Alaska Zoo
4731 O'Malley Road
Anchorage, Alaska 99516
Phone: (907) 346-3242
Alaska Zoo sits on twenty five wooded acres inhabited by 77 animals, 55 mammals & 22 birds. There are 39 exhibits and 38 species. Click here for map.

Alaska SeaLife Center
P.O. Box 1329
Seward, Alaska 99664
Phone: (800)224-2525
The Alaska SeaLife Center offers an unrivaled up-close and personal experience with Gulf of Alaska marine wildlife. Witness 1000 pound Steller sea lions gliding past underwater viewing windows, puffins diving in a carefully crafted naturalistic habitat, and harbor seals hauled out on rocky beaches. Alaskan king crab, sea stars, and Pacific octopus also await you, as well as a whole variety of intertidal creatures and deep sea fishes.

National Parks

Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve (not recommended for families)
There are no roads in this park, although the Dalton Highway comes within about 5 miles of the park's eastern boundary. Other than hiking in from the Dalton Highway (across one or two rivers then over the mountain passes, normally at a maximum rate of one mile per hour) access is generally by air. Activities recommended for adults only are backpacking, bird watching, camping, climbing, cross country skiing, fishing, hiking and wildlife viewing.

Wrangell - St. Elias National Park and Preserve
Located near Copper Center, Alaska
Encompassing towering mountains, massive glaciers, powerful rivers, a seemingly endless variety of flora and fauna and Kennecott, a National Historic Landmark, , Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve is a national treasure with something for everyone. Consisting of more than thirteen million acres, the Park is located in a setting full of natural and historic wonders. A world of new discoveries awaits you. Visitors can choose from a variety of activities. Note: Travel in the park can be difficult.

Denali National Park and Reserve
Denali Park, Alaska
Phone (907) 683-2294
Denali National Park & Preserve features North America's highest mountain, 20,320-foot tall Mount McKinley. The Alaska Range also includes countless other spectacular mountains and many large glaciers. Denali's more than 6 million acres also encompass a complete sub-arctic eco-system with large mammals such as grizzly bears, wolves, Dall sheep, and moose. Activities include backpacking, bird watching, camping, climbing, cross country skiing, fishing, hiking and wildlife viewing. In the summer it's recommended to tour the park by bus; you can attend ranger-naturalist programs, mountaineering (advanced registration required), day hiking and backcountry camping (permit required). In the winter you can snow ski and go dog mushing. Denali Park's headquarters is located along Alaska Route 3, the George Parks Highway, approximately 240 miles north of Anchorage, AK, 125 miles south of Fairbanks, AK, and 12 miles south of Healy, AK. Denali Park's mountaineering headquarters is located in Talkeetna, AK, approximately 100 miles north of Anchorage, AK.

Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve
Gustavas, Alaska
The park has snow-capped mountain ranges rising to over 15,000 feet, coastal beaches with protected coves, deep fjords, tidewater glaciers, coastal and estuarine waters, and freshwater lakes. These diverse land and seascapes host a mosaic of plant communities ranging from pioneer species in areas recently exposed by receding glaciers, to climax communities in older coastal and alpine ecosystems. Diverse habitats support a variety of life including seabirds, marine and terrestrial mammals that provide ideal conditions for wildlife viewing and for research as we endeavor to learn more about the world around us. There are no roads to Glacier Bay and no Alaska state ferry service. The only road in the park runs 10 miles between Bartlett Cove and Gustavus. Seven miles of trails wind along the beaches and through the rainforest in the Bartlett Cove area.

Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve
King Salmon, Alaska
Phone: (907) 246-3305
The Aniakchak Caldera, is the result of a series of eruptions, the latest in 1931. Nearly six miles in diameter and covering some ten square miles, it is one of the finest examples of dry caldera in the world. Located in the volcanically active Aleutian Mountains, the crater contains many outstanding examples of volcanic features, including lava flows, cinder cones, and explosion pits. Surprise Lake, located within the caldera, is the source of the Aniakchak River, which cascades through a 1,500-foot gash in the caldera wall. The site also contains the Aniakchak Wild River. Access to the park is by plane or float plane from King Salmon, Alaska or by power boat from any one of the numerous villages along the Pacific Ocean coastline. There are a no formal trails within the monument/preserve although open ash fields provide hiking/backpacking opportunities.

Kenai Fjords National Park
Seward, Alaska
Phone: (907) 224-2132
Located on the southeastern Kenai Peninsula, the national park is a pristine and rugged land supporting many unaltered natural environments and ecosystems. The fjords are long, steep-sided, glacier-carved valleys that are now filled with ocean waters. Kayakers, fishermen, and visitors on tour boats share the park's waters with stellar sea lions, harbor seals, Dall porpoises, sea otters, humpback and killer whales.

