Because we’re a fulltime travel family, we were able to spend four months living and traveling in Colorado this summer. We toured a good chunk of the state to bring you our picks for the best mountain towns in Colorado!
Some things to know about how we made our picks:
We were here in summertime. I do think seasonality might play a part in which towns end up being people’s favorites.
We love to hike. That means that amazing outdoor opportunities definitely influenced which areas we loved.
We have small kids. We’re not able to spend a ton of time appreciating nightlife or fine dining.
We don’t ski. Well, at least not on this trip!
We’re not made of money. Places like Aspen are pretty, but my goodness are they bougie.
With all of that said, here are our favorite picks for the best mountain towns in Colorado:
#5 Best Mountain Towns in Colorado: Durango
Why we loved it: Durango was warm and welcoming, especially during the farmer’s market when we visited. This town is big enough to have amenities like an amazing children’s museum, but still maintains that small town vibe. There are a lot of fun events (like a river rafting festival!), but it’s far enough away from a big city that it doesn’t get packed. We enjoyed this sweet Colorado mountain town!
Why we loved it: Leadville is the highest incorporated town in the United States at 10,119 feet. It’s the smallest town on our list, but its one main historic street is packed full of adorable coffee shops and has artistic flair. It’s also super close to breathtaking Twin Lakes and a gorgeous mountain drive over to Aspen if you’re wanting to visit the iconic Maroon Bells.
Why we loved it: Frisco is exactly the right combination of adorable mountain town and friendly approachableness that bougier places like Breckenridge lack. It’s cheerful and bright, and it’s ideally located right in the middle of all of the amazing outdoor adventures you could want.
Why we loved it: Crested Butte is a wildflower lover’s paradise. The whole town is surrounded by wildflower meadows so that you truly can’t miss them. It’s also a town that’s charming without being pretentious. Cute restaurants and bookstores are still relatively affordable!
Our top picks for what to do: Enjoy the wildflower festival events, eat at Butte Bagels, take a hike at Lupine Trail 2, drive Washington Gulch Road (with 4×4!)
Why we loved it: Ouray is both an adorable town that’s eclipsed by it’s unbelievable mountain setting. Truly, there isn’t a bad view within 30 minutes of this town! The San Juan mountains offer amazing outdoorsy adventures, while in town has shopping and dining that’s sweet and not too crowded. We all agreed that two weeks wasn’t enough here!
Our top picks for what to do: Swim in the hot springs, drive Million Dollar Highway, try the Via Ferrata, take an ATV adventure
I hope our picks for best mountain towns in Colorado helps you plan your Colorado adventure! For everything we’ve written about our time in Colorado, head here. If we’ve left your favorite Colorado mountain town off the list, let me know in the comments!
Disclaimer: Product links in this blog post may be Affiliate links, and I will earn a small commission for each purchase made through these links at no extra cost to you. Affiliate income helps fund our family travel and allows me to keep creating inspiring family travel content for you. I so appreciate when you use my links to make purchases you would have made anyway.
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When we first visited Utah in 2021, my mind was absolutely blown. It didn’t take much Utah hiking for this East Coaster to feel like I’d been dropped on another (gorgeous) planet!
As a full time travel family for four years (this week!), we’ve spent a total of almost six months living and hiking in Utah altogether. And I’m so excited to share some amazing hikes with you today! These are all hikes that we’ve completed with our three young kids, but some of them are more challenging than others. It’s a great list for anyone looking to do some Utah hiking.
There are so many incredible free places to camp in Utah, as well. If you own an RV and want to learn how to camp off-grid, check out our Boondocking 101 Guide:
This 10-page guide will assist RVers in learning the basics of boondocking, or camping off-grid! We share everything we’ve learned as a family living off-grid and boondocking in our RV.
Now let’s get into some amazing Utah hiking, shall we?
17 Utah Hiking Trails We Love
Buckskin Gulch
I started with Buckskin Gulch because it’s probably my favorite hike in the Lower 48. I’m a sucker for slot canyons, and this one doesn’t disappoint. You can hike the whole canyon if you’re a hardcore hiker, but families will find it more accessible to start at the Wire Pass trailhead, and you’re at the confluence with Buckskin in under 2 miles. The drive in is bumpy, but 2WD accessible if it isn’t wet. Definitely check the weather to be sure that there’s no rain in the forecast (slot canyons are deadly in flash floods!), and purchase a $6 per person permit online before you go. There’s one easy ladder to climb down; our 3 year old made it. I recommend starting this one in the afternoon so that you’re not hiking out of the wash in the brightest sun of the day.
Lower Calf Creek Falls
The hike to Lower Calf Creek Falls is flat, but long in the warm sun (we went in April and it was already hot!). The payoff is AMAZING, though. We’ve seen a lot of waterfalls, and this was one of the prettiest. Pack suits to swim in the (chilly!) water, and definitely wear sunscreen because there’s a lot of sun exposure on the trail. The parking lot gets crowded, but they’re working to expand parking this summer, so hopefully that gets better soon! If you’re wanting to camp, the campground there is gorgeous and right at the start of the trail. This is one of those Utah hiking trails we’ll never forget!
Zebra Slot
Zebra Slot is not too far from Lower Calf Creek Falls, but is a totally different vibe. A long, but beautiful walk through exposed wash takes you to the narrowest slot canyon we’ve yet attempted. It requires being either very small or very strong, preferably both. I decided I didn’t want to scale the walls of the slow to go any further, so I let my husband and oldest kiddo finish the slot without me. They came back with breathtaking photos! The walls of the slot really are as striped as they look in pictures. I’d recommend this hike if you’re willing to scale walls to see. Keep in mind that the last half a mile to the slot is difficult to navigate and very warm, so watch your AllTrails map to stay on course!
Fifth Water Hot Springs
The Fifth Water Hot Springs trail is the only Utah hiking trail on this list that’s not in Southern Utah. If there’s one hiking trail near Provo to try out, though, I’d highly recommend this one. It’s a moderate hike to the most gorgeous hot springs imaginable, especially in fall with the changing foliage. Seriously storybook pretty. Bring suits to soak in the pools! Don’t be like us and underestimate how long this hike will take, though. It’s only a couple of miles with low total elevation change, but it’s rocky and rolling hills, so it took us a lot longer than we expected. The parking lot is tiny, too, so consider doing this one on a weekday! Check to make sure the road in is open; you can hike this one in winter too, but it involves extra mileage to hike in.
Neilson Wash
The Neilson Wash trail doesn’t appear on Google Maps or AllTrails, so I’ll share the coordinates to the start of the trail here. You just park your car on the side of Factory Butte Road and walk down into an amazing looking wash for as far as you want, then walk back. This is a fabulous short hike if you’re in the Hanksville area, as it’s on the same road that leads to Factory Butte and the Moon Overlook. More about all of that in my Hanksville post!
