Alaska
The Best of Alaska’s National Parks: From Denali to Kenai
Program No. 1012GS15
Come explore the national parks of Alaska with our experts. Discover unique wildlife, stunning landscapes and ancient forests as you explore one of the most unspoiled regions on earth.
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11 days
10 nights
28 meals
10B 9L 9D
1
Check-in, Registration, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Fairbanks, AK
2
Calypso Farm, Denali National Park Visitor's Center
Denali National Park
3
Hike in Denali National Park, Subarctic Ecosystems
Denali National Park
4
Wildlife of Denali, Hike in the Boreal Forest
Denali National Park
5
Heart of the Wilderness, Journey into Denali National Park
Denali National Park
6
Local Dog Musher and Racing Kennel, Interpretive Hike
Denali National Park
10
Native Heritage Center, Program Wrap-Up
Anchorage, AK
11
Program Concludes
Anchorage, AK
At a Glance
In the Alaskan Interior, grizzlies walk lowland rivers, caribou roam the tundra, Dall sheep cling to mountainsides and the golden eagle survey it all. To the south, the glaciers of the Kenai Peninsula carve the landscape as they have for eons. Join expert field educators in the boreal forest, on the tundra of Denali and along the bays of Kenai Fjords National Park.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
This program is "Keep the Pace." Your mobility must match this description. Reach out to Road Scholar or DEC with questions. Activities include city walking, hiking on maintained trails with varied terrain, wet/dry conditions, and even ice/snow. You must move about on a catamaran in open water and get on/off a motorcoach. Distance will not exceed 4 mi during scheduled activities. Trails are up to 3 mi in length with elevation changes up to 600 ft. The pace of the hikes is up to 2 mi per hour.
Best of all, you’ll…
- Watch for grizzly bears, Dall sheep, moose and caribou on a journey into Denali National Park.
- Stretch your legs and minds on hikes that cross Alpine tundra, through boreal forest and past mountain lakes.
- Explore Kenai Fjords National Park on a daylong journey by boat to view marine mammals, tidewater and alpine glaciers and teeming seabird rookeries.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Katie Miller
Katie Miller is a hospitality specialist with over two decades' experience in the travel and restaurant industry. Her love of travel brought her to Alaska in 2010 where she worked on the Wilderness Express, providing education and guest service for travelers on the Alaska Railroad. Katie’s career focus is on the growth and connection of the guest experience through travel and community. In her free time, Katie enjoys tending to her native plant garden and cooking for family and friends.
Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.
Katie Miller
View biography
Katie Miller is a hospitality specialist with over two decades' experience in the travel and restaurant industry. Her love of travel brought her to Alaska in 2010 where she worked on the Wilderness Express, providing education and guest service for travelers on the Alaska Railroad. Katie’s career focus is on the growth and connection of the guest experience through travel and community. In her free time, Katie enjoys tending to her native plant garden and cooking for family and friends.
Suggested Reading List
(12 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
The Best of Alaska’s National Parks: From Denali to Kenai
Program Number: 1012
Denali's Howl
In the summer of 1967, twelve young men ascended Alaska’s Mount McKinley—known to the locals as Denali. Engulfed by a once-in-a-lifetime blizzard, only five made it back down.
Andy Hall, a journalist and son of the park superintendent at the time, was living in the park when the tragedy occurred and spent years tracking down rescuers, survivors, lost documents, and recordings of radio communications. In Denali’s Howl, Hall reveals the full story of the expedition in a powerful retelling that will mesmerize the climbing community as well as anyone interested in mega-storms and man’s sometimes deadly drive to challenge the forces of nature.
Alaska Native Cultures and Issues
Making up more than ten percent of Alaska's population, Native Alaskans are the state's largest minority group. Yet most non-Native Alaskans know surprisingly little about the histories and cultures of their indigenous neighbors, or about the important issues they face. This concise book compiles frequently asked questions and provides informative and accessible responses that shed light on some common misconceptions. With responses composed by scholars within the represented communities and reviewed by a panel of experts, this easy-to-read compendium aims to facilitate a deeper exploration and richer discussion of the complex and compelling issues that are part of Alaska Native life today.
The Seventymile Kid: The Lost Legacy of Harry Karstens and the First Ascent of Mount McKinley
The Seventymile Kid tells the remarkable account of Harry Karstens, who was the actual—if unheralded—leader of the Hudson Stuck Expedition that was the first to summit Mount McKinley in Alaska. All but forgotten by history, a young Karstens arrived in the Yukon during the 1897 Gold Rush, gained fame as a dog musher hauling U.S. Mail in Alaska, and eventually became the first superintendent of Mount McKinley National Park (now known as Denali National Park and Preserve). Aided by Karstens's own journals, longtime Denali writer and photographer Tom Walker uncovered archival information about the Stuck climb, and reveals that the Stuck "triumph" was an expedition marred by significant conflict. Without Karstens's wilderness skills and Alaska-honed tenacity, it is quite possible Hudson Stuck would never have climbed anywhere near the summit of McKinley. Yet the two men had a falling out shortly after the climb and never spoke again. In this book, Walker attempts to set the record straight about the historic first ascent itself, as well as other pioneer attempts by Frederick Cook and Judge Wickersham.
Blonde Indian: An Alaska Native Memoir
Told in eloquent layers that blend Native stories and metaphor with social and spiritual journeys, this enchanting memoir traces the author’s life from her difficult childhood growing up in the Tlingit community, through her adulthood, during which she lived for some time in Seattle and San Francisco, and eventually to her return home. Neither fully Native American nor Euro-American, Hayes encounters a unique sense of alienation from both her Native community and the dominant culture. We witness her struggles alongside other Tlingit men and women—many of whom never left their Native community but wrestle with their own challenges, including unemployment, prejudice, alcoholism, and poverty.
Coming Into the Country
Coming into the Country is an unforgettable account of Alaska and Alaskans. It is a rich tapestry of vivid characters, observed landscapes, and descriptive narrative, in three principal segments that deal, respectively, with a total wilderness, with urban Alaska, and with life in the remoteness of the bush.
