Author Topic: Visiting Western Canada and Alaska  (Read 14114 times)

south of 61

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Re: Visiting Western Canada and Alaska
« Reply #50 on: March 08, 2016, 03:00:34 PM »
You could drive it in 42 hours if you don't stop anywhere! If you're planning to be a tourist and actually stop and see / do stuff I would say 5 day minimum (preferably 7). I am an Aussie who has lived in the Yukon for 8 years. I've done the drive Vancouver- Whitehorse multiple times and have driven to Anchorage and Fairbanks and Seward twice. Happy to provide more info / answer any questions you might have!

deborah

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Re: Visiting Western Canada and Alaska
« Reply #51 on: March 09, 2016, 04:27:14 AM »
Thanks south of 61 and spartana for the advice. I will be driving the RV from Seattle to Anchorage as a relocation of the vehicle, and I have it for 3.5 weeks, and I figure I won't be rushing (I just got a bit concerned when I was told Fairbanks to Anchorage took so long). I have a week up in Alaska after I return the motor home. Then I will catch the ferry back down the coast and do interesting things on the way. And I have two weeks in the Seattle/Vancouver area to go to interesting places (including the Seattle camp). And then I go home after 2 months.

I'm really looking forward to the trip up. I seem to be planning a rather circuitous route, so that I can see a number of places.

The trip to Alice Springs is to familiarize myself with driving a similar vehicle in a country where I am familiar with the roads and road rules (although I have never been to Alice before, I have traveled the roads halfway there recently), and, of course, the towns on the way to Alice are similar to the ones on the route to Anchorage, although probably further apart and probably smaller than the ones on the road to Anchorage. But it is going to be jolly hot - with maximums of between 31 and 34 predicted every day, and (would you believe) RAIN! (Alice Springs has a boat race in the Todd River where the boats don't have bases, so all the competitors hold the boat up and run - because the river doesn't generally have water).

deborah

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Re: Visiting Western Canada and Alaska
« Reply #52 on: April 19, 2016, 02:42:29 PM »
It is happening. Tomorrow.

The trip to Alice Springs was really hot. But...

I saw water in Lake Eyre (amazing sight)
It RAINED while I was at Uluru (fantastic)
The country in central Australia was GREEN and EVERY bush was flowering.
And I am now happy driving an RV.

IT WAS FANTASTIC! Pity there were clouds at sunrise and sunset so the rock didn't become red - but you can't have everything.

Anyway, I am thinking of doing a circuit of 8 days from Seattle - where do you think I should go? Remember that I did a circuit from LA for 12 days and visited 23 National Parks including Mesa Verde, Grand Canyon, Death Valley, Goblin Valley, Arches, Canyonlands, Grand Canyon, Walnut Valley, Canyon De Chelly, Monument Valley, Zion, Bryce... and that was absolutely awesome!

SandyBoxx

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Re: Visiting Western Canada and Alaska
« Reply #53 on: April 19, 2016, 02:58:55 PM »
Seattle, Vancouver BC, up through the interior of BC, visit the Rockies, then down through the Kootenays, and back to Seattle via HWY 3 or back through Spokane!

You will see a bit of everything the West has to offer in one big loop. :)

nereo

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Re: Visiting Western Canada and Alaska
« Reply #54 on: April 19, 2016, 03:08:56 PM »
Mount Rainier.  Given the epic snowfalls of the PNW this year the higher elevations might not be very accessable now, but it's an awesome site.

Also, the Olympic Penninsula is an amazingly pretty drive, and you are right at wildflower time.  Check out the Olympic National Park


Goldielocks

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Re: Visiting Western Canada and Alaska
« Reply #55 on: April 27, 2016, 01:41:27 AM »
I love the San Juan Islands as well as the area around Bellingham. The drive down hwy 11 (Chuckanut Dr?) between Bellingham and Anacortes is great as is Whitby Island. Or up the other side from Port  Townsend to Gig Harbor and back to Seattle. Lots of cute little villages and Olympic NP. I LOVE the Hoh rainforest but probably too wet this time of year. Have fun!

Yeah, go to the islands, if you are driving to Alaska, already,  you may want something different.

There are nice urban sites to see in Portland and Seattle, too. And a nice tourist town called Leavenworth inland a bit.

What about Nelson bc area?  It is not on the Alaska route and very worthwhile. New Denver or Nelson to kaslo bc.

 

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