Cassidy Arch
Cassidy Arch is in Capitol Reef National Park, and would definitely be my pick for the trail to do if you’re only doing one. It’s got a fair amount of elevation change, so definitely on the harder site of moderate in my opinion. It also doesn’t have much shade, so choose your timing wisely! That said, this is one of the coolest arches we’ve seen. It’s sort of like Devil’s Bridge in Sedona, but without the crowds! We had the arch to ourselves for a bit mid-day, which would never happen in Sedona. Bonus points for taking baked goods from the homestead up there with you to eat. Don’t take the road to the trailhead if it looks like it might rain!
Delicate Arch
Speaking of arches, there’s no way you can miss Delicate Arch if you’re a fan of Utah hiking. It’s so famous, it’s on the license plate! This is not a terribly difficult hike, but it is very sun exposed (are you sensing a theme here?). One thing I wasn’t expecting about this hike was how slick the rock up top by the arch would be. Fine for grownups, but a little stressful trying to keep kiddos from sliding down off the cliffs. That said, I’d still do this hike again, and we loved watching sunset there (with 250 of our closest friends haha). Next time, I’d love to take head lamps and wait for the stars to come out before hiking back down!
Corona Arch
Corona Arch is Delicate Arch’s less popular cousin down the road. But don’t let its lesser popularity fool you, Corona Arch is gorgeous in its own right! The arch is less…well…delicate, but absolutely grander. And the hike is way less crowded. It’s a moderate hike that involves a ladder and a short chain section, but our kiddos did it just fine at 5 and 7! Start this one early if you can because it gets warm and sunny! Luckily the arch itself provides a shade break for you.
Mill Creek North Fork
We think that the Mill Creek North Fork trail in Moab is like a mini version of The Narrows in Zion. This hike is a stunner, and you get to walk through water just like in The Narrows (only less deep!). The parking lot at the trailhead is small so be prepared to wait for a spot or circle back. But that means that this trail is very uncrowded! The end of the trail features an amazing waterfall and pool that you can swim in if its warm enough!
White Pocket
There’s no established hiking trail at White Pocket, but you could wander around this gorgeous rock formation all day. This is one of the most amazing places I’ve ever seen, but it does require over two hours of off-roading each way. It’s not for the faint of heart! Definitely don’t attempt this adventure alone without 4WD and self-recovery tools. You can take a tour if you don’t feel comfortable driving it yourself! Either way, it’s absolutely bucket list worthy Utah hiking. I’d like to go back and camp overnight there!
Navajo Loop & Queens Garden
The Navajo Loop and Queens Garden combo is one of the most popular options in Bryce Canyon National Park, and for good reason! It’s breathtaking and surreal. We hiked in at Sunrise Point and out at Sunset Point, and that last uphill section was a real slog. Not for hikers unwilling to climb up switchbacks for half an hour! You’ll be rewarded with otherworldly beauty for your effort, though. Our kids even got a special sticker from the Rangers at the Visitor Center for hiking into the canyon.
Arches Trail
If you’re looking for Bryce Canyon type views without all of the crowds, the Arches Trail right outside Bryce is your ticket! It’s an easy trail, and we had it completely to ourselves. Plus the scenery is almost as good as in the National Park! I definitely would recommend this short gem to anyone.
Red Reef Trail
The Red Reef Trail in Red Cliffs National Conservation Area is a stunner, especially considering it’s on the easy side of moderate. You can go as far as you like and then turn back, making it a great option for kids or beginning hikers. Depending on the time of year, there are even gorgeous little waterfalls and pools. There is a fee to enter the conservation area, but this is a great option for Utah hiking near Zion but without the crowds.
Valley of the Goblins
Valley of the Goblins in Goblin Valley State Park is a short, easy hike with a massive payoff in scenery. At just a flat mile, it couldn’t be easier to enjoy the amazing rock formations in Goblin Valley! There is a $20/two days fee to enter, which is a bit steep, but totally worth the views. Parking is easy on weekdays, and still doable on weekends.
Zion Canyon Overlook
Zion Canyon Overlook is a short, but steep trail to an amazing view of Zion National Park. It’s on the east side of the park, so it doesn’t require a shuttle ticket. But like everywhere in Zion, it’s crowded. AllTrails lists this is easy, but it is steep and has giant dropoffs, so keep a close hand on kiddos. The view at the end of gorgeous, though!
Toadstools Trail
The Toadstool Hoodoos Trail is an easy hike with amazing hoodoo views that kids (or the young at heart!) will love. It’s a great stop off on a journey from Southern Utah to Page, Arizona, and you might even have the whole trail to yourself. This otherworldly landscape will take your breath away, particularly at sunrise and sunset! That alone would land it a spot on our Utah hiking list.
Sorry those last two don’t have photos! We hiked them in 2021, back before I was overdocumenting everything haha.
I hope this post helped you as you plan your Utah hiking adventures! If you try one of these hikes, leave a comment and let us know 🙂
Disclaimer: Product links in this blog post may be Affiliate links, and I will earn a small commission for each purchase made through these links at no extra cost to you. Affiliate income helps fund our family travel and allows me to keep creating inspiring family travel content for you. I so appreciate when you use my links to make purchases you would have made anyway.
For more about how we travel with kids, check out these posts:
We recently had the opportunity to spend a week in Hanksville Utah, and we were totally smitten! This tiny town feels like a totally underrated gem in Southern Utah, and we felt like it was every bit as cool as far busier locations like Moab and Kanab. As a fulltime travel family, we love visiting less busy places and thought you might like to know about it, too!
These adorable cabins are 100% where I would stay in Hanksville if I didn’t have an RV. They’re cute and cozy and super conveniently located for all of the Hanksville Utah adventures I’m about to share.
If you’re wanting to stay closer to Capitol Reef, I would choose The Skyview Hotel for the splurge stay or The Days Inn for a slightly more budget option.
RV Park
Duke’s RV Park is a no-frills, but pleasant stay right in Hanksville Utah. The town’s adorable coffee shop in a repurposed abandoned gas station is walking distance right across the street, and the RV park offers $7 showers to guests that are boondocking elsewhere (like we were!).
Boondocking
If you’re wanting a more budget stay and you’re prepared to be off-grid, there are some lovely boondocking spots right outside of town. Want to learn how to RV camp off-grid? We’ve got a guide for that:
This 10-page guide will assist RVers in learning the basics of boondocking, or camping off-grid! We share everything we’ve learned as a family living off-grid and boondocking in our RV.
We stayed in one of the pullouts on Gun Range Road, which had pretty views and was just 4 minutes outside of town. If you’re interested in our other favorite Utah boondocking locations, check out this post.
Hanksville Utah Hiking
Goblin Valley State Park
Goblin Valley State Park is one of those underrated state park gems in my opinion. No trip to Hanksville Utah is complete without a stop! There are a variety of amazing trails you can take, or you can view the otherworldly rock structures from overlooks.
Bentonite Hills
The Bentonite Hills are absolutely breathtaking geological rock formations in blues and greens that are particularly amazing just after sunset. The prettiest place to find them is located just after the Mars Desert Research Station here. The road to get there is bumpy, but accessible with 2WD when it’s dry. High clearance would be nice to have, but not necessary. You can hike around the hills or just enjoy them from this roadside pullout. Drones give you a birds eye view that is even more impressive!