Arctic Dreams
Based on Barry Lopez’s years spent traveling the Arctic regions in the company of Eskimo hunting parties and scientific expeditions alike, Arctic Dreams investigates the unique terrain of the human mind, thrown into relief against the vastness of the tundra and the frozen ocean. Eye-opening and profoundly moving, it is a magnificent appreciation of how wilderness challenges and inspires us.
Shopping for Porcupine A Life in Arctic Alaska
Seth Kantner returns to the setting of his debut novel , Ordinary Wolves, with an autobiographical account of his own life growing up in Northern Alaska. Beginning with his parents’ migration to the Alaskan wilderness in the 1950s and extending to his own attempts to balance hunting with writing, Kantner recalls cold nights wrapped in caribou hides, fur-clad visitors arriving on dog sleds, swimming amidst ice floes for wounded waterfowl, and his longstanding respect for the old Iñupiaq ways. Captured in words and images, these details combine to reveal a singular landscape at a pivotal moment in its history. Both an elegy and a romp, the book illuminates a world few will see as Kantner has.
Two Old Women: An Alaskan Legend of Betrayal, Courage and Survival
Based on an Athabascan Indian legend passed along for many generations from mothers to daughters of the upper Yukon River Valley in Alaska, this is the suspenseful, shocking, ultimately inspirational tale of two old women abandoned by their tribe during a brutal winter famine.
Though these women have been known to complain more than contribute, they now must either survive on their own or die trying. In simple but vivid detail, Velma Wallis depicts a landscape and way of life that are at once merciless and starkly beautiful. In her old women, she has created two heroines of steely determination whose story of betrayal, friendship, community, and forgiveness "speaks straight to the heart with clarity, sweetness, and wisdom" (Ursula K. Le Guin)
Wildflowers of Denali National Park
This book is considered a classic plant ID guide for the Denali area and is a good "picture guide" to many of the flowering plants of central Alaska, more specifically the Denali National Park & Preserve area. It is arranged by color of the flower and then loosely by the family of plant.
Snapshots from the Past: A Roadside History of Denali National Park
Visitors come to Denali National Park and Preserve for many reasons - spectacular scenery, wildlife, the continent's highest peak, and the cultural experiences. This amazing book does a wonderful job of presenting snapshots of Denali's past and telling many of the stories that have shaped its history. This book included user-friendly maps of the Park's road and innumerable historic photos to highlight its content. It is arranged to follow the park road from east to west, from the park entrance to Kantishna, and is a must-read for anyone interested in delving into the Park's rich history.
Rhythm of the Wild
Rhythm of the Heart is a memoir about Kim Heacox’s 30+ year relationship with the most iconic landscape in Alaska, Denali National Park.
Woven throughout the personal narrative are stories on the human and natural histories of the Park, garnished with a conservation polemic. Heacox shows how a place like Denali can touch a life, even save a life, quietly, profoundly, day after day, year after year, and how that saving multiplied by millions of lives over a century makes the world a better place.
Heacox makes the argument, through his beautiful and impassioned prose, that we must save these places so they in turn will save us. Denali National Park is the most accessible subarctic sanctuary in the world, and has awakened millions of people to what’s authentic, priceless and true.
Two in the Far North
This enduring story of life, adventure, and love in Alaska was written by a woman who embraced the remote Alaskan wilderness and became one of its strongest advocates. In this moving testimonial to the preservation of the Arctic wilderness, Mardy Murie writes from her heart about growing up in Fairbanks, becoming the first woman graduate of the University of Alaska, and marrying noted biologist Olaus J. Murie. So begins her lifelong journey in Alaska and on to Jackson Hole, Wyoming where along with her husband and others, they founded The Wilderness Society. Mardy's work as one of the earliest female voices for the wilderness movement earned her the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Program No.
1012
Duration
11 days
Program Begins
Fairbanks, AK
Program Concludes
Anchorage, AK
Activity Level
At a Glance
In the Alaskan Interior, grizzlies walk lowland rivers, caribou roam the tundra, Dall sheep cling to mountainsides and the golden eagle survey it all. To the south, the glaciers of the Kenai Peninsula carve the landscape as they have for eons. Join expert field educators in the boreal forest, on the tundra of Denali and along the bays of Kenai Fjords National Park.)
Best of all, you'll...
- Watch for grizzly bears, Dall sheep, moose and caribou on a journey into Denali National Park.
- Stretch your legs and minds on hikes that cross Alpine tundra, through boreal forest and past mountain lakes.
- Explore Kenai Fjords National Park on a daylong journey by boat to view marine mammals, tidewater and alpine glaciers and teeming seabird rookeries.
Featured Expert
Katie Miller
Katie Miller is a hospitality specialist with over two decades' experience in the travel and restaurant industry. Her love of travel brought her to Alaska in 2010 where she worked on the Wilderness Express, providing education and guest service for travelers on the Alaska Railroad. Katie’s career focus is on the growth and connection of the guest experience through travel and community. In her free time, Katie enjoys tending to her native plant garden and cooking for family and friends.
Please Note:
This expert may not be available for every date of the program
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
This program is "Keep the Pace." Your mobility must match this description. Reach out to Road Scholar or DEC with questions. Activities include city walking, hiking on maintained trails with varied terrain, wet/dry conditions, and even ice/snow. You must move about on a catamaran in open water and get on/off a motorcoach. Distance will not exceed 4 mi during scheduled activities. Trails are up to 3 mi in length with elevation changes up to 600 ft. The pace of the hikes is up to 2 mi per hour.
Suggested Reading List
View Full List: 12 Books
You can also find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
HAVE QUESTIONS?
Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone?
We can help. Give us a call, and we can answer all of your questions!
Call
800-454-5768
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
11 days
10 nights
What's Included
28 meals | 10B | 9L | 9D |
7 expert-led lectures
13 expert-led field trips
An experienced Group Leader
10 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
Day
1
Check-in, Registration, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Location:
Fairbanks, AK
Meals:
D
Stay:
Bear Lodge @ Wedgewood Resort
Activity Note
Welcome to Alaska! Check into your hotel, meet fellow participants and Group Leader, and kick off your learning adventure.
