well one answer is the alaskan weather is unpredictiable. it's in the 40's today in anchorage.

May/June almost always has better weather than August which tends to be wet and cloudy. May and June have a ton of sun and usually less rain. you don't say where you plan to visit. if you are in the panhandle/southeast (juneau, sitka, ketchikan,etc) alaska area than the weather question is much easier. it will be rainy no matter what time of year. so if your plan is the southeast then bring your raincoat and plan to be wet. if you are going to other areas of the state then may/june is the best.

I think it takes 5 days from seattle to get to juneau on the ferry, allthough it's been a while since i looked at the schedule. will you be bored? well it should a beautiful trip, but it is a ferry. there won't be entertainment, the weather is likely to be crappy for at least part of the trip and that is a while. i would fly here and move around as you wanted. that seems like a better usage of valuable vacation days. also i think they are having some sort of problem getting the summer ferry scheudle complete this year so it might not be out yet.

greg
anchorage, ak