pbketron
Athens, TN
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I appreciate all the great information I got after my post asking for "must see" and "must do" things on our first trip to Alaska. I have planned our trip into Canada and on the Alaska highway until we get to Denali and made our reservations in the Park and on the shuttle. Now, I need some help with afterwards when I don't have a timetable to stick to. A friend has suggested that Seward on the 4th of July would be a fun place to be. They were there one 4th, but weren't camping. Has anyone been there over the 4th who could give us some advice? We really are looking forward to the Kenai Peninula and wonder how long we should plan to stay there.
We also want to go to Haines and wonder about getting the ferry from there to Skagway. Could we get reservations for such a short ferry trip on short notice since we want to be able to take our time and not have reservations anywhere except on the 4th of July.
I have read other posts about camping in Alaska and we are getting very excited about our trip.
Barbara
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Luke Porter
Not on the road :(
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I don't know how long your trip is. The Kenai is my favorite place. I love Seward and Homer. Could stay there for weeks.
I also go to Haines and take the ferry to Skagway. It saves maybe 360 driving miles and is fun. I've been able to get reservations a few days in advance.
I like Pullen Creek campground in Skagway. Have not always been able to get reservations there on short notice. Might plan ahead on that one.
Yep, actually drove to all of these places---in the last eight years. Missed Rhode Island and New Jersey.
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JUrban
Delaware
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Seward is VERY busy on the 4th, so if you're going, be sure you have reservations. The city CG is first come, first served and is always filled well before and after the 4th.
John
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lanerd
Ridgecrest, CA
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Need your definition of "camping". That implies to me staying at state parks (or other unimproved campgrounds) without any hookups or conveniences. However, if you mean to stay at rv parks with either full or at least elect/water, then that is another thing altogether.
Alaska is just full of state parks and just about all towns cater to the rv'er with at least one rv park...some have several. We found that calling the morning of our intended arrival was sufficient to get us into the rv park of our choice with one exception (Hi Country). Reservations on the Marine Highway is probably recommended, but in my experience, not absolutely necessary. We DID make reservations but noticed that in every case, the ship had plenty of room for others and when picking up our tickets at each point of departure, there were many who were buying their tickets for that day's departure. There are also other methods of boating from Haines to Skagway...more expensive, but nevertheless will get you there. We ventured down to Skagway when we passed through Whitehorse. Took the toad and spent the day....even did the white pass train ride, visited all the jewelry stores and the two quilt stores and still had time to have a great dinner at a little place on the outskirts of town.
Make reservations for the fourth, but I bet you won't need to elsewhere.
Ron
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siberian
Troll country SW Michigan
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We took a water taxi from Haines to Skagway in 92. Beautiful trip on the Lynn Canal.
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JUrban
Delaware
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Another fun place to camp is on the spit at Homer. Dry camping in the city CG on the spit, with no reservations, but you're within 30' of the high tide in some places. There is a VERY high end full service CG there too but we weren't interested. Again, July 4th weekend the place fills up early and people don't leave till after. Bring a shovel as in some places the sand is soft. I had to dig the bus out in July 09, but a GREAT place to camp. We'll be back.
John
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goldwingerx2
Iowa
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We were in Seward on the 4th. We dry camped at the public school for the weekend. If I remember correctly it was $25, but was fairly close to everything. We tried making reservations about a month ahead of time but everything took reservations was full. But Seward on the 4th is a blast. If you are up to it do Mt Marathon but not the race.
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CoastieSCPO
Monterey, Tn
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We were at Haines for the 4th of July last summer. Stayed at the Hitch Up CG for one night then were able to get reservations for 5 more days at the Oceanside CG which is directly on the beach. Watched the fireworks and the cruise ships going by. One of them stopped out in the Lynn Canal and shot off some fireworks of its own. From there, we got on a ferry for Juneau, Sitka, Ketchikan and Prince Rupert. Just walked up to an agent and made the reservations for the entire trip two days before we left. We stayed three or four days at Seward a couple of weeks prior. the weather was bad, but the boat trip was great. Stayed at the Air Force CG there---not the greatest. The best part of Ak for us was the Kenai, Haines and the four ferry trips and intermidiate stops. Right up there at the top was Canmore, AB, Banff, Lake Louise and the Icefields Parkway.
Bob
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TRAVELNSHUZ
Portland,OR
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Kenai peninsula is beautiful. Camping on the Homer spit is fun.
Don't forget to have a cold one at the Salty Dawg Saloon on the
spit. I was in Kodiak on the 4th tho so can't help you there.
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aces-n-eights
Soldotna Alaska
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Goldwinger above hinted about the Mountain Marathon which is a big event in Seward on the 4th of July. Here's a link to some more info...
http://www.sewardak.org/news-events/marathon/marathon.htm
Seward definitely has a big crowd over the 4th and is a blast, if you like that sort of thing. I don't think you'd find a camp spot for miles without advance reservations.
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