Here's what I'd do (7-16 Sept):
- Round trip air from Oakland to Anchorage ($450)
- SUV rental ($300)
- Food, beverages, gas, etc... ($500, includes downpayment with Fur-n-Feather taxidermist for rug)
- License/Tag ($300'ish)

You'd arrive in Anchorage, get the rental car, hit a store for food and another for your license/tag...and head to the Kenai Peninsula. There are several places to set up camp and even more spots to find bears. The bears can be active, and visible, all day but early mornings and late afternoons are best. Find a spot to glass from (often the road itself) and look above treeline where you see reddish bushes (those are ripe blueberry bushes) and then scan for what looks like a big shiny black VW bug...plan a route that keeps you downwind (good luck in the swirling winds) and get to climbing... Plan on a stalk a day, sometimes two, and shots anywhere from 50yds to 300yds.

If you decide you're serious about this option, buy yourself a copy of the Alaska Gazeteer and I'll give you some specific spots to camp and glass from...