Afternoon:
Program Registration: 3:00-5:00 p.m. After checking into your room, come to the main lobby to meet your Group Leader and claim your welcome packet containing an up-to-date schedule that reflects any program changes. Your Group Leader will relay any important information and will confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please ask for your packet when you check in. Remember to bring your (previously sent) nametag! Orientation. After check-in, the Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. This is a great time to get to know your fellow Road Scholars. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions.Here are some topics that will be covered during your orientation: evening presentation topics and local presenters, free time options, and any changes to scheduled programming. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances or conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure. Spend the evening resting and relaxing or getting to know your fellow participants.
Day
2
Calypso Farm, Denali National Park Visitor's Center
Location:
Denali National Park
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Denali Education Center
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 125 miles, approximately 2.5 hours. Light walking up to 2 miles; mostly paved, some compact gravel trails and dirt paths, 1-4 steps possible, minimal elevation change. Opportunities for more walking dependent on personal preference.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
After checking out of the hotel, we'll board a motorcoach and head to Calypso Farm & Ecology Center. Calypso Farm is a non-profit, educational farm outside of Fairbanks offering hands-on educational programs for all ages and growing fresh food for the community. We will learn about farming in a subarctic climate as we explore the farm nestled on a hillside in the boreal forest. There will be opportunities to visit with farm animals, taste seasonal Alaska-grown produce, and see blacksmith, woodworking and fiber arts operations.
Lunch:
We'll have a boxed lunch at Calypso Farm & Ecology Center
Afternoon:
We'll travel south along the George Parks Highway to Denali National Park. Keep watch for moose and other wildlife! Weather permitting, we'll see sweeping vistas of the Tanana Valley and the Alaska Range, and on clear days, the peaks of Denali. As we near the National Park, we'll see some dramatic views of the Nenana River as it twists and turns aong the base of Mt. Healy. Upon arriving in the Park, we'll visit the "front country" area, which includes the Denali Visitor Center, the Morino Grill restaurant, the Alaska Geographic bookstore, and numerous hiking and walking trails. You'll have time for independent exploration, during which the Group Leader will be available to offer recommendations or answer questions.The Denali Visitor Center features an impressive exhibit hall and regular showings of "Heartbeats of Denali," a 20-minute non-narrated film that shares visuals of the various seasons, landscapes, and wildlife of this beautiful place. Afterward, we'll head to the Denali Education Center (DEC), our home for the next five nights. DEC's tranquil, wooded 10-acre campus is located seven miles south of the Denali Park Entrance along the banks of the Nenana River.
Dinner:
At Denali Education Center's Riverside Hall.
Evening:
After dinner, we’ll have a short orientation to DEC, its amenities, and campus. Afterward, you are free to relax in your cabin or explore at your leisure. Riverside Hall is available for your use 24 hours a day. Grab a book from the library, enjoy a hot beverage on the deck, or play a game with friends!
Day
3
Hike in Denali National Park, Subarctic Ecosystems
Location:
Denali National Park
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Denali Education Center
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus. Driving 30 miles total, approximately 1.25 hours. Hiking; 2-miles on a maintained trail; approximately 3 hours total; uneven ground, rock steps, some rugged areas, no significant elevation change. Potential for rain and muddy areas, please dress accordingly.
Breakfast:
At Denali Education Center's Riverside Hall.
Morning:
Boarding a bus, we’ll travel into Denali National Park where we will get to know the landscape and history of the Park with our field educators. Be sure to bring your camera on this wilderness walk along the Savage River Loop Trail, a great area to spot caribou, Dall sheep, marmot, ground squirrels, and ptarmigan. Weather permitting, we will have opportunities to see Denali during our time in the Park.
Lunch:
At Denali Education Center's Riverside Hall.
Afternoon:
In a classroom session on campus, one of our expert field educators will teach about the sometimes surprising, always extreme conditions that shape life in Denali and define a subarctic ecosystem. In this interactive session, we’ll learn how the complex geology of interior Alaska is connected to annual precipitation, why geographical location determines the adaptations of plants, and how the Native peoples survived for generations in one of the most formidable climates on Earth.
Dinner:
At Denali Education Center's Riverside Hall.
Evening:
Evening presentation topics and locations will vary depending on local speaker availability. Presentation topics range from predator-prey relationships to climbing Denali. The schedule for evening presenters at the Denali Education Center will be announced on the first day of the program.
Day
4
Wildlife of Denali, Hike in the Boreal Forest
Location:
Denali National Park
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Denali Education Center
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus; driving 20 miles one way, approximately 1/2 hour total. Walking 3 miles on a maintained trail, approximately 4 hours; shorter steep sections, roots, rocks, and mud possible. Approximately 400 feet elevation change total. Potential for rain, please dress accordingly.
Breakfast:
At Denali Education Center's Riverside Hall.
Morning:
Denali is home to 39 species of mammals and 169 species of birds. We’ll join a field educator's to discuss the extraordinary adaptations that allow local wildlife to survive in Alaska’s extreme subarctic climate. During this educational program, we will examine fur pelts, skulls, and hooves from regional species as we learn about how they survive in the North.
Lunch:
At Denali Education Center's Riverside Hall.
Afternoon:
Next, we’ll set out to explore the world’s largest biome, the northern boreal forest, on an educator-led walk on one of Denali's maintained trails. We'll take a bus to the trail head. Denali's forested trails are occasionally steep with 400 feet elevation change possible. This hike provide beautiful views and an intimate look into the serenity and severity of Alaska’s boreal forest.
Dinner:
At Denali Education Center's Riverside Hall.
Evening:
We'll gather together for a presentation given by a local speaker on a topic pertinent to the program theme.
Day
5
Heart of the Wilderness, Journey into Denali National Park
Location:
Denali National Park
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Denali Education Center
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus. Driving into Denali National Park, approximately 5 hours total aboard, with stops to view wildlife and rest stops every 1-1.5 hours. The Park Road is mostly unpaved, bumpy ride possible. Walking up to 1-mile throughout the day; opportunities for more walking dependent on personal preference. Bring a camera and binoculars, if you have them.
Breakfast:
At Denali Education Center's Riverside Hall.
