Family-Friendly Activities in Alaska

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Alaska is the ultimate vacation destination for families who love to get outside, explore, and share in outdoor adventures together. You'll find activities that will appeal to the whole family.

Check out our top five family-friendly activities in Alaska:

1. WILDLIFE VIEWING

Alaska is known for the most magnificent wildlife in the world, including brown and black bears, moose, wolves, caribou, dall sheep, whales, and so much more. Both kids and parents alike will marvel at seeing Alaska's diverse wildlife in their natural habitats on a wildlife viewing tour. 

For guaranteed views of Alaska's wildlife, visit the wildlife conservation and rehabilitation centers. These centers rehabilitate injured and orphaned animals and support important research to protect Alaska's land and marine wildlife. Many centers offer animal encounters and behind-the-scenes tours to learn even more about the animals. 

You can also become friends with reindeer at the Reindeer Farm or stroll among the musk ox on a walking tour of the Musk Ox Farm in Palmer, Alaska.

2. HIKING

You will find a great selection of family-friendly hikes almost anywhere you go. Many trails lead to great views and wildlife viewing opportunities without being too long or strenuous.

PRO TIP: Have a scavenger hunt along the way and bring binoculars so your kids get great views of the wildlife and scenery. 

3. MUSEUMS & CULTURAL CENTERS

Alaska is home to world-class museums and cultural centers that will entertain kids and adults with their interactive exhibits about Alaska's diverse wildlife, history, and Alaskan Native Culture. The Anchorage Museum has a fun and interactive Discovery Center, full of hands-on exhibits and an impressive planetarium. At the Alaska Native Heritage Center, you can tour the renowned Hall of Cultures, explore six life-size village sites, and shop for authentic Alaska Native art. 

4. FAMILY-FRIENDLY TOURS

You will find that most tours offer options that your whole family can enjoy. Here are some of our top family-friendly experiences, from A to Z:

• ATV Tours take you into the Alaskan backcountry to view scenery and wildlife. Many tour companies offer multi-passenger ATVs so the kids can ride along for the fun.
• Day Cruises from coastal towns to see seals, sea lions, whales, and glaciers. Many cruise companies offer half-day tours perfect for families with educational kids programs and activities onboard.
• Flightseeing for a better perspective of Alaska. Both kids and adults will enjoy the bird's-eye-view and the excitement of flying on a small plane. Some tours land at remote locations, like glaciers, for more exploration.
• Kayaking in the protected coves. Choose a family-friendly half-day tour that offers double kayaks for a fun way to get up-close views of marine wildlife and the scenery of Alaska. 
• Train Rides are a family favorite. The Alaska Railroad connects Seward to Fairbanks with multiple stops along the way for some fantastic day-trip options. Wildlife viewing, scenery, onboard snacks and dining, and entertaining narration are all part of the experience. 
  
  

5. WINTER ACTIVITIES

If visiting Alaska during the winter, there are plenty of outdoor activities to keep the whole family busy. Get active with winter sports, including cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, sledding, and Alaska's official state sport, dog mushing. The entire family will enjoy the thrill of riding behind a team of dogs as they speed through a snow-covered forest. Many dog kennels in Alaska offer kennel tours and demonstrations before you hit the trail with the dogs.

Alaska's best family-friendly festivals and events, including the World Ice Art Championships, Fur Rondy, and the Iditarod, also occur during the winter.

 

No matter the season you visit, a family vacation to Alaska will create memories that last a lifetime.

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