| Last week's entry covered the tours done by major | | | | having lunch you will raft the Matanuska River. Enjoy |
| cruise companies and these are a good, comfortable | | | | dinner in an Alaskan family restaurant and go to your |
| way to see Alaska. This week we are going to | | | | Wasilla accommodations. |
| discuss adventure tours which are available. You can | | | | Day 5 - Visit Talkeetna, a frontier town with beautiful |
| enjoy the expertise of Alaskan residents while truly | | | | views of Denali. Travel to Denali and enjoy |
| exploring Alaska. There are options available for | | | | flightseeing over green valleys and pass through the |
| families with kids under 12, fishing expeditions up to a | | | | great gorge. Fly deep into the park over glaciers and |
| week, bear watching of one day to one week, The | | | | ridges for great views of the park. This flight takes |
| Iditarod, Scenic Explorations up to 10 days. The | | | | one hour. Continue touring Denali and enjoying wildlife |
| activities you can expect to do on these adventure | | | | and scenic views along the way before checking in at |
| tours include: | | | | the lodge. |
| - Seeing Denali National Park from the ground and | | | | Day 6 - Spend the day touring Denali park. Enjoy the |
| from an airplane | | | | beautiful wildlife and scenery. |
| - Whitewater rafting or a scenic river float | | | | Day 7 - Depart Denali and head to Anchorage. On |
| - Visiting an Iditarod dog sled kennel and getting a | | | | the way you will stop and visit an Iditarod musher's |
| ride | | | | sled dogs. Meet the dogs and puppies then enjoy a |
| - Visiting a gold mine | | | | short ride in a wheeled cart. Arrival in Anchorage |
| - Watching bears fish for salmon | | | | cannot be guaranteed for departures earlier than 6:00 |
| - Fishing for salmon | | | | pm. |
| - Fishing for Halibut | | | | Iditarod Adventure |
| - Walking on a glacier | | | | What adventurous traveler wouldn't enjoy seeing the |
| - Visiting the Alaska Sealife Center | | | | Iditarod and hopefully the Northern Lights? This tour |
| - Visiting the Alaska Wildlife Center | | | | is only open to travel groups of 8 or more. Even |
| - Hiking Biking Alyeska Tram | | | | though most tours are open to individuals this one is |
| - Kayaking | | | | not. |
| - Seeing wildlife such as bears, moose, caribou, sea | | | | Day 1 2/27/08 - Arrive in Anchorage and explore at |
| otters, seals, bald eagles and a variety of sea birds. | | | | your leisure. Hotel room is included, but meals are not. |
| Some of these tours are open to individuals with only | | | | Day 2 2/28/08 - You will be picked up by your |
| a small 'penalty' for not having double occupancy, so | | | | Alaska Tour Guides. Your first stop is the Alaska |
| don't hesitate because you are not traveling with a | | | | Wildlife Center which cares for injured or orphaned |
| group. You can also request which options you want | | | | wildlife. You could see bears, elk, buffalo (bison), |
| on your adventure and create a custom adventure. | | | | moose or others here. Take a tram ride to the top |
| Here are two of the best: | | | | of Mt Alyeska for beautiful views, I have personally |
| Family Adventure With Children Under 12 | | | | done this and enjoyed it. |
| Who says you cannot have adventure with younger | | | | Enjoy lunch at the ski resort of Girdwood. Return to |
| children? Here is the itinerary for a trip with younger | | | | Anchorage and enjoy the Mushers Banquet. This is |
| children, adventurous but reasonable for younger kids. | | | | your chance to enjoy Alaska entertainment and |
| Day 1 - Arrive in Anchorage and check into your paid | | | | possibly get autographs and photos. |
| hotel and explore on your own. Meals and activities | | | | Day 3 2/29/08 - Visit the kennel of a veteran |
| on this day are not included | | | | Iditarod musher. Enjoy lunch and riding behind a sled |
| Day 2 - You are picked up at the hotel and travel | | | | dog team. Have dinner and check into your Wasilla |
| along the Turnagain Arm (very scenic) toward | | | | hotel. |
| Seward. There will be stops at several wildlife viewing | | | | Day 4 3/01/08 - There are two starts to the |
| possibilities. | | | | Iditarod, the ceremonial start in Anchorage and the |
| Tour the Alaska Wildlife Center which cares for | | | | official start. Today you will attend the festivities and |
| injured or orphaned Alaska wildlife. You can see bear, | | | | ceremonial start in Anchorage. Enjoy a visit to the |
| moose, musk ox and other wildlife that was rescued | | | | Anchorage Museum of History and Art. There are |
| in some way. | | | | also works displayed by famous Alaskan artists. |
| Tour the Alaska Sealife Center which is geared | | | | Day 5 3/02/08 - Official start of the Iditarod in |
| toward studying and restoring Alaska's marine life. | | | | Mat-Su Valley Enjoy an outdoor barbeque in Wasilla |
| A six hour scenic dinner cruise into Kenai Fjords | | | | and the official race start. Take pictures and cheer as |
| National park will give you viewing of sea otters, sea | | | | the mushers begin a 1150 mile ride to Nome. Try out |
| lions, eagles and other marine life. The coastline is | | | | snowshoeing and cross country skiing. You will have |
| beautiful edged by a temperate rain forest. | | | | dinner and return to your hotel in Wasilla. |
| You will stay in Seward overnight | | | | Day 6 3/03/08 - Enjoy the town of Talkeetna and |
| Day 3 - Visit Portage Glacier and it's observatory | | | | it's incredible views of Denali. After having lunch you |
| Have lunch at the Sourdough Mining Company in | | | | will take a flight over Denali. View the most scenic |
| Anchorage Enjoy an easy hike to Thunderbird Falls in | | | | and desolate areas of the park. You will return to |
| Chugach State Park. Enjoy the mossy forest of birch | | | | Anchorage. Departures must be later than 8 pm to |
| trees and ferns and arrive at the falls thundering | | | | guarantee arrival. If you wish to stay another night |
| down a rocky cliff. Have dinner before arriving at | | | | your hotel is not included in the price but |
| Wasilla lodging. | | | | arrangements can be made. |
| Day 4 - You will enjoy a scenic drive along the | | | | We will have one more article on northern coastal |
| Matanuska River to it's very beginning which is the | | | | Alaska next week. If someone has driven Alaska and |
| Matanuska Glacier. Enjoy a three hour guided glacier | | | | would like to share their experience I would love to |
| hike with information on glaciology and geology. After | | | | post your thoughts. |