Neilson Wash
This short hike is one I just happened to stumble upon a blog post about, and I couldn’t find it on Google maps or AllTrails. It’s a wash trail with really unique rock formations, and we only went about a half mile in. Totally worth it! Park here alongside Factory Butte Road and walk as far as you feel comfortable.
Leprechaun Canyon
Leprechaun Canyon is a fun and short hike in if you’re not experienced and equipped for canyoneering. It’s gorgeous mid-day when the sun is shining down on the canyon walls, highlighting their deep red color. Definitely pack water for this one, as you’ll be exposed hiking into the canyon!
Hanksville Utah Other Attractions
Burpee Dinosaur Quarry
Burpee Dinosaur Quarry is an amazing active dig site that’s further up the road from the Bentonite Hills. In the spring, real paleontologists and volunteers will offer tours of the site (check with the Hanksville BLM office!), but it’s worth the drive out at any time. The dinosaur bones are exposed and in a gorgeous setting. Please treat the site with respect! The road doesn’t require 4WD when it’s dry (and you shouldn’t attempt it with any vehicle if it’s wet!), but high clearance would be helpful.
Moon Overlook Vista
This overlook is breathtaking, particularly at sunset. It looks as though you’re looking out over the surface of the moon. The drive out is fairly easy, I recommend taking Skyline View Road instead of Coal Mine Road.
Rockhounding (selenite & jasper)
It’s unsurprising in such a supernatural feeling landscape that the rockhounding opportunities would be amazing. The Hanksville Utah area is known for its Selenite and Jasper, and you can collect some on local BLM land. Check for the land ownership of the place you’re in, and verify the collection rules. We love using the Rock Identifier app to help us figure out what we’ve found!
Rockin’ Riddle Rock Shop and Carl’s Critter Garden
There is a really neat rock shop in town called Rockin’ Riddle Rock Shop that’s worth a stop when it’s open. Carl’s Critter Garden is a funky and free sculpture garden that’s reminiscent of quirky Route 66 roadside stops.
Stan’s Burger Shak
Stan’s Burger Shak has surprisingly delicious curly fries and milkshakes for a burger place attached to a gas station. Don’t miss the Grasshopper shake, which to me tasted like Thin Mint soft serve.
I hope this post helped you in your Hanksville Utah trip planning! It’s a tiny town with a lot to offer, and a wonderful uncrowded alternative to busier places like Moab.
Disclaimer: Product links in this blog post may be Affiliate links, and I will earn a small commission for each purchase made through these links at no extra cost to you. Affiliate income helps fund our family travel and allows me to keep creating inspiring family travel content for you. I so appreciate when you use my links to make purchases you would have made anyway.
For more of our favorite Utah destinations, check out these posts:
I’m so thrilled to share our favorite picks for hiking Las Vegas with you today! As a fulltime travel family, we’ve spent a few weeks in Vegas on separate trips. There are fun things to do in the city, but it’s also totally surrounded by gorgeous outdoor adventures! These are the four hikes we tried out during our time in Vegas, and honestly it’s hard to choose a favorite. They were all fantastic hikes!
Without further ado, let’s get to the hiking Las Vegas ideas!
Hiking Las Vegas Trail Suggestions
Bowl of Fire
Bowl of Fire
The Bowl of Fire hike is a huge bang for your hiking Las Vegas buck. There’s not much of a designated trail, mostly wander around where you want once you get to the slick rock. We walked 3 mostly flat miles, and it was absolutely gorgeous. Beautiful red rock formations, flowering cacti (in the spring), and fun caves for the kids to explore.
There is very little sun on this trail, so keep that in mind when planning when to go. The trailhead is down a wash where 4×4 is recommended, but a friend in her minivan made it just fine. There’s one hill that was the hardest part of the drive.
This hike is also located within the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, so you’ll need an America the Beautiful pass (National Parks) to get in free or pay to enter. This is the closest of all of the hikes on this list to downtown Vegas!
Anniversary Narrows
Anniversary Narrows
The Anniversary Narrows hike is a really unique looking slot canyon that’s super fun for the kids and/or photography buffs. It’s also about 3 miles if you start from the furthest trailhead option, which requires a couple of miles of driving down dirt/gravel road.
4×4 is also recommended to access this trailhead, but I don’t think it’s strictly necessary. Use your best judgment and stop and park wherever you feel you should (we parked here). You can simply walk the wash for longer if you don’t feel comfortable driving the whole way, but there’s no shade and that wash section is a bit boring.
Once you get into the slot canyon section, it’s shady and cooler. This hike is also located within the Lake Mead National Recreation Area!
Valley of Fire State Park: Fire Wave, White Dome, Seven Wonders Loops
Valley of Fire State Park
Everyone recommends the hour+ drive out to Valley of Fire State Park, and for good reason! It’s absolutely stunning out there. There are a lot of places to get out and hike in the park, but we chose the Fire Wave, White Dome, Seven Wonders loops.
I highly recommend this hike because it’s also around 3 miles and mostly flat, but it packs a real punch. There are cool geological features throughout the whole hike that kept our whole group in awe. There’s very little shade on this hike, so I recommend visiting early or late in the day. I would choose golden hour if possible!
There is a fee to enter the state park, but if you’re hiking Las Vegas, this is a don’t-miss.
Gold Strike Hot Springs
Gold Strike Hot Springs
The Gold Strike Hot Springs hike is by far the hardest hike on this list. AllTrails has it listed at 5 miles, but my phone clocked it at 7. Regardless, it has tons of bouldering, rope and ladder obstacles, and a fair amount of elevation loss/gain. It closes in the summer because it’s actually dangerous to do when it’s too warm out.
If I haven’t scared you away yet, I do still highly recommend this hike if you’re a strong enough hiker! It’s gorgeous to hike down into the canyon and end up at the base of the Hoover Dam, plus there are fantastic hot springs to soak in at the bottom (don’t submerge your head underwater!).
We loved this hike! We made it with 3/6/8 year olds, although we do hike every week so we’ve been training. Bring sandals and swimsuits!
I hope this list of ideas helps you enjoy your time hiking Las Vegas! The strip is fun, but I’ve been really blown away by how much outdoorsy beauty there is just outside the city, too. For all of these trails (especially Gold Strike!), bring way more water than you think you’ll need. Hiking in the desert is thirsty work! We’ve got the hydration packs our kids use linked here.
Disclaimer: Product links in this blog post may be Affiliate links, and I will earn a small commission for each purchase made through these links at no extra cost to you. Affiliate income helps fund our family travel and allows me to keep creating inspiring family travel content for you. I so appreciate when you use my links to make purchases you would have made anyway.
For more about our travel and hiking adventures, check out these posts:
We just can’t get enough of Utah! As a full time travel family heading into our 5th year of travel, we rarely visit a place twice. But we’re in our third time through Utah, and I’m excited to share some of our favorite dispersed camping Utah spots with you!
