Advice about Visiting Alaska
- See also: Alaska Cruise
Parent Q&A
Archived Q&A and Reviews
- Non-Cruise Vacation to Alaska
- Alaska hiking vacation with a 6 year old
- Travelling Alaska with a 2 year old
- Family vacation in Alaska?
- Where to go in Alaska
Non-Cruise Vacation to Alaska
Sept 2011
I am looking for a travel agent that can help me plan a great family vacation to Alaska. I don't want to do an Alaska cruise because I don't want to be stuck on a cruise ship. There is too much info online about Alaska that I am overwhelmed with planning this myself so I would like to work with someone on a vacation package. Thank you. Alaska bound
I don't know of any travel agents who can help with a visit to Alaska, but I lived in Alaska in two different periods of my life (my older child was born there), and I have one specific point of advice for you: Go during the month of May. The entire place revels in a sort of joyous rejuvenation in May -- people are full of energy and optimism (the long winter is finally gone, the sun is back), the snow has melted into the ground and everything with roots is growing quickly, perceptibly, and wild life is, I think, at its most impressive (e.g., you might encounter a large flock of trumpeter swans migrating north). Have a good time. (Oh, two other point of advice: Be sure to visit the town of Homer. And don't waste much time in Wasilla; nothing good comes out of that place. AK fan
Alaska hiking vacation with a 6 year old
March 2010
I am looking for recommendations for an Alaska vacation, which I've been dreaming about for some time. If we go (with an almost 6-yr.-old), it will be for a week in August. Ideally we would love to do a guided hiking (not necessarily a 10-hour high-core march across a glacier, but not a stay-on-a-paved-road-with-a-hoard-of-tourists experience either). In addition, we are hoping to spend a day or two fishing and have our catch vacuum-packed and frozen for us to take back. If anyone has had an excellent experiences with an organization/travel agent that put together a package for you, or you were able to do all this on your own, could you please steer me in the right direction? Also, any other ideas you could share would be so greatly appreciated. Thanks! anon
I've put together a vacation for my family for this coming June/July. We'll be going to the Inside Passage (Juneau, Gustavus, Haines) and spending a lot of time sea kayaking (but not fishing). I suggest that regardless of whether you or someone else plans your trip, you do your homework first. Alaska is pretty diverse and your activities will influence where you go and vice versa. You can start with a guidebook (there are several out there) to get a general lay of the land. I strongly recommend checking out Trip Advisor http://www.tripadvisor.com/, an online resource with many wonderful and helpful members to answer your questions. You can use a guide group for the whole trip or just part of it, as we are doing. We are using Alaska Mountain Guides http://www.alaskamountainguides.com/programs/alaska.html for our sea kayaking activities, but there are various other guides out there. Mountain Sobek is a locally based high end group. We chose to go with an Alaska-based guide organization. Good Luck! Alaska-bound
My DH and his 3 bros, father, and assorted cousins, friends, etc. have been (for years!) doing an annual 'Boy Trip' in Alaska, to fish, in July/Aug. They've been very happily accommodated @ Catch-A-King Lodge, in Craig (by way of Ketchikan)(see: http://www.catchakingcharters.com/2701.html ). One year (I missed out!) they took The Wives, (who did not go for the fish) and they were happily engaged while the Menfolk were on the water, with the Lodge, the Nature (fauna, flora), and exploring/walking. You will not 'bump into' clumps of tourists in Craig, trust me. Just wild eagles, bear,whales, otters, seals, etc. (and virtually _none_ of them wear Hawai'ian shirts depending on the year, the schedules, the $, they book 5-7 days. CatchAKing filets, cuts, cryovacs / hard-freezes their catch, and ships it AlaskaAir back here to the BA; and we eat awesome salmon/ling cod/halibut/rockfish all year long...YUM! Have FUN! --maybe THIS year I'll go, too?
Travelling Alaska with a 2 year old
Feb 2010
I am planning a trip to Alaska with my two-year old girl. I would like to visit Denali and take her to the glaciers bear watching and fishing. Possibly some hikes here and there. We can't take long day trips because she takes one nap everyday. I am not sure where to start or what to do - It seems Alaska in itself is overwhelming and than again not everything is good for a two-year old. Any suggestions? Thanks. east bay area mom
We waited (and it was hard to wait) to explore Alaska until our son was 8. I am really glad we waited. The distances are far and the landscape is wild. At 8 he was able to really enjoy it and we had the confidence that he could handle the hours traveling and the rough conditions. To really see Denali you need to take the camper bus or the tour bus - neither are very comfortable and there are few stops. We rode the camper bus in about 4 or 5 hours (halfway into the park) and then got off and did a backpack for a few days (spectacular wilderness and bear visits!). We camped all over southern and central Alaska. In August it was chilly and the tent iced over a few nights, but if you go earlier in the season you have to contend with mosquitos and black flies. We will be going back again I am sure. Hooked on Alaska
I went to college in Alaska and have family there. I go there every year and sometimes twice a year. Here are some ideas.... Fly to Anchorage, rent a car and go south to the Kenai Peninsula. Take the Kenai Fjords boat ride to see glaciers, birds, dolphins, whales, gorgeous scenery. It's an all day ride...maybe you can find shorter ones.
