10 Day Alaska Itinerary with Kids

I am so excited to write this post. I have SO much to share about traveling with kids in Alaska. After all, I grew up in Alaska and raised my young kids here, so I know a thing or two about traveling around the state with kids.

To answer the most common question – is Alaska a good place to vacation with kids? – the answer is YES. In fact, I think Alaska is one of the best places to travel with kids, as long as you plan your itinerary carefully and know the best spots for them to have fun.

Don’t worry, I’ll tell you everything you need to know with this done-for-you itinerary. You can simply follow this as is for a perfect trip, or use it to gather ideas and adapt it for your own family.

Why Choose This Itinerary?

This itinerary was created with kids in mind.

For accommodations, I’ve selected options that will allow kids to run around and enjoy the Alaskan experience. There will be some dry cabins, yurts, as well as other local experiences that will leave them with memories for a lifetime (or if they’re too young, you’ll have pictures).

This itinerary is for people who want to get a more authentic Alaskan experience while checking off all their bucketlist items. Some of these accommodations book up quickly, so be sure to book your trip as far out as possible (ideally around 10-12 months out when accommodations open for the following year).

I also made this itinerary with children in mind. It’s a lot for kids to pack up and move everyday, so I slowed the pace to allow time for kids to be kids and enjoy the smaller things. Think playgrounds, beaches, and looking for wildlife alongside epic things like whale watching cruises, seeing glaciers up close, and taking ferries to small off-grid towns.

Is Alaska Kid Friendly?

Yes, Alaska is very kid-friendly. Kids are welcome nearly everywhere, and people are usually friendly with kids. As Alaska is a very family-oriented place, you’ll see many kids and families here. In Anchorage alone, there are 82 playgrounds to choose from. I’ll recommend my favorite playgrounds and places for kids to let out their energy each day.

Day 1: Arrive Anchorage

Today will be a relaxing day. If you arrive early, you’ll have the entire day to explore the city or even venture further out.

I have a full list of things to do with kids in Anchorage here, and below are a few of my favorites.

Tip! With this itinerary, you could instead rent an RV, which is a popular way to explore the state. I recommend Great Alaskan Holidays for an RV. They provide everything along with support for any unexpected issues that might pop up. If you’re wondering if RV travel is for you, check out my article on traveling Alaska in an RV/motorhome.

Recommended Things to Do with Kids

Anchorage Museum

This is an easy stop located centrally downtown. There’s a large Imaginarium for kids with marine wildlife (including turtles), science exhibits, educational areas dedicated to volcanoes, earthquakes, and other natural phenomena in Alaska, and play areas as well. There is a dedicated area to learn about the indigenous cultures of Alaska as well as many rotating exhibits.

Ship Creek Hatchery

Just a few blocks down the hill from downtown, the Ship Creek Hatchery is open to the public with free self-guided audio tours, exhibits, and videos of the hatchery operations. Guided tours are available by request with this link.

You can also simply watch people fish along Ship Creek. Be sure to stop by the Ulu Factory nearby to learn about these unique knives and how they were used by Indiginous Alaska cultures.

Please note that in recent years, many homeless camps have been setup in this area near the ports. I never worry about walking around this area, but if you walk from downtown just know you’ll likely pass by a camp.

Westchester Lagoon

In just a few minutes from downtown, you can reach Westchester Lagoon. You can actually walk or bike along the Coastal Trail to get here too; taking around 28 minutes or 7 minutes, respectively.

This is great for kids because there’s enough to keep kids busy – there’s a nice little playground, an ice cream stand in the summer months serving both ice cream and snacks, a large lagoon with many bird species, and the connecting Coastal Trail for Inlet and more wildlife views.

Elderberry Park and Tony Knowles Coastal Trail

Similar to Westchester Lagoon, Elderberry Park is along the Coastal Trail. This playground was completely renovated in 2025 and is a lot of fun for kids. It’s located at the end of downtown, so it’s an easy walk if you’re staying downtown. We usually head there after grabbing breakfast at Snow City Cafe.