In our opinion, dispersed camping is the best way to experience the outdoor adventure hotspot that is Utah. Hotels and RV parks are great, but boondocking in Utah really allows you to get closer to the amazing hiking here. If you’re interested in reading more about our take on the pros and cons of RV parks versus boondocking, I’ve written about that here!
If you’re wanting to learn how to camp off-grid for extended periods, let us teach you! We’ve lived off-grid in our RV for most of the past year, and we know how intimidating it can be to start. We answer all of your Boondocking 101 questions for just $7!
This 10-page guide will assist RVers in learning the basics of boondocking, or camping off-grid! We share everything we’ve learned as a family living off-grid and boondocking in our RV.
This spot is the perfect launchpad for Capitol Reef National Park adventures, it couldn’t be closer to the entrance to the park. Big rigs should stick to the upper road, and be aware that there is no cell reception out here. Find it as Capitol Reef East Dispersed on Campendium. This is such a great location for some of the more remote hiking in southcentral Utah.
Lone Rock Beach (near Page)
Lone Rock Beach is an iconic boondocking in Utah location, and for good reason. It’s gorgeous beach camping in the middle of the desert! This spot is near the Utah/Arizona border and is a great location for exploring all that Page has to offer and also some adventurous hiking in southern Utah. Big rigs can access this spot, but beware of deep, loose sand the further in you get. Definitely walk it on foot first! It’s $14 a night (no reservation needed), which includes toilets and a dump station.
Moab (Near Arches & Canyonlands)
We stayed in two different Moab locations, and there were benefits to each. Lone Mesa Dispersed was further from Moab, but absolutely gorgeous. It was also a great launching point for visiting Canyonlands National Park. The road in was long and pretty bumpy, and there was zero cell service. Klondike Bluffs Dispersed was easier access from the highway and therefore faster to get to Arches National Park. There was cell service, but it was less pretty. Both spots are big rig accessible if you’re used to bumpy BLM roads.
Mount Carmel Junction (Near Zion & Bryce)
This spot right between Zion National Park and Bryce National Park is a real gem. Not only is it conveniently located between two parks, but it’s also close to Kanab for supplies and there’s a dump station half a mile up the road. The most lovely part is that there are riverside spots where you can hear babbling water as you sleep. Super easy access from the highway for big rigs, just watch for deep sand in some of the pulloffs. We had full AT&T reception here.
Spanish Fork (near Provo)
Sheep Creek Dispersed is a great dispersed camping Utah spot if you’re wanting to visit the Provo area. It’s pretty and easy to access from the highway for any size rig. Be aware that you may share space with a herd of cattle! We had cell service here and enjoyed spending the week resting up after quickly heading south from Canada. Don’t miss the Fifth Water Hot Springs trail if you like a good soak!
Valley of the Gods (near Monument Valley)
Valley of the Gods is one of our all-time favorite boondocking spots (and the cover of my boondocking book!)! If your dispersed camping Utah trip goes anywhere near this part of Utah, I highly recommend stopping here. We stopped at the first pullout that was available, and there was one big dip that was a little hairy, but nothing we couldn’t handle. Views are 10/10, but come prepared with supplies because it is isolated!
We think dispersed camping Utah makes the most sense, and I promise to continue adding boondocking in Utah spots as we find them! Here are the boondocking apps we use if none of these spots work for you, and everything I’ve written about boondocking (including spots in other states!) here.
For more about our life in an RV, check out these posts:
Our family spent a magical four months RVing Alaska last summer, and I loved it so much that I want everyone else to experience it, too! It’s one of our favorite places we’ve been in four years of fulltime travel. We even collaborated with the Skagway, Alaska tourism board to promote what a fun place it is to visit! So I’m thrilled to share our favorite things to do in Skagway Alaska with you today.
If you’re planning an Alaska trip, I’ve written an e-book about everything we learned from living there for an entire summer! There are sample itineraries, ideas for every major town, and the best places to camp:
If you’re looking for Alaska vacation ideas, you’ve come to the right place! This guide features 20+ pages of what we learned throughout a summer RVing Alaska with Kids.
If you do nothing else in Skagway, simply walking around the adorable little downtown area is a real experience. It’s gold rush era kitschy with a splash of Alaska glacial mountain range charm. The buildings are all adorably painted, and there are fun shops like the bookstore with the historic spelling of “Skaguay” painted on the front. Duck in and out of the stores and enjoy imagining that you showed up as one of the ambitious (and foolhardy?) gold rushers. Consider a meal at the Red Onion Saloon, a restaurant with a brothel museum that shares the building’s storied past upstairs.
National Park site
Speaking of gold rushers, Skagway has a wonderful little National Historical Park Visitor’s Center that you absolutely should check out. Read the displays and watch the short film to get context about why the town even exists. I can almost guarantee that you’ll be absolutely blown away by how many gold rushers descended upon the Yukon and what harsh conditions they survived.
White Pass & Yukon Railway
This historic train ride takes you through absolutely breathtaking views of the mountain pass that gold rushes had to climb (carrying a year’s worth of supplies!). It’s a pricey trip, but absolutely worth the money if you love vintage trains or gorgeous views. It’s definitely one of the iconic things to do in Skagway.
Take a hike
There are several hiking options around Skagway that range from a casual walk to a more strenuous option. You can walk from downtown to the Lower Reid Falls, which is a pretty walk and also nearby the Gold Rush Cemetary. For more of a challenge, consider the Dewey Lake Trails that lead to beautiful alpine lakes and have lovely views of the harbor from above. Experienced hikers might consider the Chilkoot Trail outside of town, which requires overnighting and a permit. But for an easier option, simply start the trail and turn back when you’re ready to head back to your comfy bed that night!
Dyea trip
History buffs might enjoy a day trip out to the historic Dyea town site. It’s the town that existed before Skagway was founded, and though there isn’t much left of it now, the setting is gorgeous. It’s a lovely place to camp or simply play on the rocky beach, plus the Chilkoot Trail starts out here. If you’ve followed my advice and watched the video at the National Park visitor center, you’ll have an appreciation for why this spot is important.
Stop in for a donut or a brew
Consider checking out the local brewery or donut shop for a special Skagway Alaska treat. Klondike Doughboy serves “doughboys” or sweet fried bread that’s delicious on a cold or rainy day. Skagway Brewing Company is another must-try local stop and an excellent place to warm up from the drizzle.
Sled dog mushing
If it’s in the budget and on the bucket list, I would highly recommend trying one of the local sled dog mushing tours. It really is a fun time to be pulled along by a team of happy dogs, and the scenery is amazing.
Carcross day trip
Carcross is just a brief jaunt into Canada from Skagway, and it’s absolutely breathtakingly beautiful. If you have the time (and a rental car, train ticket, or guided tour!), please add Carcross to your sightseeing list. The drive alone is worth it, plus Carcross offers a summertime outdoor shopping center with locally made crafts, amazing Indigenous artwork, the Carcross desert, and the oldest general store in the Yukon. We drove through Carcross rather quickly and wished we’d had more time to stay!
