“Circle Alaska” Family Adventure Tour

Arrive in Anchorage and transfer to your hotel.  Enjoy the remainder of your day at leisure.  If time allows visit the Anchorage Museum of History and Art, the Log Cabin Visitor Center, and other downtown attractions all within walking distance of your hotel. Overnight in Anchorage.

This morning transfer to the Anchorage train station on your own for the 8:15am departure on the Alaska Railroad to Denali National Park.  Upon arrival in Denali this afternoon a hotel courtesy shuttle will meet the train and transfer you to your hotel.  The remainder of the afternoon is free for optional tours in Denali, such as rafting or a Jeep safari (not included). Your hotel provides free transportation to the park's Visitor Center, which is just a short walk from hiking trails and the Park Rangers' sled dog kennels. Overnight at the Denali Park Entrance.

Early this morning depart on a bus tour of Denali National Park. This tour takes you through the best wildlife viewing portion of the Park Road, approximately 55 miles into the park. As you travel through the pristine wilderness, look for wildlife, such as bears, caribou, and moose, as well as views of the Mountain. Your experienced driver/guide will provide commentary and make stops during your approx. 8 hour tour*. The rest of the day is free for optional tours, such as river rafting (see Tour Add-Ons). Overnight near the Denali park entrance.

Spend a free morning exploring the Denali area on your own. You depart Denali on the train to Fairbanks at 3:45pm, arriving at 8:00pm. A local courtesy transfer on arrival is provided by your hotel. Overnight in Fairbanks.

This morning take the hotel shuttle to pick up your rental car at the Fairbanks airport to begin you day of sightseeing the local area. Arrive at the Gold Dredge 8 for a 2-hour guided tour to learn about the gold history surrounding Fairbanks folklore. Your guide provides lively commentary about the history of mining in Alaska. Board a narrow gauge train to the dredge where you will see first hand how the dredge worked the gold fields. Once the train arrives at the camp you will receive a brief but informative course in mining, and then you will try panning for gold yourself - you will find gold - its guaranteed! Explore the dredge and feel the colorful history of the era come alive. After the Gold Dredge 8 tour you have time for lunch before your departure aboard a classic sternwheeler riverboat. On this 3.5 hour river cruise you see an Athabascan fish camp, Alaskan bush pilot demonstration and a championship sled dog team. Overnight in Fairbanks.

Enjoy a scenic drive along the Richardson Highway, one of the oldest and most scenic highways in Alaska. This route follows the Alaska oil pipeline, one of the world's greatest engineering feats. Just outside of Fairbanks, stop at the Santa Claus House in the town of North Pole. Along your drive, there are several rest stops, including historic roadhouses and scenic viewpoints. As you near your final destination of Valdez, you are very near the boundary of the Wrangell-St. Elias National Preserve. This region of Alaska offers impressive vistas of several of North America's tallest peaks. Take some time today to explore and visit the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park headquarters and ranger station, then continue into the Chugach Mountains and through Thompson Pass. There are several places to stop and enjoy the amazing landscapes, including Worthington Glacier and Bridal Veil Falls. Overnight in Valdez.

Today is at your leisure to enjoy Valdez and surroundings. Try a leisurely and scenic kayaking trip or see some of Prince William Sound's well known glaciers with a glacier cruise (see Tour Add-Ons). Overnight in Valdez.

This morning drive your car aboard the Alaska Marine Highway ferry in Valdez. As you depart Valdez, you will sail past the huge oil tankers that transport Alaskan oil to the "Lower 48". Enjoy the scenery and relaxing pace as you cruise through Prince William Sound. On arrival in the port of Whittier, drive off of the ferry and through a mountain tunnel to Portage Glacier Valley. From here, it is a beautiful drive to Seward. Along the way, you can stop at Portage Lake or Exit Glacier. Overnight in Seward.

Today you have time to explore the quaint town of Seward, known as the gateway to the Kenai Fjords National Park. Admission is included into the state-of-the-art marine science facility at the Alaska SeaLife Center. Here you will get an up close look at Alaska's diverse marine life and sea birds. Also included is a 90-minute tour of Mitch Seavey's Iditarod Racing Kennel. Here you will meet the famous sled dogs that run the Iditarod sled dog race every year. Cuddle adorable puppies, dress up as an Iditarod musher, and then take in the spectacular Alaskan wilderness as you mush for two miles with an Iditarod racer. Later today you still have the opportunity for optional tours (see Tour Add-Ons). Overnight in Seward.

This morning you have plenty of time for a Kenai Fjords National Park cruise (not included) before you head back to Anchorage. On your drive to Anchorage you first pass through the Kenai Mountains and then along Cook Inlet's Turnagain Arm. Look for Dall sheep, black bears, and beluga whales along the Arm. En route we suggest a few worthwhile stops, including the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, the aerial tram in Girdwood and the Potter's Marsh bird sanctuary. Overnight in Anchorage.

Depending on your departure time, you may have time to visit the Alaska Zoo, the Alaska Native Heritage Center and an optional guided excursion. Return your car to the airport rental station in time to meet your departure flight.