Taking the Kids: Visiting Alaska without the crowds

The Alaska Railroad, meanwhile, is celebrating its centennial. Many cruise passengers, particularly on Holland America and Princess, opt for a cruise tour via train to Denali, staying in wilderness lodges at the edge of the park.

It’s impossible to see all of Alaska on one trip. Denali National Park and Preserve itself, home to North America’s tallest peak, is six million acres; The Tongass National Forest is nearly 17 million acres, encompassing nearly 90 percent of Southeast Alaska. There are more than 46,000 miles of tidal shoreline, 80 percent inaccessible by road and longer than the other 48 states’ coastlines combined.

Experiencing Alaska Native cultures is high on the list for many Alaska visitors. There are five groups of Alaska Native people identified by region – Inupiat & St. Lawrence Island Yupik in the Arctic; Athabascan in Southcentral and Interior Alaska; Yup’ik & Cup’ik, Unangax̂ and Sugpiaq (Alutiiq) in Southwest Alaska; and Eyak, Haida, Tsimshian, and Tlingit in the Inside Passage. Learn totem carving, hear stories passed down by Elders, see traditional dancing. About 15 percent of Alaska’s 730,000 residents are Alaska Native, with 20 distinct cultures and 300 different dialects. (A visit to the Alaska Native Heritage Center in Anchorage is a good bet as is the Alaska State Museum in Juneau.)

Small-ship cruises (just make sure they are age appropriate for your children) are expanding with access to lesser-visited destinations. (Families bringing kids ages 8 to 17 save $500 per child and there are family-oriented activities (face painting with glacial mud; tide pool treasure hunts among them).

Alaskan Dream Cruises debuts a new glacier-focused itinerary in 2024. Starting in Sitka, this eight-night “Ice of the Inside Passage” visits Prince of Wales Island, the Alaska Native community of Klawock and Dall Island, offering an up-close view of seven different glaciers along the way.

With so much to see, do and learn, a cruise — whether you choose a large ship or small expedition vessel is a terrific introduction to what Alaska has to offer. The key is to choose the right cruise line for your family — and your budget. There still are appealing deals for this season. However, if you want to gather extended family (and friends) for a special cruise celebration, it certainly isn’t too early to plan for 2024. You’ll get your pick of cabins, and working with a travel adviser who is a cruise expert can not only help you sort through the many options but also get you some extra perks on board too.

Just remember your rain gear!

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(For more Taking the Kids, visit www.takingthekids.com and also follow TakingTheKids on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram where Eileen Ogintz welcomes your questions and comments. The Kid’s Guide to Philadelphia and The Kid’s Guide to Camping are the latest in a series of 14 books for kid travelers published by Eileen.)