destinos

I am travelling to Alaska in August, and would love to enrich our trip with a visit to a Native Alaskan Village. Our children ages 8 and 10 are very interested in this type of cultural exposure, and i haven't been able to come up with anything in my research. We are coming into anchorage for a few days, then kenai peninsula, Homer, Seward, and Denali Backcountry.

SInce we haven't much time that isn't accounted for, I was hoping for a day trip.
Any ideas??

Thanks a bunch!

Orlando_Vic

There are several options that I can think of.

If your time is limited, the Alaska Native Heritage Center <http://www.alaskanative.net/> in Anchorage is pretty good. It will only require several hours and you and your family can talk with Alaska natives in each of the outdoor facilities and sites. This option is also easier on the budget than the next option I am about to suggest.

You can also take a 1-day trip north of the Arctic circle to Barrow or Nome <http://tinyurl.com/2htt2n> via Alaska Airlines. These trips include air transportation and local sightseeing. Several years ago, I took suck a trip to Kotzebue and spent all day absorbing the native culture. Of course, this option is more expensive, but it takes you into the bush where few tourists venture.

However, if your time and money are limited, I would probably recommend the Alaska Native Heritage Center.

dfrostnh

Orlando Vic's suggestions are good. In 2004 we did a packaged trip overnight at the Boardwalk Hotel in Seldovia (boat trip over from Homer/flight seeing trip back). It's a lovely small town but at the time there wasn't much for tourists (small shop) and native land is considered private.
The short videos at the Pratt Museum in Homer are very informative. One was on homesteading in the 1950s. Another on how to cook seafood.
You might also consider a stop at Iditarod Museum in Wasilla on your way between Denali and Anchorage. If one of the Reddington grandchildren is there with puppies, it would be an excellent opportunity for your children to talk with a young teen about living in Alaska, raising sled dogs and Iditarod competition.
Also check each of the town libraries where you will visit for activites for children. Start with the Anchorage Daily News website for info and leads.

destinos

Thank you so much Orlando Vic and drfosthn for your replies! I did call the Alaska Airlines lead and apparently they no longer offer tours to the Kotzebue village.This is the one I was interested in! Bummer. While this would have been wonderful, I am now thinking that the native Heritage Museum in Anchorage might be terrific too, and as you said, fits the budget!

I also hear that there are some Russian settlements on the Kenai Peninsula.Any knowledge of those? "OLd Believer Villages"?

Thanks so much, and I will check Anchorage Daily news... great tips.

Orlando_Vic

If you do drive down the Kenai peninsula, be sure to stop and see the old Russian church in Ninilchik. It is not a tourist attraction, per se, but an active Russian Orthodox church that is very photogenic.

If you want to pursue a visit to Kotzebue, call Tour Arctic in Kotzebue to see if they still have their all-day sightseeing package. Several years ago, their phone numbers were 907-442-3301 or 907-442-3441. You would still have to fly to Kotzebue and back on Alaska Airlines. This could get expensive!