Morning:
After breakfast, we'll take a bus to Denali National Park for a short hike exploring its storied past. We'll see historic building remains and learn about the beginnings of the Park and the now vanished boomtown of McKinley Station from one of our field educators. Afterwards, we’ll board a park bus and travel deep into Denali National Park on a journey into the wilderness. Along the way, we’ll enjoy commentary about the park from our bus driver and on-board educator while we take in breathtaking views of the many peaks of the Alaska Range. Have your cameras ready, the ride offers a good chance to view Denali's wildlife, which may include caribou, grizzly bears, Dall sheep, moose, and more!
Lunch:
We'll enjoy boxed lunches on the bus.
Afternoon:
As you traverse the landscape, your on-board educator will keep their eyes peeled for wildlife and learning opportunities. Throughout the day, your educator will explain the history, ecology, and cultural significance of Denali National Park. Opportunities to stretch your legs will be available throughout the trip. Restrooms are available every 1-1.5 hours. Stops will be made periodically to observe wildlife when sighted and for photo opportunities.
Dinner:
At Denali Education Center's Riverside Hall.
Evening:
At leisure. Spend the evening resting, relaxing, and enjoying your time in Denali.
Day
6
Local Dog Musher and Racing Kennel, Interpretive Hike
Location:
Denali National Park
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Denali Education Center
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus. Driving about 36 miles total; approximately 1.5 hours. Standing up to 30 minutes outside during field trip. Walking 3.5 miles on a maintained trail, approximately 4 hours; compact gravel, boardwalks, roots, rock, and stairs. About 250 feet of elevation change. Potential for rain, please dress accordingly.
Breakfast:
At Denali Education Center's Riverside Hall.
Morning:
After breakfast, we'll board a bus and travel to the kennels of a local musher to learn about the life of a working sled dog, the art of mushing, and what it's like to train for races like the Yukon Quest and the Iditarod. We'll even get a chance to interact with these furry athletes.
Lunch:
At Denali Education Center's Riverside Hall.
Afternoon:
We're off to Denali National Park to explore the rich and varied subarctic habitat on a scenic maintained trail. We'll take a bus to the trailhead. One of our expert field educators will look for evidence of wildlife along the winding trail and help you put your newly gained knowledge of Denali to the test. 250 feet of elevation gain possible.
Dinner:
At Denali Education Center's Riverside Hall.
Evening:
At leisure. Pack and prepare for check-out and transfer to Seward in the morning.
Day
7
Through the Alaska Range, South to Seward
Location:
Seward
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Gateway Hotel
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach. Driving 375 miles, approximately 9 hours total including stops.
Breakfast:
At Denali Education Center's Riverside Hall.
Morning:
After checking out of our rooms, we will board a motorcoach and journey to the Kenai Peninsula and the harbor town of Seward, home of Kenai Fjords National Park. Depending on weather and visibility, we may get a glimpse of Denali's peaks as we pass through Broad Pass and Denali State Park. We’ll stop at several places to stretch our legs and take photos of the magnificent views afforded in this beautiful landscape.
Lunch:
Enjoy a boxed lunch on the bus, or at a stop along the way.
Afternoon:
We'll pass through Anchorage and travel south onto the Kenai peninsula via the Seward Highway to complete our transfer. This highway has been designated a National Forest Scenic Highway. The scenery during this portion of the trip is dramatic and can include wildlife sightings. Seward is situated along the shores of Resurrection Bay and is flanked by the mountains of the Kenai range. Upon arrival, we'll check into our program hotel, and after getting settled, we'll board a mini-bus to our dinner location.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure. Stretch your legs and explore this beautiful harbor town, or unpack and relax after a day of travel.
Day
8
Alaska SeaLife Center, Exit Glacier Hike
Location:
Seward
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Gateway Hotel
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus. Driving about 25 miles total, approximately 1.5 hours throughout the day. Light walking and standing at the SeaLife Center. Hiking 2-miles round trip, approximately 2.5 hours; moderately strenuous terrain, some steep inclines, rocky areas, and sloping terrain. There are some benches along the way to rest. Potential for rain, please dress accordingly.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We'll visit the Alaska SeaLife Center, a public aquarium and the state's only permanent marine mammal rehabilitation facility. The center was established after the Exxon-Valdez oil spill and as one of the only aquariums in the world with an on-site research facility, brings in top-notch researchers from all over the world. We'll have a chance to attend a presentation on a current research project. There will be time to explore the SeaLife Center's many exhibits, view the resident wildlife, and learn more about the Center's goals and continuing research.
Lunch:
At the SeaLife Center.
Afternoon:
We’ll travel by mini-bus to Exit Glacier. As we get closer to the glacier, be sure to watch for the date markers along the roadside: these markers indicate where the glacier’s terminus was located over the years. Once we arrive, we’ll be joined by a Kenai Fjords National Park Ranger who will lead us on an interpretive hike to the edge of the glacier, teaching us about the ecosystem that surrounds this iconic icy behemoth.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure. Enjoy a free evening in Seward resting and relaxing in your room or exploring this small town on foot.
Day
9
Seward's History, Kenai Fjords Marine Wildlife Cruise
Location:
Seward
Meals:
B,L
Stay:
Gateway Hotel
Activity Note
Getting on/off a mini-bus and on/off a boat; riding approximately 2 hours on the mini-bus and 6 hours on the boat. Indoor and outdoor seating available on the catamaran. Potential for rain and wind and cold weather, please dress accordingly. Please bring a camera and binoculars if you have them. Catamaran will cross open water; please bring motion sickness medication if you are prone to motion sickness.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We'll learn about the origin and home of the Alaska state flag, visit Mile-0 of the Iditarod Trail and dive into the history of this harbor town on a expert-led exploration of Seward by mini-bus. We’ll then board a catamaran-style boat at the small boat harbor for an expert-led field trip into Kenai Fjords National Park and Resurrection Bay.
Lunch:
Aboard the boat.
