Alaska in Depth
A Grand Scale Tour of a Grand Scale State
Details exclusive to Travel Team Land/Sea Tour
June 13
Ready for the big adventure? Our Delta flight departs
from New Bern mid morning for
Atlanta and on to
Seattle.
Upon arrival that evening, we’ll be transported to the Holiday Inn
Sea Tac.
After check in, join us for an hors d’oeuvre reception with
time to meet and greet join this super
mix of folks!
June 14
After a full breakfast at the hotel, we’ll fly on Alaska
Airlines to Juneau.
Located on the
Gastineau Channel, Juneau is
the only state capitol in the county not accessible by roads. With a
population
of about 36,000, Juneau boasts a small town atmosphere in a
walker-friendly setting. A charter bus will
transport our party to the
Prospector Hotel,
a lively frontier property. On the docks across from the hotel,
bald eagles wait for your camera to catch their grace.
Begin the Juneau experience with lunch at any number of spots, then meet at the Alaska
State
Museum
(right next to our hotel) for an introduction to the culture and diversity of
this amazing land.
A knowledgeable guide will offer personal insight to the collection. The first
AK evening is free for dining,
shopping, watching float planes land and singing at theRed Dog Saloon. Then
rest peacefully in the fresh
mountain air.
June 15
Start your day with a hearty breakfast buffet at the
Prospector, then enjoy free time in
Juneau.
Nestled into the mountainside,
the downtown is full of
quaint shops, local native art and scenic beauty while the
surrounding rainforest offers fine outdoor opportunities. Take the
Mt. Roberts Tramway 1500 feet to the top
of Mt Roberts for awesome views of the Inside Passage and the city of Juneau.
While there enjoy incredible
scenery, native art, nature trails, and the award-winning film “Seeing
Daylight” in the Chilkat Theater.
The restaurant serves tasty food with an amazing view.
Some folks may charter a flight-see or salmon/halibut fishing
trip. Others might visit the remains of an old
gold mine with a guide, partake in a salmon bake and theater presentation, or do
a self-guided walking tour
past famous buildings, totems, churches and sculptures. You may plan to
visit Mendenhall Glacier for your
first up-close view of big ice, or perhaps sip Summer Ale after an Alaska
Brewery tour. On your second
Juneau
evening, sample more fresh seafood, sing another tune at the Red Dog Saloon or
visit the wild west bar at the
historic Alaska Hotel before heading back to the Prospector.
June 16
This morning we’ll
be transported to beautiful
Auk Bay where we board our vessel
for a private
Allen Marine Whale Watching Tour to Bartlet Cove.
Bring your binoculars for a spectacular view of marine
wildlife and Arctic birds in Icy Strait. Mid afternoon we’ll arrive at
Glacier Bay National Park, a pristine wilderness
area hosting snow-capped mountains, tidewater glaciers, lush rainforest
and abundant wildlife. We’ll make rustic
Glacier Bay Lodge our home base. Here in Bartlett Cove, the
lodge holds the Park Service Visitor Center
and daily ranger programs. After check-in, enjoy a three course
Alaskan dinner in the Fairweather Dining
Room.* Sit in the cozy lounge by the stone fireplace or stroll on the
dock overlooking the Cove. Remember. it won’t
get dark until about 1AM.
June 17
Sleep in late this
morning if you like… Day five is reserved for personal options in a pristine
environment.
Follow the short rainforest trails through moss-covered thickets by lily pad
patches along a pleasant trail to the hidden
pond. Kayakers can reserve a guided paddle into the Ice Age. Some folks
may book a fishing expedition for halibut
r salmon on a party boat from Gustavus. A big fresh water “lunker” could be
waiting in the lake at the top of the mountain
trail. Many will settle in with a good book for part of the day or gather
around for a lively card game. Float plane flight-sees
an be a chartered for a ride over miles of glaciers in the park. Golf
enthusiasts may want to play on a “one of a kind”
course in Gustavus where an “Eagle” is a completely new concept.
Breakfast and Dinner will be provided in
the Fairweather Dining Room. Don’t miss the ranger program at 9PM.
June 18
After
early morning coffee and a full breakfast, we will catch
the Fairweather Day Cruise into the park.
Glacier Bay is the crown
jewel of Southeast Alaska’s Inside Passage. More than 100 alpine and valley
glaciers flow f
rom the Fairweather and St. Elias range in Glacier Bay National Pak. This
coastal mountain range holds the lofty
15,320 foot high Mount Fairweather. Hopefully we’ll see some “calving” icebergs
within the fjords. A Park Service
Ranger on board our high speed heated catamaran offers information and insight.
We’ll watch sea lions, harbor seals,
bald eagles, horned puffins and perhaps a bear and mountain goat, if lucky. Our
vessel has a top-deck viewing area
and interior seating with picture windows all around. We’ll experience a
transition from lush forest, to bare rock,
to retreating glaciers. Deep within the West Arm lies Johns Hopkins Inlet with
the largest concentration of harbor seals
in Alaska… over 4000. A cooked lunch is served on-board followed
by mid-afternoon hot chowder and fresh cookies.
