Our family has fallen in love with Alaska, visiting four times and cherishing every moment. Three trips were by cruise ship, one by flying in and renting a car—each offering unique lessons and memories.
Ultimate Alaskan Experiences
Travel Tip: Rent a Motorhome for Fly-In Trips
For fly-in trips, a motorhome beats renting an SUV and hotel rooms. It’s cost-effective, ensures power during frequent outages (common in Alaska), and offers a cozy base for exploring.
Delta Junction
A small town with a few shops and the Cave Wine Bar and Grill. Their daily specials are a must-try, and the desserts are divine—don’t miss the massive mozzarella sticks!
Denali National Park
The full-day bus photography tour delivers jaw-dropping wildlife and landscape shots. Buses access exclusive park areas, unlike private vehicles. Summer room rentals are available at the lunch compound, but we stayed at the scenic Denali Grizzly Bear Resort near a spring. Power outages are frequent, so pack a flashlight for dark showers. Blackout shades help with Alaska’s endless summer light. Our kids loved spotting animals, panning for gold, and shopping in town. Dinner at Prospectors Pizzeria and Alehouse was a highlight—their pizza is phenomenal!
Fairbanks Favorites
Alaska State Troopers Tour: Book in advance for an educational tour—our kids took home cool keepsakes.
The Cookie Jar Restaurant: Daily specials and irresistible desserts pleased everyone.
Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum: Vintage cars, fashion exhibits, videos, and a dress-up area for kids posing in classic vehicles—a hit for all ages.
Pioneer Park: A family-friendly hub with shops, dining, a stage, gardens, a huge playground, and museums:
Pioneer Hall, Tanana Valley Railroad Museum, Pioneer Air Museum, and Alaska Centennial Center for the Arts (the quilt displays were a personal favorite).
Our son raved about the aviation museum and knife shop; our daughter loved the playground and kids’ clothing store.
See the S.S. Nenana Sternwheeler Riverboat, original mining equipment, early Alaskan aircraft, and enjoy a scenic train ride around the park.
Georgeson Botanical Garden (University of Fairbanks): Uniquely Alaskan flowers make for stunning photos and a relaxing stroll.
Gold Dredge 8: A two-hour tour with gold panning and a train ride was hands-on fun.
Sitka
- Fortress of the Bear and Raptor Center Excursion: An up-close, safe bear encounter with educational tours and stories about each bear. The Alaska Raptor Center is phenomenal, offering insights into bald eagles with live demonstrations.
- Downtown: Visit Totem Park for totem pole photos, shop at Old Harbor Books, and browse unique Christmas ornaments at Grandfather Frost the Christmas Store—a treasure trove for ornament lovers.
North Pole: A Kid-Friendly Detour
Santa Claus House is a magical stop where kids meet Santa, feed reindeer at the Antler Academy, shop, and take photos.
Glacier Bay (Cruise Highlight)
On a college graduation cruise, we toured Glacier Bay with informative narrations throughout. Wildlife, glaciers, and breathtaking scenery made for some of our best family photos—a bucket-list experience.
Juneau
The By Land and Sea Photography Tour is a must-do every visit. Hiking in the National Park, you may spot bald eagles, bears, or moose, followed by a boat trip to see whales, puffins, seals, and sea lions. Our guide shared photography tips, making it accessible even for novices (I got amazing shots!). Kids loved using their digital cameras and identifying whales from a special guidebook. Seeing a mother and baby whale cresting was unforgettable!
Valdez
Glacier View Park: A drive and hike to a lake revealed the stunning Valdez Glacier, captured in our favorite photo.
Museums: The Valdez Museum on Hazelet and Egan covers the oil spill history; the Maxine and Jesse Whitney Museum offers kid-friendly scavenger hunts (our daughter loved them, especially while we waited for a bear and moose to leave the parking lot!).
Deep-Sea Fishing: The guys caught salmon, halibut, rockfish, and flounder.
Dining: The Fat Mermaid excels at breakfast and lunch with a diverse menu; No Name Pizza Co. serves tasty Hawaiian pizza.
Fish Camp Stay: Our basic RV camp (with outhouses and waterfalls) led to a 3 a.m. brown bear encounter—wear glasses for safety! (I forgot mine in the RV and almost ran into the bear. Thankfully my MIL grabbed me and he just brushed by me.
Ketchikan
Cape Fox Lodge Gondola: Ride to the hilltop for fantastic photo ops.
Creek Street: Watch salmon swim upstream in this historic area.
Great Lumberjack Show: A high-energy, interactive show—cheer loudly! Our daughter’s enthusiasm earned her a souvenir wood slice.
Whale Park and Chief Johnson Totem Pole: Intricate and worth a visit.
Shopping and Dining: Cute shops, great restaurants, and people-watching galore.
Final Tips
Alaska’s wildlife is everywhere—stay alert for bears and moose. Whether cruising or road-tripping, Alaska’s adventures, from glaciers to totem poles, captivate all ages. Plan tours in advance, pack for outages and variable weather, and immerse yourself in this wild wonderland.
Hagan Happenstance 