Attention, Alaska parents: The national parks called, and they want you to visit.
As kids tick off their final days of school, an entire summer of nature-themed adventures awaits within Alaska's version of "America's best idea." Diverse in landscape and offering a wide variety of activities ranging from strolls on the beach to multi-day backpacking trips, Alaska's 23 national parks, historical landmarks and preserves encompass 54 million acres of land stretching from the Arctic to Southeast.
The National Park System has been a popular vacation choice since its inception nearly 100 years ago, with landmarks to explore and history to digest; especially for children, who tend to absorb facts more openly when standing before a canyon, statue or mountain peak instead of seated behind a desk. Of course, helping families with this teaching role is part of the National Park Service's job, and they do it well, offering kids everything from guided ranger walks to loaner backpacks stuffed full of hands-on activities.
In Alaska, most visitors, and many residents, recognize Denali National Park and Preserve as the hallmark park experience. But other parks do, in fact, measure up to Denali, with many options for family-friendly fun no matter the age of the explorer.
John Quinley, associate regional director of communications for the National Park Service Alaska Region, says Alaska's national parks are unique and worth the extra time and effort needed to reach them.
"Alaska's parks offer kids history they won't find in other places -- the Klondike Gold Rush and Russian America, for instance," he said. "The big parks have places to explore, with and without trails, and within less of a built (up) environment."
Our national parks are indeed large, with some taking up millions of acres of tundra, forest or glaciers in wild, scenic places that generate discussion with children about protection and conservation.
Five Alaska national parks in particular seem to lend themselves to younger visitors, and each possesses a set of characteristics to wow kids with history, landscape or wildlife. The question becomes, "Where do we go from here?"
Southeast Alaska
Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, Skagway
A collection of large and small sites scattered around the town of Skagway at the head of Lynn Canal, Klondike Gold Rush is a true step back in time to the wild 1890s. While Skagway is a popular cruise ship port of call and crowds of visitors can top 10,000 on a busy summer day – and around 1 million visitors a year -- that popularity means extra attention for kids. An entire building has been dedicated to children in the form of the Junior Ranger Activity Center located on 4th Avenue, where young people are treated to hands-on activities centered around the park service's Junior Ranger program.
Try on period clothing, play games, test your wildlife knowledge or check out an activity backpack to become a true expert on Skagway's trails and famous history. Families with older children may wish to tackle the famous Chilkoot Trail, a 33-mile trek that follows the route of Gold Rush miners from nearby Dyea to Bennett, British Columbia. Known as "the meanest 33 miles in history," the Chilkoot is a rite of passage for many Alaska hiking families, with at least three days of camping usually needed, culminating in a border crossing at the summit of the pass.
Sitka National Historical Park, Sitka
This is a two-part site consisting of Russia-America history at the Russian Bishop's House in downtown Sitka, and a totem park, located in a densely-forested series of trails bearing Tlingit and Haida totem poles. Created to commemorate a fierce battle between Russian and Native Alaskan forces in 1804 and preserve the valuable cultures of the Tlingit and Haida people, Sitka National Historical Park is the oldest in Alaska's national park system, established in 1890 by then-president Benjamin Harrison.
Of the two sites, totem park is the most popular with families, due to accessible trails and the flat, shallow beach nearby.
Park Guide Erin Fulton considers the totem park's visitor center to be a valuable and kid-friendly stop for visitors as well, with Junior Ranger books available and guest artists displaying their work.
"Two miles of trails are well-maintained and very stroller-friendly," she says, "And we have Beach Discovery Packs available for check out, with all the tools you'll need to learn about intertidal life in Sitka Sound."
Southcentral
Kennecott Mines National Historical Landmark/Wrangell-St. Elias
It's America's largest national park at 13.2 million acres, bigger than Switzerland and full of glaciers, flowing water, and a storied past of mining boom and bust. In fact, six Yellowstone National Parks could fit inside its boundaries. Wrangell-St. Elias is heaven for backcountry enthusiasts and those with ample time to wander its rivers, trails and mountainsides.
But most visitors, particularly those with kids, visit Kennecott Mines National Historical Park. A long drive even by Alaska standards, the journey to Kennecott takes nearly an entire day, including the three-hour schlep along the gravel McCarthy Road from Copper Center. Once in the town of McCarthy, gateway to Kennecott, visitor vehicles are forbidden, so most people rely upon shuttles to and from the mine sites.
Adventure? You bet, and the concept is so novel to kids they forget about the hassle of bringing gear across Kennicott River via a narrow pedestrian bridge. And that's only the beginning.
