But, I am an adventurer at heart, probably born from my days as a kid where I grabbed a fishing pole or net and waded creeks and ponds to see what was there. My favorite type of travel is where you see things up close and personal with exposure to the people, culture and wildlife. This might require you to hop on a rubber landing raft and land on a beach where no one lives, or it might require you to reach down and pet a whale. Adventurers run between 8 and 98 years old generally.
Last week's entry covered the tours done by major cruise companies and these are a good, comfortable way to see Alaska. This week we are going to discuss adventure tours which are available. You can enjoy the expertise of Alaskan residents while truly exploring Alaska. There are options available for families with kids under 12, fishing expeditions up to a week, bear watching of one day to one week, The Iditarod, Scenic Explorations up to 10 days.
The activities you can expect to do on these adventure tours include:
- Seeing Denalii National Park from the ground and from an airplane
- Whitewater rafting or a scenic river float
- Visiting an Iditarod dog sled kennel and getting a ride
- Visiting a gold mine
- Fishing for salmon
- Fishing for Halibut
- Walking on a glacier
- Visiting the Alaska Sealife Center
- Visiting the Alaska Wildlife Center
- Hiking
- Biking
- Alyeska Tram
- Kayaking
- Seeing wildlife such as bears, moose, caribou, sea otters, seals, bald eagles and a variety of sea birds.
Some of these tours are open to individuals with only a small 'penalty' for not having double occupancy, so don't hesitate because you are not traveling with a group. You can also request which options you want on your adventure and create a custom adventure. Here are two of the best:
Family Adventure With Children Under 12
Who says you cannot have adventure with younger children? Here is the itinerary for a trip with younger children, adventurous but reasonable for younger kids.
Day 1 - Arrive in Anchorage and check into your paid hotel and explore on your own. Meals and activities on this day are not included
Day 2 - You are picked up at the hotel and travel along the Turnagain Arm (very scenic) toward Seward. There will be stops at several wildlife viewing possibilities.
Tour the Alaska Wildlife Center which cares for injured or orphaned Alaska wildlife. You can see bear, moose, musk ox and other wildlife that was rescued in some way.
Tour the Alaska Sealife Center which is geared toward studying and restoring Alaska's marine life.
A six hour scenic dinner cruise into Kenai Fjords National park will give you viewing of sea otters, sea lions, eagles and other marine life. The coastline is beautiful edged by a temperate rain forest.
You will stay in Seward overnight
Day 3 - Visit Portage Glacier and it's observatory
Have lunch at the Sourdough Mining Company in Anchorage
Enjoy an easy hike to Thunderbird Falls in Chugach State Park. Enjoy the mossy forest of birch trees and ferns and arrive at the falls thundering down a rocky cliff.
Have dinner before arriving at Wasilla lodging.
Day 4 - You will enjoy a scenic drive along the Matanuska River to it's very beginning which is the Matanuska Glacier. Enjoy a three hour guided glacier hike with information on glaciology and geology. After having lunch you will raft the Matanuska River. Enjoy dinner in an Alaskan family restaurant and go to your Wasilla accommodations.
Day 5 - Visit Talkeetna, a frontier town with beautiful views of Denali. Travel to Denali and enjoy flightseeing over green valleys and pass through the great gorge. Fly deep into the park over glaciers and ridges for great views of the park. This flight takes one hour. Continue touring Denali and enjoying wildlife and scenic views along the way before checking in at the lodge.
Day 6 - Spend the day touring Denali park. Enjoy the beautiful wildlife and scenery.
Day 7 - Depart Denali and head to Anchorage. On the way you will stop and visit an Iditarod musher's sled dogs. Meet the dogs and puppies then enjoy a short ride in a wheeled cart. Arrival in Anchorage cannot be guaranteed for departures earlier than 6:00 pm.
Iditarod Adventure
Day 1 2/27/08 - Arrive in Anchorage and explore at your leisure. Hotel room is included, but meals are not.
Day 2 2/28/08 - You will be picked up by your Alaska Tour Guides. Your first stop is the Alaska Wildlife Center which cares for injured or orphaned wildlife. You could see bears, elk, buffalo (bison), moose or others here. Take a tram ride to the top of Mt Alyeska for beautiful views, I have personally done this and enjoyed it.
Enjoy lunch at the ski resort of Girdwood. Return to Anchorage and enjoy the Mushers Banquet. This is your chance to enjoy Alaska entertainment and possibly get autographs and photos.
Day 3 2/29/08 - Visit the kennel of a veteran Iditarod musher. Enjoy lunch and riding behind a sled dog team. Have dinner and check into your Wasilla hotel.
Day 4 3/01/08 - There are two starts to the Iditarod, the ceremonial start in Anchorage and the official start. Today you will attend the festivities and ceremonial start in Anchorage. Enjoy a visit to the Anchorage Museum of History and Art. There are also works displayed by famous Alaskan artists.
Day 5 3/02/08 - Official start of the Iditarod in Mat-Su Valley Enjoy an outdoor barbeque in Wasilla and the official race start. Take pictures and cheer as the mushers begin a 1150 mile ride to Nome. Try out snowshoeing and cross country skiing. You will have dinner and return to your hotel in Wasilla.
Day 6 3/03/08 - Enjoy the town of Talkeetna and it's incredible views of Denali. After having lunch you will take a flight over Denali. View the most scenic and desolate areas of the park. You will return to Anchorage. Departures must be later than 8 pm to guarantee arrival. If you wish to stay another night your hotel is not included in the price but arrangements can be made.
We will have one more article on northern coastal Alaska next week. If someone has driven Alaska and would like to share their experience I would love to post your thoughts.
Brian@freecruisebook.com For more info click here
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