Museums

Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum
4721 Aircraft Dr.
Anchorage, Alaska 99502 (On Lake Hood)
Phone: (907) 248-5325
21 Rare historic Alaskan bush planes, pioneer & military exhibits and films and watch seaplanes in action from a observation deck. Narrated vintage seaplane tours are available, the museum’s 100-seat theatre offers a large library of rare film footage of Alaska’s pioneer aviators. The exhibit galleries feature the evolution of Alaskan aviation from 1913 to the present. The photo exhibit is composed from the personal photographs of pioneers and veterans. Click here for map.

Alaska Native Heritage Center
8800 Heritage Center Drive
Anchorage, Alaska 99506
Phone: (800) 315-6608
Visitors to Alaska are introduced to Native traditions and customs of both the past and present. The Welcome House is a celebration of contemporary Alaska Native cultures while the outdoor facilities and sites allow the exploration of ancient tradition and the presentation of stories from the past.

Imaginarium
737 West Fifth Avenue
Anchorage, Alaska (Located in Downtown Anchorage)
Phone: (907) 276-3179
The Imaginarium, Alaska's only hands-on Science Discovery Center, is designed as a place where families can have fun learning about science by actually doing science. The Imaginarium resembles a living laboratory, where you can stand inside a bubble, ponder the magnitude of the universe in a planetarium, discover ocean life in a marine touch tank, observe and touch exotic reptiles, or learn the principles of physics while playing with specialized toys. Whatever the project or activity, you can be sure that it is designed to change children's attitudes about science by letting them ask the questions and look for their own answers.

Alaska Museum of Natural History
11723 Old Glenn Hwy.
Eagle River, Alaska 99577
Phone: (907) 694-0819
Largest exhibits of Alaskan rock, mineral, and fossil collections in the state!
Information about Alaska's oldest known dinosaur - Lizzie! Wings of Gossamer and Jaws of Steel: world class butterflies, moths, and beetles!
Beautiful dioramas featuring real Alaska scenes of wilderness and wildlife!
Native cultural artifacts, including an 11,100 year old Northern Paleoindian hunting camp! Alaskan Gold Rush exhibits: the minerals, the tools, and the stories that our grandparents of the Gold Rush left us!
And....many hands-on exhibits for kids of all ages!

Theme Parks, Amusement Parks & Water Parks

H20asis Indoor Water Park
1520 O'Malley Road
Anchorage, Alaska 99507-7301
Phone: (907) 522-4420
Rides include wave pool, water coaster, children's lagoon, body slide, splash pool and more.

If you know of a fun theme, amusement or water park in Alaska, let us know and we will add it here.

Family Activities

If you know of a family activity in Alaska, let us know and we will add it here.

Summer - Family Vacation Hot Spots (Beaches, Lakes, etc.)

Zoos, Museums and National Parks listed above.

Kenai River - Fishing, boating. There are numerous boat landings, large lakes (Kenai and Skilak) white water, and wonderful fishing for trout and salmon

Chena River Lakes - Phone: (907) 488-2748: Fishing, campsites, picnicking and boating. From Fairbanks 17 miles east on Richardson Highway.

Winter - Family Vacation Hot Spots (Ski Resorts, etc.)

Alpenglow at Arctic Valley
Mile 7 Arctic Valley Rd
Anchorage, Alaska 99515
Phone: (907) 428-1208

Hilltop Ski Area
7015 Abbott Rd
Anchorage, Alaska 99515
Phone: (907) 346-1446
Alaska's only local ski resort that is excellent for individuals learning to ski and also for advanced skiers. The runs are steep, but mainly in the intermediate range. There are many activities, including an excellent children's ski school, cross-country facilities, a skating pond and a resort village with plenty of places to sleep, eat and drink.

Mt Eyak Ski Area
#1 Ski Hill Rd.
Cordova, Alaska 99574
Phone: (907) 424-7766
Located 80 miles southeast of Valdez.

Alyeska
1000 Arlberg Ave
Girdwood, Alaska 99587
Phone: (907) 754-1111
A dream for beginners to the expert skier, Alyeska has something for everyone. Long runs, wide open bowls, night skiing and more daylight hours than any other US ski resort.

Eaglecrest
Eaglecrest Ski Area
155 S. Seward Street
Juneau, Alaska 99801
Phone: (907) 586-5284
Located 12 miles from Downtown Juneau on Douglas Island, Eaglecrest provides a wide range of skiing terrain.

Helpful websites and services

If you know of a website or company that is helpful to families traveling to Alaska, let us know and we will add it here.

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(specials are updated weekly)
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