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Hi all :)

My parents 50th anniversary is next year. I want to surprise them with a trip to Alaska.

My parents are a challenge however. Both mid-seventies. No major health problems, but not real active (hiking and such would be out).

They do not like cruises ... so that kills that easier idea.

Does anyone know Alaska well enough to suggest where to send them? I would like to have them see things but do not want to arrange an "Alaska Tour" where they just sit on a bus roaming for 2 weeks, kwim?

Any help would be appreciated. I want to do something special for them but don't trust where to look, even with all the internet info out there.

Do they want to go to Alaska? I'm assuming yes or you wouldn't want to be thinking of it.

I HATE cruises. The Alaska cruise for 3 days is worth it. You can see the bays and glaciers in a way you can't from land. Alaska is a very outdoors kind of place. Its hard for me to think of too many things you could schedule that don't involve hiking but tha'ts my experience. You may want to work with a travel agent. They will have non tour ideas. I would think maybe a flight tour would be amazing.

Do they want to go to Alaska?

They do!

I think it may be too difficult to plan as a surprise. There are so many tours and trips but a lot involve walking/hiking, some really cool day things but I think it may be too personal of a trip to be able to plan on the sly for them.

I wanted to knock their socks off, but I might just make them run away in fear lol.

Thanks for the idea, I may just consult an agent.

I don't think this is the type of thing you can surprise somebody with, especially at their age. What you can do is make an elaborate card with "Surprise! I'm sending you to Alaska!" And then let them plan the trip with an agent.

Nor being active is going to make this very hard.

Either you are out hiking/walking or sitting on a bus.

Sit them down and do some serious talking about this. Maybe it's something that will always be a dream.

Alaska is beautiful, but not for everyone.

k9

You can fly them to Fairbanks and have them see the sights there and then take the train down to Denali Park and stay there for a few days and then the train down to Anchorage where they can fly back. I've done that once and really enjoyed it.

I was in Alaska in August. We didn't do a "tour," but rented a car and did our own thing.

We flew into Anchorage and spent a couple of days there. One day, we took the train into Whittier where we do a glacier cruise. Then took the train back to Anchorage. Our cruise was great because we had clear skies and could see all the glaciers.

We used a tour company and went by bus to Denali. We used that same company for our Denali tour.

Would they be willing to rent a car and do their own thing? There are a few places they could visit that would offer some views, but with minimal physical activity.

My cousin and his wife did a 7 day land 7 day sea tour of Alaska. He enjoyed it because he had a hip replacement not long before the trip. The tour guides helped them along the way with getting luggage around and other things. Maybe a tour company offers a 7 day land tour?

Thanks everyone.

I think it may be too big of an undertaking to guess at their wants for this trip.

Not sure why I thought it would be easier

We haven't decided if we will spill the beans and let them plan or go another route. I really wanted to surprise them, but half the fun is planning....so will have to sit on it for a little bit.

We have some time...

Thanks again.