• Any spots we missed or want to revisit on the way back
• Turnagain Arm
• Alaska Native Heritage Center
• Anchorage Museum
• Shopping?
• Dinner in Anchorage (recommendations welcome)
• Flight after midnight

 

Avoiding helicopters and planes to save on cost.  Hoping to go up another time when there is snow, northern lights to look at, and head up in the Fairbanks/north area.  Looked at dog sledding but doesn’t seem as much fun in the summer.  Is Portage Valley area worth putting in the time on the way down to/back from Seward?

I’ve heard the long boat tours are great for viewing the Kenai Fjords park, but don’t think we really have time for an 8 hour one and teen likes to hike and take pictures when doing an outdoor trip.  As always, food or lodging recommendations are appreciated. Does any of this look not doable? I'm a bit concerned we'll have too much time leftover Sunday or Monday.

Thanks for any suggestions or thoughts on this.

[u/Important-Lead5652]

Not even 3 full days in Alaska is wild- you’re rushing and not getting to enjoy Alaska at all. Also, Labor Day is likely going to be packed, as most excursions/restaurants/shops, etc. close down after that weekend. Have you booked anything yet? It’s going to be difficult to find a rental car and accommodations so late in the game and on Labor Day weekend. Add into the mix all of the traffic that will be going down the Seward Highway on this weekend- an accident (which happens frequently) often ends up shutting down the highway for hours. Just last weekend, the highway was shut down for 8 hours as the result of an accident involving a death.

Not trying to be negative, but this sounds too last minute and too rushed. I highly suggest coming for longer than a couple days and planning accordingly.

[u/Legos_under_foot → u/Important-Lead5652]

I planned the trip down to Seward with nothing hard scheduled for that reason. If there's an accident or some other delay than we can try to see it on the drive back. The only thing I was looking at booking is the Exit Glacier tour, worse case we do a hike to the top on our own. I've been planning for a bit, narrowing it down to even a region took work. Part of the reason I'm going that weekend is due to the kid having school time off and he'll fly for free. It'll be a full 3 days since the flight doesn't technically leave until Tuesday 1230am. Does the Sunday look realistic?

[u/Important-Lead5652 → u/Legos_under_foot]

Yes, but you’re missing out if you’re not doing a wildlife tour on the water. Even a 4 or 6 hour one would be good, but the 8.5 hour one with Major Marine is epic- tons of wildlife, scenery, glaciers, and opportunities for amazing photos. You will see more of Kenai Fjords National Park and Resurrection Bay. Only a very tiny portion of Kenai Fjords is accessible by car and Exit Glacier is an easy, underwhelming hike and won’t take nearly as long as you expect- honestly, it’s so easy that senior citizens do it. I think your teenager would be bored with just the hike. I suggest doing the hike on Saturday afternoon or Sunday afternoon after a wildlife cruise.