We did this when my son was about 3...truthfully he was bored, but he could be inside and play w/ his toys and he liked seeing the birds, and the pieces of ice falling off of the glaciers. Drive back to Anchorage, GEt on the Alaska Railroad and take the train to Denali. My kids loved the train. Great scenery...lots of moose. There is an all day bus ride that goes way into the park. Boring for an active toddler. Take teh bus a little ways into the park and go for a walk. YOu might see bears in the distance, more likely at that area of teh park you'll see caribou, maybe Dahl sheep up in the distance, hawks, eagles, lots of ground squirrels. Go to Jeff King's Husky Homestead...Totally fabulous for all ages.
Visitors center at Denali has lots of interesting things to look at and kid activities. You could take the train back to Anchorage or head u to Fairbanks. Rent a car again...go to the University museum (Museum of the North). Fabulous exhibits and a gigantic Kodiak bear in the lobby. You can go to an active gold dredge, (and pan for gold). Go to Chena Hot Springs, north of Fbx(I think it's north)...Go a little ways up the pipeline road. Then take the train back to Anch. You'll probably see lots of moose off of the train, or on Chena Hot Springs Road.
To be very honest, my kids didn't really care much about the exciting things we saw their first trips to Alaska. They wanted to play w/ their toys, run around in parks, eat....they could have been anywhere. Nevertheless, it's a gorgeous place and I hope you go and have a blast. E-mail if you have questions. june
Family vacation in Alaska?
March 2007
I would like to take my two daughters, ages 8 and 10, to Alaska this summer for a week or so. My girls are too young for kayaking or true backpacking but would probably like something more active than travel on a massive cruise ship. Any recommendations for a family vacation? I've checked the archives and did not find much. Thanks, fellow travelers! sarah
There are many ways you can vacation in Alaska without going on a cruise.
You can fly to Fairbanks...rent a car for a few days. Fairbanks is a beautiful, friendly town (60,000 pop) with lots of sites to see. The University of Alaska Museum will take several hours, FABULOUS gardens and farm on campus,The Musk Ox Farm nearby does great tours. There are gorgeous roads and roads and roads to drive in Fbx, You can drive up the pipeline road and camp if you have a few extra days. Circle Hot Springs is a few hours north (above the Arctic Circle)...great hot spring, inn and restaurant and the drive is to die for (dirt road though).
Then, you can take the ALaska Railroad down to Denali Park. You can get a ''package trip''...take the train (really fun ride...watch moose in the rivers on the way down) and spend a few days at the park. You can't drive in to the park very far so you take the bus. You can arrange a tour to go x amount of miles into the park. There are many motels/lodges, etc. just outside the park, or you can arrange to stay at one of the lodges in the park. This is a REALLY fun trip. Could be rainy so bring rain gear.
Then you can continue down to Anchorage on the train. Rent a car again and tour around Anchorage...drive down the Kenai Peninsula for a few days....take the Kenai Fjords day boat trip to amazing glaciers, see THOUSANDS of birds, whales, dolphins.... OR....You can fly to Anchorage and rent a car and just tour around the above area I just mentioned...or take the train from Anchorage to Denali and back, or up to Fbx. Many possibilities.
If you do go to Fairbanks in late July, check out the Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival at the University. It's a 2 week amazing music/arts festival...classes, performances,It's in it's 25th year this summer.
My brother lives in Fairbanks, I went to college there (forever ago) and go back every year for the FSAF (FSAF.org). Our family has been there many times to visit and we've done the various trips I mentioned above. My husband and 11 yo son just came back the other day from ''Winter Festival'' in Fbx...lots of dog sled races, ice sculpture contests and winter events. Alaska is BIG and GORGEOUS and filled with the friendliest people you could ever want to meet.
One of the cool things about Alaska in the summer is that it's light out all the time (esp. the more north you go). So, you kind of forget that it's time to go to sleep, even though it's 11 PM.
I could go on and on but i''ll stop here. Have a blast. If you want to talk more please e-mail me. June
Where to go in Alaska
May 2003
Does anyone have recommendations on what to do or where to go in Alaska? Specifically in Juneau, Glacier Bay, Haines, and Skagway. Thanks! Nils
I haven't been up to Alaska since 1990, but I spent three years living in Juneau after I got out of college. I'm sure there are a number of new things going on there that I don't know about, but two things haven't changed I'm sure.
