Alaska Uncovered Podcast

Planning your 2025 trip to Alaska (Episode 100!)

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In this special 100th episode of the podcast, Jennie and Jay reflect on their favorite moments of the first 100 episodes and Jennie gives her best pro tips for your 2025 Alaska trip.

This episode is sponsored by Visit Haines. Thank you, Visit Haines!

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Jennie Flaming:

Jennie, welcome to the Alaska uncovered podcast with me, your host, Jennie Thwing Flaming, my occasional co host and full time husband, Jay and I bring you accurate, helpful and entertaining information about Alaska travel and life in Alaska. Today's episode is sponsored by visit Haynes. Hey everybody, Jay, can you believe that this is episode 100

R. Jay F:

No, I can't believe it. Is it? It is it is actually, yeah, yeah, that's it. That's it's actually pretty, pretty mind blowing. It

Jennie Flaming:

is. It's, there's not, you know, a ton of episodes of podcasts that get to this point. So it's pretty exciting. I

R. Jay F:

just looked back at our schedule and realized that we got 100 episodes in under two years. We did, which is also pretty amazing.

Jennie Flaming:

Yes, it's because last year, in January, there were two episodes every week, which we're not doing this January, no, but that's why,

R. Jay F:

yeah, yeah. I just realized that's pretty impressive. I mean, I I've listened to other podcasts that have hundreds of episodes, but they've often done it over a decade. Yeah,

Jennie Flaming:

yeah, yeah. I know it's really cool. So this episode, a lot of this episode, I'm gonna be sharing my advice for planning your trip in 2025 but before we get into that, Jay and I thought it would be fun to just do a little bit of a reflection on our first 100 episode, or our first 99 episodes, I guess, and what some of our favorite moments were. I mean, it's been really fun doing this with you, Jay and like talking about this stuff has been

R. Jay F:

really cool. It's kind of amazing how much we've learned. Yeah, I think that the the the guests we've had have been amazing. And I've, I can't believe we just keep coming up with amazing guests, like, yeah, month after month. Or you keep coming up with well, but they kind of, they almost elect themselves something, yeah,

Jennie Flaming:

and we meet people because of other people, or people contact us, or we contact them, or we learn about their business or their art or their story from someone else, and get in touch with them. And I mean, I just love hearing and sharing people's stories and helping helping travelers and people who are interested in Alaska or planning a trip be able to go a little deeper and, like, know more about where they're going. I just really love that.

R. Jay F:

Yeah, and it's fun. We've gotten to, like, I've really enjoyed the traveler stories that we've done. Yeah, that's been a fun way to, like, circle back and hear from people. And we've had really wonderful guests for those. Yeah, really interesting. I've appreciated that. What's been, do you have any particular episodes that stand out in your memory as really good ones from this first 99 point?

Jennie Flaming:

Well, yeah, you know, it's funny because I've really, it's really hard to choose, because I've really enjoyed, like I said, I can't think of an interview that I've done with someone that I didn't really enjoy and that I didn't learn from them, but I will say that the episode, the episodes that we did Very early on. You know, in March of 2023, um. We did an an episode with my friend Matt, about Glacier National Park Ranger Matt and um. And then we also did an episode either was either right before right after that, about cat, my and I just, even though the episode we did with Matt was about Glacier Bay, and it's a great episode, by the way, I highly recommend you go back and listen to it. Matt is really fun, and he's no longer in Glacier Bay. He's in another park now, um, but I really enjoyed reliving the story of of Matt and I randomly meeting up in Katmai and then right meeting the other Ranger, who then came on the pod to talk about cat my and just we had some really entertaining moments of like camping in the rain and encountering bears and Whatever. Anyway, it was just really fun to like, you know, without the podcast, who would never had that excuse to like, relive that story with him. Yeah? So that was really fun

R. Jay F:

on that. On that note, I also really enjoyed our also a very early one we had with Tom and Tom habecker, yeah, old friends of ours from Denali. Who retired into Montana, yeah, and Tom is of the old school Ranger, yeah, wrote a book, and we had him on as a guest,

Jennie Flaming:

and Donna to you, and they talked about their life, and Denali raising their children

R. Jay F:

there. Yeah, that's great, yeah, yeah, send a ranger, by the way.

