Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Alaska Alaska trip with kid(s)

Just looking for a little advice. Today, I asked my daughter, if she could pick anywhere to take a trip after graduation, where it would be. She said Alaska. She is just starting her senior year.

I asked what she wanted to do. Outdoor stuff, see some bears, hiking, fishing, Denali. After checking a map, it looks like Anchorage would be a good place to start.

This is very preliminary, but I see that the Kenai River and Homer (halibut) aren’t too far south of Anchorage. And Denali is not to far north. Katmai NP or Kodiak may be good places to watch bears. Kenai Fjords NP is close as well.

Seems like an awesome trip could be put together in that area. Depending on costs, I may bring her younger sister and brother as well.

I would appreciate some local advice or words of wisdom from those that have been there and done that to put this together.

My advice is have a great time and good for you taking your daughter to Alaska!

My trips to Anchorage have been for business. Humpy's downtown had great Halibut burgers. I think there was a Bill's Special?

I have done all of my Alaska fishing and one bear hunt in and around Petersburg. Its not convenient from Anchorage but that is part of its charm.

Don't try to do everything unless you have the time to do it with ease.
Anchorage is a big city requiring the same situational awareness as other big cities.
It takes longer to get everywhere than you think it will. You will be stopping to take pictures and say "Wow" or there could be a bear/moose-jam.
Start saving for your next trip to Alaska.

I’d look at fishing out of Seward rather than Homer. You can fill your coolers with salmon, halibut and other assorted bottomfish all from Seward and not having to deal with the Kenai Peninsula traffic and tourists.

Last summer was our first time to Alaska. We flew into Fairbanks and took the train to Denali spending two days there. Also spent some time in Seward fishing and taking a glacier tour. We're planning on going back next year for two weeks.

??? Seward is most definitely on the Kenai Penn and a guy would still need to deal with the tourists and traffic between Anchorage around Turnagain arm, nearly to Moose Pass before all the Homer/Soldonta traffic goes a different direction. Same with going to Whittier for that matter, though it'd be shorter.

All the coastal towns have good fishing operations.
If the OP goes to Katmai or Kodiak, more flights would need to be involved but you'd be out of the main touristy areas...just something to think about.

Valdez is a solid drive from Anchorage but it is worth it to see that area.

The chit show starts and ends in Anchorage. Once you make it to the split onto the sterling hwy traffic is not all that bad. Same with going to the Seward hwy. With them widening the road putting in passing lanes has made the Seward hwy from Anchorage all the way to Whittier turn off a lot more safe, they done alot of work all the way to Summit Lake (the other summit lake).

I very much appreciate suburbanhunter’s advice not to do too much, which I tend to do.

I didn’t realize that there was a train to Denali - that sounds like a great side trip.

I would like to do a day or two trout/salmon fishing, which is why I was thinking Kenai River, and a day on the ocean to include halibut.

I think that Katmai will probably fall under doing “too much”. The ferry ride to Kodiak sounds kinda fun (unless it is boring) - but my motivation there is mostly bear watching.

Are there day cruises to Kenai Fjords NP out of Seward? Is the ocean fishing good out of Seward?

I don’t really see right or wrong here, just trying to pack what I can without it turning into a circus.

Appreciate all of your replies.

Good to know.
I haven't been to Seward since 2019 and at that time the traffic from Anchorage to the Sterling turnoff was atrocious, and it wasn't much better from there to Seward.

I have done good out of Seward....yes.
Boats do have to go a ways to get to the productive halibut areas which can easily be a couple hours+ one way, often more. Something to keep in mind.

Major Marine does Kenai Fjords tours out of Seward. There are several options.

I hope you have 10 days to 2 weeks to do all the stuff still mentioned.

Please make sure you leave with big double-handfuls of fish

Traffic still sucks in the summer, especially July.

Lots of idiots. Speed up when you go to pass, sit inthe passing lane next to the guy stacking vehicles, those who must not have cruise control and vary from 50-65, etc.

Never dull.

Last month out of Seward my buddy caught the fish he’s holding (he’s 6’7” without the cap) and the fish on the deck to his right is even bigger. It’s a longer run but it’s not a race, it’s a vacation.

Good luck

I took pretty much the trip you describe when I graduated college. Didn’t do Denali, but we did fly out on a float plane to a lake cabin to fish a river (Talichiltina sp? Maybe). Rented an RV and drove to Seward and did a glacier boat tour. Went to Homer to fish halibut. I’m looking to go again as my kid is about to graduate college, so I too am keeping my ears open for info. I imagine a few things have changed in the past quarter century.

Seward or Homer, you may have to wait in line to get there. Homer is more of a drive (in the car) but you save some time on the water. I like both, but if forced to choose I'd pick Seward. Salmon is seasonal, and ling cod is a legal nightmare, but a charter will set you straight on the rules. You will have a good time wherever you go, provided you know how to have a good time.

If you can swing katmai, I'd do it, and skip Denali. Make a 4 day weekend trip in the winter and see Denali in full dress.

Slow down all you can, and spend a little more time than you think at each place. Maybe hit a few on this trip, repeat the highlights and cover new ground with the next in line. It will be a big pita, but bring them all if you can on every trip.

The charter we took out of Seward took 3hrs to get to our fishing spot, luckily it was calm most of the way there. My wife & myself and another couple that were with us limited out on halibut and rockfish. Our friend also got a nice ling cod.
There's also a nice aquarium in Seward that's worth going to. We can't wait to return next year.

Id say look again. Ak isn't as small as it looks on a map. Kenai river is 2.5-3 hours drive South, Homer adds another 1-1.5 hours and Denali is 4.5-5 hours drive North of Anchorage.
Pick a direction and go one way. you don't want to spend your entire trip driving between places and then not having any time to enjoy the destination.

I recommend on-the-ground (not arial) bear viewing if possible. It is spendy, tho- and advance arrangements generally required. Thus was at Brooks Falls a month or so ago. There are several others around the state. Research peak viewing time (fish runs), which may or may not be on time.)