mmbsc

We are going to Alaska for 3 weeks. We are a family of 6 (4 kids - 10,9,7, and 9 mo) and are traveling with another family of 8 with 6 kids (16, 14, 13, 10, 6, and 2). Every year we take long nature trips with a lot of driving and hiking. I'd love to get feedback on our itinerary. Every Friday and Saturday we have to return to Anchorage.
Week 1:
Thursday - hike flattop mountain and go to native Alaskan heritage center
Friday - imax and bike Tony Knowles Coastal Trail
Saturday - hang out
Sunday - rent r.v's, walmart shopping, head south to Seward
Monday - hike harding icefields (I know 8 miles is long but I think the kids can do it)
Tuesday - take a long boat ride into Kenai Fjords national park
Wednesday - swanson lake canoeing
Thursday - Homer to see tidepools and walk around
Friday - early a.m. fishing on the ninilchik river for king salmon with guide and head back to Anchorage maybe stopping for a hike in Turnagain Arm

Week 2
Sunday - Head to Denali stopping at the moose droppings fair in Talkeetna and then head to Teklanata for the night (we have reservations)
Monday - Take the shuttle as far as we can, get off and hike
Tuesday - Weather permitting hike
Wed - stay in Denali or leave
Thursday and Friday - not yet sure - would love suggestions

Week 3
Sunday - Head to Whittier and go kayaking in Prince William Sound - Columbia Glacier
Monday and Tuesday in Valdez
Tues night - head back to Anchorage
Wed fly out at night

There are a few days that we are still not sure about. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Specifically, if you have any tour guides for the Kenai Fjords national park, and whether or not we should try to get our own boat, etc.

Thanks so much,
Malka

gail

You have obviously done a lot of research and know your own family's tolerance for nature and road trips.

Some brief comments - there are not really "trails" in Denali for hiking except at the beginning/paved road part - so 2 days of wilderness hiking in Denali may not work (this info based on past posts here and info at Visitor's Center - we did not attempt to hike).

How do you do some of these outdoor activities with a 9 month old - canoeing, biking, long hikes, kayak?

And the one advisory I give everyone going to Alaska - even though you know it is expensive, things tend to become even more expensive than even good planning allows for. Supermarkets, cups of coffee, snacks - we knew and planned for thebig things like meals and lodging, but hit the ATM a few more times than we had planned.

Sounds like a great trip.

dfrostnh

When you head back from Denali you could include a visit to Independence Mine State Park and more hiking. During the Anchorage visits you should drive by Lake Hood where the float planes are. It's very impressive, like a major marina only planes. Also while in Anchorage, the Title Wave bookstore has a great book selection include some used books for all age levels about everything Alaska. It would be a good place for the kids to pick up some reading material.

spirobulldog

you would probably find The Winner Creek Trail in Girdwood/Alyeska fun. Crossing the creek in the hand-pulled pulley car thingy is neat(not sure exactly what this is called). You might like to ride the tram to the top.

I really know nothing about fishing, but it is my understanding that the King are a lot harder to catch, so are you sure that is what you want to fish for? We caught a ton(well 125 lbs)of sockey salmon. I was just thinking it might be easier on the smaller kids.

sounds like you have a great trip planned.

we did do a couple of flying options and they were great, but that is where the real high expense occurs.

Barblab

Don't miss the Sealife Center in Seward, as well as the Seavey Dog Kennels tour and sled ride off of Exit Glacier Rd.

BudgetQueen

Although you seem to have done a lot of homework, in my opinion, the Denali Park shuttle buses are not appropriate for some of the kids, especially those under 5. This is not a zoo, when wildlife is spotted nearby, SILENCE is demanded. And there is no way to have that with toddlers. There aren't any trails in the park as already noted. I think you are underestimating what this involves. At the least for the older kids- you are going to have to bring triple the batteries, gamess DVD's etc, with head phones and triple the food.

mmbsc

I gotta tell everyone - we had one of the best trips ever!!! We didn't end up going into the Fjords but did end up taking a cruise onto Prince William Sound another day (which I don't recommend). We also went Halibut fishing which was definitely a highlight - we couldn't pull them in fast enough! Denali was incredible - the weather was gorgeous and we ended up taking the bus to Eilson and doing closer hikes the other days. While we were in our rv, my husband ended up bumping into the author of the book we were using for hiking in Denali!! Kayaking in Valdez was spectacular, watching a mother bear and her 2 cubs the night before we left was a great goodbye.
Thank you for all of your advice - it was awesome.
Gotta go plan a trip to Hungary and Costa Rica this summer!!!

ruwithme

So very glad your trip was awesome! What wonderful memories for you and your family. Spending 3 weeks in alaska is a dream of mine....someday...

ystorch

i know this post was from a while ago but, i am going to alaska with my kids next week and your itinerary looks like you got to see alot without too many expensive excursions so, i was wondering,

1. how long did you spend at denali?
2. what did you do each day?
3. any great hikes to recommend?
4. other than denali, any great recommendations for animal viewing?
5. where did you go fishing?
6. any recommendations for seeing uniquely alaskan culture?

any tips would be great, thanks so much!

garyt22

Just got back from AK yesterday... for Denali, we did the Jeff King Husky dog center one morning, followed by the 8 hour Denali Adventure 63 miles into the park... lots of wildlife... bears, moose, eagles, owls,birds, caribou,sheep and amazing scenery...

Also spent a morning at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center www.alaskawildlife.org where injured or displaced wildlife are kept... great stop...