Ferry to Haines
If Haines, Alaska isn’t already on your list, it’s worth a ferry ride over for the day! The ferry takes just 45 minutes and you’ll be in Skagway’s less touristy sister city with lots of opportunities for bear and bald eagle sightings. If you’re interested in visiting Haines, check out my post about what to do there!
I hope this post was useful to you in planning your time in Skagway! There are so many fun things to do in Skagway, Alaska.
If you need help packing for your trip, be sure to check out my Alaska packing list and take a look at the other posts I’ve written about our time in Alaska:
If you’re new here, we’re a fulltime travel family of five, and we recently had the absolute pleasure of spending a month in the Palm Springs area. So today I’m going to share some of our favorite things to do in Palm Springs with kids!
Truthfully, Palm Springs with kids hadn’t really been on my radar, and we only ended up there because we were hoping to meet a bunch of other fulltime RV families. Which we did! The Thousand Trails RV park in Palm Springs is a fulltime travel family hot spot in winter. Mission accomplished!
But we actually thoroughly enjoyed Palm Springs as a family destination in itself! There are so many things to do in Palm Springs with kids that we didn’t even finish our whole list after a month. If you’re planning a family road trip, I can’t recommend our Yoto players enough as a family travel lifesaver. Now let’s get to the Palm Springs ideas!
Things to do in Palm Springs: Cultural Experiences
Palm Springs Art Museum
The Palm Springs Art Museum is small, but mighty! It’s got a bunch of fun modern art and works by local artists. They even offer free admission on Thursday nights! Just be sure to register in advance.
Agua Caliente Cultural Museum
The Agua Caliente Cultural Museum is a brand, new museum dedicated to the area’s original inhabitants. We always prioritize learning about the Indigenous people of the areas we visit, and this museum is really great opportunity to do so. It’s a small museum that will take just a couple of hours max. Keep an eye on the calendar for special events and family days.
Moorten Botanical Garden
The Moorten Botanical Garden is an adorable, family-run garden that costs just $5 to get in. The indoor cacti are particularly amazing, dubbed “the world’s first cactarium.” Go early in the day if you want cactarium pictures without other people in them.
Robolights
Robolights is an amazing outdoor art exhibit created by local homeowner Kenny Irwin. You can see the giant sculptures from outside the fence, or you can text Kenny in advance for an appointment to come inside. Be aware that Kenny expects a purchase or donation at the end of the tour. These sculptures are amazing, though!
Palm Springs Air Museum
The Palm Springs Air Museum is a fun stop for any kiddos who love things that go. Adult admission isn’t super cheap, but kids 12 and under are free!
Rent Bikes to Explore the Colorful Sights
Downtown Palm Springs is SO colorful and retro that just admiring the fun and funky colors is an outing in itself! Rent bikes (or bring your own) and jaunt around town checking out the street art, the famous Saguaro Palm Springs hotel, and the residents’ colorful doors. Here are a few brightly colored doors to mark on your list (be sure to be respectful and stay off of their lawns and walkways!):
2396 S Sierra Madre
2439 E Via Lazo
2455 E Via Lazo
2297 S Camino Real
1099 E Sierra Way
2344 S Yosemite
2063 Madrona Drive
1500 Lobo Way
1947 Cadiz Circle
To make it even more fun for the kids, consider printing out a rainbow scavenger hunt so the kids can check off door colors as you find them! My kids find any “adult” activity more fun if there’s a scavenger hunt involved.
Download the FREE list of our favorite museums for kids
We’ve created a totally FREE PDF list of our favorite museums for kids that you can download right now by signing up for our newsletter.
Things to do in Palm Springs: Hiking
Palm Canyon
Palm Springs has a surprising amount of gorgeous hiking nearby, and this hike was our favorite! The hike in Palm Canyon is as long or as short a hike as you want to make it, and it’s relatively flat once you walk down into the canyon. It’s on the Agua Caliente reservation so you do have to pay to enter, but I promise that it’s worth it!
Willis Palm Oasis
Willis Palm Oasis is right outside of Palm Springs and is a super easy hike in the Coachella Valley Preserve. If you’re looking for even easier and free-er than Palm Canyon, this hike is a good one. We did not complete the whole loop because we were with friends; we just walked to the second oasis and back.
Ladder Canyon
Ladder Canyon is about an hour from Palm Springs, but totally worth the drive! It’s by far the hardest hike on this list; my phone clocked us as walking almost 7 miles. There are also multiple tall ladders involved, so it’s not for toddlers unless you’re wearing them. The drive out is bumpy and we appreciated having 4 wheel drive for it, although we did see sedans parked at the trailhead. All that said, the slot canyons are amazing and super fun if you’re up for a challenge! As always with slot canyons, don’t go if it’s raining anywhere nearby. Flash floods are dangerous!
Ladder Canyon
Things to do in Palm Springs: Food Experiences
San Marcos Date Farm
San Marcos Date Farm is just outside Palm Desert and a super fun stop for families interested in where our food comes from. You can purchase local dates and take a guided tour of the farm for a nominal fee. City kids will especially love seeing the animals on the farm.
Canyon Creek Mushrooms
Canyon Creek Mushrooms is a less rural stop, but in the same vein of learning how food is grown! You can take a tour of the facility and then purchase fresh mushrooms to take with you.
Great Shakes
Great Shakes is right on the main drag in Palm Springs and has super fun milkshakes that kids of all ages will love! It’s a must-stop while in town with a family.
Cafe La Jefa
This adorable coffee shop is less for the kids and more for the grown-ups who need to refuel to take care of said kids. The adorable interior is super instagrammable, and the coffee is yum! Stop in for a coffee break here, you deserve it.
Palm Canyon
Things to do in Palm Springs: Day Trips
Joshua Tree National Park
If you’re headed to Palm Springs and you haven’t yet been to Joshua Tree National Park, it’s a must! You could spend days just in this park admiring the joshua trees (did you know they inspired Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax?) and climbing fun boulders. If you’re short on time, we recommend the following stops:
Rock climbing at Skull Rock
Walk the short Hidden Valley Nature Trail and hope to spot some wildlife
Check out Arch Rock and Heart Rock for fun photo opps
Stroll the magical Cholla Cactus Garden at sunset
Don’t forget to stop at a visitor’s center so you can get your kiddos their junior ranger badges!
Salvation Mountain
Salvation Mountain is a fun art installation about 90 minutes from Palm Springs that’s worth the drive if you like funky outdoor art. It’s a SoCal icon, and it makes for super bright and bold pictures.
Disclaimer: Product links in this blog post may be Affiliate links, and I will earn a small commission for each purchase made through these links at no extra cost to you. Affiliate income helps fund our family travel and allows me to keep creating inspiring family travel content for you. I so appreciate when you use my links to make purchases you would have made anyway.