When
we return , we’ll be transported to the Gustavus Airport
(12 mi) to catch our
Alaska Airline flight
to
Anchorage.
Touching down at Juneau International, we have time to eat while waiting to
board the next portion
of our flight. Upon arrival at Anchorage International, a charter bus
will take us downtown to the Springhill Suites
for the night.
June 19
After breakfast
at Springhill Suites, we’ll take an hour guided trolley tour
to see the highlights of the city.
Anchorage is home to about 250,000 people, the only true city in
Alaska.
Oil companies have established their base
of operations in this city even though no black gold is tapped, shipped
nor pumped anywhere near the city.
Anchorage lies
in a majestic setting with the snowcapped Chugach Mountains on one edge
and the shimmering water of
Cook Inlet on other.
You’ll be delighted by hanging flower baskets and the friendly ambiance of this
small city. Spend a few hours exploring
downtown. Choose a
restaurant for lunch, and then board our narrated motorcoach to
begin the journey along the
Turnigan Arm on the easterly extension of Cook Inlet. We’ll watch for Dahl
sheep along the steep cliffs and search
for the elusive beluga whale.
Heading south on the Kenai Peninsula, we’ll stop
at Portage Glacier to enjoy the
Begich
Boggs
Visitor
Center.
Here Forest Service displays cover the wonders of the Kenai. A short movie
explains the phenomena of glaciers. After
this stop, our journey takes us to Summit Lake Lodge, a
fine log cabin roadhouse situated by a clear mountain lake. We’ll
savor an early dinner complete with berry pie a la mode! The rest
of our scenic ride twists down the mountain into Seward,
situated at the head of
Resurrection Bay. We’ll check into the Windsong Lodge, a
first-class cabin property on
the Resurrection River. While luggage is being delivered, you’ll enjoy a
guided evening tour of EXIT Glacier, up close
and personal. Then it’s back to the hotel for sleep…. Or maybe a quick night
cap at the charming bar on the premises.
June 20
Enjoy
a full-hot breakfast at Windsong’s Resurrection Roadhouse before
we catch the shuttle into Seward.
This picturesque town is one of Alaska’s oldest communities nestled at the foot
of Mt. Marathon. The downtown holds
an array of Alaskan establishments crowned by the
Alaska
Sealife
Center.
You’ll have time to
watch rescued animals
and learn about their habitats and place in nature. Last year we watched
the amazing birth of a sea lion !
Around
noon, we’ll board a boat for our Resurrection Bay Tour into Kenai
Fjords National Park. We’ll pass
Chiswell
Islands, part of the Alaska
Maritime National Wildlife Refuge. This is home to over 50 species of
seabirds. Thousands
of horned and tufted puffins inhabit the area along with numerous eagles,
sea lions, humpbacks, and orcas. We may notice
curious sea otters or an occasional black bear on the shoreline. We‘ll stop at
beautiful Fox
Island
for a tasty salmon bake
lunch,
then continue the
tour.
After
returning to Seward, you have time to explore the town. Check out the stores,
the galleries and the town museum.
You may want to take the shuttle back to the Windsong and
walk along the peaceful
Resurrection
River. Evening dinner is
your choice. Perhaps you’ll choose to sit by the huge fireplace and just reflect
your day.
June 21
After breakfast at the Windsong, we’ll say goodbye to
Seward and head north by motor coach past
Anchorage
towards Talkeetna, a bush town at the southern end of
Denali
National Park.
. This quaint village was the prototype for the
TV show, Northern Exposure. Our driver will share points of
interest along the way as we cross this amazing countryside. We’ll stop in
he small town of Wasalla
for lunch on
Lake
Lucille
before the final leg
of the trip.
We’ll arrive at the Talkeetna Alaska Lodge in mid afternoon, just
in time to check in and make personal decisions
for the remainder of the day and tomorrow. Talkeetna is located near the
confluence of the Susitna, Chulitna and Talkeenna Rivers.
You’ll have an opportunity to explore this old fashioned main street, visit the
Talkeetna Historic Museum, or sample amazing
Alaskan fare at the Talkeetna Roadhouse circa 1917 serving the area since the
Gold Rush Days. The town specializes in riverboat tours,
jet boat safaris, hiking trails, natural history float trips, or fantastic
“flight see” opportunities. Several air services offer bird’s eye
views of Denali and the Alaska Range. Perhaps you can catch a National
Park Service program in the afternoon at the climbing
headquarters. Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge boasts the BEST view of Denali when “she
is out”. Our lodge, an absolutely lovely log and
river rock structure, holds two outstanding restaurants, lush flowers baskets,
viewing decks, and a full-service lively bar.
The evening is yours to enjoy with time by the fireplace and great conversation
with friends.
June 22
Start your day with a
leisurely breakfast buffet at the lodge. Then make the day
YOURS. Choose from
any of the activities listed on June 20th or decide to spend the day
looking at McKinley. Rest, relax….settle into Alaska!
