Alaska Vacation
Fairbanks, Denali National Park & Reserve, Kenai Peninsula
8 Days / 7 Nights
The Alaska family vacations from Adventures by Disney offer a land tour package that begins in the "Golden Heart City" of Fairbanks. The adventure continues with a majestic Denali National Park tour. Feel the power and awe of the wilderness as you travel through the Kenai Peninsula and cruise along the Kenai Fjords where whales surface and glaciers dominate the horizon.
Trip Highlights Include:
- Trail Breaker Kennels and The Iditarod
Cool your tracks at Trail Breaker Kennels and go behind the scenes to learn the history of the Iditarod, the world's most famous sled race. Meet the racing dogs and the season's litter of eager puppies!
- Wolf Tracking
Embark on a guided hike with a private guide from the Murie Science and Learning Center, and learn how to track wolves with radio telemetry.
- Spencer Glacier
A professional guide steers you on a tranquil float among towering icebergs in the shadow of Spencer Glacier down the idyllic Placer River.
- Kenai Fjords National Park
Cruise through the breathtaking Kenai Fjords National Park and get an up-close view of the dramatic fjords and the tidewater glaciers that tower over the water.
- Private Gold Panning
Ride an exhilarating jet boat along the glacier-fed Nenana River and visit a remote trapper's camp to try your hand at panning for gold.
Day One
Arrive at Fairbanks International Airport
Welcome to The Last Frontier! Upon arrival, an Adventures by Disney representative escorts you to your transfer vehicle. Relax as the driver assists with your luggage and shuttles you to cozy Sophie Station Hotel.
Sophie Station Hotel
Settle in and relax as your Adventure Guides check you into your spacious suite at this tranquil, full-service hotel.
On Your Own in Fairbanks
Explore the Golden Heart City of Fairbanks where the midnight sun smolders on the summer horizon. Stroll the friendly streets or make your way to the wildlife sanctuary minutes away from the hotel and keep an eye out for various Alaskan birds soaring overhead. Ask your Adventure Guides for suggestions as you take the remainder of the day to explore Fairbanks on your own.
Meals Included: None
Day Two
Breakfast and Orientation
Meet your fellow frontier adventurers during an exclusive breakfast and then enjoy an entertaining orientation at the hotel with your Adventure Guides.
Trans-Alaska Pipeline Viewing
Feast your eyes on an engineering marvel as you view the Trans-Alaska Pipeline—one of the largest pipeline systems in the world. It's a great time to spot a wandering caribou or a meandering moose.
Iditarod Experience and Lunch
As you blaze through the great frontier of Alaska, cool your tracks at Trail Breaker Kennels. Go behind the scenes for an interactive look at the history of the world's foremost sled race. Learn the story of the late, legendary musher Susan Butcher, four-time winner of the Iditarod. Then meet racing dogs and the season's litter of eager puppies. Afterwards, join your fellow adventurers for a buffet-style lunch with delicious desserts.
Depart for Denali
After all the puppy love, enjoy a relaxing coach ride to the lush green landscape of Denali National Park and Reserve.
Check Into the Grande Denali Lodge
Unwind as your Adventure Guides check you into the Grande Denali Lodge. Marvel at its stunning view of the valley and surrounding mountains through the lobby's floor-to-ceiling glass walls.
Welcome Dinner at Denali Education Center
Connect with your fellow travelers for your first dinner together. Cap off your first full day of adventure with northern wilderness tales from an Alaskan storyteller.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day Three
Denali Wilderness Safari Jet Boat Excursion
After breakfast at the lodge, board a vessel for an exhilarating scenic cruise along the glacier-fed Nenana River. See "bush Alaska" as you visit a remote trapper's camp and try your hand at panning for gold. Your jet boat guides reveal the story of life as a trapper in Alaska's vast wilderness.
Picnic Lunch in Denali
Settle in for an outdoor picnic with your fellow travelers. The beauty of Denali National Park surrounds you as you pause for a bite before your next great adventure.
Denali Exploration Hike
Embark on a guided, 1.5-hour hike with the staff of the Murie Science and Learning Center. Stop along the way and do your own field research, as you learn how to track the elusive wolf with radio telemetry. Your guides will show you how!
On Your Own in Denali
After your interactive hike, take some time to see Denali National Park on your own. Keep your eyes peeled for a variety of wildlife, including roaming Dall sheep and soaring golden eagles. Hike through novice or expert trails, or take the rest of the day to relax back at the lodge, enjoying spectacular panoramic views of the landscape.
