Six Days of Family Fun in the Inside Passage

Want to give your kids the journey of a lifetime? They’ll never forget this six-day itinerary through Southeast Alaska. Featured activities include ziplining, family-friendly hikes, interactive museums, and animal rehabilitation centers.

Day 1: Juneau

Arrive in Juneau via plane or Alaska Marine Highway ferry. Once you’re checked in to your hotel, the whole family will enjoy a tram ride up Mount Roberts, which looms over the cruise ship docks. The upper tram terminal offers sweeping views of the rainforest below and the surrounding mountains. Back in town, explore the Alaska State Museum‘s collection of historic artifacts. You should have just enough time left for a stop at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center, where kids can wander mellow hiking trails, stroke animal pelts, and use spotting scopes to get a closer look at the glacier’s blue ice. Overnight in Juneau.

Day 2: Juneau

Today you’ll embark on an even bigger family adventure, either by air or by water. Take a helicopter ride up to a nearby glacier for an afternoon of thrilling dog sledding on a glacier, and the chance to snuggle some puppies. Or, join a half-day whale watching cruise on a stable catamaran to see humpback whales, orca whales, and other marine wildlife. Enjoy dinner at one of the many great food trucks that Juneau has to over. Overnight again in Juneau.

Day 3: Juneau to Sitka

Take a quick morning flight to the town of Sitka. Once you land, head to the Alaska Raptor Center and Fortress of the Bear, both of which care for rescued animals. The eagles at the Alaska Raptor Center are released whenever possible, and watching them regain their ability to fly within the enclosed “flight training center” is a real treat. Kids will delight in seeing bears up-close at the Fortress of the Bear from various viewing platforms and learning about the center’s rescue and rehabilitation efforts. Overnight in Sitka.

Day 4: Sitka

Sitka is home to a deep well of Tlingit traditions and more recent Russian history, set against a backdrop of lush coastal scenery. Start the day with a visit to the Sitka Sound Science Center, which includes a hatchery, aquarium, and touch tank. Then, head to the nearby Sitka National Historical Park to wander the family-friendly trails that feature dozens of Tlingit and Haida totems tucked into the dense forest. End your day with a stroll on Sitka’s charming coastal walk that stretches from the science center to the cruise ship docks, then spend another night in Sitka.

Day 5: Sitka to Ketchikan

Board a quick flight to Ketchikan, your next basecamp for family fun. Spend the afternoon strolling the elevated boardwalks of the historic Creek Street and visiting the Southeast Alaska Discovery Center, an interactive interpretive center that covers the ecology, Indigenous cultures, and history of the Tongass National Forest. Overnight in Ketchikan.

Day 6: Ketchikan

You have lots of options for family-friendly activities on your final day in Ketchikan. Soar over the massive trees of the Tongass National Forest on a zipline tour, catch an entertaining performance at the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show, and learn about Alaska Native cultures at Totem Bight State Historical Park and Saxman Native Village. If you’re looking for a bigger adventure, book a kayaking tour, flightseeing trip, or day cruise into beautiful Misty Fjords National Monument. This 2.3-million acre wilderness area’s glacier-carved fjords climb 3,000 feet skyward from its protected waterways, and wildlife sightings — both on land and in the sea — are very frequent. Spend the night in Ketchikan and get ready to fly home the next day.