June 23
All aboard! Yes, today will be a trip
into the backcountry on the Alaska
Railroad’s glass-domed
double decker cars. Midmorning
we’ll board the train from Talkeetna to Denali National Park. This five-hour
ride crosses
infamous Hurricane Gulch, rushing glacial rivers and mountain passes. In moose
country, we’ll watch for massive antlers
rising from an afternoon snack in crystal clear lakes. While on the
train, you can purchase a fine lunch while watching
he scenery from your dining car. As the whistle announces Denali, be ready to
explore another wonder of the world.
First we’ll head to the
new Denali National Park Service Visitor Center to watch the cinema
presentation
“Heartbeat of Denali.” and enjoy displays on all aspects of the park.
The hotel shuttle will then take us to our Denali Hotel.
The remainder of the evening is yours. Travel Team will offer several
suggestions to make your stay memorable. All Denali
hotels have fine dining rooms, bars, common rooms and shuttle service to each
other as well as the NRS Visitor Center area.
You may want able to book a dog sled demonstration while in the park. We’ll
provide times and details.
June 24
Wake up to a full breakfast at the
hotel and plan your morning activities in the park. In early afternoon
we’ll set out on the Tundra Wilderness Tour*, an eight hour bus journey
into the heart of Denali. With spectacular
scenery ranging from alpine forest to taiga spruce groves to green tundra and
craggy rock outcroppings, this tour offers a chance
to see wildlife in its own element. Make sure your binoculars and cameras are
ready. Our narrator points out geological and
natural features as we make our 40 miles journey on a one lane road. A
boxed supper is provided on the tour along with
ample time to stretch at strategic view stations. Park residents…moose,
wolves, red fox, grizzly and black bears, Dall sheep,
Bald and Golden Eagles, Caribou and more…could be searching for a meal as we
pass. We’ll return to the hotel that evening
with new scenic wonders for our dreams.
June 25
This morning is full of choices. You
may want to relax at the lodge, catch a dog sled demonstration, or you
may choose an early morning white water adventure. Denali offers some of
the best white water in Alaska with trips
on the Nenana ranging from float class one and two to thrilling white water with
class four and five rapids. Several helicopter
and plane tours are available as well as ranger walks and talks from the
Visitor Center. Perhaps you’ll choose one last visit
to the fantastic Natural History Book Store or a special round of the gift
shops. Some patrons may complete a morning hike
before our afternoon departure by motor coach north to
Fairbanks.
After a three hour ride,
we’ll settle into the Springhill Suites along the Cheena River in old
town Fairbanks. The hotel
has an indoor pool and spa as well as large suites with all the amenities.
Within three blocks of the Springhill, you’ll find
the Fairbanks Ice Museum (world-class carvers with amazing sculptures),
the Fairbanks Visitor Center, an amazing Gallery
of the North, and several small shops.
Around six, we’ll have a
celebration dinner together where we’ll share laughter and stories. Then ,
we’ll mosey on down
to the Palace Theater in Pioneer Park to enjoy “The Golden Heart
Revue” a comedic musical about many colorful characters
from Fairbank’s history and infamous characters. You’ll soon discover
just how contagious ”gold fever” could be!
June 26
After a hot breakfast buffet* at Springhill
Suites, we’ll complete our tour with a tour of the very essence of Fairbanks…
Gold Dredge #8. Here we’ll discover how gold mined, revered and processed.
Many of the buildings are on the National Historic
Register. Then we’ll explore the University
of Alaska’s Museum of the North*. This
newly-expanded facility is renowned
for displays and information about regional wildlife, gold rush history, the
Native Americans of the North, and today’s oil industry.
egional natives occasionally do tribal dancing and storytelling to enhance the
visitor’s pleasure. The museum shop offers beautiful gifts
made by Alaskan natives. After our visit, we’ll eat a picnic lunch from
the Cookie Jar , then head to the Fairbanks Airport
for our afternoon Alaska Airline’s flight to Seattle*.which arrives at
8:22PM. At this time, some of our west coast patrons will say
good-bye while the east coast friends check into the Holiday Inn Seatac .
This evening, swim in the large indoor pool,
take a Jacuzzi break, or watch a movie in your room. The choice is yours.
June 27
We’ll rise early and head to
the Seattle Airport for check-in and boarding. After a day in the air, we’ll
arrive in New Bern.
On this last leg of the trip, you’ll have time to reflect the magnitude of
what you’ve experienced.
Alaska cannot remain the last frontier forever….. but you have this picture to hold for a life time!
NOTE: ALL
BOLD-FACED ITEMS ARE INCLUDED IN THIS TRIP. ALSO ALL TAXES< TIPS<GUIDE FEES<PORTERAGE<
ENTRANCE FEES AND PRETRIP INFORMATION IS INCLUDED>
** CARTERET COUNTY TEACHERS WILL RECEIVE A PACKET FOR CEU CREDIT
APPLICATION IF DESIRED…..