Afternoon:
We’ll continue our expert-led field trip aboard the boat in Kenai Fjords National Park and Resurrection Bay. This is a great opportunity to spot wildlife, so be on the lookout (and have your camera ready!) as we travel through this strikingly beautiful habitat. We may be lucky enough to see whales, sea otters, Steller sea lions, harbor seals, puffins, eagles, and more. Along our route, we will visit one active tidewater glacier. Upon our return to the dock, we’ll walk back to the hotel. Before breaking for the evening we'll discuss the following day's schedule and our travels north to Anchorage. The rest of the evening is yours for you to do any final exploring of Seward.
Dinner:
This dinner has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you'd like. Ask your Group Leader for suggestions, or strike out and explore this small harbor town.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
10
Native Heritage Center, Program Wrap-Up
Location:
Anchorage, AK
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Courtyard Anchorage Airport
Activity Note
Check-out by 10:00 a.m. Getting on/off a motorcoach. Driving about 130 miles to Anchorage, approximately 3 hours with stops. Expected hotel arrival approximately 4:30 p.m. Light standing and walking up to 2 miles; mostly paved, 1-4 steps and gentle inclines possible. Potential for rain, please dress accordingly.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
After checking out of the hotel, we’ll board a chartered motorcoach bound for Anchorage. Enjoy the scenery and dramatic shorelines as we travel on the Seward Highway along the Turnagain Arm. Keep an eye out for wildlife: if we are lucky, we might spot a beluga in the waters of the Arm, or dall sheep in the Chugach mountains above the road.
Lunch:
At the Alaska Native Heritage Center.
Afternoon:
The Alaska Native Heritage Center is a gathering place that celebrates, perpetuates, and shares Alaska Native culture, language, heritage and tradition. Explore the indoor and outdoor exhibits and take in one-of-a-kind demonstrations by Alaska Native artists, dancers, musicians, and storytellers of all ages.After leaving the Native Heritage Center, we will check into our hotel.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
During the program wrap-up, we’ll tell stories and share favorite experiences from our time together in Alaska. We'll recount our explorations of two of Alaska's incredible national parks and describe the new knowledge that we'll take home to share with others. After wrap-up, the remainder of the evening is yours to explore Anchorage or prepare for departure in the morning.
Day
11
Program Concludes
Location:
Anchorage, AK
Meals:
B
Activity Note
Breakfast at your pace. Check out by 12:00 p.m. Hotel offers 24-hour airport shuttle service.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Hotel checkout is at noon. The Courtyard Anchorage Airport offers a 24-hour courtesy airport shuttle service departing on the half hour, allowing you to head to the airport at your convenience. This concludes our program. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
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MEALS
28 Meals
10 Breakfasts
9 Lunches
9 Dinners
LODGING
Lodgings may differ by date. Select a date to see the lodgings specific to that date.
Showing Lodging For:
- Aug 16, 2025 - Aug 26, 2025
- May 24, 2025 - Jun 03, 2025 (Fairbanks, AK to Anchorage, AK)
- Jun 07, 2025 - Jun 17, 2025 (Fairbanks, AK to Anchorage, AK)
- Jun 14, 2025 - Jun 24, 2025 (Fairbanks, AK to Anchorage, AK)
- Jul 05, 2025 - Jul 15, 2025 (Fairbanks, AK to Anchorage, AK)
- Jul 19, 2025 - Jul 29, 2025 (Fairbanks, AK to Anchorage, AK)
- Jul 26, 2025 - Aug 05, 2025 (Fairbanks, AK to Anchorage, AK)
- Aug 09, 2025 - Aug 19, 2025 (Fairbanks, AK to Anchorage, AK)
- Aug 16, 2025 - Aug 26, 2025 (Fairbanks, AK to Anchorage, AK)
Participant Reviews
Based on 50 Reviews
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Incredible experience learning about and experiencing Alaska's ecology, geography, culture, plants, animals and how they adapted to life in this vast landscape--historically and today. Superb educators.
— Review left September 12, 2024
This trip really immerses participants in the best that Alaska's national parks have to offer. From the first day to the last, each day provided us with a wonderful and different type of experience. We learned in the classroom, on the trail, on the road, on the water, visiting a farm, and even listening to Alaskan natives. Thank you!
— Review left September 9, 2024
One of the best I've attended. Listen when they tell you to bring binoculars and hiking sticks. I'm still reeling from the beauty of Alaska. And wishing I could do the seal walk. Talks were excellent.
— Review left September 8, 2024
I totally agree with all the previous positive comments. The program was a great combination of easy to moderate hiking, beautiful scenery, education field trips, and excellent interactive lectures. Katie Miller, Bones, and Walt are all enthusiastic guides and presenters. My favorite presentation was an explanation for the collapse of the road at about the half way point on the park road and the current construction of the new bridge. The best outdoor experience was the hike to the Exit Glacier outside of Seward. It is hard to ignore the effects of climate change when you see how dramatically it is affecting this region. Several very specialevents happened on the bus ride into the park, when we saw a grizzly, mamma moose and two babies, and caribou with gigantic antlers. Even more rewarding is that we saw Denali emerge from the clouds, an experience that only 30% of the visitors are privileged to see. The program did a good job of breaking up all of the bus rides, including the six hour ride from Denali to Seward. Katie, the main group leader, was always available, encouraging, calm, and organized, even when ten participants tested positive for Covid after we arrived in Seward. The accommodations were fine (especially for those who had river front cabins at the Denali Education Center and the Rivers Edge Resort), and the meals were acceptable and included some excellent restaurant meals. However, with the exception of the very good breakfasts at the Denaii Education Center, the “Continental” breakfasts at the three hotels outside of Denali were on par with those provided at very basic motels. I think it is also important to understand that 80% of Denali National Park is designated as wilderness, and therefore accessible only to those with backcountry skills. Thus, you do not get very close to the snow-covered peaks, especially compared with the Canadian Rocky Mountains near Banff and Jasper. All in all, the program is an excellent introduction to Alaska.
— Review left August 31, 2024
This is a well planned program, a mix of physical activities with learning opportunities. I most enjoyed the lectures, hikes and cultural field trips (Native Heritage Center, Visitor Centers, Squid Acres kennel, SeaLife Center). Bones did a great job sharing his expertise, as did all of the instructors. I was surprised that the wifi at DEC was so good in the cabins, which overlook a beautiful river in a peaceful setting. They have walking sticks to borrow. Be sure to bring binoculars, since some wildlife is very far away, and also eye shades, since it is light outside very late. I would have preferred to have seat belts on the buses outside the park. Otherwise, highly recommend this tour!
