Plan the Perfect Alaskan Vacation

Miles of vast, scarcely charted wilderness stretch as far as the eye can see. At every turn there lies a sense of the spectacular and the sublime. This is Alaska, a place of dreams and mystery. 

Perhaps it’s the rugged landscape of soaring peaks, crawling glaciers and wind-swept tundra that gives Alaska its unique appeal. Maybe it’s the spirited locals who embrace the land, knowing they’ll never fully tame it. It could be the hardy ecosystem—the spindly spruce struggling for a century to grow a two-inch trunk, the polar bear padding across the jagged arctic ice, the gangly moose dipping its head to drink in a glassy pond. Or maybe it’s simply knowing that in Alaska, you’ll never be done exploring and you’ll never be able to take it all in.

Outdoor adventures

Whether you’re looking for ecotourism, adventure travel or just making great memories to last a lifetime, Alaska will ante up. And while it’s known as the last bastion of hardy individualism, Alaska is a great place for families as well. Plunging down whitewater rapids, swirling a pan in hopes of spotting gold, watching a mother bear shoo her cubs off the road or just relaxing in the midnight sun—all sorts of unique family bonding experiences await. Kids will find that Alaska is more choose-your-own-adventure than Disneyland, but that it isn’t a bad thing.

Begin by investigating the options for what you want to see and do, and involve the kids if they’ll be joining you. Alaska’s plentiful mountains are a given. Most folks yearn to catch a glimpse of Mount McKinley, the tallest peak in North America, also called Denali. But it’s so tall that it makes its own weather, so 70 percent of visitors end up gazing at clouds instead of the mountain. Adjust your expectations accordingly and relish in the almost six-million acres of unspoiled wilderness within Denali National Park.

• View of Denali National Park
• Courtesy of Alaska Travel Industry Association

And don’t overlook Alaska’s other mountains, including those in seldom-visited Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, which rivals Denali in the awe factors of size and beauty.

Alaska’s glaciers delight both parents and children. Wild rivers, tumbling waterfalls, and sprawling forests round out the mix of natural attractions. Wherever you can, be sure to get off the road and into the woods to experience nature firsthand. Alaska’s forests, hills, and valleys are chock-full of trails, many of them easily accessible from Anchorage. Local family favorites include Potter Trail, Eklutna Lake, and Flattop Mountain. You’ll slap a few mosquitoes in the backcountry, but if you keep well-covered (including a head net for the more remote spots), you’ll manage just fine.

If hiking is not your thing, chug through the wilderness on the Alaska Railroad, a definite kid-pleaser. Bring your binoculars and scan for Dall sheep navigating the rocky mountainsides.