We are cruising to Alaska in Aug 2007. My kids will be 13, 11, and 10. We will be hitting Ketchikan, Juneau, Sitka, and Icy Strait Point. After the cruise we are renting an RV. We will have 6 full days (8 nights) to explore and have fun. Would like to visit Denali, stay at Riley Creek, take the shuttle in (based on recommendations here) one day, next day do the doggy demo and then raft? We would also like to take the kids to Palmer for the State Fair. I have thought of going up to Fairbanks (like the hot springs) or down to Seward or Valdez. Don%26#39;t want to copy what we do on the cruise. There is so much to do, and I should have made my return flight later! We have our RV Aug 24-31. Any advice would be appreciated about keeping the kids going and educated on Alaska! I want it to be a trip they will never forget.
kids, what is best?jre68
I think you are right to skip Fairbanks......but you may want to spend a couple of days in either Seward or Valdez.......both towns offer sea kayaking and fishing that may interest your kids........hiking opportunities abound in both places as well.......
Be sure to stop at Independence Mine on your way to Palmer from Denali.......lots of old mine buildings to explore.....
Bring a good pair of binoculars.......you will use them every day.....
kids, what is best?For five people I would definitely bring more than just one pair of binoculars. I always suggest one pair for each person but it is your call.
Kids love guided hikes with crampons on Matanuska Glacier, Musk Ox Farm and Eagle River Nature Center. All three around Palmer with Eagle River nature Center being very close to Anchorage.
www.micaguides.com
www.muskoxfarm.org
www.ernc.org
In Seward Exit Glacier is very inexpensive way to enjoy Alaskan scenery. Ididiride dog sledding is a great fun for kids
www.ididaride.com
Even if you decide to take a cruise to see marine wildlife in Kenai Fjords National Park it is going to be completely different experience than anything else.
In Girdwood the tram ride on a clear day is spectacular. If you want you can walk under the tram line on the road and the ride down is free. Between Girdwood and Seward just off Seward Highway in Portage there is Wildlife Conservation Center. http://www.alaskawildlife.org/
Anchorage has endless activities kids enjoy. Every time I observed kids having lots of fun at the Native Heritage Center. Great introduction to culture and history for kids and adults too.
www.alaskanative.net
There are walking/nature/hiking trails everywhere in Alaska and hiking is a great way to learn about flora and fauna without realizing you are learning.
Yes, you are right, you should have made your return flight later. Much later, maybe a month or a whole year later. Still you wouldn%26#39;t be able to do all. There is so much to do and for this reason many of us return to Alaska every year. Well, maybe next time.
Thank you places and mombear, we already bought binoculars for the kids for Christmas, I knew they wouldn%26#39;t share and there is too much to see, and we have one more pair that we were going to share, will think about getting a 5th pair. I like your ideas and thanks for all the websites. I will look into them this afternoon. I knew we would be hiking a lot, fishing, we thought about salmon fishing and kayaking if I can convince the youngest that it will be ok, she will do it. Thanks again.
Jamie
We did an RV a couple of years ago, and you wll love it. Be sure to stock up on groceries...lots of them.... before you go to Denali. Nothing to buy there except from convenience stores. We almost starved.
Your kids will love the state fair in Palmer, especially the HUGE vegetables, and go to the 4H pavilion and see if you can get in on a judging. We had a real ball watching the kids showing their small pigs and the other livestock they were raising. Fairly near there, I think, is the Musk Ox Farm....if it%26#39;s not too far, do go there.
In Seward, the Sea Life place is interesting and, if you can, take a 7 hour Kenai Fjords cruise to see calving glaciers and sea life and have a salmon bake lunch on Fox Island.
I wouldn%26#39;t take the time to go to Valdez or Fairbanks with only 6 days.
This spring we did an Inside Passage Cruise. If you can possibly arrange it, in Sitka visit the Raptor Center. It is where they take injured birds and bring them back to where they can be realeased. It is fascinating, and you will be upfront with at least one bald eagle. The kids would love it. When you are in Juneau, if the cruise line offers you an excursion to Mendenhall Glacier for a fee, politely decline it and walk to the waterfront where you can catch an inexpensive shuttle to the glacier and spend as much time as you like there. The information center is excellent.
Reading this over...I take one thing back. You won%26#39;t need a Kenai Fjords cruise after your Inside Passage Cruise. Save the time for other things. Exit Glacier, however is another thing. You can take a small detour to this between Anchorage and Seward, as I remember. I don%26#39;t know how to describe it, except that it is not on water, but on land, and when you walk up to it, they have posted markers where it was during past years, so you get a sense of...hmmm...';global warning';?
Have a great trip, but don%26#39;t rush it to see too much.
I agree, I too wouldn%26#39;t take the time to go to Valdez or Fairbanks with such limited time.
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