National Parks

Denali National Park and Preserve

Location: Central Alaska.

Known for: It's one of the country's most pristine, wildlife-rich parks, and is also home to Mt. McKinley.

Biggest crowds: Late May through early September.

Accessibility: The 92-mi Denali Park Road is the only road into the park. You can drive 15 miles on your own, but only tour buses can take you further.

Why kids like it: Lots of animals live here, including grizzly bears, wolves, caribou, moose, and Dall sheep.

What hikers say: This is one of North America's premier hiking and wilderness experiences.

Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve

Location: North of the Arctic Circle.

Known for: Arctic foothills, mountain ranges, and tundra.

Biggest crowds: Crowds are not an issue!

Accessibility: No developed trails, campgrounds, or other visitor facilities.

Why kids like it: It's probably a bit extreme for small children.

What hikers say: At 8.2 million acres, it's the size of four Yellowstones. There's plenty to see.

Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve

Location: Inside Passage.

Known for: Massive tidewater glaciers that are often "calving" (sending sheets of ice plunging into the bay).

Biggest crowds: May through September.

Accessibility: Though you can't drive to them, you can catch the glaciers in almost every other way; boats and helicopters are the main ones.

Why kids like it: The calving iceberg sends tons of water and spray skyward, propelling mini-tidal waves outward. What hikers say: There's wilderness here, too, and it's a wonderland for naturalists of all persuasions.

Kenai Fjords National Park

Location: South Central Alaska. Known for: A rare up-close view of blue tidewater glaciers as well as some remarkable ocean wildlife.

Biggest crowds: Summer.

Accessibility: Limited, unless you charter a boat or plane, or take a tour.

Why kids like it: If you take a tour boat, you can be sure of seeing otters, sea lions, bald eagles, and on occasion, humpback whales and orcas.

What hikers say: Check out the trail to the vast Harding Icefield.

Lake Clark National Park and Preserve

Location: South Central Alaska

Known for: Profuse animal life, including an important spawning ground for red (sockeye) salmon.

Biggest crowds: Crowds aren't much of a problem.

Accessibility: The only way to get here is via small plane, usually from Anchorage, Kenai, or Soldotna.

Why kids like it: It's chock-full of interesting wildlife.

What hikers say: Make your way through dark forests of spruce and balsam poplars or hike the high, easy-to-travel tundra.