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Sarah Palin aside, Alaska is attracting a lot of attention these days, and no wonder. With towering mountains so rugged most residents haven’t climbed their craggy peaks, plus pristine waters so full of fish a family can fill their freezer in a day, Alaska is a cool destination among the adventure-minded, moms and dads included.
Fishing at Summit Lake on the way to Homer, Alaska
Pace Yourself
It’s a big, wild life we lead up here, and we love showing it off! While it’s easy to decide to visit Alaska, what’s not so simple is choosing where to go once you arrive. Alaska is divided into rich regions, all of which boast unique attributes and activities. Alaska possesses 21% of the land mass in the United States. With 572,000 square miles of gorgeous landscape, Alaska manages to fool many a visitor who makes tracks to see the entire state in seven days. Keep in mind, not all roads are smoothly paved freeways and many areas of Alaska are not easily accessible to human visitors. Especially when traveling with children, an itinerary is crucial to a trip’s success and enjoyment by all.
Choose One Region Per Visit
My family’s travels have taken us up, down, and all around Alaska’s roads, waterways, and air routes. The best itineraries, we’ve found, are those narrowed to one region, allowing for ample exploration and immersion into the history, culture, and outdoor recreation most guests to our state crave.
Pick Your Season
Keep in mind that Alaska is a four-season tourism state, but only during the summer months do most tour operators keep their doors open, usually May through September. A wonderful exception is Salmon Berry Tours in Anchorage, Alaska’s largest city. Locally owned and delightfully staffed, Salmon Berry hosts small, intimate tours year-round to see the greater Anchorage area or the entire state. Guests choose from city tours of only a few hours or week-long excursions into Alaska’s Interior region of Fairbanks and beyond. Happily kids are welcomed here with open arms.
Visit during winter to see the beautiful Northern Lights while snowshoeing or Nordic skiing near historic Talkeetna or try the Iditarod Race special and receive up-close attention from a champion team as you witness the start to the Last Great Race.
Summer is king, though, if you want to experience the lush, rich environment of Alaska close-up. Scores of vacationers check Alaska off their bucket list each year.
Throwing rocks into Kachemak Bay
Explore the Kenai Peninsula & Homer
A favorite family trip is traveling down the Kenai Peninsula toward Homer, at the very tip of the Sterling Highway and sprawled out along stunning Kachemak Bay. Allow five days to explore this region. Rent a darling cabin from Homer Seaside Cottages. Your posse can walk to just about every attraction this hamlet has to offer. From sticky buns at Two Sisters Bakery to a beach combing expedition at Bishop’s Beach and oceanic exploration at the Islands and Ocean Visitor Center, it’s all right there for a family’s utter satisfaction.
Like fishing? Take the kids down to the Homer Spit, a short drive from the cottages and the home of a myriad fishing charters that cart visitors into the open water for a few hours or for a full day of halibut and/or salmon fishing. A small lagoon on the spit offers easy fishing for kids of all ages. This a great option for parents who don’t want to spend a bundle on a fishing charter but still desire the experience of Alaskan fishing.
The Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies also operates a small classroom yurt to complement its bluffside Wynn Nature Center, where families can take advantage of the organization’s fabulous classes and exhibits. Homer prides itself on being hands-on with learning, and it definitely shows here.
A raft of otters interested in passengers riding the ferry to Seldovia
Take An Extra Day in Seldovia
Have an extra day? Take the Alaska Marine Highway to the quaint bayside village of Seldovia, home to the Seldovia Native population and a handful of folks who choose to live almost off the grid. Worth a trip simply for the delicious scenery and wildlife, a ferry ride to Seldovia can be fun for the whole family. A few hours spent hiking, biking or beach combing the rocky shores are priceless memory-makers. Take the “Otterbahn” trail from the end of main street and wind up and around a huge Sitka Spruce forest before crossing a number of raised walkways, eventually coming out at a lovely cove where otters frolic and humpback whales often feed.
Enjoy One Last Alaskan Hurrah
On your way home from the Kenai Peninsula, stop by the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, an easy 45 miles south of Anchorage and a wonderful way to introduce kids to the incredible diversity of wildlife in Alaska. Open year-round, the center cares for injured or abandoned animals ranging from a cranky porcupine to a cadre of brown bears who never fail to amaze me with their antics. It’s a great driving break and a chance to see, hear, and, yes, even smell these critters close up. Plus, the moose calves are absolutely adorable in person!
It’s a sure thing once your family is back in the airport that you’ll be hearing pleas to return to Alaska.
Erin Kirkland is a freelance travel writer specializing in family adventures within Alaska. She lives in Anchorage with her husband and youngest son. Visit her website, AKontheGO.com, for itineraries, packing lists, safety considerations, and reviews of family-friendly attractions and activities in the 49th state.