I hope this guide to things to do in Palm Springs with kids was helpful as you plan your trip! If you need ideas for how we keep our kids entertained and busy on long road trips, check out our roadschooling list. For more of our adventures, check out these posts:
We spent an amazing summer living in Alaska in our RV, and there’s a lot about an Alaska trip that is intimidating to first timers! I’m hoping this Alaska 101 post clears up some of the most common questions and concerns that we get about a trip there. Alaska is an absolutely AMAZING destination, and I’m always encouraging others to visit. If you’re planning an RV trip there, I wrote a whole e-book about RVing Alaska that I absolutely promise will save you planning time and money.
Let’s get into the Alaska 101 basics!
Alaska 101: How to Get There
First things first: how do you even get to Alaska? Most visitors arrive by plane to Anchorage or on a cruise ship. We learned that only 5% of visitors drive there like we did. And that’s because it’s a long, long drive. It took us 3 days to get from Calgary to the start of the Alaska Highway in Dawson Creek. Then it’s 1200 (long, slow) miles to the end of the Alcan from there! You basically only have two options for how to drive there: the Alcan or the Cassiar. The Alcan is more popular and has more services, the Cassiar is more remote and more direct from the West Coast. I expected the drive to be long, but I didn’t expect how absolutely magical it would be all in itself. Highly recommended if you have the time.
If you’ve flown in, you’re probably starting in a convenient central location in Anchorage (although we recommend staying nearby in Palmer!). If you’re cruising, you’re likely visiting only Southeast Alaska, which is gorgeous, but almost like it’s own experience separate from the rest of the state!
Alaska 101: How Long Does It Take to Get Around
Part of Alaska 101 is recognizing just how enormous Alaska is. Alaska is a big state. The biggest in the country in fact! It has its own time zone, and it is the size of a time zone, if that gives you any indication of how large it is. Most of the cities and towns are 3-5 hours of driving apart from each other, so you’ll want to plan out where you’re going carefully so you don’t spend your whole trip driving. If you’re only visiting Alaska for a week, for example, you probably won’t have time to do both the Kenai peninsula AND Valdez. But don’t worry — I’ve got you covered with some banging sample itineraries coming up! Keep on reading.
Alaska 101: Where to Go
There are so many amazing places in Alaska that even 4 months of living there wasn’t nearly enough to see everything. Have I mentioned that it’s a big place? If you’re short on time, though, you’re in luck! I’ve condensed my favorite experiences of an entire summer into one sample 7 day itinerary for first time visitors. I’ve also written about our favorite hikes in Alaska, and I highly recommend you check out Hatcher Pass at least once.
If you have longer in Alaska, I’ve written about exactly how I would spend more time in my RV Alaska travel guide. I’ve got a two week itinerary, one month itinerary, and whole summer itinerary that learns from our mistakes and our wins. And even if you’re not planning to RV Alaska, this guide is still packed with what to do in each city and how I’d spend my time in the state.
I really believe that this travel guide will save you hundreds of hours of research when planning your Alaska trip. I also know from talking to other RV friends that it has insider activities that many tourists miss!
If you’re looking for Alaska vacation ideas, you’ve come to the right place! This guide features 20+ pages of what we learned throughout a summer RVing Alaska with Kids.
Okay, this is a big topic, but for first time visitors I think the obvious answer is: when it’s warm. While there are amazing winter activities in Alaska, I think first timers are best served by a late spring to early fall trip. That means from June to September. For those interested in fishing and bear sightings, July and August will be peak. Keep in mind that the Aurora Borealis is quite visible starting in late August, if that’s on your bucket list. It was on ours!
Alaska 101: National Parks in Alaska
If you’re a National Park lover, Alaska is an amazing place to visit. Alaska boasts eight national parks, and they are all so different and amazing. The National Parks in Alaska are:
Denali National Park
Gates of the Arctic National Park*
Glacier Bay National Park
Katmai National Park*
Kenai Fjords National Park
Kobuk Valley National Park*
Lake Clark National Park*
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park
I’ve asterisked (*) the Alaska national parks that require a plane ride to access. Visiting all of the parks is an expensive endeavor! Even just visiting the ones you can drive to is amazing, though. Kenai Fjords was my favorite.
Alaska 101: Bucket List Activities
A common Alaska 101 question is: what are the best things to do in Alaska? Everyone has different things that they’re interested in, but here are our favorites from our time there:
The most important thing to pack in our opinion is layers! It’s chillier than you expect in Alaska, even in the summer. We wore our fleeces and rain jackets all summer! We also think hiking boots and bear spray belong on any packing list. For more specifics about what to pack for an Alaska vacation, check out my Alaska packing list.
Alaska 101: Wildlife Safety
Speaking of bear spray, wildlife safety precautions are necessary in Alaska. If you do any amount of hiking in Alaska, you will encounter a bear at some point. We saw two on the trails that summer! The Alaska DF&G has a detailed post about bear safety that you should read, but the basics are:
Don’t feed or approach bears
Always make noise so you don’t surprise a bear
Never run from a bear, back away slowly as you talk to it
Have bear deterrents like bear spray
Alaska 101: Where to Camp
Whether you have an RV or a tent, Alaska has amazing camping opportunities. There are a bunch of wonderful RV parks around the state. I’ve shared my favorite one here. It’s also one of the best places we’ve ever been for boondocking. Here are our favorite Alaska boondocking locations. Don’t know what boondocking is or how to do it? I’ve got a guide for that, too!
This 10-page guide will assist RVers in learning the basics of boondocking, or camping off-grid! We share everything we’ve learned as a family living off-grid and boondocking in our RV.
I hope this Alaska 101 post has given you some ideas and the confidence to plan your adventure in Alaska! If you need more help, check out my RV Alaska e-book or book a call with me for personalized planning support.
For more about our adventure in Alaska, check out these posts:
We think that Quebec City with kids is an AMAZING choice for North American families looking for European charm on a budget! We visited Quebec City at the tail end of an amazing summer RVing through Maritime Canada. I’m so glad we added it to the itinerary! It’s one of our favorite destinations, even after almost four years of full time travel.
We only had a handful of work-free days to play in QC, but I feel like we packed in SO much culture and sightseeing. I feel like Americans miss out on this totally underrated (and nearby!) destination. So I’m excited to share what we did and hopefully convince you to visit Quebec City with kids someday 😉
If you’re looking for recommendations for travel with kids gear, I have an Amazon list with some of our faves. And I can’t recommend our Yoto players enough for screen-free entertainment on travel days.
Now let’s talk about Quebec City!
Quebec City with Kids: Old Quebec
Walk Old Quebec
The old city charm that everyone comes to Quebec for is in Old Quebec. You obviously can’t miss simply strolling around! There’s delicious food, cute shops, and photo opps with adorable cobblestone streets galore. Some spots you might want to bookmark that are especially cute are Place Royale, Rue des Pains Benits, Rue du Petit Champlain, Rue du Cul-de-Sac, and the Old City Center Swing. You could walk most of it in a (very long) day, but I’d recommend leaving at least two so you can wander and take your time seeing everything. Mix it up with some of the other sights in this post!
