Family Fun in Alaska’s Backcountry

After landing in Anchorage, Alaska’s largest city, meet your private driver/guide and transfer to your Anchorage hotel for the evening. Depending on your arrival time you may wish to explore downtown Anchorage in search of delicious local cuisine, or stunning views of Cook Inlet and the surrounding mountain ranges.

Overnight in Anchorage.

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before meeting your driver/guide and beginning the journey north to the Denali National Park Entrance. Pass through the scenic Matanuska-Susitna Valley, surrounded by tall peaks from three different mountain ranges.

Stop in the community of Willow for an exclusive visit with an Iditarod veteran at his sled dog kennel. Learn about the history of mushing in Alaska, what it takes to raise a skilled sled dog, and get a chance to watch the dogs at work during an ATV assisted dog sled ride through the woods. Your private tour also includes a short hike around the property with the puppies of the kennel.

Continue on to the Denali National Park Entrance where the majority of the services for the park are situated. Your driver/guide will assist with check-in at your hotel and can provide suggestions for dinner at a local restaurant.

Overnight at a hotel at the Denali National Park Entrance, your home for the next two nights.

Begin your day with a hearty breakfast at the hotel before meeting your private rafting guides and heading out for a rafting float trip through Alaska backcountry. Today you will explore one of the waterways of the Denali area with knowledgeable local rafting guides who live here and know the land like the back of their hand. Take in the outstanding scenery as you float down the river on an exclusive journey by raft. During this half-day experience, you will learn about the history of the area as well as the flora and fauna that can be found during your float trip.

The afternoon is at leisure to explore the park entrance on your own.

Today, guests will join their same local guides for a private family-friendly tour in the backcountry. Families can take part in a natural scavenger hunt, learn to build a bonfire and roast s’mores, or learn how to comfortably hike off-trail. Your day will be tailored to the wishes and ability levels of each member of your family to create a one of a kind, exclusive Alaska experience.

At the end of your private hike, you will join your driver/guide and make your way north to Fairbanks. Spend the evening relaxing at your Fairbanks hotel or include an evening tour in the land of the midnight sun.

Overnight in Fairbanks, your home for the next two nights.

The everlasting “midnight sun” during the summer months allows for a full day of Alaska excitement. Fuel up on breakfast at the hotel before setting out with your driver/guide to the outskirts of Fairbanks for a morning spent with Alaskan reindeer. On this special tour, guests will enjoy an exclusive walk through the Boreal forest with a group of reindeer and their owner. Learn all about the reindeer while watching them frolic through the forest and see how their adaptations make Alaska their perfect home.

Then, say goodbye to your new furry friends and make your way to your next unique Alaskan experience, gold panning! Receive a demonstration of the best gold panning techniques and practice your skills before hitting the paydirt to pan for guaranteed gold. Stay as long as you like working your pans and searching for treasure.

This morning, meet your lodge host and begin your journey to the Lodge at Black Rapids along the Richardson Highway. Along the way, your host will share stories of Alaska, information about the Alaska Range, and will include unique stops at historic roadhouses and local attractions.

Upon arrival at the Lodge at Black Rapids, receive a welcome drink and snack before a brief tour of the grounds and the lodge. Settle into your cozy private rooms that offer views of the Alaska Range, the Delta River, and scenic backcountry before a delicious meal prepared by the lodge chef.

Overnight at the Lodge at Black Rapids, your home for the next three nights.

The wilderness and Alaska backcountry that surrounds the lodge will be your family’s playground for the next two days. Your time at the lodge will be customized to your family’s interests as you navigate the trails that surround the lodge or travel to a nearby ice cave to explore the glacial blue tunnel. Your lodge host will help to determine which activities would be best suited based on the ages of any children in your clan. Learn about the local wildlife that call this region home, learn to howl life a wolf, and visit a nearby historic cabin for an educational lunch in the wild.

Spend the day on the Black Rapids Lake on a relaxing paddle by kayak, or try your hand at fishing for rainbow trout, Dolly Varden, arctic char, and northern pike. For those who want an even bigger fishing experience include a fly-out fishing tour and cast for famous Copper River salmon.

Return to the lodge for your final gourmet dinner and gather around the fireplace to share stories with your lodge host.

After breakfast, your lodge guide will provide transportation back to Fairbanks in time for your departing flight. Say goodbye to your host and return home with family memories that everyone will cherish.