1. Juneau is a hiker's paradise, so if you are into hiking you and your kids will love it, you just have to be prepared for rainy weather, which is true all over Southeast. The trails range from easy to challenging; you should have no trouble finding several that are your speed. There are several great trails that you could walk to from downtown, and a few more that are out a bit further.
2. Juneau has the Mendenhall glacier. There are tons of glaciers in Alaska, but this is one of the few you can get fairly close to. I remember a great and relatively easy hike that takes you up above the side of it, of course by now it might have receded past that point! You also can see it without taking the hike.
In general fishing is very popular up there, so you could also arrange that--the salmon and halibut you eat there will spoil you for life. You can also do kayaking, probably in all the towns.
The towns are all fairly similar, each with its own specialty of course, so you might want to pick one as a base, and just explore the others on day trips. Skagway has its gold rush history, and Haines has an old, old army base--it's better known as one of the only Southeast towns that has a road out--I'm not sure if it's worth a special trip, but someone will correct me if I'm wrong. You could get on the road and see more of the area. Sitka has Russian history as its strong point, and it's in a lovely setting; I'd probably pick it over Haines myself. And Glacier Bay doesn't really have a town--it's just the gorgeous, icy scenery, but well worth seeing. Have a fantastic trip--it's an amazing place. Suzanne
I haven't been up to Alaska since 1990, but I spent three years living in Juneau after I got out of college. I'm sure there are a number of new things going on there that I don't know about, but two things haven't changed I'm sure. 1. Juneau is a hiker's paradise, so if you are into hiking you and your kids will love it, you just have to be prepared for rainy weather, which is true all over Southeast. The trails range from easy to challenging; you should have no trouble finding several that are your speed. There are several great trails that you could walk to from downtown, and a few more that are out a bit further.
2. Juneau has the Mendenhall glacier. There are tons of glaciers in Alaska, but this is one of the few you can get fairly close to. I remember a great and relatively easy hike that takes you up above the side of it, of course by now it might have receded past that point! You also can see it without taking the hike.
In general fishing is very popular up there, so you could also arrange that--the salmon and halibut you eat there will spoil you for life. You can also do kayaking, probably in all the towns.
The towns are all fairly similar, each with its own specialty of course, so you might want to pick one as a base, and just explore the others on day trips. Skagway has its gold rush history, and Haines has an old, old army base--it's better known as one of the only Southeast towns that has a road out--I'm not sure if it's worth a special trip, but someone will correct me if I'm wrong. You could get on the road and see more of the area. Sitka has Russian history as its strong point, and it's in a lovely setting; I'd probably pick it over Haines myself. And Glacier Bay doesn't really have a town--it's just the gorgeous, icy scenery, but well worth seeing. Have a fantastic trip--it's an amazing place. Suzanne
March 1999
I suggest taking a ferry on the Price William Sound. Cordova is a lovely little fishing village, and I think the ferry goes there. Or to nearby Valdez. My main advice is: Get out of town. Alaska is all about the outdoors. There's a glacier near Cordova. You can walk on it, but be careful. Because the area is so large, see if you can find someone to point you to some good hiking areas or scenic drives. Take lots of film. Lots of wildlife, and the views are spectacular. Everything is just unbelievable BIG. I wasn't long in Anchorage, so maybe it has some charms I didn't see. Linda
Yes, pre-pandemic we went to Alaska in February to see the northern lights. In a normal weather year, February through March is the best time to visit if you want to see northern lights. The weather is -10'c to 20'c which isn't that bad for Alaska in the winter. That said, during our travel their was a high pressure ridge in California which kept cold air from flowing down from Alaska and pushed nighttime temps down to -50'c, which is cold, especially when your outside to view the lights. That said, the kids loved it and made amazing memories they cherish. I would recommend the trip but packing for really cold weather just in case. There is also winter equipment rentals for families that drop off at the airport when you land and pick up from there when you lease if you don't want to invest in a lot of really cold gear.
As my Swedish husband and parents who used to live in Alaska say- "there's no bad weather, just bad clothes". If you spend good money, like go to REI you can get very warm clothes that will keep you comfortable. Think.. the coldest day skiing in your life. But yes, Alaska is freezing in February. One year we were there it was 14 below zero. We did go sledding with our toddler but he was miserable. No fun for anyone. You can drive to glaciers or up to Denali and stay in your car, but it's very, very cold when you're outside. If you stay in a nice hotel or Airbnb, they all have heated floors, heated garages and you can turn your car on automatically from inside your house so it heats up.