Alaska has become one of the most popular travel destinations for families in the last decade. Dog sledding has long been an important part of Alaskan culture. It has become a well respected sport for its physical demand and amount of training required. The Iditarod Dog Sled Race, for instance, has grown into a spectator sport over the last 30 years. Over eight days, twelve dogs pull sleds through the Alaskan wilderness in hopes of winning a great prize.
There are plenty of dog sledding tours that can go anywhere from daytrips to week long camping trips. Bush Alaska Expeditions, for example, lets the client customize their dog sledding experience (anything from the amount of people, to the level of physical activity). They take tourists out to the remote town of Eagle , to start their tour along the Yukon River . This is suggested for the outdoorsy family, since they will probably be encountering caribou, lynx, moose, wolves and other wildlife native to Alaska . The typical dog sledding vacation runs about 10 days, and it is suggested you take day trips first, to get used to the training required. Most families choose to stay in cabins overnight, but for the more adventurous, tents are available.
For those families looking for something a little less cold, but still in the outdoors, Premier Nature Safaris offers a 'Wilderness Safari' for six nights in the heart of Alaska . Staying three nights in a camp and three nights in the main lodge, travelers start their Safari spotting whales, sea lions and puffins on a short cruise. After two days of Bear watching, families can enjoy kayaking and fishing at their campsites. The rates start at just under $3000, but it is well worth the amount of outdoors activities.
Some families, however, want to experience Alaska with less physical activity. For them, there are an endless amount of cruises to choose from. The Celebrity Cruises, for instance, is an 11 day trip that stops in a number of cities such as Anchorage , Juneau , and Seward. Families can enjoy the Glacier Discovery tour, which entails a train ride through the wilderness in the Chugach Mountains and a boat tour among icebergs at Spencer Lake . Also on the itinerary is the Alyeska Tramway, which climbs 2300 feet above the valley.
