Day 1 Anchorage, Alaska, USAArrive Anchorage, Gateway to Alaska

Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Hilton Anchorage. A transfer is included from Anchorage International Airport to Hilton Anchorage. Located in the heart of downtown, the hotel is within walking distance of the city's top attractions, including the Anchorage Museum, shops, galleries, and the scenic Tony Knowles Coastal Trail; the hotel boasts views of Cook Inlet and the Chugach Mountains. Join us for a welcome dinner tonight, where you'll meet your fellow travelers and your Tauck Director.

In Alaska, dog sledding is both a very popular sport and an important mode of transportation to remote places where roads still don't go. Drive from Anchorage this morning to Big Lake for a visit to a facility where Alaskan huskies train to become sled dogs. Continue on to Talkeetna for a jet boat* ride with a naturalist guide to look for bald eagles, beavers, moose and even bears that live along the river, and a nature walk in the Alaskan bush to see a turn-of-the-century trapper's cabin. If the weather is good, you'll have an incredible view of Alaska's famous Denali en route to your wilderness lodge for a two-night stay. Once there, you and your family can compete in a high-tech treasure-hunting game - known as geocaching - where you'll use a GPS system to find hidden treasures.

Nature is everywhere on a morning hike* at Talkeetna Lake, with loons and kingfishers above you, and a forest brimming with wildflowers and wildlife surrounding you. As you walk, your local guide shares stories about how the first native peoples survived in this beautiful but wild land, and about life in Talkeetna today - and, of course, about amazing encounters with wildlife. After lunch at your lodge, enjoy free time to spend as you please. Later, tiy; an interpretive experience with storytelling, s'mores and more around an old-fashioned campfire tonight.

Depart your lodge in Talkeetna and soar over the Denali foothills in a small plane (weather permitting) for a breathtaking bird's-eye view of towering Denali, the tallest mountain in North America. After your flight, you'll travel to Anchorage for a visit to the Alaska Native Heritage Center, a renowned cultural center and museum where you'll come away with a greater understanding of Alaska's indigenous people. Following a tour and lunch, continue on to the wildlife-rich Kenai Peninsula and a two-night wilderness lodge in Seward on the Kenai Peninsula. The peninsula is a gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park, where glaciers flow from an icefield into coastal fjords. Dinner is at leisure at your lodge.

Begin your day in Seward with breakfast at the lodge before setting out to explore Alaska's coastal wildlife together. A visit to the Alaska SeaLife Center offers an up-close look at the region's marine life, from playful sea otters to puffins and other seabirds, with time for your family to explore the exhibits at your own pace. Late morning, head to the harbor for a Kenai Fjords cruise into Resurrection Bay, where rugged cliffs, tidewater glaciers, and forested shores create a dramatic backdrop for the afternoon. Keep watch for whales, sea lions, harbor seals, and seabirds as you travel through these protected waters - there's plenty for everyone to spot along the way. Lunch is served onboard as you take in the ever-changing scenery along the coast. Return to Seward later in the day and gather for dinner at a local restaurant, sharing highlights from the day's discoveries before the evening concludes.

On today's visit to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving Alaska's wildlife through education, you'll be introduced to the orphaned animals being cared for at this rehabilitation center. Think moose and musk ox, bald eagles and grizzly bears. From here, it's a short trip to Crow Creek Gold Mine, where you'll learn about this historic mine and the art of gold panning and platinum prospecting. At the turn of the 20th century, "gold fever" brought scads of hopeful miners to this area in search of untold riches. You'll meet a prospector, pan for gold and enjoy a barbecue lunch. Mid-afternoon, continue to your resort hotel in Girdwood, where you and your family will spend the remainder of the day as you please.

Today, board the Alaska Railroad in Girdwood for a scenic journey your family will remember, traveling through the dramatic landscapes of the Chugach Mountains en route to a remote "whistle stop" at Spencer Glacier. As the train winds past alpine valleys and glacial rivers, enjoy the views. On arrival, set out on a guided float trip along the Placer River, where your family shares a raft for a gentle ride through one of Alaska's most pristine glacial environments. Surrounded by towering peaks and sea-blue ice fields, keep watch for wildlife along the shoreline as you drift through this remarkable setting. Later, return by rail and road to your hotel, where the evening brings everyone together for a farewell reception and dinner—an opportunity to reflect on the shared moments and discoveries that have shaped your journey.

Tour ends: Girdwood. Fly home anytime. A transfer from The Hotel Alyeska to Anchorage International Airport (approximately 60 minutes) is included. Allow a minimum of two hours for flight check-in. Ask at booking about additional hotel nights before or after your trip.