I'm just beginning to think about the possibility of two weeks in Alaska next summer. My youngest son would love to stay in a small town (think Jasper, AB, or Black Mountain, NC), and I'm thinking of flying into Anchorage, maybe finding a rental for a week in a small town (something scenic, where the kids can wander a little bit), and then heading up to Denali and touring around for the second week. Any ideas? We'll be on a shoestring budget, will rent a car.

Hmmmmmmmph... You are trying to find a fine line between "so small that you run the risk of boring your kids" and "small enough so you feel safe and comfortable letting them BE kids".

My first vibe is to recommend "Seward"... definitely scenic with water and mountains, and small enough to wander a little bit.

It has amenities, but isn't "on the way to anywhere" which reduces the effects of society on it.

I don't know about the lodging rates and I guess it is possible that you won't find something to fit your budget.

Another factor that seems important is that your "small town" be in close proximity to other alternatives should the kids 'outgrow' the destination you select. Seward is a bit of a drive from Anchorage, but then don't forget that Alaska is HUGE (and thankfully they don't have THAT many roads relative to the size, or your quest would be considerably more difficult).

You should probably also consider "Homer" (I've not been there but it surely merits mention).

I will say that your driving around Alaska will reveal mountains the likes of which most kids have never seen, and in numbers that boggle the mind at times.

I'm sure you have to be on guard as a parent all the time, but perhaps there is something to be said for places that are not on the way to other places, to greatly reduce the flow of humanity nearby.

It will be fun for you and your kids to select a spot as intended.

good luck with it.

I think Seward is a good suggestion. It has a great little downtown area, the Sea Life Center, interesting harbor, etc. Check into any programs that might be offered for children his age. I think Homer does. Homer would be a good choice, too. To me, Homer felt a little more artsy than Seward but both offer fishing charters, etc so are popular with fishermen. Save up your money for the cruise out of Seward. It is well worth it. We have great video of orcas feeding, etc. The nature cruise out of Homer wasn't nearly as interesting. You'll save on your budget if you have a place where you can do some of your own cooking.

did you ever consider an rv? we just got back after 2 weeks...2 adults, 4 kids in a32' rv.you can rent them from $120-$200 a day, unlimited miles,unlimited generator use etc....never rvd b4 but was the best way to travel alaska.will do it again some day.if you dont like a particular " little town" you can leave w/out loosing your hotel costs...yes, homer, seward, and we liked talkeetna...seward rained for 4 days but we still did everything, fish,shop,campfire etc...
if your stuck in a hotel and its going to rain for the time there, u cant just pick up...we had things to do but otherwise we would have just headed north whwere the sun shines more....

What are the ages of the kids? That will definitely make a difference. We went with a 1 1/2 year old. Alaska is not real kid friendly. Not that you shouldn't do it - just have to be prepared. A 10 year old is another story. Seward was one of our favorite places. The guys went on a halibut charter while the ladies took the kids to the "aquarium" type place. We walked on a glacier. The drive from Anchorage was great. We stopped several times for photos. Denali is not to be missed! And if your kids are at the train age you could take the train to Denali. I think it goes from Anchorage or maybe even Seward but you'd have to check on that one. Alaska and budget are hard to do. Denali doesn't have many choices for lodging so be prepared to pay there - but it is definitely worth it. Alaska is one of those trips that you have to do it while you're there cause you don't go there every year. Oh, we did the boat tour out of Seward also. That was great! We saw whales, sea lions, otters, the glaciers were amazing. Let us know what you decide. It's fun remembering that trip.

Thanks for the advice. I'll look into Seward and Homer both. I hadn't thought of the RV idea, but will look into it, as well. That could be fun!

if you would like more info on the use etc of the rv feel free to ask...

For the small towns week I'd do 3 days in Homer, 2 days in Seward and 2 days in Talkeetna, which puts you pretty close to Denali ... I wouldn't chance staying the entire week in one small town, you might not like it ... these three are each different enough that you'll probably appreciate the unique flavor of each.

A week in Denali is, IMHO, a lot unless you are spending time deep inside the park, which is hard to do on a "shoestring budget" without camping ... we usually go to Denali for 10 days but stay at a lodge near Kantishna for at least a week.

Billl

When we visited Talkeetna without reservations the visitors center helped us find a cabin about 30 minutes away. The cabins were beautiful but way off the highway. Gate Creek Cabins. They were clustered around a tiny pond and had a view of the mountain. Rates a couple of years ago were $125 for a 3 bedroom cabin stocked with basics like pots and pans. BUT we were told moose and bears were in the area so I don't think it would be a place to allow children to wander plus there wasn't much to do around there, even a long drive to a restaurant. Just bringing this up so if you find a cabin/cottage rental check about distance to things. The cabins appeared to be popular with four wheelers and snow mobilers but mid-week in June were pretty much deserted.