Funiculaire Ride
This is a must with kids in my opinion. It’s only a few dollars a person to ride this cool elevator type thing from the lower old city up to by the Fairmont. It saves a lot of stairs, and my kids thought it was super fun. It only takes like 60 seconds and we waited just 5 minutes for the next one, so an easy commitment, too.
Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac
The Fairmont hotel is the gorgeous castle dominating the city skyline from the water. You can’t miss it. It’s worth admiring up close, especially with the pretty summer gardens outside. There’s an afternoon tea if your kids are the type to be into that, but book it way in advance!
Fountains at Quebec City Hall
There’s a fountain show at the city hall (just past the Fairmont) that was a surprise hit. We sat and ate lunch there, and my kids played in the fountains with some other local kids for a loooong time. It was the perfect midday stop on a sunny day with kids.
Quebec City with Kids: Museums
Museum of Civilization
This museum is conveniently located in Old Quebec, and they have fascinating rotating exhibits. We learned about Pompeii and bugs. My kids’ favorite was a special exhibit about poop. Because of course.
Aquarium of Quebec
This is a sweet little aquarium that we really enjoyed. The jellyfish room and the multi-story fish tank were particular favorites. It’s a drive from the center of town, but worth it if you have a car!
Musee National des Beaux-Arts
This art museum is definitely geared towards adults, and my kids were the only ones there the day we went. BUT they had a fun little kid program run by a docent where we got to carve foam shapes to do printmaking. They also have fascinating rotating exhibits and a permanent section of Inuit art that we loved upstairs.
Site Traditionnel Huron
We always like to prioritize learning about Indigenous peoples as we travel. This immersive site is a very cool look at the traditional lifeways of the people Indigenous to the area before the French and English arrived. Highly recommend!
And if you love taking your kids to museums and are looking for insider knowledge on which North American museums are amazing and kids-friendly, we’ve got you! Click to download our totally free list of favorite museums here:
Download the FREE list of our favorite museums for kids
We’ve created a totally FREE PDF list of our favorite museums for kids that you can download right now by signing up for our newsletter.
Quebec City with Kids: Miscellaneous
Cafe Felins Chats-Nous
Quebec City has its own cat cafe, and knowing how much our kids loved the one in Brooklyn meant we had to try this one. They offer drinks and light food, and you get to visit with an array of adorable kitties while you’re there. I will say that this place was not overtly kid friendly, and I would only bring chill kids here. Still worth it for us, but I’m guessing they won’t tolerate kids being rowdy in here.
Ferry to Levis
The ferry across the river to Levis is way cheap and the best bang for your buck in the city! It’s a commuter ferry, so it’s affordable, but the views are outrageous. On a beautiful day at sunset, you can’t beat it.
Benjo Toy Store
If you love adorable toy stores, you can’t miss Benjo. The displays are so fun, and they have a wide selection of all the super fun toys. Don’t go in here if you’re not wanting to spend money haha.
Eat Some Crepes
You can’t visit Quebec City without eating crepes, and you don’t want to miss the ones at Le Billig. It was one of my kids’ favorite parts of the trip! Make a reservation.
Chocolats Favoris
If chocolate dipped ice cream cones sound delicious, you should definitely make time for a stop at Chocolats Favoris. There are several in the city, and the chocolate is so.good. We went twice, and I still dream about it!
Plains of Abraham Park
This is an enormous and beautiful park near the art museum where local families stroll and play. Definitely check it out if you’re in the area!
I hope this post was helpful as you plan our trip to Quebec City with kids! Let me know if you visit in the comments 🙂
Disclaimer: Product links in this blog post may be Affiliate links, and I will earn a small commission for each purchase made through these links at no extra cost to you. Affiliate income helps fund our family travel and allows me to keep creating inspiring family travel content for you. I so appreciate when you use my links to make purchases you would have made anyway.
For more of our favorite family destinations, check out these posts:
There are so many exciting and unique-to-Alaska things to do in Palmer Alaska that it was one of our favorite stops of the entire trip! We spent four months RVing Alaska, and Palmer absolutely captured our hearts. We even circled back to the area and installed solar panels so we could spend more time in Alaska camping off-grid!
Palmer has a few major things going for it:
Idyllic setting surrounded by gorgeous mountains
Proximity to outdoor adventures like Hatcher Pass and several glaciers
Several fun animal excursion options
Good base for enjoying the cultural offerings of Anchorage without being based in Anchorage (which was not our favorite)
Keep in mind that we visited from early June (which is still really spring!) until early September (which is definitely the beginning of fall!), so I can’t speak to things to do in Palmer Alaska during the winter. Before we get to my ideas, consider checking out our RVing Alaska e-book that has things like our favorite Palmer, Alaska RV park!
If you’re looking for Alaska vacation ideas, you’ve come to the right place! This guide features 20+ pages of what we learned throughout a summer RVing Alaska with Kids.
Okay, on to the many reasons why we loved Palmer Alaska!
Things to do in Palmer Alaska
Hatcher Pass
Possibly the best thing to do in and around Palmer is to explore the breathtaking Hatcher Pass. Do not, and I can not emphasize this enough, miss Hatcher Pass! We loved the hiking up there so much that I wrote a whole blog post just about hiking in Hatcher Pass. But even if you’re not a big hiker, it’s way worth the drive up. The views are amazing right from the road, plus you can visit the historic Independence Mine. You can even rent gold panning tools there and try your luck! Keep in mind that the road up to Hatcher Pass is only open in summer, so check before you go. Skiing and snowmobiling are popular winter activities up there, but I can’t speak to that!
Animal Encounters
Palmer is lucky to offer a couple of really fun animal encounters for tourists. We visited the Williams Reindeer Farm and loved feeding the reindeer there. It’s not a super cheap excursion and it’s definitely touristy, but where else can you pet a reindeer in the U.S.? Palmer also offers a Musk Ox farm where you can visit these unique animals, although we didn’t make it out there.
Dog Sledding
There are a variety of options for dog sledding excursions in and around Palmer and the rest of interior Alaska. They can be quite pricey, though, so are a bucket list sort of experience for visitors. But if you’re looking for a more budget option, The Iditarod Headquarters in nearby Wasilla is the perfect choice! In summertime, the tiny one-room museum offers short dog sledding rides for just $10 a person. It’s the cheapest way to have this special (and super fun!) experience in Alaska.
Downtown & Farmer’s Market
Palmer has a cute little downtown with a couple of breweries and cute restaurants. There’s a visitor center that gives some background into the unique history of the town (a depression-era project!). If you need any outdoor gear, there’s a great thrift store called Bishop’s Attic where I bought a few things, including hiking boots for $12. In the summer, there’s a farmer’s market and live music on Fridays.
