Our itinerary and arrangements provided courtesy of Wigi Tozzi at the Alaska Vacation Store, http://www.alaskavacationstore.com/main.html:

DAY 1: We arrive in Anchorage. We'll pick up our rental car at Enterprise and head to A Wildflower Inn for the night. Once we've settled in and attempted to recover from the flight, we'll head to the Glacier Brewhouse for our first Alaskan dinner.

DAY 2: After breakfast we'll head north to the town of Talkeetna . Along the way we might visit some of the points of interest, including the native village at Eklutna. There is a Russian Orthodox cemetery there, and the local Athabaskan people construct brightly colored spirit houses where they believe that the spirit resides during their remaining time on Earth. In Wasilla, we can visit the Iditarod Sled Dog Race headquarters. Further north, the Parks Highway crosses a number of streams that sport salmon runs during the summer. When we arrive in Talkeetna, we'll have the day to explore the area. The town itself is small, but Main Street is a fun stroll, with lots of interesting people to see and shops to visit. We'll swing by Mountain High Pizza Pie for lunch and scope out the local flavor. Mt. McKinley is just about 50 miles from here, and there are numerous places in and around town that offer great views of the mountain. There are some great hiking trails in and around the Talkeetna area. Just south of town is the Luthman Trail, a very scenic hike along Montana Creek. North of Talkeetna is Denali State Park, with a rather extensive trail system that offers great viewing of Mt. McKinley. This evening we'll have dinner family style at Talkeetna Roadhouse and spend the night at Meandering Moose Lodging.

DAY 3: We'll depart for Matanuska Glacier. We'll head south on the Talkeetna Spur Road and the Parks highway through the village of Sunshine, then through the Susitna Valley to Wasilla, where we'll turn east onto the Glenn Highway, and pass through Palmer, Sutton and Chickaloon, on our way to Matanuska Glacier. This evening we'll head out for an evening whitewater adventure on the Matanuska River, which is glacially fed by the Matanuska Glacier. Our experienced guide will take us through some of the most spectacular scenery and exciting whitewater in Alaska. We'll spend the night at Tundra Rose Guest Cottages.

DAY 4: After breakfast at the Grand View Cafe, we'll head over Tahneta Pass and into the Copper River Valley. At the town of Glennallen we'll head south on the Richardson Highway and then east on the Edgerton Highway to the town of Chitina. When we arrive there, we'll pass through the town and over the Copper River onto the McCarthy Road . This is a very scenic drive, but the road is narrow and has several one-lane stretches. We'll take our time and stop often at the numerous turnouts, many of them overlooking spectacular vistas of mountains and rivers. At the end of the road is a parking lot and a foot bridge that crosses the Kennicott River. We'll call our hotel and they'll come and pick us up at the footbridge and take us to town. We'll spend the night at Ma Johnson's Hotel, in a wonderfully decorated and restored room, with furniture and artifacts from McCarthy and Kennicott.

DAY 5: We'll embark on a half-day hike on the Root Glacier. Our experienced guide will take us up to the glacier and then onto the ice where we'll see spectacular blue meltwater pools and waterfalls, as well as experience the thrill of walking across the massive Root Glacier. We'll tour Kennicott and the historic copper mine that closed abruptly, leaving a ghost town. There are a number of other great activities available, including guided and unguided hikes, flightseeing, photography and just kicking back and relaxing. We'll return this evening to Ma Johnson's Hotel.

DAY 6: We'll head west along the McCarthy Road and Edgerton Highway to Valdez . Taking our time to stop and enjoy the incredible scenery. When we arrive at the Richardson Highway, we'll turn south towards Valdez. There are a number of scenic spots to stop along the way, including Thompson Pass, which is one of the snowiest places in the world. We'll have some time to explore Valdez in the afternoon. The Trans Alaska Pipeline ends here, and tankers are loaded to transport oil all over the world. Valdez is also known for its fishing and great access to Prince William Sound. This evening we'll spend the night at Brookside Inn.

DAY 7: We'll head out to Valdez Glacier for a combined kayaking and hiking adventure. After our kayaking, we'll return to Valdez and spend the night at Brookside Inn.

DAY 8: We'll depart from Valdez and head to Whittier via the Alaska Marine Highway System ferry. When we arrive in Whittier we'll head south on the Seward Highway. We'll travel through the Chugach National Forest, with numerous trailheads and scenic viewpoints. At Tern Lake, we'll continue south to Seward. When we arrive in Seward we'll have some time to explore Seward on our own. Exit Glacier in Kenai Fjords National Park is just a few miles northwest of town, and we can drive right up to the nature center and then take a short walk up to the glacier itself or even hike along a trail that parallels the glacier up the valley. In Seward, the Alaska SeaLife Center is a research and rehabilitation center that offers exhibits and displays about the marine environment in southcentral Alaska. This evening we'll spend the night at Renfro's Lakeside Retreat.

DAY 9: Today we'll head out on a full day of exploration through Resurrection Bay and Kenai Fjords National Park. Photographers, birders and nature enthusiasts love the intimate experience that the small ships provide as we explore the pristine waters of the Chiswell Islands and the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge. The routes for this cruise vary, often including destinations such as Aialik Glacier and Northwestern Fjord. Our Captain will tailor the specific route to match the desires of the group, and this allows us to spend more time and see more of what we've come to see. Continental breakfast and deli lunch included. After our cruise, we'll return to Seward and spend the night at Renfro's Lakeside Retreat.

DAY 10: We'll head north to Anchorage. Along the way we may have some time to take in some of the sights in the Chugach National Forest and Chugach State Park, including Portage Glacier and Turnagain Arm before we arrive in Anchorage. When we arrive in Anchorage, we'll return our rental car and catch our flight home.