Peter Greenberg: Alaska Adventures
By: Peter Greenberg | Source: Peter Greenberg | 2008-08-22
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Q: My grandson and I have been enjoying the show "The Alaska Experiment" on the Discovery Channel, and I really want to take him (and his mom and dad, older brother, and my wife) to Alaska. I'm looking to take a real adventure in Alaska with my whole family—lots of outdoor activities, maybe whale-watching, too. What we DON'T want is to take a cruise. Do you have any ideas for a great Alaska vacation?
-Arthur, Topeka, Kan.
A: River-rafting trips can be fun for the whole family and allow you to really experience your Alaskan surroundings; trips range from easier floats to intense rapids, lasting anywhere from one to 12 days. These trips are usually great for wildlife-spotting, and some are even geared toward fishing. One option is the rafting company, Nova (www.novalaska.com), which provides many river options throughout Alaska.
Gustavus Inn (www.gustavusinn.com) and Glacier Bay Lodge (www.visitglacierbay.com) offer plenty of Alaska ambiance plus all sorts of outdoor activities. These lodges are located in Gustavus just outside of Glacier Bay National Park and are reachable only by plane or sea (like many of the wilder parts of Alaska). The area offers sea kayaking in Glacier Bay or in the Icy Strait (www.seakayakalaska.com), flight-seeing tours (www.airexcursions.com), fishing, whale-watching at Point Adolphus or in the Icy Strait (Auk Nu Tours, www.goldbelttours.com), biking around town, and even a bit of dining and shopping.
Katmai National Park and Preserve is one of the lesser-visited national parks and remains a pristine example of Alaskan wilderness. The main attractions of the park are the abundance of brown bears (www.bearviewing.net or katmailand.net), fishing for rainbow trout and salmon (alaskatrophyadventures.com or www.foxbaylodge.com) at Brooks Falls, and visiting the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, formed after a volcanic eruption caused Mount Katmai to collapse. Canoeing and day hikes are also popular activities. Places to stay include the Katmai Wilderness Lodge (www.katmai-wilderness.com), Brooks Lodge (www.katmailand.com/lodging/brooks.html), and the Grosvenor Lodge, reachable only by floatplane (www.katmailand.com/lodging/grosevenor.html).
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