Planning a Family Trip to Alaska: 9 Things to Do with Kids

Alaska can be a great destination for you to visit with your kids. Read all the spots you should check and start planning your family trip to Alaska!

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Alaska is utterly unique from the rest of the US and while it might not be the first place you think of, a family trip to Alaska is a magical experience. With glaciers, eight national parks, and more wildlife than seems possible, this is a wondrous state. 
Much of Alaska's best sights are natural. Each and every sight is powerful enough to amaze both adults and children alike from the whales to the ice floes. Bringing the whole family to Alaska gives you the chance to show your kids a completely different way of life. 
Traveling to Alaska with kids isn't as hard as it sounds either. While the weather is often changeable and sometimes unforgiving, being well-prepared with warm clothes and sturdy shoes will get you a long way. Summers are usually mild but frequently warm with average highs of 78 F. 

With jaw-dropping sights and incredible animals, a family vacation to Alaska is a once in a lifetime experience. Keep reading to find out our top nine things to do with kids in Alaska. 

1. Go HikingThere's so much hiking in Alaska that you'd need many lifetimes to even get around to half of it. For families, hiking is a perfect way to immerse children in nature and let them discover the wonder of a challenge with the best views at the top. 
Mount Baldy trail is just 2 miles with plenty of options to extend your hike if you want to go further. You'll get fantastic views from the ridge and it's manageable for children. The Twin Peaks trail is another family-friendly trail at just 2.5 miles. If you're traveling with older children, you can extend the hike but either way, you'll get the reward of beautiful sights. 

2. Take a Bear-Watching TourAlaska is a wild state, filled with some of the USA's most incredible animals. Bears are one of Alaska's most treasured wild animals and seeing them in their natural habitat is something children will never forget. 
A bear-watching tour is the best way to see bears out in the wild and learn all about their behavior. Set in some of the most incredible landscape, seeing bears often comes with other animal sightings like otters and wolves. 

3. Go on a Whale-Watching Boat Trip Alaska's landscape is phenomenal but it also holds so much beauty in its coastal waters. There are few experiences as humbling as seeing whales in the wild and up close, so why not treat your family to a whale-watching tour?
You could see orcas, humpbacks, belugas, and gray whales on your boat trip. It's difficult to understand the size of these friendly giants until you're up close and they're guaranteed to amaze you. You can take a whale-watching boat trip from many places including Juneau and Katmai National Park. 

4. Visit a Reindeer Sanctuary Whether you're visiting Alaska in summer or winter, hanging out with reindeer is a big treat for children. These elegant animals have a special place in children's hearts and in winter you could go on a reindeer sled ride. 
There are several reindeer farms and sanctuaries in Alaska where visitors can learn about the history and lives of these famous deer. Winter is the best time to see them as they'll have their fluffy winter fur.

5. See Eklutna Glacial LakeEklutna Lake is one of the most photogenic lakes in Alaska and easy to get to from Anchorage. With stunning blue water and a vast mountain backdrop, it draws visitors from all over the world to photograph it. 
You can hire kayaks on the lake and paddle around to see the whole landscape with a 360° view. You'll find lots of hiking trails along the lakeside and while the water looks lovely for swimming, it'll be exceptionally cold. Look after those toes!
If you want to camp at the lake, there's plenty of campgrounds to choose from. In summer, this is the perfect way to make the most of your visit.

6. Explore Anchorage MuseumAnchorage Museum isn't a place where kids will be dragging their heels and declaring it boring. In fact, this museum is packed with family-friendly exhibits and activities from history, art, and science. 
With a planetarium and an interactive discovery center, the whole family will have endless fun here. This is an ideal place to teach children more about Alaska and help them understand the history of everything they've seen outside. 

7. Go Dog SleddingZooming across the snow on a sled pulled by dogs is something every child (and adult!) will fall in love with. You can go dog sledding at any time of year as the glaciers still have snow in summer and taking a tour of sled dog kennels is an adorable experience. 
Kids will love meeting the fluffy, powerful, and well-trained dogs. You can learn all about the ancient history of dog sledding and experience the speed and power of these majestic creatures for yourselves.

8. Visit Thunderbird FallsOne of the easiest waterfalls in Alaska for families, Thunderbird Falls is just south of Eklutna Lake and you can combine both in one day. The hiking trail to the falls is easy, even for small children, at just 1.8 miles long. 
Hike this trail after the snow and ice have melted so you can walk the trail safely and enjoy the beautiful forest.  

9. Pan for GoldEl Dorado gold mine near Fairbanks is a brilliant tourist attraction for families. When you visit, you'll hop on a little train for a grand tour of the mine and the friendly hosts will narrate as you go. 
Kids will learn all about gold mining history before sieving for their own gold to take home as a souvenir. This experience mixes education with hands-on fun and kids and adults alike will have a blast. 
Have a Magical Family Trip to AlaskaAlaska is a magical place filled with wild animals and astounding scenery. Alaska's history has always relied on humans working with nature and every vacation to this beautiful state will reveal new discoveries about the great outdoors. 

A family trip to Alaska will show kids sights they've never imagined, allow them to see animals in the wild, and teach them a whole new way of life. From bear watching to mountain-top views, Alaska is a place the entire family will want to return to. 
If you'd like to find out more about bear watching or custom tours in Alaska, get in touch with us. We're experts in taking guests and families on tours they'll never forget.