Todd Stoeberl, chief of education and interpretation for Wrangell-St. Elias, encourages families to tour the Kennecott Mine sites and take time to hike nearby trails.
"It's amazing; folks can walk on a glacier or raft a river, then take a tour of the historic Kennecott Mill. There are ranger talks throughout the day, and local tour operators provide guided tours," he said.
It's worth noting that one of the first mysteries to unravel should be the difference between the two spellings of "Kennicott" and "Kennecott," thanks to a clerical error by an early mine employee.
Renovations have been underway since 2004 to permanently preserve the sites, and the park service is embracing the return to the mill's operating days between 1911 and 1938.
Kenai Fjords National Park, Seward
Unique in layout (half the park is covered in glacial ice), Kenai Fjords National Park is nonetheless a surprisingly accessible place for visitors, thanks to a vibrant day cruise industry that transports thousands of eager glacier and wildlife watchers each year.
Mainly visited via the town of Seward, Kenai Fjords is a place where the Ice Age lingers and park-goers enjoy a diverse range of wildlife between the mountains and chilly Resurrection Bay near the doorway to the Gulf of Alaska.
There are two main points of entry for the park, and both are easily reached by families with children. One way is to board a day cruise vessel from the Seward Harbor and experience the park from the water, observing whales, sea lions, and towering glaciers stemming from the enormous Harding Icefield. The second way to see Kenai Fjords National Park is via the Exit Glacier Nature Center and trails, located just north of town at the end of Herman Leirer Road.
Either way, make a stop at the park's main visitor center near the Seward small boat harbor first to plan your visit. Hiking trails vary in length from one mile to nearly nine as they wander through glacial moraines and up to the flanks of the Harding Icefield. Kids can participate in ranger-led walks and talks nearly every day between May and September. A list of outfitters for day cruises and kayak excursions can be found on the park's website.
Interior
Denali National Park, McKinley Village
Denali always ranks high on visitors' lists of must-see attractions. On clear days, Mount McKinley takes up the span of camera viewfinders, and a plethora of easy-to-manage hiking trails circumnavigate a family-friendly visitor village and series of campgrounds. It is, quite simply, one of the best places to introduce children to both the National Park Service and Alaska wilderness, and it remains a favorite of our family, year-round.
A 92-mile road – only 15 miles are paved -- provides access deep within the park. Beyond that, only vehicles registered in the remote campgrounds are permitted to drive. The rest must travel aboard park shuttles or on tour buses operated by Denali National Park's concessionaire, so parents should expect long hours sitting in the equivalent of a school bus, hoping a bear or caribou decides to make an appearance.
Many families choose to forego the shuttle bus completely, opting to stick to the greater entrance area, a wide swath of land that serves as the perfect hiking, climbing and wildlife-watching entertainment zone for most kids. Stop by the main visitor center for maps, adventure backpacks on loan and interpretive information to help decide which activity works best.
Hikes are plentiful, including many offering stroller-friendly tread, and regular ranger walks and presentations bring Denali's history and environment alive. Visit the sled dog kennels and watch the only remaining National Park Service sled dog team training for winter, with ample opportunities to cuddle up to these personable and patient pups.
Denali National Park is an enormous place, though, and planning is critical to avoid missing out on places kids enjoy most. A thorough investigation of the park website is a must prior to visiting, especially with children.
Helpful tips
• Encourage kids to participate in Junior Ranger programs, including activity books, backpacks to borrow, and hands-on interpretive experiences under the guidance of rangers.
• Know your children's interests and activity levels prior to visiting. Scrambling across glacial ice, for instance, may not be appropriate for younger kids.
• Always begin a national park tour with a stop at the appropriate visitor center. Here, you'll not only receive a park map, you will be brought up to date on park alerts, weather and special events happening during your stay.
• Dress for Alaska's bipolar weather, since national parks are situated in mountainous, wild places. Be prepared for rain, snow, sun and wind, often within a single day, and make sure kids are outfitted with appropriate footwear.
• Camping? Reserve a spot before you visit; parks like Denali are often full months in advance during the busy summer season.
• Teach kids about "their" park; after all, national parks belong to all of us and deserve our stewardship and respect. Pack out trash, stay on trails and try new experiences.
Erin Kirkland is author of "Alaska on the Go: Exploring the 49th State with Children," and publisher of AKontheGO.com, the state's only family travel resource. She is currently working on a second book, due next year.