Alaska- Dad's bucket list place to visit *advice needed*

[darcytribe]

Needing some advice on visiting Alaska-

Dad has mesothelioma. He's always wanted to visit Alaska. This summer is probably the last opportunity for him to get up there in this life. He loves wildlife and scenic beauty. He can't walk very far due to breathing difficulties, maybe 50 yards max at a time. I'd like to get him up there this summer to see what he can see of Alaska's beauty. I'm looking for advice on locations he could go to, day trips that are accessible/doable for people in his situation. We can use a wheelchair to get him around if it's a longer distance to walk, just need locations that we can push it to. A few ideas I have thought of were:

1. Scenic train ride from Anchorage to Denali.
2. Car tour of Denali National Park- Would love to try and ensure he could see grizzly, moose, caribou.


* Other things I was wondering about:
1. Are there any glacier viewing day trips out of the Anchorage area?
2. Whale watching out of Anchorage area?
3. He's always loved fishing/fish- Are there any ways he could see the salmon run? When is that at it's prime?
4. Are there other not to miss things to see that we should look into?

If anyone knows of any other sights or tours (operators) they would highly recommend up there, I am all ears. Thanks for any thought or advice you can offer!

 

[2531usmc]

The best way to see Alaska and experience Alaska is to rent an RV in anchorage and just explore. Go to talkneeta, drive the Denali Highway, see the kenei river.

If you have the flexibility of an RV, you’ll find plentiful spots your dad can get close enough for stream fishing.

We did 10 days in Alaska and another year did 10 days in Alaska and the Yukon.

The cost is roughly comparable to a cruise or hotels.

 

[wyosteve]

If you don't want to drive as much, you can go from Anchorage to Seward/Homer. They have a day trip boat out of Seward that takes you up close to the glacier and will likely see whales, sea lions, sea otters, mountain goats, etc. Homer is worth seeing, and you can make the short detour to Whittier if you'd like. Going through the tunnel in unique!

 

[jte5013]

My family took a trip up there last summer and with little kids we didnt hike much either. The train trip from Anchorage to Denali and a day cruise out of Seward were our favorites. Those were a great way to see a lot without hiking a lot.

The cruise was the 6h trip with Major Marine and we saw tons of whales mid July and got close-ish to one of the glaciers

 

[OsoMountain]

Needing some advice on visiting Alaska-

Dad has mesothelioma. He's always wanted to visit Alaska. This summer is probably the last opportunity for him to get up there in this life. He loves wildlife and scenic beauty. He can't walk very far due to breathing difficulties, maybe 50 yards max at a time. I'd like to get him up there this summer to see what he can see of Alaska's beauty. I'm looking for advice on locations he could go to, day trips that are accessible/doable for people in his situation. We can use a wheelchair to get him around if it's a longer distance to walk, just need locations that we can push it to. A few ideas I have thought of were:

1. Scenic train ride from Anchorage to Denali.
2. Car tour of Denali National Park- Would love to try and ensure he could see grizzly, moose, caribou.


* Other things I was wondering about:
1. Are there any glacier viewing day trips out of the Anchorage area?
2. Whale watching out of Anchorage area?
3. He's always loved fishing/fish- Are there any ways he could see the salmon run? When is that at it's prime?
4. Are there other not to miss things to see that we should look into?

If anyone knows of any other sights or tours (operators) they would highly recommend up there, I am all ears. Thanks for any thought or advice you can offer!

I ain’t crying, you sum bitch!!!

This pulled at heart pretty deep. My dad is almost 80 and I’m watching an absolute juggernaut become more and more human every day. I nearly cried when I had to tie his boots for him on our last bear hunting trip to Idaho.

Darcy, I have nothing to offer but my hopes that you and your old man have an absolutely GRAND adventure. Take it in, soak it up. And enjoy that moment with your dad. Because it will be special.

 

[beretta_man11]

For the salmon runs, you're looking at mid to late July for the larger numbers of sockeye (reds) on the Kenai. On even years, such as 2026, the pink salmon (we don't eat pinks) will be plentiful as well during that late July run.

There are lots of public areas on the kenai to fish. The walkways on public ground as well as the platforms to stand on in many places are extremely nice, just be mindful that some have several steps that you'd have to go down to get on the water