Since I've been talking about going to Alaska next fall to hunt, my wife has issued an ultimatum. If I want to hunt Alaska in the fall, I have to take the family up on a vacation in Alaska in the summer. My wife and I honeymooned in the interior for five weeks in the 80's. Now, we are thinking of hiring a boat and skipper to cruise around the Kenai/Kodiak/Cook Inlet area for a week or so. Any thoughs or suggestions would be appreciated.

Alternately, how far west can one get from Anchorage by automobile, if we decided to rent a car and do a motor trip instead?

Dave

Hi Dave. I can't comment on the boat much. You might go to the website on Mark in SC's goat hunting post. That boat is very sharp. I don't know about the cost involved but they try to stay booked.

I can comment on the car part. You really can't drive west from Anchorage. You can drive north through Denali park to Fairbanks. From there you can drive north to Prudhoe or east towards Canada. If you haven't done it then consider a trip south from Anchorage to the Peninsula area (Kenai, Homer, Seward, etc). That area is very scenic and you could probably do some fishing. Halibut charters are very popular and you will most likely catch some decent fish for about $150 per person per day.

You could also drive roughly east from Anchorage into the Mat Su valley. It's very pretty farming country.

Hope this helps.

Dave, are you looking for a liveaboard trip? If so, how many people? Do you have any specific time frame in mind? What is important - fishing, whale watching, sightseeing, backcountry skiing, kayaking, etc.? Over the last 20 years, I have done quite a bit of fishing, hunting and boating in Prince William Sound (from Whittier), Cook Inlet (from Homer and Anchor Point), and the Kenai Fjords (out of Seward), so I can probably give you an idea of where to find what you are looking for, and maybe some names as well.

Drop me a PM or e-mail, and I will get you a phone number where you can get ahold of me.

As far as a roadtrip, you might consider renting a motorhome because 1) hotels are full and expensive in the summer 2) you drive where and when you want 3) you can take whatever food you prefer as restaurant meals can be spendy 4) you can pull off the road and set up "camp" almost anywhere - check these guys out for motorhomes Great Alaskan Holidays - they are the best

boomer,
If it were me (I know its not, but...) I would try to find a charter out of Seward into the Kenai Fjords or out of Valdez into the Prince William Sound. Cook Inlet is pretty good fishing for halibut, but not grand scenery until you get down near Homer or Seldovia. Both have some neat little bed & breakfast places. The water starts getting pretty big at that point though and may not be as relaxing as the Sound, or tucked into a bay in the Fjords.

Just a few thoughts to consider.

Guys:

Keep the suggestions coming, I am making a list and following up as I go.

I understand the deer season starts the beginning of August, I wonder if I could sneak in a few days for my daughter and myself, then return in October or November for some more?

Dave

lnb - a fly out trip to Montague Island would be fun, for hunting of Sitka black tail deer - many on that island plus a few 900 pound Hoovers - you can fly out of Seward with Bear Lake Air, I'm sure other air taxi services go to Montague - BE SURE AND RESERVE A FOREST SERVICE CABIN ON MONTAGUE ISLAND

dam 'puter ............... anyway, you will want a cabin as the weather can get mighty nasty on Montague - figure that the (often supplied) oil burning stove will not function properly so have a method to cut up firewood for the old wood burner. Plenty of Sitka on that island, if you go early enough you may be able to do a little fishing on the island - take a good camera, nice scenery - more ideas will follow - KMule

If you do go to Montague, make sure you know where the private lands are. One of the native corporations has a sizeable tract of land near a couple of those cabins. They do grant permission, through a permit, but place restrictions about commercial transport.