— Review left August 1, 2024
This was a delightful, well-paced program that provides a good balance of activities, education and free time. Logistics were worked out very well and we had things to do even on our travel days. The Denali Education Center is very comfortable with cabins on the river and a peaceful atmosphere. The education there was extremely well done with lectures and demonstrations on a variety of topics such as wildlife and culture that not only presented interesting information but also tied together topics in conservation, ecology and climate change. We were lucky to see Denali and all of the large animals the National Park features with the exception of brown bears. Our experience at Kenai Fiords National Park, although briefer, was also very well done. Staff were very responsive and caring. Just a note on gear - sturdy walking shoes (not hiking boots) were enough for the walks, and do prepare for rain.
— Review left July 31, 2024
Alaska was so scenic - both in hikes and drives. The Denali Education Center was a pleasant campus. I enjoyed staying there. The talks, activities, and field trips were interesting. The meals and accommodations were great. I'm really glad I took this trip.
— Review left July 29, 2024
Can’t go wrong by going on a Roed Scholar trip.
I should know after being on 18.
— Review left July 20, 2024
My wife and I have always wanted to see and explore the national parks of Alaska but didn't want the typical cruise experience. This trip was a great way to see Denali and Kenai Fjords as well as learning about the incredible history, geology, wildlife, and cultures of these unique areas. We thoroughly enjoyed this trip and are looking forward to many more adventures with Road Scholar in the future.
— Review left July 19, 2024
RS is my favorite travel company and this program is a good example of why. The educational quality of the program exceeded my expectations as did the leadership of our tour guide, Karie, and the total of our experiences at the Denali Educational Center. All program activities, from the inspiring tour of Calypso Farm to the cuddling of pups and dogsled lecture at Squid Acres Dog Kennel along with the lectures Bones delivered at the Denali Educational Center, gave me a much greater understanding of the resilient residents and ecosystem of our 49th state. Little known fact: Denali is taller than Mt. Everest. Sign up for this program and have Bones explain to you why this is true.
— Review left July 19, 2024
Alaska: beyond my limited Northern Exposure image. Alaska is not only stunning landscapes and wildness. Alaska's history and culture and the pure moxie of the settlers past and present make for one of the more surprising and fascinating adventures.
— Review left July 18, 2024
This trip was just amazing. The Denali Education Center was a terrific home for our time in the National Park. We stayed in small cabins on the river, ate wonderful meals in a riverside building (often eating outside, the weather was that good!), had lectures about geology, wildlife and even road construction in the park) in a larger hall down the road. A moose and her calf were visible most days grazing along the other side of the river. We did 3 hikes, one along the Savage River, one in the park near the visitor center and one around Horseshoe Lake. For each hike the group of 30 was split into two smaller groups. We saw lots of wildlife on the long drive on the main park road (Dall sheep, grizzly mom with two cubs, moose, caribou). We also enjoyed visits to two other sites. The first was to a local organic farm that produced the greens we enjoyed in salads all week, learning what it takes to create a farm on a hillside in Alaska. The second was our visit to Squid Acres Kennel to learn about mushing in the Iditarod. After a talk about what it takes to operate a kennel and race (Paige placed 5th last year!) we got to see the team hitched up and off to a practice run, and finally got to interact with the dogs themselves. A trip high point for me! Our last few days we traveled south to Anchorage to Kenai NP where our focus was on glaciers and sealife. Unforgettable time on boat trip to Holgate Glacier. Saw group of humpback whales feeding and lots of sea lions and seabirds. A visit to the Alaska Native Heritage Center where an 80+ year old woman talked to us about growing up in Alaska before we watched traditional games and dance completed our time.
Our guide, Nate Porter, grew up on a homestead in Alaska. He was hugely knowledgeable about everything Alaska and a lot of fun. There's so much to see and do. I highly recommend this trip.
— Review left July 9, 2024
This Road Scholar trip was wonderful. The trip covered some the interior of Alaska, the Denali National Park, and some of the coast of Alaska at Seward. Included was a trip to see some Iditarod sled dogs and to learn about this race. We had great educational guides and the best food!
— Review left June 22, 2024
This was my 26th roadscholar trip and it was magnificient. covered so much of interior Alaska which i loved... DEC is a perfect place to stay - i looked out my window at the raging Nenana river each evening and morning and had an encouter with a moose just out by the beach. Wildlife cruise at Seward-WOW!
— Review left June 21, 2024
This was an excellent program: Educational, well-organized, saw wildlife, beautiful landscapes, good home-cooked meals, and enjoyed my travel companions.
Our group leader Jennifer was an outstanding asset to the program with her good humor, organizational skills, flexibility, willingness to accommodate some of our individual changes in plans, and calmness in dealing with some difficult issues that happened on the trip.
Alaska is simply beautiful is another reason to go on this trip.
— Review left September 18, 2023
This was one of my best vacations ever -- informative and fun, challenging yet affirming, offering new adventures and vistas everyday. It was my first RoadScholar trip but will not be my last.
— Review left September 12, 2023
This is a "must do" trip. You're surrounded with the beauty of the mountains, glaciers, tundra, parma frost areas, lakes, rivers and of course wildlife. Seward gives you the taste of an interesting harbor town that is surrounded by glaciers and the Resurrection Bay. The bay cruise offers the opportunity to see Orcas, Hump Back whales, otters, Puffins and more. Make this program your next adventure you will never forget!
— Review left August 25, 2023
Loved the DEC setting - calm, peaceful with excellent food. Lots of info, hikes, activities on this trip. Jennifer is an outstanding leader, ready to share her love of Alaska and helping each person have their best experience of Alaska. Exit Glacier hike let me know I was not in Montana. Highly recommend this trip!
— Review left August 24, 2023
This is a wonderful tour for people who love observing nature, being outdoors, and walking. Denali and Seward are the highlights of the trip.
