ALASKA AND THE IDITAROD ITINERARY:
SPECIAL NOTE: This wintertime Alaska journey interesting and unique, with travel
to somewhat remote locations. The accommodations are the best available.
(See the Accommodations section for more details.)Many of the activities and the sightseeing takes place outside, so clothing and
preparation for cold weather is essential.
DAY 1, Wednesday, February 27th -
Depart for Anchorage, ALASKA
Depart your home city on Wednesday for Anchorage, Alaska.
Upon your arrival,
you will be met, and taken directly to your historic hotel, where you will
enjoy a
deluxe view room.
Anchorage is a unique destination located in one of the world's most spectacular
settings Alaska. Recognized as a four-time All-America City, Anchorage is a
modern
city surrounded by spectacular wilderness and embraced by six mountain
ranges. During winter Anchorage is truly a wonderland. Thousands of lights decorate
downtown Anchorage and the excitement of many activities reverberates throughout
the entire city. You are here at the transition
of Winter to Spring when the daylight
time increases by minutes each day, with an
average of 10 hours of daylight during
this journey.
Tonight, enjoy a welcome dinner at Crow’s Nest, a gourmet restaurant atop
Captain
Cook Hotel, offering panoramic views of the Cook Inlet.
Hotel Captain Cook
DAY 2, Thursday, February 28th -
Depart for Anchorage, ALASKA
The Iditarod is a unique test of sport and spirit – for the mushers and their
canine teammates. This morning travel outside Anchorage to visit the kennels
and home of veteran Iditarod mushers, Vern and Susan Halter. Hear about the
history of sled dogs
from early native use, to the gold rush era and the famous
Serum
Run to Nome during the 1925 diphtheria epidemic (the inspiration for the
Iditarod. Vern will explain the uniqueness of the Iditarod from the standpoint of
length, diversity
of competitors (men and women and native champions), the
‘NO HELP’
rule and the training and care of Iditarod dogs. With 25 years of racing,
Vern and Susan will talk about race strategy and
the changes to the Iditarod
Race over the
years. You’ll learn about the clothing and survival gear,
the sleds and equipment, and of course meet the canine athletes and learn
about their care and training.
Enjoy lunch in the casual atmosphere of their home and you have the chance to
get to know what it’s like to live this unique lifestyle.
En route back to Anchorage
stop
at the Iditarod Headquarters, to learn more about the history of the Iditarod, with
the museum’s interpretive displays, historical artifacts and videos.
Tonight, meet the mushers—champions and novices
at the casual and camp Mushers’
Banquet. Here you’ll get a better feel and understanding
on how this remarkable,
challenging and unique international race is
also an intimate and local tradition.
It seems everyone in Alaska has some sort of tie to the race – personally, historically
or just as a fanatic fan. Included in the festivities is announcing the musher starting
order assignments – a great opportunity to put names to faces
and choose your
favorites. Hotel Captain Cook
DAY 3, Friday , February 29th - Anchorage
All day you’ll feel the excitement as final preparations get underway for the ceremonial
start of the Iditarod. And be a part of it this morning when you attend “dog handler
boot camp.” Learn how to handle
sled dogs and discover their gentle, fun
loving nature. This training
will give you the opportunity to be part of the Iditarod by
being a volunteer to help the dog teams each get to he starting line on Saturday
morning. For those who are bit shy about dog-handling, this is a unique insight
into all
the work required to start "this race – and a
great photo opportunity.
Next we explore downtown Anchorage and learn about the history of this
young,
diverse and rebel
spirited city. Visit the historic Ship Creek district, where Anchorage
began, and in Earthquake Park you’ll learn the history of the 1964 Good Friday
Earthquake, the strongest ever recorded in North America, measuring 9.2 on the
Richter Scale. It shook all of South
central Alaska and became a turning point of Alaska
and Anchorage development.
Visit the Anchorage Museum of History and Art, a world
class museum with a
permanent collection of more than 17,500 objects, 2,000 artifacts and
350,000 historical photographs. This collection offers an overview of the Alaska's
rich history and an introduction to its varied culture. Lifesize dioramas show Alaskan
homes and work environments from the 1920s;
traditional village dwellings of
Alaska's Aleuts, Eskimos and Indians; homes of early Russian settlers and Gold
Rush-era pioneers; and an actual piece of the Alaska Pipeline.