Rent Bikes Along the Coastal Trail

Pablo’s Bike Rentals, located downtown, has all sorts of bike options, including kid bike carriers. It’s just a block from the Coastal Trail, an 11-mile trail that runs along Cook Inlet.

It connects downtown (where Pablo’s is at) to Westchester Lagoon, Kincaid Park, Earthquake Park, and Point Woronzof. It starts out flat but there are some hills through the woods as you approach Kincaid Park.

There are information points to learn about earthquakes and the area, and many points to stop for gorgeous views and even bird watching. This area is home to moose so always be on the lookout as you go along.

Explore Kincaid Park

Kincaid Park is the largest park in Anchorage. It sits just south of the airport along the Coastal Trail and toward the city. There are over 30 hiking/cycling trails here and even sand dunes.

There are multiple entry points. If you are biking along the Coastal Trail, you can head uphill toward the park. You can also drive and park at one of many spots, and I recommend the main Kincaid lots at the Kincaid Chalet. From here you can walk down along the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail for quite a while. Look out for wildlife and enjoy the views!

Where to Stay in Anchorage with Kids

I recommend staying downtown as it’s central, not very busy, and has many cute shops and restaurants. My top recommendation is the Hotel Captain Cook because there are a few restaurants onsite and a large pool/jacuzzi as well. The Wildbirch Hotel is another great option; just note there isn’t a pool.

If you’d prefer a home rental, look at South Anchorage or around Bootlegger’s Cove along the Coastal Trail.

If you really want to dive into Alaska and get out of town, head 45 minutes south to Girdwood and stay at either the Hotel Alyeska or one of the many VRBO (my preferred booking platform) or Airbnb options. The Hotel Alyeska has a beautiful pool and large jacuzzi and is always a huge hit with my kids.

Day 2: Drive to Seward

We’re kicking off this Alaska road trip with a stay at a stunning town in a deep fjord (it’s over 450 feet deep!). The drive down is half the fun. Here’s my guide with the recommended stops along the way.

If you only have time for one, I recommend the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. Here you’ll spot moose, bears, wolves, musk ox, and other Alaskan animals. What I love about this place is that you can drive through the entire thing and make stops along the way. So if your little ones are tired, it’s not a problem.

Most of the major car rentals are in Anchorage. There are also a few local ones like GoNorth, RentaSubaru, and Alaska 4×4. Car rentals are unfortunately quite pricey in Alaska so plan accordingly.

Things to do With Kids in Seward

Run Around at Waterfront Playground

This may just be the prettiest playground in the world. It’s hard to beat swinging while watching sea lions or even whales in the bay.

Visit Alaska SeaLife Center

This small but well maintained sea life center is a staple in downtown Seward. The center is a nonprofit and the only marine mammal rescue and rehabilitation center in Alaska.

Our kids are in and out in about an hour or so. You can spend more time if you read all of the information posted, but if your kids are like mine, you won’t get a chance to read it all. Make sure to stop at the touchpool where kids can feel all sorts of different sea creatures.

Hike Tonsina Trail

This 3.2-mile (5.3km) out-and-back trail makes its way through the woods along a gravel trail before reaching some switchbacks that head down to a bridge. At the end, you’re rewarded with a beach area and some fun woods to run around in.

This is bear country, so make noise (kids are good at that) and be bear aware. Here’s the link to the hike via AllTrails.

Go Tidepooling

Seward has a massive tidal differential that averages 8 feet but can go up to 15 feet. So when the tide is out, you can see all sorts of interesting critters. From starfish to crabs to strange looking sea worms, there’s all sorts of things under the rocks. Be sure to look out for jellyfish as they can still sting even when exposed.

I’ve found the best spot to be at the end of the beach at Lowell Point. Park at ‘Lowell Point Beach and Access Parking‘ or ‘Caines Head Trailhead’. Use AllTrails for navigation – the trail starts right there in the woods.