Jennie Flaming:

Yes. Great book. Great episode, no

R. Jay F:

compensation here, which is just a plug in for a friend. Yes, yes,

Jennie Flaming:

I agree. That was also a really fun one. And you know, similarly, I've done a couple of episodes with Scott McMurray, who is always a joy to talk to you,

R. Jay F:

and absolute fountain of energy and enthusiasm and information

Jennie Flaming:

about Alaska. So deep knowledge, yeah. And you know, if you are planning a trip in 2025 I can just spoiler ahead to one piece of advice I would have, which is to get the Alaska tour saver coupon book. What?

R. Jay F:

Jennie, what's the Alaska tour saver?

Jennie Flaming:

Well, we have two episodes about the tour saver, so you could go back and listen to those, but I'll also put a link to it in the show notes. But yeah, it's, you know, you can go to their website and see what the offers are and figure out if it's going to save you money. But even if you just use the Alaska Airlines coupon, you know, it would more than pay for it. The book is $99 and the app is a little bit less, so you can either do the book or app version. Um, but the reason I enjoyed that so much is Scott. Scott is one of the first people who really believed in my travel writing. Yeah, not not only Scott. There were some other wonderful people in Washington and Oregon who did as well. But, you know, I just he's just such a cheerleader for the podcast and for my work in general, and it was really fun doing and I feel like I could say that about so many friends of ours who have come on and talked about their lives, or people that we've met through other people and connected with and invited to come on and and share just all of that has really been the highlight for

R. Jay F:

this autumn when we went to Juneau for the Alaska Travel Industry Conference. Yeah, it was the first time I really experienced meeting people who either I had spoken to on the podcast, but yeah, or people being like, Oh, I know your voice. Yeah, it's cool. The the number of people we've met either in person or, you know, I really enjoyed in Fairbanks in 20 was it 2023 Yeah, fall of 2023 we did a bunch of on site recording with with a number of people. Yeah, really enjoyed doing those on site interviews with folks. Yeah.

Jennie Flaming:

When we get to do in person recording, which is a real treat, you know, we get to do that a handful of times a year tops, but it's really fun.

R. Jay F:

That led to one of my favorite episodes about in Alaska with Catherine mclash. And yeah, yeah, yeah, from from Dutch Harbor slash in Alaska. Absolutely a wonderful woman. I really glad we got to meet her. Yeah, super fun. And she was, we had her episode, I think, in fall of that year and fall of 23 Yeah, yep, right? A year ago? Wow, yeah, I know. Well, which brings me, actually, I want to bring up one other episode that I just want to say should win some sort of Pulitzer Prize for podcast. Episode Title. Can you guess which one it's going to be?

Jennie Flaming:

Nope. I'm gonna let you say, yes,

R. Jay F:

you can use an outhouse with Julia also. I love that. The you can do. You can use one with Julie asdale too. I mean,

Jennie Flaming:

I know, when I saw it, when I saw it written down, I was like, Ooh, this title doesn't work as well as Yeah,

R. Jay F:

no, we're not talking about it. We're not talking about a companionable outhouse here. But yeah, great episode, really funny. Uh, Julie's great guest, great old friend of ours. So that was really, that was a fun one. Yes, yeah. And then I was just realizing you've been tweeting me out all week with pictures of puppies from Wiseman. That's Molly Busby,

Jennie Flaming:

yeah, from Arctic hive, right? Yes, oh yeah,

R. Jay F:

we met. Did we met? You? Met her through the through the pod, right?

