This Alaska trip was a little different than most of our adventures.

It was actually a graduation gift for our oldest son after he finished his bachelor’s degree. When we asked him where he wanted to go celebrate, the answer came quickly: Alaska.

Our son absolutely loves fishing, so Alaska seemed like the perfect choice.

My husband and I made the trip with our oldest son, his wife, and our youngest son. What started as a fishing trip quickly turned into one of our most memorable family adventures.

Of course, we expected lots of fishing. That’s why we came.

What we didn’t expect was everything else.

We watched whales surface beside our boat. We saw puffins and sea otters in the wild. We flew in a tiny float plane over remote wilderness. We watched bears catch salmon right in front of us. And we stood in awe as massive glaciers stretched as far as the eye could see.

Every day was a new adventure! And by the end of the trip we all agreed that Alaska had exceeded every expectation.

If you’re looking for incredible fishing, unforgettable wildlife, and some of the most beautiful scenery in North America, Alaska should definitely be at the top of your list.

Day 1: Anchorage to Seward

After landing in Anchorage, we picked up our rental van and started driving toward Seward.

Our first stop was the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. This ended up being a really fun stop and a great introduction to Alaska. We saw bears, moose, bison, musk ox, reindeer, and several other animals. It’s a wildlife preserve and definitely worth the stop if you’re driving through the area.

From there we continued on to Seward and checked into Raven’s Quest Cabins. The cabins were adorable and made a great home base for a few days.

That evening we explored the little town, did some fishing in the nearby rivers, and visited the waterfall in town. Seward immediately felt like one of those places where you could easily stay longer than planned.

Day 2: Fishing and Fjords

This was one of my favorite days because everyone got to do exactly what they wanted.

The boys went halibut fishing with Puffin Fishing Charters. There were five of them on the boat and they had an incredible day. The fishing was nonstop and they ended up bringing in almost 500 lbs of halibut!

Meanwhile, me and my daughter-in-law, Kaylan took a Major Marine Tours cruise through Kenai Fjords National Park.

This was amazing.

We saw puffins, sea otters, whales, and countless seabirds. The scenery was incredible, but one of the coolest parts was watching huge chunks of ice break off the glaciers and crash into the water below.

The boat had comfortable seating inside and outside, bathrooms, and lunch onboard, which made it easy to enjoy the day no matter what the weather was doing.

If you’re visiting Seward, I definitely recommend doing one of these cruises.

Day 3: Soldotna

We drove to Soldotna and settled into another cabin.

If I were planning the trip again, I would probably rent two cabins instead of trying to fit all five of us into one… We made it work! But everyone appreciates a little extra space after several days together.

We spent the day fishing local rivers and exploring the area.

Sometimes the quieter days end up being some of the nicest ones. We definitely needed the reset.

Day 4: Homer

The boys headed out for another day of halibut fishing, this time in Homer at the Cook Inlet.

The fishing was excellent again! And they caught another 300 pounds of halibut. This boat didn’t have rod holders like the previous charter, so everyone had to do a lot more work fighting the fish. By the end of the day they were definitely feeling it.

While they were fishing, the girls enjoyed a spa day at Homer Inn and spa. It sits right on the water and has hot tubs, massage chairs, wet and dry saunas, and beautiful views. It was the perfect way to spend the day.

Afterward we walked around Homer Spit, which is absolutely worth visiting. There are shops, restaurants, fish and chips stands, and great views everywhere you look.

Day 5: Salmon Fishing on the Kasilof River

This day was completely different from the ocean fishing trips.

We spent the day floating down the Kasilof River with a guide, stopping along the riverbanks to fish for salmon.

One of my favorite parts was simply floating down the river and taking in the scenery. And that’s saying something coming from someone who has whitewater rafted some pretty intense rivers. `

Our guide cooked lunch right on the river, and we learned how to floss fish for salmon, which was something completely new to us.

It was a relaxing and beautiful day.

Day 6: Wolverine Creek

If I had to pick one day from the entire trip, this might be it.

We took a float plane into Wolverine Creek.
I’ll be honest – I was nervous.

The plane was tiny.

But once we got in the air, it was incredible. Flying over Alaska gave us a completely different perspective of the landscape. We could see lakes, rivers, mountains, and even bears running and playing below us.

When we landed, things somehow got even better.

We spent the day fishing for salmon from a small boat while floating through one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen.

We watched bears catching fish, bears playing in the water, and even bears running along the shoreline. At one point we floated near small waterfalls while watching wildlife all around us.

If honestly felt like we had stepped into a nature documentary.

This was easily one of the highlights of the trip.

Day 7: Denali

We returned to Anchorage and headed north toward Denali.
The drive itself was beautiful, and we stopped for a few short hikes along the way.

That night we stayed at Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge.

The property was gorgeous, and honestly, I wish we had spent more time in this area. There were rafting trips, hiking opportunities, and plenty more to see than we had time for.

If you’re planning your own Alaska trip, I would definitely consider adding an extra day or two in Denali.

Day 8: Fairbanks and the North Pole

One thing I didn’t expect to do in Alaska was visit the North Pole… but that’s exactly what we did.

The Santa Claus House is located near Fairbanks and is such a fun stop. We saw Santa, visited the reindeer, and had letters sent to our grandkids from Santa!

Whether you’re traveling with kids or not, it’s worth the stop.

That evening we stayed at Pike’s Waterfront Lodge.

It’s not a luxury hotel, but it has a lot of local character and history. It was a fun place to spend the night.

Day 9: Dog Sledding

Our final activity was a summer dog sled experience.
This was probably the one thing on the trip that I wouldn’t recommend.

I’m sure dog sledding in the winter is completely different, but during the summer it felt a little disappointing. The dogs were pulling a wheeled vehicle instead of a sled, and it was a warm day.

If I were returning to Alaska in the summer, I would skip this activity and spend the time doing something else.

Things I’d Do Differently

One of the biggest lessons we learned involved all the fish we caught.

If you’re planning a fishing-focused Alaska trip, I would recommend scheduling your fishing closer to the end of your vacation.

We spent a lot of time trying to coordinate storing, freezing, and shipping fish while still traveling around the state.

Looking back, it would’ve been much easier to fish and then head straight home with everything.

Final Thoughts

I knew Alaska would be beautiful.
I knew the fishing would be good.

What I didn’t expect was how much wildlife we would see and how many unique experiences we’d have along the way.

Watching whales from a boat, seeing glaciers up close, flying in a float plane, and sitting quietly while bears caught salmon nearby are the memories I’ll never forget.

Alaska feels wild in the best possible way.

If you love the outdoors, wildlife, fishing, and beautiful scenery, this is a trip that absolutely deserves a spot on your bucket list.