You all are amazing and I have spent more time than I want to admit reading posts and looking for ways to plan the perfect trip. We are a family of 4 with 13 and 15 year old. The original plan was to do a cruise but that was canceled. As airfare was reasonable we decided to do our own land tour. We love boat trips and the goal is to see wildlife. Here is my schedule so far

July 1 - Fly to Anchorage arrive super late and go to hotel

July 2 - "Insurance day" with no plans in case our covid tests results aren't in or flight delay. If we are clear to play and have a glorious day then I would look for a flightseeing tour to Denali. Otherwise spend day in Anchorage

July 3 - Free morning; afternoon flight to King Salmon. Honestly, I don't believe there is anything for us to do here. Suggestions absolutely welcome.

July 4 - Fly to Brooks Lodge. Spend day admiring bears. We have a cabin at Brooks Lodge for the night.

July 5 - More bear watching. Fly to Anchorage arrive 7:30 and pick up rental car. I was thinking about driving to Whittier as we will have spent a couple nights in Anchorage. I checked and the tunnel is open until 11pm.

July 6 - Whittier boat ride and/or train ride. Seems like the train should take us to remote places that we can't drive but looking at the website, it appears it is more of transportation between Anchorage and Whittier for those who don't have a car....what am I missing? I am looking at the 26 glacier cruise. My kids aren't old enough to drive jetskis so that is out. We would want to have a great day and then drive to Kenai.

July 7 - Fish on Kenai river. I know the red salmon are unlikely to be running yet and it will mostly be trout. We are visiting a friend and this is more about an authentic experience than what we catch. We may go to the market or Russian River Platform hike depending on what happens with the weather and fish this day.

July 8 - Coopers Landing raft ride then drive to Seward

July 9 - Seward Fjord Tour and wildlife center

July 10 - Is it worth the 3 hour drive to Homer? If we are heading back to Anchorage then visit Girdwood Wildlife Center (or do this tomorrow)

July 11 - Late flight home from Anchorage

I have not allotted time to visit Denali as it seems like it is far to drive there and then ride a bus. Unless you all tell me I am crazy I will leave it for another trip. I looked into Nome (I read your many suggestions Gardyloo) but the airfare is $1,300+ which isn't feasible with the bear watching I have booked and other day trips. I appreciate your insight and advice!

The trouble with towns in Alaska is that each seems to have its own personality. I loved Homer. We enjoyed the Pratt Museum and the overlook plus just wandering around. Also visited the farmers market on one visit. The nature cruise over to Seldovia wasn't as interesting as the one out of Seward. You have a lot already scheduled. Whittier was the only place we would not visit again but my husband had to experience driving thru the tunnel. We stayed at a b&b and were surprised at the number of videos available to watch. Turned out due to its location, there wasn't any tv reception.
We did not visit the wildlife center, unfortunately, but did enjoy the Boggs Visitors Center at Portage Glacier. The Kenai AK visitor and cultural center is small but interesting. Kenai itself is a large suburbanish town but you have a good chance of seeing moose. While in Anchorage don't miss visiting Lake Hood where sea planes are moored. It's amazing.

You can click on my profile and read my trip report "Alaska Trip Report" for our experiences in Alaska. I've seen enough bears in my life at ground level without paying a lot to fly over them. One of the worst hotel rooms we've stayed in was in Anchorage. We really liked the Microtel in Eagle River. Homer is much easier to get lodging in than Seward because of the people getting off ships in Seward. We liked our B&B on the hill above Homer. On one morning when we were having breakfast with our hosts, a cow moose and yearling walked past the window.
The trip out to the Eilson Visitor center in Denali was not really comfortable (school bus) but we did see quite a bit of wildlife. We did see one bull moose on the Kenai Penninsula. It came up over the guard rail right in front of us. My wife's quick reaction time kept us from hitting it.

I think it's basically okay. A couple of comments.

When you get to King Salmon you might ask your lodging manager if a vehicle could be arranged to take you to Naknek and back. Naknek is a village on Bristol Bay (connected by road to King Salmon - around 20 miles IIRC) that's a center of incredible activity during the Bristol Bay commercial salmon fishing season, which ought to be well underway when you're there. It could be quite educational.

Accommodation is very limited in Whittier, but you might consider spending a night in Girdwood. You could ride the gondola up the mountain, maybe have dinner at the Seven Glaciers restaurant if it's available, and from there you could easily get to Whittier in plenty of time for a glacier cruise. The train ride through the tunnel is interesting but I don't know that I'd expend any extra effort or money to take it.

July 10 - Homer for a day trip is too long IMO. What I would suggest instead is to drive back up to Anchorage, stopping at Hope and the Wildlife Conservation Center along the way, then on the 11th do a day trip up to Hatcher Pass and Independence Mine, stopping at Mirror Lake on the way north and Eklutna village on the way back, in time for the airport. https://goo.gl/maps/vx8XeDHDdLuN8s9v5



The cemetery near the old Russian Orthodox churches at Eklutna is very interesting, with the "spirit houses" over the graves. https://www.eklutnahistoricalpark.org/

Thank you for your feedback! I reread a couple trip reports and decided that the Whittier boat trip and Seward baot trip may be redundant with many preferring Seward. Thus, I have modified to:

July 6 - Seward Fjord Tour (8 hour tour)

July 7 - Visit the Seward Wildlife Center. Drive to Soldotna to fish on Kenai river visiting a friend. Again, more about an authentic experience than what we catch. We may go to the market or Russian River Platform hike depending on what happens with the weather and fish this day.

July 8 - Coopers Landing raft ride

July 9 - Alaska wildlife center in Girdwood, Virgin Creek Falls. Drive to Palmer

July 10 - Eklutna Historical Park, Reindeer farm, Glacier View

July 11 - Late flight home from Anchorage

I think this is an improvement.