Top Ten Things to do with Your Family on an Alaska Vacation
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Alaska truly is the last frontier, home to more public land and wild places than the rest of the lower 48! It is also an incredible place to visit with kids of all ages. Or, in my case to raise a family. There are so many different options and possibilities for visiting families from phenomenal outdoor recreation to great interactive experiences.
For summertime visitors mid-May through mid-August is prime time to experience AK. with kids and the family. It essentially doesn’t get dark during this time frame which makes it easy to drive distances (close in Alaska is 3 hours!) and do it safely and easily. Alaska is a large state and having means to travel either by driving, taking shuttles/busses, or even the railroad will expand what and where families can experience. For the sake of this blog we will primarily focus on the road system from down south on the Kenai Peninsula, south-central/ greater Anchorage area, and a little north to the Parks Highway & Denali area. As Anchorage is the primary start point for most visitors flying in. The activities and places are not in any sort of chronological/ranking order, they are all equally fun and awesome!
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center (AWCC) is a beautiful 45 minute drive south of Anchorage along the beautiful Turnagain Arm. Here visitors can see Alaska’s wildlife up close and personal. Some animals here are being rehabilitated while others call AWCC their forever home. Guests can take in breathtaking views of the Chugach Mountains and see all sorts of 4 legged critters in a safe comfortable setting.
Seward Sea Life Center
The Seward Sea Life Center is located near Seward Alaska, about 2 hours south of Anchorage. Here they have all sorts of activities and animals. Similar to AWCC some animals are being rehabilitated and others call it home. Alaska is home to some incredible sea life and a lot of that can be seen here. The touch tanks they have here are some of my 3 ½ year olds favorite things!
The Reindeer Farm
The Reindeer Farm is located in Palmer, a beautiful 45 minute drive north of Anchorage. Also, one of my daughter’s favorites! The Reindeer Farm is great for younger kids to get up close and touch and feed some of the animal’s here.
Prince William Sound
Prince William Sound is truly one of the most beautiful places in the state! Being able to witness where mountains meet the sea, glaciers, icebergs, whales and other marine life is something not to be missed with the fam! There are 2 primary access points, Whittier and Seward. From both locations there are a variety of tours and experiences. Whether that be on a large boat (some offer a no sea sickness guarantee) with other passengers, a private tour, or on a charter fishing tour the Sound is worth the time.
A flight tour of Denali and the Alaska Range
Denali is the tallest mountain in North America and is a big reason many tourists travel north and let me tell you as a resident who see’s it a lot it’s worth it! It is so big and towers above the surrounding area that it appears surreal. Doing a flight tour is an incredible way to experience Denali. In addition to Denali and the Alaska Range just getting up in the air and seeing how truly wild, vast, and the lack of humanity here is worth it.
Summer dog sledding tours
Mushing is a big part of Alaskan culture and can be seen across much of south-central but especially when one starts getting north of Anchorage and in the Mat-Su Valley. Here, particularly in the Willow area visitors can find lots of mushers offering tours of their kennels, wheeled mushing tours, and interacting with the dogs. A must for all dog lovers!
A trip on the Alaska Railroad
The Alaska Railroad is a great way for a family to spend some time together and enjoy views of Alaska. The railway goes from as far south as Seward all the way north to Fairbanks with many stops in between. The trains are equipped with amazing viewing cars with huge windows to take it all in as well as food and drink options.
Experience Alaska Fishing with Kids!
Alaska and fishing go hand in hand. Alaska is on pretty much every angler’s bucket list trips. Kids and adults of all experience levels from seasoned vets to never ever’s should get out and go fish when they are in Alaska. It’s not just the fish but the places they inhabit are worth it to get out with a rod in hand. From the ocean to the rivers and lakes. Alaska is home to some of the best fishing opportunities in the world!
A trip to Girdwood and Alyeska resort
The little town of Girdwood is located about 45 minutes south of Anchorage. This little ski town offers visitors great summertime activities! There are tons of hiking trails, bike trails, and a tram that can take you high in the Chugach Mountains to take in glaciers and the Turnagain Arm. Up Crow Creek visitors can even try their hand at gold panning, super fun for kiddos!
Hatcher Pass
Hatcher Pass is about 45 minutes to an hour drive north of Anchorage. Hatcher is beautiful mountain road that goes over the iconic Hatcher Pass. The road typically opens mid-June, but good advice is to check ahead of time to make sure it is drivable. Hatcher has great hiking trails, berry picking opportunities, and a pretty interactive mining exhibit at Independence mine.
Enjoy Alaska with your Family!
Being a daughter dad of a 3 and ½ year old has allowed me to see my home of Alaska through a whole new lens! Getting her out and seeing her joy has greatly added to my experience of our state. She absolutely loves being on the water, seeing fish, and of course being the daughter of a fishing guide, catching fish on a fly rod! In addition to countless trips down the river she accompanies my wife and I on all our adventures, north and south summer and winter. With our summertime business being located in Willow (an hour and fifteen minutes north of Anchorage and the closest non-urban fishery) she has ample experience chasing fins, hiking and berry picking on Hatcher, and absolutely loves all the animal experiences she has had! Visiting Alaska with family and kids of all ages is truly an experience that will create lasting memories for families!
Popular Alaska Fishing Destinations
