I have an extra day in my iteneray between denali and seward on a 10 day trip around anchorage. I will be with my family of 5 (13,10 & 7yr old). Options:
1. Palmer --?hatcher pass, musk ox farm, matanuska glacier, idependence mine??
2.whitter 24 glacier tour (already planning the 6 or 8 1/2 hr. kenai fjords tour)
What do you think is the best option?
Other suggestions?

If you are driving to Seward via the Seward Highway, stop to see the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center <http://www.alaskawildlife.org/> in the Portage area. It's right on the highway. This is a good place to see some wildlife (bears, moose, musk oxen, etc.) very close up.

In the same area, a longer activity would be one of the Prince William Sound cruises <http://www.majormarine.com/> and <http://www.26glaciers.com/>. With 26 glaciers, don't be shy about asking for discounts (e.g. AAA, military, airlines, etc.) if you think you might qualify. They don't advertise them...but do have them for those who speak up.

We did the Palmer attractions as well as a glacier boat tour out of Whittier. We did the Marine Major glacier cruise, not the 24 glacier tour. The 24 glacier tour is a much bigger boat with lots of tour bus and cruise bus patrons. That cruise does not stop to wait to see glacier calving. If you happen to see it, great, but the boat keeps moving. On the Marine Major cruise, it's a smaller boat so you don't feel like you are with hordes of tourists. The MM cruise has a national park service ranger on board to give a talk and answer questions. Kids are able to earn national park service junior ranger badges during the trip. The MM cruise sees fewer glaciers but stops to wait to see them calve (waiting for chunks of ice to fall off into the water).
Glaciers are beautiful to see but it is extra special to see them calve. We were fortunate to see a 3 ton chunk of ice fall at Portage Glacier when we were about 300 feet away. Even the rangers were impressed and excited.
As for the Palmer attractions, my kids liked seeing the musk ox and hiking out to Matanuska glacier. However, we had hiked to other glaicers and had seen musk ox in Fairbanks. Given the choice you present, my kids would probably pick the Whitter glacier cruise but we had already done the musk ox, etc. You should go with what you think your family will like best

It's a long drive between Denali and Seward. I think a stop at Independence Mine and the Wildlife Center would fill your day and give you good breaks from the long drive. How long you spend at the mine depends on how much you like to read/see history. The views are nice. It's an excellent example of a small town built in a remote area. Although we did not visit the wildlife center, friends of ours who live in AK with young children said they enjoyed it (and they're used to having moose in the backyard).

Glacier Dogsled at Alyeska
Paragliding off Alyeska
Alyeska Resort
Alaska Railroad
Kayak in Seward

I would only do one glacier tour. They all are unique, but similar. Most of them you stand a good chance of seeing wildlife. Kenai offers better wildlife, with a smaller number of glacers. However, you will see 1 or 2 big glaciers and they will be calving. The Sealife Center in Seward might be an option to spend a couple of hours. It is very very good, but small. In Seward you will want to see the entire Kenai Fjords. Do not take a boat just into Resurrection Bay. It just doesn't get to see enough and there are no glaciers in the bay. I like renown tours the best even though there food is lame. You might want to take some snacks of your own. We did not get bored at all for 8 hours. We have a 13 year old girl. You could also do a flyout from Talkeetna and land on Mt Mckinnley.

The glacier options for me have been sort of overwhelming. I thought quick stops at portage visitor center and exit glacier would be great. Also the Kenai Fjords tour. I am unsure how much more the kids will think is awesome.

I figured the one unforgetable glacier walk would be a landing on McKinley.

I also considered the glacier dogsled idea -- but time is important. I figured we would just do the Seavey trip on the cart and see the demo at Denali.

We visited Denali, Anchorage and Seward earlier this year. We absolutely LOVED the Wildlife Conservation Center - we spent a lot longer than originally planned - we lucked out with the antics of the Grizzlies - they were playing with a log in the water - gave us some great laughs AND photos! Hatcher Pass and the Musk Ox farm are also worth a visit as too is Independence Mine. We didn't get to Matanuska but would have liked to. Also, there's a couple of mines between Anchorage and Denali where you can pan for Gold - unfortunately we ran oout of time and didn't get to do this.
If it were me, and I already had a Kenai Fjords cruise booked I would opt for option 1. and try to fit in the Gold Panning too.

Just two more quick thoughts -
1. There's quite a bit to do in Anchorage too eg there's the Native Heritage Center (which my husband).
2. The Kenai Fjords cruises can be cancelled sometimes and sometimes even if they are not cancelled it can be borderline with the sea conditions and they only turn back when a high percentage of the passengers are actually physically sick SO, if the conditions are bad for your poarticular day you might decide not to do the cruise. This happened to us - the seas were pretty rough and while the boats went out we were advised at the visitors center that it would be pretty bad and maybe it wasn't such a good idea to go out that day.

Since you'll land to hike on the glacier at Denali and see Exit and Portage Glacier, you have enough glacier experience. Go to the Palmer area with a stop at the Wildlife Center.

Seavey's and the Denali dog show were enough sled dog experience for my dog-fanatic child given that we have been dogsledding in the winter in Canada.

You can do a glacier dog sledding on Godwin Glacier near Seward. You can even spend the night there. We did the one in Girdwood (near Alyeska). You take a fantastic 10 minute helicopter ride out to the middle of nowhere. You land a snow covered glacier among 60 dogs and Dario (id. rod musher). He sometimes has a helper there. He lives there the entire summer with no water,electric, or tv. You are there with him for 2 or 3 hours. We got to hold some puppies, pet his dogs, and of course take a couple of rides around the huge glacier. The dogs really put on a show when they get hitched up. It was one of a kind experience.

Keep in mind that landing on a snow covered glacier is nothing like seeing a tidewater glacier. The tidewater calve into the ocean with a thunderous roar. Sound like firworks or thunder.

Thank you so much for all of your help.