Walk the Harbor

Seward has a large harbor with all sorts of fishing boats. With a little bit of patience, you can spot one of the many sea otters that hang around here.

Just like any harbor, there are no railings to stop you from going over, so keep a close eye on small children if you decide to go. I’d take my 4 year old but wouldn’t have let her run around at 2.

Where to Stay

This part is important. Don’t skip it! For Seward, I highly highly recommend staying at Lowell Point with kids. There’s a long beach area that’s rocky and sandy toward the end. There’s endless tidepooling (think starfish, strange sea worms, crabs, and more to discover under rocks!), seagulls, and plenty of wildlife viewing.

Lowell Point is at the end of the road about 2 miles past the town of Seward, so there’s little to no traffic.

There are no rules on building fires on the beach (unless there’s a burn ban), and it’s such a fun thing to do with kids! Most of the beachfront properties have fire pits (just be sure to check the fine print as there’s a yurt that does not allow it).

From here you can hike Tonsina Trail, explore the creek flowing to the bay, watch the eagles and seagulls fight over fish, and enjoy a slower pace of life. In my opinion, it’s the perfect place to unplug and enjoy some quality time with kids.

Most places will not be found on the large booking sites. I recommend starting with Miller’s Landing and also doing a simple Google Search. My favorite place is the Oceanfront Inn and all the other properties they own. It’s a bit more windy here so if you prefer calmer air, don’t stay at the end.

There are also many RV parking areas here.

If you’d prefer to be in town, though, there are many hotels (this is the only one with a pool – a rarity in Alaska) and Airbnb’s to choose from.

Day 3: Seward

Today you’ll head out on one of the best tours in Alaska – a whale and glacier cruise! I promise you, this will be an absolute highlight of your trip.

These tours aren’t cheap, but they’re fairly priced for what you get. Tours run around $260pp ($130 for kids) for a 6-hour day cruise, which is my recommendation with kids. The 8-hour tour is just too long.

This is the exact tour I always recommend. I’ve been on most of the tours out of Seward, and with this one you’ll see tons of wildlife, you are almost certain to see whales, and you’ll get up close with glaciers too!

One time we saw a pod of orcas circle the boat, and even give it a little love tap!

The daytime tour will take up most of your day, so once you disembark, I recommend walking around town, heading to the playground, and grabbing dinner.

There are dinner spots near the harbor if you want something nearby. I like Ray’s Waterfront (and the views are gorgeous). Firebrand BBQ is delicious (only outside seating) and Woody’s Thai Kitchen will fill that Thai craving. Otherwise, I really like Seward Brewing Company in town. I’d avoid Seasalt. The building is gorgeous but sadly the food and prices don’t match the ambiance.

Day 4: Seward

Today you get another day to explore Seward and choose from some new activities. If you have kids under 5, they might just enjoy wandering the beach and heading to the playground in town.

If you want to maximize your time and add in an activity, choose from Day 2 or pick from a new activity below.

Seavey’s Dog Sledding

Near Exit Glacier, just 12 miles leaving Seward, there’s a family-run dog sledding company that runs year round tours. Dog sledding (or dog mushing) is Alaska’s official state sport. There’s even a famous 1,000-mile trail called the Iditarod that happens every March from Anchorage to Nome (every Alaskan knows this song by heart).

In the summer, you sit in a wheeled cart while the musher leads the dogs along one of the many trails they own. It’s fun to see the dogs in action!

Some people may worry about the health and treatment of the dogs, but I can assure you that when I went, they were treated like kings. Well fed, well taken care of, and overall a great living standard. These dogs are born to run.

Kayaking

If you have kids 6 and older, you can book a kayaking tour in Resurrection Bay in Seward. This one has a family package, but there are many companies in Seward and many options to choose from. I booked a tour with Miller’s Landing and we went kayaking in Humpy Cove. It was such a fun and memorable experience.

Note that some companies require children to be 8 or 9+ so double check the age requirement before booking.

Exit Glacier

This is a great hike for kids as it’s flat and only about a mile long to reach the viewing platform.

