A visit to Alaska can be a life changing for children, shaping their understanding of the natural world and wildlife, and discovering their own sense of adventure. Few places in the world offer lively hikes to glaciers, abandoned gold mines, and wildlife sightings that can make even the youngest to most veteran travelers feel a sense of wonder.
Alaska also offers a balanced trip whether you choose to cruise with kids, explore the surroundings of its biggest city Anchorage, or farther afield to its many accessible destinations ranging from national parks to glacier hikes.
Is Alaska good for kids?
Alaska is a great location for children who can enjoy outdoor activities for long periods of time. The National Park Service hosts the Junior Ranger program, a must for children’s exploring. Adapted age-appropriate books help children in the range of five to 13 appreciate the parks in depth while letting them earn the badge for the corresponding parks they visit.
All of the materials can be downloaded in advance or picked up on arrival, making it a special part of the overall journey and allowing kids of all ages to earn their most special souvenir, their Junior Ranger badge. And there’s no age limit – the whole family is welcome to participate including parents.
Where is best in Alaska for kids
Anchorage is an easy start or stop to any trip with the amenities a family would expect anywhere in the lower 48 states. Cruising is an easy option lacking the hassle of planning with many large ships having plentiful options for family fun, but the potential for crowds in the ports, or on board, means cruises are not for everyone.
In Denali National Park the tour to the sled dog yard is part of the Junior Ranger program. The park’s most famous residents are introduced to the children with puppy playtime at the end. Kids of all ages will be happy to get to meet one of these friendly pups whose training involves socialization from their earliest days.
Best things to do near Anchorage with kids
The biggest city in Alaska offers so many options an entire child-friendly trip could be easily based from it. From the several hundred miles of trails that are part of the city’s heart, it’s possible to link these walks with the numerous kid-friendly museums in…
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