North to Alaska!

We just traded in 100,000 frequent flyer tickets for 2 1st-class tickets to Anchorage, Alaska! We'll be there from August 20 - Sept 6 (15 good days, 2 travel days).

Thought I'd send out a call for travel advice. It's extremely expensive and most things need to be booked NOW (or last month, really) because apparently hotels & national park tours book up pretty quick during the 4 month tourist season. A vague plan is taking shape, something like:

• 3-4 days in Anchorage
• Drive Talkeetna / Denali / Fairbanks. At least 2 days around Denali, maybe a night in Talkeetna.
• 2-3 days in Fairbanks, visit Chena Hot Springs
• Drive to Valdez, a few days in Valdez, including visiting Kennicott & Copper Mountain
• Back to Kenai Peninsual somehow - maybe ferry? maybe drive back up and turn left at Glennallen?
• 3-5 days on Kenai Peninsula - whale watching, glaciers, kayaking, bears, etc. - would like to stay at a B&B or lodge or something remote & quiet
• Anchorage overnight and fly back.

Any inside secrets to share? Tips & tricks? Send 'em my way in the comments!