Hotel Captain Cook
DAY 4, Saturday, March 1st - Anchorage & Finger Lake
More than 80 mushers and 1000 dogs huddle in downtown Anchorage for the exciting
ceremonial start of the Iditarod. Be part of the starting-line action as a volunteer dog
handler, or just enjoy our VIP access to the festivities. We will have special local
experts on hand to give you insider tips on the mushers and their dogs, as well
as
where to get
the best photos. It may be cold, but with all the excitement, and some
hot beverages on hand, you won’t mind.
In the afternoon, board our ski-plane for a scenic flight above the Iditarod Trail to the
exclusive Winter
lake Lodge. The lodge lies 198 trail miles northwest of Anchorage,
and positioned right along the historic Iditarod Trail. We land on nearby Finger Lake, a
finger-shaped 2 mile lake with views of the Trimble
Glacier and the start of Rainy Pass.
Positioned on 15 acres and overlooking the lake, the Winterlake Lodge offers a wide
variety of winter activities and with comfortable log cabins and a cozy main lodge is
a peaeful hideaway. Settle into your accommodations, then perhaps take an
exploratory walk around the property, or just sit by the woodstove and explore
the extensive ‘Alaskana’ library.
Tonight you may join lodge owner and renowned Alaskan chef, Kirsten Dixon, in
the kitchen for a hands
on cooking demonstration, before a gourmet Alaskan dinner.
Winterlake Lodge
DAY 5, Sunday, March 2nd - Finger Lake & Girdwood
Today you’ll have an opportunity to experience and enjoy
the Alaskan wilderness.
Enjoy this remote paradise at your own pace, and based on your own energy
level. You can walk, snowshoe, or cross-country ski. The snowshoe expeditions and
cross-country ski excursions include
instruction for beginners, and there
are trails that suit
beginners and experts alike. There is also snowmobiling and dog
sledding
You won’t be expected to compete in the Iditarod, but on the sled dog
excursion, you will get instructions and try your hand at on driving your own team.
And there is no need to wander far, as right behind the lodge, Wolverine Mountain
offers intriguing hiking and wildlife viewing.Take a break for a sumptuous lunch, and
to just relax in your cozy cabin or the main lodge.
Mid-afternoon, we ski-plane out as the race check-point crews start preparing for
tomorrow’s Iditarod team arrivals, Keep an eye out to spot the mushers
making
their way along the trail.
After landing near Anchorage, it is a short 40-mile drive to the quaint town
of Girdwood. Tucked amid the Chugach Mountain Range on Alaska's south
central coast, the Alyeska Resort is the place to discover the mystique
of the Last
Frontier. Enjoy the comforts of this deluxe resort within the rugged setting with
glaciers, bald eagles and towering spruce trees.
The Alyeska Resort Aerial Tramway is a five minute ride to an altitude of 2,300 feet,
and up to a viewing deck offering breathtaking panoramic views of majestic mountains,
hanging glaciers,
towering spruce, and an array of wildlife. At the top, enjoy a
gourmet dinner at Seven Glaciers restaurant.
DAY 6, Monday, March 3rd - Girdwood
This morning enjoy your choice of another variety of activities offered at the luxurious
Alyeska Resort—including
snowshoeing, Cross-country skiing or ice skating.
There are approximately 100,000 glaciers in Alaska, and
this afternoon, we take a
helicopter flight to view one
of the world’s largest ice masses. Understand the
proportions of man-to-mountain as you hover above this
scene of endless white and then land on a glacier. This
is a truly unique breathtaking experience you’ll remember
for a lifetime.
Tonight dine at the resort, or venture out to one of the local dining options.
Hotel Alyeska
DAY 7, Tuesday, March 4th - Girdwood & Anchorage
A short drive from Girdwood, visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, where
native wounded and orphaned animals like bears, caribou, moose, and others
get nursed back to health in their natural habitat. Enjoy a private behind-the-scenes
tour of this unique facility.
On the way back to Anchorage, travel along the Seward Highway, a National
Forest Scenic Byway. You’ll be amazed at the massive moving ice flows we
see as we skirt the picturesque Turnagain Arm.
Watch for sheep and eagles.
Tonight toast farewell to this Northern paradise over some fine Alaskan cuisine.
Hotel Captain Cook
DAY 8, Wednesday, March 5th - Depart for Home
This morning you will taken to the airport in Anchorage for your flight home or on
to your next destination.
NOTE: The Daily Itinerary above is subject to change dependent upon local
conditions and/or operational changes or improvements. The specific
times and
order of inclusions within each destination may also be altered
to best
accommodate unscheduled closure, special events, weather, traffic,
etc.
Please contact your Vacation Planner before scheduling any coinciding
appointments. You will receive an up-dated, itinerary approximately 30 days
prior to your journey’s scheduled departure date.
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