For normal activities, e.g. glacier cruise trip, hiking, there is no need for dawn jackets and thick clothes. But if you plan to climb the glacier, you need layered clothes with wind proof jacket.

Alaska is so big. This time, let’s focus on the Kenai Peninsula.

Flight info

SJC — SEA — ANC

(there are also flights from SFO to ANC, few direct flights)

D1-D4: Seward

D1: Drive from Anchorage to Seward (around 2.5 hrs driving). Stay there for 4 nights.

Things to do in Seward:

http://www.alaska.org/destination/seward/day-tours

D2: Cruise trip to see glacier, wild animals, etc. (usually a day trip)

Kenai Fjords Tours:

https://www.yelp.com/biz/kenai-fjords-tours-seward?osq=glacier+cruise

Pick one of these:

https://www.alaskacollection.com/day-tours/kenai-fjords-tours/

Kenai Fjords National Park Tour with Dinner on Fox Island

https://www.alaskacollection.com/day-tours/kenai-fjords-tours/kenai-fjords-national-park-tour-with-dinner-on-fox-island/

Departs at 10am (needs to be there at 9am), total 8.5 hours

Lunch and dinner included

Adult: $179

Child (2–11): $90

2. Kenai Fjords National Park Tour (we picked this one!)

https://www.alaskacollection.com/day-tours/kenai-fjords-tours/kenai-fjords-national-park-tour/

Similar to #1, except the dinner

Departs at 8am or 11:30am (needs to be there 1 hour earlier), total 6 hours

Lunch is included

Adult: $149

Child (2–11): $75

3. Glacier Dinner Cruise

https://www.alaskacollection.com/day-tours/kenai-fjords-tours/glacier-dinner-cruise/

Also similar route

Departs at 3pm (arrive 1 hour earlier), total 5.5 hours

Dinner included

Adult: $149

Child (2–11): $75

4. Northwest Fjord Tour

https://www.alaskacollection.com/day-tours/kenai-fjords-tours/northwestern-fjord-tour/

Departs at 8:30AM (arrive 1 hour earlier), total time 9 hours

Light breakfast and lunch included

All ages: $179

5. Resurrection Bay Tour

https://www.alaskacollection.com/day-tours/kenai-fjords-tours/resurrection-bay-tour/

Departs at 12PM (arrive 1 hour earlier), total time 5 hours

Lunch on Fox Island

Adult: $101

Child (2–11): $51

D3: Kayaking or Another Cruise trip

This Fox Island kayaking and wildlife cruise looks good:

https://www.sunnycove.com/fox-island-kayaking

This half day (6:30 hour tour): https://www.sunnycove.com/fox-island-kayaking

$180 per person

12PM — 6:30PM

2. Lowell Point state recreation to Tonsina point and beyond (highly recommend Miller’s Landing fishing and Kayaking, its office has a fantastic view)

https://www.sunnycove.com/seward-kayaking

Sea kayaking and rain forest exploration tour

9AM — 3PM (6 hours)

$129 per person (8+)

3. Another half day kayak tour:

https://www.alaskacollection.com/anchorage-southcentral/seward/fox-island-sea-kayaking/

Adults or Children (8+): $180 + tax

12PM — 6:30PM

12 PM: Kenai Fjords Tours transfer to Fox Island
1 PM: Wild Alaskan salmon and prime rib lunch at Fox Island Day Lodge
National Park Ranger presentation during lunch
2 PM: 3-hour guided sea kayaking tour including orientation
5:30 PM: Depart Fox Island
6:30 PM: Return to Seward Small Boat Harbor

4. Another resurrection bay kayak tour + bridal veil fall hiking

https://www.adventure60.com/resurrection-bay-sea-kayaking-tours

Checkin: 8:10am, 8+

Early bird price: $110 + tax

5. Gold Panning and Shuttle Combo (there is also dog sled next to Gold Panning place, near Glacier Exit park)

https://www.adventure60.com/gold-panning

Departs: 11am or 2:30PM, total time is around 3–4 hours

Adults (13+): $59

Children (13-): $39

Meet at the shop or pick up from different locations

Shuttle drop off at Exit Glacier Visitor Center, stay 1.5 hours

Gold panning demo and practice at the shop ane nearby stream, around 30–45 min

Other Kayak companies:

https://www.kayakak.com/

D4: Exit Glacier: http://www.alaska.org/detail/visit-exit-glacier

Edge of the Glacier Trail: walk to the glacier, 15–20min

Harding Icefield Trail: more challenging day hike, 3500 feet climb, 8.4 miles round trip, 6–8 hours round-trip, see map: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8a/NPS_kenai-fjords-harding-icefield-trail-map.pdf

Exit Glacier Ice Hiking:

http://www.exitglacierguides.com/content/ice-hiking

Age 13+

$139 per person

Restaurants in Seward

Zudys
Cookery
Gold Rush & Chinooks
Safeway (we found it very convenient, bought lots of yummy cherries, tomatoes, instant noodles, ice creams, watermelons, etc.)

D5: Kenai/Soldotna

D5: Around 2 hrs drive from Seward, take the bear viewing flight in Soldotna.

http://www.alaska.org/destination/kenai-soldotna

Natron Air Bear Viewing Trip (10 Star, highly recommend)

http://natronair.com/bearviewing.htm

Yelp reviews: https://www.yelp.com/biz/natron-air-soldotna?osq=natronair

I have sent some questions through email to them:

1. How long is the bear viewing trip?

2. What is the schedule for the trip? We plan to drive from Seward to Soldotna in the morning, take the flights and spend the night in Kenai.

3. What is the age and weight limit for the passenger? We have two young children of age 5 and 6, are they ok to fly?

4. From the picture, you seem to have two types of planes (GippsAero GA8 which holds max 7, Grumman Widgeon which holds max 4 or 5), this means for 8 passengers, we need to take two different flights, right? Do you run the flights in parallel or one flight after the other? We want to know if one family need to wait and how long in the airport.

5. What are the required documents for the passenger, health insurance, life insurance, etc.?

Cook Inlet Bear Viewing (2–3 hrs, we picked this one)

Regular plane (GippsAero GA8, 1 crew, max 7 passengers, max load 1800lbs): $410 per person

Grumman Widgeon water landing plane (1 crew, max 4 or 5 passengers, max load 1,300lbs): $495 per person (maybe we should choose this in case… it still can land on the water…)