Keep in mind that the glacier has receded so much that it’s fairly far away from the viewing platforms now. It’s not too far down the road from Seavey’s and only 12 miles outside of Seward, so it’s an easy stop and relatively short walk; just manage your expectations when you go.

Day 5: Homer

Today you’ll wake up and make your way to Homer. This drive will take 3 hours so be sure to grab a coffee and get some snacks on the way out.

If you forgot, no worries. Here’s where I recommend stopping along the way.

Cooper Landing Brewing Company

If you like breweries, this is a nice stop for a break and some food on the way to Kenai. There’s a sand pit and small play area for kids in the outside seating area and it’s all fenced in so they won’t wander away.

If you want more than brewery food (which I think is pretty tasty here), I recommend stopping at Two Brother’s Roadhouse in Cooper Landing or waiting for tons of options in Soldotna.

Cooper Landing

This is a small town you can drive through in about 10 minutes. In fact, you might drive through it and not realize you passed through a town! This area has an absolutely gorgeous turquoise river that’s famous for fishing and rafting. If you have kids that want to try rafting, this stretch of river is relatively calm and a great introduction to rafting without the rapids.

Cooper Landing is a gorgeous (albeit small) area, and you could instead spend a night here instead of heading to Homer.

If so, I recommend staying at the gorgeous Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge.

Soldotna

If you’re hungry, Soldotna has plenty of options. I like St. Elias Brewing or the Kenai River Brewing Company. There’s also a fantastic bbq spot just off the main road called Blackjaxx. Servings are large and prices are really reasonable. Otherwise you have tons of options here including Mexican, pizza, American, and more.

If you pass through on a Wednesday, there’s a local market at Soldotna Creek Park just off the main road. There’s also a large wooden playground here that our kids love to visit and a wooden path along the river (just be careful! There are many areas where the stairs lead right into the water, and it’s not safe for young children).

Arriving Homer

You’ll know you’re close when you crest the hill and see the stunning Kachemak Bay and Homer Spit.

Homer is one of my favorite towns in Alaska. Snow-capped peaks and glaciers surround the town. From shore, you can spot all sorts of wildlife (although I’ve never spotted a whale here; it does happen, just not as often as Seward). From here you have access to world-class halibut fishing, great restaurants, a hippie artsy scene, and even bear tours.

Kids will love Bishop’s Beach, a long stretch of fine sandy beach with the chance to do some tide pooling. The Homer Spit is also fun. It’s surrounded by rocky, beach areas and has many restaurants and shops.

Where to Stay

If you’re short on time, these are my top picks:

We usually stay at the Seafarer’s Suites located near Bishop’s Beach. The apartments are large and the bedrooms all have king-sized beds. There is quite a bit of road noise from the main road, but the views make up for it. From here you can walk to Bishop’s Beach, Fat Olives for some yummy pizza, Wild Honey for amazing crepes, or one of the other bakeries or restaurants nearby.

The Homer Spit is another good option for kids. There’s a rocky beach along the side with the hotels and even a few swings underneath some of the stilt buildings. It can get REALLY windy along the spit, so if you don’t love the wind, I don’t recommend this area. We’ve stayed at Land’s End a few times and love that we can enjoy a drink on the patio while the kids play on the beach.

Otherwise, you’re right on the water and have easy access to some restaurants and shops. You also have a front row seat to Kachemak Bay and any wildlife that come through (although you won’t see as near as much activity here as in Seward).

Day 6: Homer

Today you have two options: either take the ferry from Homer to Seldovia, or go on a Gull Island tour.

Seldovia

Seldovia is a tiny fishing village that’s off the road system. Meaning, you need to take a ferry to get to it. The 45 minute ferry each way is half the fun. Once in Seldovia, grab lunch at one of the restaurants, walk around the boardwalk and stop in at a shop, or hike the Otterbahn Trail to a private beach area.