A big shout out to the folks at the Denali Education Center for their warm Alaska welcome, expertise on the topics covered, and fine healthy cuisine.
Bring sensible clothes, a sense of Wonder, and include Covid masks/tests.
— Review left August 14, 2023
Went beyond my expectations. Hope I can participate in another program some day.
— Review left August 13, 2023
What a wonderful program!!! We highly recommend it to anyone wanting to know the “real” Alaska!!!
— Review left August 10, 2023
This was the TRIP OF A LIFETIME!!!
— Review left August 7, 2023
Five stars!
Denali Education Center is a fabulous place to spend 5 nights. The three meals a day are totally outstanding. The hikes are all different: (1) tundra with cranberries and blueberries ripe for the picking (and eating), wildflowers, lichen, algae and fungus in abundance along the trail. (2) the Savage River trail provided examples of the geology and glacial activity results in the area. On that hike, we saw a ptarmigan family near the trail. (3) the Horseshoe Lake trail is one of the more challenging, but worth it when you get down to the lakeshore. On that hike, we saw an Arctic ground squirrel depositing food on her midden, and a Northern goshawk sitting near her nest. (4) Exit Glacier trail was my most challenging, but when I got back down I was very proud of myself for keeping up with the group (I'm 80 years old). The modern duplex cabins are comfortable and privately located. The itinerary you receive before the trip is very accurate in describing all the activities. On our drive to Pretty Rocks landslide, we saw a Grizzly bear, a caribou running down the middle of the road, moose, and a Dall sheep down off the mountain. On the boat trip we saw a glacier calving (very interesting sound), sea otters, a humpback whale with her calf, seals floating on the ice near the glaciers, and puffins flying, swimming and resting on the rocks. (Be sure not to miss the puffins at the SeaLife Center, where you can visit them up close in a visitors' room). This Road Scholar program was a very educational way for me to visit Alaska for the first time.
— Review left August 2, 2023
The trip was wonderful. Katie May did an awesome job. Two suggestions would be to have oral introductions on the first night and stay one night between Denali and Seward to “shorten “ the trip. The activities in Seward were particularly impressive. I loved all the locations and the employees.
— Review left August 2, 2023
Excellent in every way! The Denali Education Center did a wonderful job arranging the trip, and the group leader, Nate, was outstanding. I had some limitations on hiking; Nate was able to accommodate my desire to visit the NPS sled dog kennels in place of one hike. My roommate and I loved the little cabins at the DEC, and the food was outstanding. The late spring resulted in our group seeing a spectacular array of wildflowers. The temps in the 50-60-low 70s were a lovely break for this Nashvillian. It did rain rather a lot the last several days, and several of us did get seasick on the wildlife cruise out of Seward, but seeing the humpback whale, sea otters, seals, orcas and a calving glacier made up for that. And we actually got to see Mt. Denali! I highly recommend this trip.
— Review left July 26, 2023
What a wonderful experience, learning about the enormity of the 49th state, its original inhabitants, history, geology, flora and fauna! We were privileged to see and explore so many aspects of Denali and Kenai Fjords with expert guides and a terrific group leader. Great trip!
— Review left July 15, 2023
I am a 73 yo female with no impediments to walking 3 or 4 miles and up to 300-400 ft elevation. The program had hikes that lasted 2-4 hours which included stops to look at and photograph flowers and animals and also rest a while.. So the pace was comfortable for me. Some days we hiked in the morning with lectures or museums in the afternoon and other days we hiked in the afternoon after lectures in the morning. So the program was designed to offer a variety of things to learn at a manageable pace. At night I was tired but not exhausted. In the morning I was ready for the day's activities. I enjoyed my first program with Road Scholar and would consider doing another one.
— Review left July 7, 2023
I highly recommend The Best of Alaska’s National Parks: From Denali to Kenai.
It was filled with educational presentations, hikes and knowledgeable and friendly staff!
A variety of healthy menus to feed the body and soul in the wilderness was equally as good as the above!
— Review left June 28, 2023
I really enjoyed the trip. The accommodations in Denali were wonderful. All the time was good and the staff excellent. The food was great. Just wish there had been seat belts on the bus provided for the long trip from Denali to Seward.
— Review left December 26, 2022
Alaska was spectacular but our program was disappointing.
Personnel who hosted and led the program were nice, helpful and well informed.
We felt we should have been informed about the road closure which diminished the possibility of seeing the mountain. We never even got close to it.
We were disappointed with the quality of the hiking in Denali, most on paths and trails at or near the visitor center. One day of that would have been enough. Stretching it to four days by adding more of the same plus a lot of classroom time failed to recognize the major investment of time and money that participants made to visit the park.
We were disappointed in the food. At the Riverside in Fairbanks we would say it was just poor quality. At the Denali Education Center there were a few good meals but we’d say it was mostly mediocre with a few bad meals.
In both Denali and Kenai Fjords it felt to us like people were going through the motions at the end of the season and focused at least in part on going home. Our faith in Road Scholar to stick to best times, rather than all available times was diminished.
Despite several calls through spring and early summer the travel office left us hanging up to the last minute. Then in July when we finally called and insisted that they book the flights we were presented with terrible flight times at twice the cost of what we would have paid if booked in spring.
We will never again rely on the Road Scholar travel office. We may or may not consider another Road Scholar program. Our previous experiences have all been very good and that counts from something. But Road Scholar had been our first and only choice until now. We will be doing more shopping around for future travel. We got some good recommendations from others on our program who seemed to us to be equally underwhelmed by this program.
— Review left October 9, 2022
This program was fantastic with eye-opening hikes, hands-on lectures and mindful learning about the huge, but fragile state of Alaska and all of its treasures.
— Review left September 19, 2022
The Alaskan national parks program is wonderful, do not miss out on something that may disappear in the future.