Jennie Flaming:

Loosely, yes. I mean, I met her in person because of the pod. Yeah. Hey, Mollie,

R. Jay F:

Mollie. And if you love pictures of cute puppies, you

Jennie Flaming:

should definitely follow her on Instagram. Yeah, yeah, Mollie of the North, Mollie with an IE, and I

R. Jay F:

will just tell you, I don't do social media, but I could almost bring myself to do it just for the puppy cuteness. Yes, it's unbearable.

Jennie Flaming:

The puppies were born on November 30, so they are still very young, so it's not too late to follow. Low Arctic Hive or Molly and see them. Tiny puppies, tiny, tiny. Yeah. Okay. Any other reflections you have? Jay,

R. Jay F:

I don't know. I think, I think I keep being blown away by how big of a tent the Alaska visitor industry is and how many really amazing people are small operators or even working for big organizations too, just a real I think, I think, if you haven't visited Alaska yet, you're going to be surprised by just how cool the people that you will be doing, you know, doing business with and working with, etc, are there just some really amazing folks? And I Yep, it's almost a cliche, but it's, I'm not, as you may know, co host Jennie. I'm not the most social of people. So it's actually means something when I say that, like all the cool people we've met, is one of the best things about it for me, yeah, yeah, I'm not a person.

Jennie Flaming:

Yes. Anyway, well, it is very appropriate that this episode, episode 100 we have our very first sponsor of the Alaska uncovered cost. Who's sponsoring us? Jennie, it's visit Haynes. You know that is, how do you feel about Hanes topic we can get behind. Yes, no kidding, when we met working in Skagway, Jennie and I were both working as

R. Jay F:

big ship employees in the city of Skagway, and what we did for, you know, the romantic getaway, or, actually, I don't think we knew we were dating yet at that time, but was to get onto the fairway Express and go to Haines. Yeah, for it's amazing in Haines is just like, a few miles away from Skagway, and it's, if you drive, it's 200 miles. If you go by boat, it's like, you can see it basically. And we used to go to Haines and just bask, yeah, you know, it's just so calm compared to Skagway. It's a, I mean, they both have their their strong points. Yeah, they're both really fun. But Haines is a really cool town. It has this interesting historic past with the fort there. It has a lot of of indigenous presence from klukwan. It has the crazy, evil situation from the river. It's a, yeah, it is a favorite place of mine, and I'm really glad I can get behind that to the message I get behind me

Jennie Flaming:

too. So thank you so much. Visit Haynes, and we are going to take a short break to hear a message from them, yay. Today's episode of the Alaska uncovered podcast is sponsored by visit Hanes Haines is truly a special place, especially if you like amazing scenery and all the things you imagine when you think of Alaska, Lou Haiti, just north of Juneau. Haines is part of the Inside Passage known for its spectacular scenery, deep fjords, unending mountains, glaciers and wildlife. Haines is unique in southeast Alaska, since you can drive there and it's home to 400 eagles who congregate along the Chilkat River, as well as 260 other bird species and bears and moose. Thank you so much. Visit Haynes for sponsoring this episode of Alaska uncovered. Learn more about Haynes in the episode that we did with them back in March of 2024, and also see the show notes for a link to their website where you can learn more about visiting this awesome destination. Now, back to the show and we're back, or at least I'm back, and I am going to, for the second half of this episode, be sharing my very best advice for planning your 2025 trip to Alaska. I'm gonna talk about three different things today, and I also want to let you know that many, many episodes of this podcast have covered planning, including the very first one, where I talked about how to plan a trip to Alaska. We also have episodes about specifically planning a cruise. Also last year, in January, I did a series of different planning topics as a bonus episode every week that month. And those are still great advice, things about, you know, where to stay, what order to do, things in all that kind of stuff. So today I really want to focus on three big. Picture tips that I have for you for your trip in 2025 and regardless of where you are in the planning process, I think that this will still benefit you. If you're planning your trip beyond 2025 or you're planning a winter trip, this is still gonna apply to you. So these are gonna be kind of general tips, but that is really the purpose of this episode. Is for me to let you know a kind of big picture what's really important. Because, as you've probably learned, people tend to get very overwhelmed when they're planning a trip to Alaska, and there's no need for that. And I also want to just remind you that if you want some help with planning your trip, I offer a 30 minute phone consults or zoom. I usually do them on Zoom, but you can do it on the phone instead, if you prefer. The link to book those is in the show notes. It is for every episode. And I also do custom itineraries, if you want to just have me do it all for you. I do that to you if that's the kind of help you're looking for. And then finally, I also, you know, every week, this is in the show notes. Is the link to my online shop that has all of my pre made itineraries and my digital planners for Alaska, the 2025, stickers, all that good stuff. So if you're looking for more help, head over there. Okay, what's the first thing that I want to say? I said I have three things I wanted to talk about in this portion of today's episode. So the first one is to prioritize. And if you've listened to the podcast for any amount of time, you've heard me say this before, you've heard Jay talk about this too. This is the best way to make sure you can enjoy your trip, and it's also a budgeting thing. So if you're looking to save money on your trip, as I'm sure you know by now, Alaska is a very expensive destination, you can save significant money by just going to fewer places. So for example, if you're a family or a group of friends and you rent one vacation house as a group for a week, that will save you a lot of money over staying in a hotel or several different vacation rentals. So this one really is a pretty big deal. I think the bigger reason beyond budget why I think prioritizing is so important, and I want to speak for a moment, especially to those of you who really want to cram in as much as possible. I totally get it and you want to make sure that you have time to be there. I'm going to come back to that one as my third tip. But it's really, it's really important to give yourself some time, right? And to some degree that's necessary. So driving times are much longer than Google Maps makes it sound. There are often construction delays or crashes and on a two lane road with no alternate route that can cause a very long delay. There are also weather delays. If you're traveling on a small plane. There are just lots of reasons why you don't want to be rushing, um, but a big one is just the amount of time you're going to spend traveling versus being somewhere. So for example, if you're a hiker and you want to do hikes while you're in Alaska, but you move every night or every two nights, then you'll be mostly in the car or on a train and won't have as much time as you might want for hiking. And that's just an example of the kind of thing that I'm talking about is just prioritize. And the rule that I like to use, it's not, of course, a rule you should do what you want, but I would encourage you to not sleep in more than two places in a week, not including an airport hotel the night before leaving or the first day arriving, because that makes a lot of sense, especially if you're coming from far away, like the east coast or the Midwest, you'll be really tired when you arrive in Alaska. You don't want to have a long drive ahead of you. Um, yes, so prioritizing, that's the first thing, not sleeping in more than. Two places a week. And by the way, if you're considering a cruise, a cruise is really ideal for people who want to see a lot of different places, because you don't have to deal with that hassle of packing and unpacking and moving every day the ship does the moving for you. So that is really something to consider if you want to go a lot of different places, is a cruise or a cruise tour, which is a cruise plus a land portion booked through the cruise line. Okay, so that's tip number one. Prioritize. Tip number two is, start immediately. So it's January right now, do not wait any longer to book your lodging. Whether you're going to rent an RV, you're going to take a cruise, you're going to stay in hotels or