Drawing on the Last Trip

The beauty of traveling is the lessons you learn.  The benefit of returning to a favourite destination, is being able to draw on what you know works, what doesn't and what you want to explore that you couldn't fit in last time.

Our last Trip to Alaska was in 2006.  We spent six weeks exploring, and our mode of travel was RV, Alaska State Ferries, Light Aircraft and Commercial Aircraft, and rental cars.  Our accommodation was RV, Log Cabins, Berths on the Ferries and one or two motels.

Starting in Anchorage, we grabbed our RV from Great Alaskan Holiday's, followed the directions they provided to do the shopping and headed out of Anchorage.  Camped first night on Nancy Lake, then:

Byers Lake
Cantwell
Denali National Park -  Riley Camp Ground 3 nights.
Fairbanks - Rivers Edge RV Resort
Up on the Chena River to observe the Northern Lights
Back via North Pole  and Santa Clause House - camped out along the Richardson H/way
In to Valdez (via Worthington Glacier - A big days drive) 2 nights - sailed on a tour out among the icebergs and Glacier in Prince William Sound - Awesome
Up out of Valdez and camped at Blueberry Lake - our daughter's 10th birthday and tried to get as high up the range as we could for snow, missed by 50m :)  But the Ice on the RV was awesome.
Back along the Glenn Hwy, camped outside Anchorage
Into Anchorage for the Markets and down Sterling Hwy
Ninilchik to Homer 3 nights
Flew with Bald Mountain Air over to Brooks Lodge, Katmai NP to walk with the Grizzly Bears
Anchor Point for the night
Russian River - Camp Ground
Anchorage - return RV
Flight to Juneau - Motel
Ferry to Skagway, Log Cabin at Skagway Bungalows for 3 nights rented a wreck a Sourdough Car Rentals - a TBird. (loved it)  Drove up to Carcross in the Yukon
Missed Ferry back to Juneau, so chartered a light plane up from Juneau, collected us at 5.30pm, and flew down the Inside Passage, the pilot was great with the kids, it was a 6 seater, he took us over Rainbow Glacier and a hanging glacier, saw some Bow head Whales bubbling/feeding, awesome.
Rental Car up to a Log Cabin - Alaskan Williwaws on Tee Harbour about 40min north of Juneau for 9 nights - very relaxing, went Ice skating in Juneau, Mendenhall Glacier, we drove to the end of all main roads in Juneau.
Overnight Ferry (had a lovely cabin, the Ferry had a Restauant, a lovely Bar and a Movie Theatre - why would you want to be on a cruise ship?), sailed down to Ketchikan - at Cape Fox Lodge wonderful accommodation.
Flight out to LA and home.

So, where too on this exploration, the planning commenced a long time ago.