— Review left September 16, 2022
I loved my 1st Roads Scholar program - The Best of Alaska's National Parks - especially where we stayed in Denali - Denali Educational Center, fantastic food z& amazing instructors (Bones). The boat trip from Seward was also a highlight- saw lots of Orcas, sea lions, glaciers calving
— Review left September 12, 2022
Thos program was incredible. Julie Noel was a wonderful group leader, and all of our lecturers and hiking guides were exemplary. Denali was a dream come true. The Denali Education Center and its staff were wonderful and so welcoming. Not to mention the food!! Seward was a charming town, and we enjoyed our wildlife/glacier viewing cruise in (rare) sunshine! This program does an excellent job of combining a great deal if instruction with quite a few terrific (also instructional) hikes.
— Review left September 10, 2022
This trip gives a great overview of the Denali area and Kenai Fjords. The history, information of flora and fauna, and the animals of the areas is thoroughly covered. One also learns how people live in the areas. Lots of seeing and learning of Alaska
— Review left September 9, 2022
If you want to experience Alaska and see wild place, this is the trip for you.
— Review left September 7, 2022
The Last Frontier - Go where not many people go! Into Denali National Park, as far as
you can and be crossing a bridge on foot when a ranger comes up and takes your arm, and
guides you to a safe spot as a bear is coming down the road. Take a day long boat ride in
the Kenai Fjords and see puffins, orca whales, otters, eagles, seals and glaciers calving! Stay in cozy cabins inside the park, eat great meals, and be attended by our great guide and leader, Julie N. She certainly knew how to "herd cats". Bring hiking shoes or boots, layers, think fleece, hiking poles, if you need, a hat, backpack, and your quest for adventure and curiosity. You will have a life changing adventure.
— Review left September 7, 2022
This program was a great combination of educational activities and outdoor experiences.
— Review left August 27, 2022
This program was a perfect combination of seeing the beauty of unpopulated areas like Denali and the cities and what they have to offer. I learned so much about Alaska and its beauty and the ecosystem. The guides and activities were amazing and the hiking we did was enough to be a little challenging, but not too hard for the average person. I cannot recommend this trip highly enough.
— Review left August 9, 2022
Please be aware that if your traveling partner drops out of the program and it happens that another person of the same sex has a traveling partner who drops out of the program, Road Scholar policy evidently is to have the two who didn't drop out room together even though they are strangers. While this worked out for me and the stranger I roomed with, it didn't sit well with either of us. The program itself is fantastic, but this policy is the pits. It's just wrong. And if something should go wrong between the two strangers, Road Scholar is asking for trouble.
— Review left August 4, 2022
Alaska has been a must-see destination of mine forever and this program provided an enlightening view of the subarctic region and its vast glory. Denali was exquisite (a rare treat), and the fjords/glaciers did not disappoint. Group Leader Darrel was a wonder: personable, capable, good natured and handled the unexpected well. Field guides/lecturers Kristin and Bones were gems with fascinating lives, incredible knowledge, and a passion for Alaska that was infectious. All of the above were highpoints of the program. If I have a criticism, it would be Road Scholar's policy regarding COVID outbreaks, and measures to mitigate them. Improvements would be welcome.
— Review left July 22, 2022
Alaska was a bucket list destination for me. This trip did not disappoint! Staying at the Denali Education Center was so special: beautiful riverside location, comfy cabins, delicious chef-driven meals, expert speakers, and traveler camaraderie. (Maybe too much fun led to Covid diagnoses?) I enjoyed learning about park history and the characters who played important roles. Museum trips offered additional perspective on the geology, native peoples, animal and plant life of Alaska. I highly recommend this adventure.
— Review left July 20, 2022
I learned a lot about Alaska. The staff at the Denali Education Center are exceptional people and provided a wonderful experience.
— Review left July 18, 2022
Fantastic trip! Lived up to expectations. All went well, but for one problem with Covid. Several members on the trip tested positive on day 3 or 4. Ten more did; by the end, 15 of 30 were positive. We did get it, but at the end, so we didn't lose anything.
I have to commend our group leader, Darrell Johnston, very highly! Not only as an example of what a group leader should be, but also as a top notch crisis manager! What ever problem came up, including the growing number of positive Covid tests, he made fantastic adjustments, and kept things moving in the right direction. This was a trip maker for all of us. He got extra rooms, buses; alternate eating arrangements, test kits and explained policies and procedures very clearly. As a former Assistant fire chief, I could appreciate his effective approach to problem solving. It was our 50th Anniversary trip; his handling of all the situations really saved the trip. It could have been very different but for his approach to everything. He deserves any reward you can give him!! You have a gem of a group leader!
Sam and Deb
— Review left July 14, 2022
I highly recommend the National Parks of Alaska trip. It was one of the best of the 11 Road Scholar trips we have taken. It has a great deal of variety and excellent information about Alaska that went beyond what we expected.
— Review left June 27, 2022
Well organized and informative trip
— Review left June 25, 2022
What a wonderful experience this trip was. Alaska is such a unique place, and I learned so much about the history, geology, plants and animals of the state. I saw animals and birds that I had never seen before in their natural habitat (Grizzly bears, caribou, orcas, sea lions, seals, puffins). As a lover of horticulture, I was fascinated to see how plants adapted to the harsh climate of Alaska. And talking to fellow participants about their travels encouraged me to think about other places to visit. All in all, this program was a great experience.
— Review left June 9, 2022
This is an excellent program for those wanting a taste of the many faces of Alaska. We traveled from the interior to the coast, entranced by the landscapes and the animals in each environment. The speakers, hikes, and museums were wonderful. The Denali Education Center staff was enthusiastic and accommodating. It was a great experience!
— Review left August 10, 2019
Dinali National Park is like no other park. 6 million acres is astounding and affords an understanding of what the pioneer experience in America was like. Skip the cruise and take a hike!
— Review left June 11, 2019
The Best of Alaska’s National Parks is a fantastic program. We got to experience the best of two aspects of Alaska - the interior wilderness of Denali National Park and the sea coast of the Kenai Fjords National Park. The naturalist-led hikes are informative and really help you to appreciate the wonders of the area. The boat trip on Resurrection Bay and the Gulf of Alaska showed the glories of glaciers and the animals living in and on the sea.
The accommodations are very nice, particularly the Denali Education Center. There is a good balance between being in the outdoors, exploring interesting museums and listening to lectures. I really can’t say enough good things about this trip.
— Review left June 5, 2019