Meals included: Breakfast and Lunch
Day Four
Depart Denali
Have breakfast at the hotel, then delight in views of picturesque mountains and natural beauty as you take a 4.5-hour scenic drive to the historic city of Anchorage.
Lunch at Sourdough Mining Company
Warm Alaskan hospitality greets you as you enter the doors of this Anchorage dining favorite. Delight in a variety of menu selections, including fresh Alaskan seafood, barbecued specialties, and the famous homemade korn fritters with whipped honey butter.
Visit Alaska Wildberry Products
Hit your sweet spot at Anchorage's own candy factory. Gaze at the chocolate waterfall and indulge in candy made with local berries. Stop by the quaint Alaskan-themed area full of quaint shops and an outdoor area where you can see local animals.
Dinner at Hotel Alyeska
After your sugar rush, board the coach for a stunning drive along Turnagain Arm as you travel to the grand Hotel Alyeska in Girdwood. A buffet-style dinner is served to adults in the Pond Cafe, while kids set off for a special Junior Adventurer's meal.
Junior Adventurer Activity Night
After a private dinner at the hotel, Junior Adventurers head outside to the Pond Courtyard for an active night full of entertainment with the Adventure Guides. Kids will learn to spin an Eskimo yo-yo, play soccer or join any one of the other lively games planned for the evening.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day Five
Kenai Fjords Cruise
Following breakfast at the hotel, get your sea legs ready for an unforgettable day of adventure as you cruise through the breathtaking Kenai Fjords National Park. Get an up-close view of the dramatic fjords and the tidewater glaciers that tower over the water. Keep your binoculars at hand to catch popular wildlife throughout the park, including sea lions, sea otters, porpoises, puffins, and a variety of whales. Savor a boxed lunch during this scenic cruise.
Alaska SeaLife Center Visit
Maintaining the integrity of the great North's marine ecosystem is the mission of the Alaska SeaLife Center. Head to the touch tanks for a hands-on experience with amazing, colorful creatures that inhabit Alaska's tidal zones, and observe a mysterious Giant Pacific Octopus. Then visit the aviary to meet some of the resident puffins before you take time to explore the Center on your own.
"Underwater" Pizza Party
Ever had dinner with a sea lion? We promise you won't have to share a morsel. Take a seat for a one-of-a-kind pizza party in the underwater-viewing area. Watch puffins, seals and sea lions dance through the arctic water while you fashion your own puffin out of clay to take home.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day Six
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center Visit
Surrounded by mountains and hanging glaciers, the Center is the perfect setting to see firsthand the conservation efforts taking place in Alaska. After exploring the Center with a naturalist and getting up close and personal with bears, moose and bison, learn how they have been rescued and rehabilitated. Get a good seat when one of the Center's rescued family members makes an exclusive appearance.
Salmon Lunch
Sit down for a mouth-watering salmon bake outside the hotel, where the surrounding Chugach Mountains frame your view.
On Your Own in Girdwood
The afternoon is yours as you explore the year-round resort community of Girdwood. Explore the trails around your hotel for a refreshing nature walk. Or take a shuttle into town. Charming shops and friendly folks are just a few of the things you'll come across as you leisurely stroll the streets of this historic gold-mining town. Ask your Adventure Guides for dining ideas.
Meals included: Breakfast and Lunch
Day Seven
Alaska Railroad Journey
Rise and shine for breakfast at the hotel before you board the iconic Alaska Railroad for a 2.5-hour scenic ride to Spencer Glacier. Wide windows deliver the ideal view as you explore America's Last Frontier by train.
Picnic Lunch at Placer River
Take a lunch break in the shadow of Spencer Glacier along the pristine Placer River and enjoy a deli-style spread.
Spencer Glacier Rafting Excursion
After lunch, pull on some rubber boots for a chance to take in Alaska's natural beauty from a new perspective. Step into your raft and let your professional guide steer you on a tranquil float among towering icebergs and down the idyllic Placer River.
Farewell Dinner at Alyeska Resort
As your Alaskan adventure comes to a close, join your travel friends back at the resort for a farewell dinner. Get into the rhythm during a performance of traditional dancers and drummers as Alaska's native heritage comes to life before your eyes.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day Eight
Breakfast and Transfer to Airport
After your last breakfast in the Land of the Midnight Sun, board pre-arranged transportation to the airport and bid each other farewell.
Meal included: Breakfast
|