vacation rentals. That is the thing that books up first and is the most expensive. That is going to cost way more than your flights. So if it's not too late to do your lodging first, I always recommend that if you've already got your flights, cool, but get your lodging figured out right away. There is a big rush of booking in January, so don't wait any longer. Now, of course, there are last minute trips you can do, and we can talk more about that later, but yeah, if you, especially if you have your heart set on going to Denali or Seward, especially, then you cannot wait any longer to book lodging there. And finally, number three is what I call slow is magic. And what I mean by that this is related to the first one. Build in some unscheduled time into your trip. What makes Alaska really magical is the moments and the times that you didn't plan. And you know, you do need a plan. You need a plan for where you're going to stay. You need a plan. And you need to book far in advance tours that you really want to do. And everyone should do at least one tour of some kind in Alaska, because there are so many places you can't get to if you're not on a tour, and that's especially true of boat tours, hiking tours and flight scene tours. I really encourage all of those and many others as well, but those are ones that are really, really great value and for outdoorsy folks, hiking I mentioned also kayaking tours are really good value and a really special way to get to places you can't go even otherwise, even as a beginner, fishing is awesome. If you're into fishing, you know, if you're not into fishing, then, of course, that doesn't make sense to spend money on, but there are so many, and we've had lots of episodes about tours, so many wonderful ones. So I would encourage you to book at least a one tour, and I'm going to have my link, like I always do, to the tours that I particularly recommend some of them, not all of them, but some of them have small discounts for podcast listeners. So definitely check that out, but make sure you're not scheduled all the time, right? So for example, let's say you're going to Denali National Park. I recommend having three nights there. If you only have two, it's okay if you have less than two, I would not go to Denali because you're just not going to have time to see things. But if you're in Denali, for example, I'm in Denali a lot in the summer, and my guests typically go on the bus tour into the park, which is fantastic. I really encourage people to do flight scene in Denali. We have, we have an episode about that from last February. It's, it's a great way to see the park. So having a couple of things like that, or maybe doing a rafting trip or something like that, really fun. And what is really magical about Denali is just being in this epic landscape. So make sure you have some downtime where you can just go for a chill walk or a hike, or just drive somewhere and just look at the mountains for a while, it's really those are the moments that are really amazing in any Alaska trip. And I think about the years I lived in Alaska, the trips that I've taken, and my favorite moments on tour with my guests, and many of them involve that moment when we're. Just hanging out outside, and then all of a sudden there's a view of Denali, or all of a sudden the northern lights come out, or we see a bear or a moose, and you know that just comes out of the blue, or a whale. All of those things are you have to take the time to be looking and to just be existing. And Alaska is a place that really encourages just existing and being and seeing what it has to offer, like Jay mentioned earlier. And on the other hand, it tends to really punish people who are in a hurry. And being in a hurry, having a lot crammed in is is definitely a recipe for stress in Alaska. So it's, it's kind of a catch 22 as I wrap this up around you know that prioritizing but planning but slow is magic. It's kind of a kicker, because you do need to have a plan, especially for where you're going to stay, and that's really important. You have to figure that out way in advance, but you also have to show up and be a bit flexible. And sometimes things don't go according to plan. Maybe there's a wildfire or a landslide, or, you know, a variety of things that can happen that can interrupt your plans. So you need a plan, but also hold it loosely and see what Alaska has to offer. I also want to just encourage you to go back if, if that last thing I said made you a bit anxious, I want to encourage you to go back and listen to the first episode in October of 2024 which was with my friend Rob, who traveled. He used to live in Alaska also, but he traveled with his family to Alaska last summer, and they had to completely change their plan because of the fire in Denali, and he talked about how they made that pivot, what they did instead, what that experience was like for their family. So, and that was a great episode. So I'd encourage you to go back and listen to that. If the idea of that kind of uncertainty makes you a little anxious, which is normal. That's a great episode to listen to. All right. While I'm wrapping up this episode today, I want to thank visit Haynes once again for sponsoring this episode. Podcasting takes a lot of work to do. Well, it's so fun Jay and I love it, but it is work and time, and it means so much to have sponsors who understand how valuable this resource is to those of you planning trips. And so we just really want to thank visit Haynes and I also, just as we've mentioned a couple times in this episode, especially if you like places, not everyone gets to go. If you've got a picture in your head of Alaska, it's probably Haines, and it's a wonderful place to go when you're traveling on your own, and it goes really well with visiting Juneau. It goes really well with visiting Juneau and Glacier Bay, if you're traveling on your own, if you're driving to Alaska or back, it's a fantastic detour. It's just, it's just a wonderful place, and I hope you get To add it to your itinerary. Bye for now you

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Jennie Thwing Flaming

Host
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Jay Flaming

Co-host