Seldovia was once a lively fishing town with many canneries. The Good Friday Earthquake in 1964 changed all of that. The 9.2 earthquake shook for 5 minutes and permanently dropped the town 4 feet, requiring much of it to be completely rebuilt.

Gull Island

Gull Island is an easy 20-minute boat ride from the harbor. Once there, you can spot at least 8 bird species, including puffins. When we went, we spotted at least 10 otters floating in the water. It’s a fun and easy boat trip with kids that won’t take up the entire day. There are many tour companies – we went with Mako’s Water Taxi and I’ve also heard good things about Rainbow Tours

Day 7: Homer

Today is a free day to explore more of the town, do an activity from yesterday, go on a small hike, head to Bishop’s Beach, or do something more adventurous. The Wynn Nature Center is up on the hill and has many boardwalks and paths for kids. If you have older kids, you could look at doing a water taxi + hike at Grewingk Glacier.

If you have older kids, you can book a halibut fishing tour from either Homer or Ninilchik/Deer Creek.

Another option is a bear viewing tour (typically from Soldotna). JBear Tours operates out of Homer and recommends children to be at least 7 years old, but note there can be 3-5 miles of walking. Children also need to be ‘bear aware’ and understand how to act in close proximity to bears.

Day 8: Kenai

Today you’ll wake up and head out to the town of Kenai. This town is large and sprawled across a large area. While it’s not a mountainous area, the town is along Cook Inlet, a massive inlet with a large beach area.

Kenai is known for world-class salmon fishing along the Kenai River. There are some great playgrounds here and the beach makes for a natural playground for kids.

Heads up! If you aren’t into fishing, this may not be the place for you. If that’s the case, I recommend adding a day in Seward, Homer, or staying in Cooper Landing instead.

Recommended Stops Along the Way

Arrive Soldotna and Kenai

Kenai, at least when you arrive in the town, doesn’t have a ‘wow’ factor like the other places you’ve visited. But the good spots are tucked away and more nuanced. Kenai and Soldotna are two distinct towns that are closely connected so that’s why both are mentioned.

Here’s what I recommend doing in Kenai/Soldotna:

Soldotna Community Playground: This large playground (mentioned on the drive down) is an easy stop along the main road that’s great for younger and older kids. Nearby is the Kenai River Brewing Company and a long metal boardwalk along the river.

Fishing Charter or Tour: This is one of the best fishing areas in Alaska. During the July run, on a good year, it’s a sea of salmon making their way upstream. Many locals use waders and fish right in the river (it’s about hip height). This is a great activity for teens or older kids.

I’m going to be completely honest, I always just go to my parents cabin so I am not familiar with the tour companies, but a quick Google search will provide tons of options and reviews.

Visit the Beach: Beaches in Alaska typically aren’t great for swimming (and can be downright dangerous), but there’s still plenty to do. Kalifornsky Beach and Kenai Beach are both great options.

Where to Stay

In the Kenai area, you can find a variety of homes for rent on Airbnb. There are places right along the beach area or along the river, and that’s what I’d recommend with kids.

We stayed along the river at these cute cabins and really enjoyed our time. There was a communal fire pit and plenty of room to run around.

Day 9: Eklutna Lake or Eagle River

Today you’ll make your way back toward Anchorage. However, instead of staying in town, I recommend one of these alternative and more unique options:

• Hiking Option: Dry cabin at Arctic Valley
• Peaceful/Adventure Option: Wilderness Chalet near Eklutna Lake
• Adventure Option with helicopter glacier landing or glacier ATV tours: Alaska Glacier Lodge
• Hiking Option further away: Hatcher Pass Cabins

All of these options will provide plenty of outdoor adventure for kids. To learn more about these different areas, use my day trips from Anchorage guide.

Day 10: Anchorage Fly Out

Today you’ll return your car and make your way to the airport.

If you have some time and your kids need to let out some energy before you head out, I recommend visiting Elderberry Park Playground, the Alaska Zoo, the Imaginarium at the Anchorage Museum (if you haven’t already), or one of the other many playgrounds in town (link to all here).