Anchorage Museums
While not technically in Palmer, Anchorage cultural offerings are only about an hour away. The Anchorage Museum (free for ASTC members!) and the Alaska Native Heritage Center are two of my recommendations for places to day trip to from Palmer. Palmer makes a great home base for Anchorage attractions, but we didn’t love Anchorage too much, so I’m glad we didn’t spend a ton of time there.
Glacier Adventures
Everyone who comes to Alaska wants to see glaciers, right? Palmer offers two day trip options for glacier adventures, Knik Glacier and Matanuska Glacier. You can rent off-road vehicles to drive to Knik Glacier or pay to hike to or ice climb on Matanuska Glacier. More on my sample 7 day itinerary.
Eklutna Tailrace Fishing
During salmon season, Eklutna Tailrace offers the closest and most accessible salmon fishing option to Palmer. Salmon can be caught about 20 feet from the parking lot in abundance, just make sure you have a permit! Salmon fishing is a way of life here, so this definitely belongs on any list of things to do in Palmer Alaska.
Eklutna Lake
Eklutna Lake is a gorgeous nearby destination for hiking and paddle sports. There is a scenic trail around the edge of the lake, or you can get on the water with a kayak. Always wear a life jacket and watch the weather forecast here, though. It is beautiful, but someone dies on the water almost every year here because of the combination of strong winds and deadly cold waters.
Archangel Road Blueberry Picking
If you’re lucky enough to find yourself in Alaska during berry season (August!), then you can join the hundreds of folks picking fresh-off-the-vine blueberries. Archangel Road up in Hatcher Pass is an extremely popular and easy to access spot. Just pack the bear spray because they like them, too! And be sure you’ve correctly identified any berry you forage before eating.
Eagle RiverNature Center
The Eagle River Nature Center is another worthwhile trip between Palmer and Anchorage. There are many hiking trails (more about that on our best hikes in Alaska list!), and a high probability of wildlife spottings. Plus, it’s gorgeous!
Alaska State Fair
If you end up in Palmer when the state fair is on, this is a must on the list of things to do in Palmer Alaska. Popular entertainers perform, and there are so many events to choose from. Local vendors are here for souvenir shopping, and it’s one of the biggest events in the state if you’re looking for local culture!
Souvenir Shopping at Alaska Chicks
Alaska Chicks sells primarily sweatshirts, and has locations in Palmer, Wasilla, and Eagle River. These sweatshirts are SO high quality and in fun Alaska prints (like fireweed!). Once you’re familiar with what they look like, you’ll start to notice their sweatshirts on all of the locals! We got one for each of us, and we all love them.
I hope this list with ideas of things to do in Palmer Alaska was helpful in planning your time there! If you need more help planning your trip, check out my Alaska packing list and RV Alaska guide.
For more about adventuring in Alaska, check out these posts:
We just spent a couple of weeks in Tucson, Arizona, and we love it there. It’s actually our second time visiting this artistic desert city, so we’re full of ideas for things to do in Tucson with kids! As a full time travel family, it’s rare that we re-visit cities, so you know this one has to be fun.
If you happen to be traveling in an RV and are looking for a place to stay, here are our favorite Arizona boondocking spots. And if you’re planning an Arizona road trip, you might want to check out Sedona with kids, too!
Things to do in Tucson with Kids: Hiking
We loved Valley View Overlook trail in Saguaro National Park enough to visit it in both 2021 and 2024!
Saguaro National Park
If you’re into being outdoors in any way, it would be a crime to miss visiting Saguaro National Park. We’ve visited twice now, and I would happily go back again and again. Even if you’ve seen saguaro elsewhere, the sheer density of them in the park is pretty amazing. If you can, check out a ranger talk for some context about these magnificent cacti. I really enjoyed the one we attended because it gave me several different ways of observing what’s going on with the saguaro we see.
If you’re short on time, the Western part of the park is where it’s at. Our favorite hikes with kids include the Desert Discovery Nature trail, which is really just a short walk, but has gorgeous desert plants. And my absolute favorite is the Valley View Overlook trail, which is breathtaking at sunset and just before. Don’t miss the Signal Hill petroglyphs if you’re into those and doing the Junior Ranger program at the Visitors Center.
Sabino Canyon Hikes
Sabino Canyon has several options for gorgeous hikes, depending on how hard you want to hike. The parking areas fill up on weekends, so look into the shuttle service if you’re going at peak times. There’s a great Visitor Center here that you should check out if you have time!
Things to do in Tucson with Kids: Museums
Pima Air & Space Museum
Pima Air & Space Museum
The Pima Air & Space Museum is an absolute must if you have plane lovers in the family (maybe even if you don’t!). It’s the largest air and space museum I’ve ever been to, including around 300 planes on display. My plane lover was enthralled, and I even found some of the unique planes (like a vintage Air Force One) interesting. Because most of it is outside, it’s really little kid friendly.
Biosphere 2
Biosphere 2 is absolutely fascinating because it houses multiple biomes you can visit. Actual scientific research into the impact of climate change on these biomes is ongoing there, so you know they’re incredibly authentic. Visitors will be amazed at being immersed in these varied places. This museum isn’t cheap, but it is very cool.
Ignite Sign Art Museum
I absolutely love neon signs, and my kids think the bright colors are fun, too! This small museum is perfect for short attention spans and pretty pictures. Plus, they offer neon bending demonstrations on select days, which is an extra cool perk!
Flandrau Science Center
This science museum is small, but mighty! And we got in for free with our ASTC reciprocal membership, so definitely use that if you have it. There are some fun and interactive exhibits designed by ASU grad students, plus a tiny tide pool touch tank and an IMAX theater. If you’re only visiting one museum, I might not choose this one. But it’s a great activity for inclement weather days!
Children’s Museum Tucson
The Tucson children’s museum is an adorable and hands-on way to spend a cold (or super hot!) day. It’s interactive and fun for toddlers through elementary school, plus they often have free events so check their calendar! It can get crowded on weekend days, so perhaps best for a weekday if possible.
If you love museums with your kids, you might want to check out our list of U.S. favorites right here:
Download the FREE list of our favorite museums for kids
We’ve created a totally FREE PDF list of our favorite museums for kids that you can download right now by signing up for our newsletter.
Things to do in Tucson with Kids: Downtown & Nearby
Historic Pima County courthouse
El Presidio Plaza & Visitor’s Center
El Presidio Plaza is absolutely gorgeous and worth a stroll. There was even live music while we were there! Plus, our kids loved splashing their hands in the fountain. The historic courthouse building houses the city’s delightful visitor center. There is an interactive map of the area and several large displays about the city’s history and culture. The visitor center is definitely worth a short stop!
Downtown Street Art (Goddess of Agave)
Tucson has a surprising amount of street art downtown, and it’s worth a wander. There are a few beautiful pieces near El Presidio Plaza, but our favorites were the Goddess of Agave (North 7th avenue) and the pieces near it.
Ride the Streetcar
If you have kiddos who love riding trains or even just tired legs, consider a ride on the Tucson streetcar. The Sun Link streetcar is currently free, and riding is a great way to get an overview of downtown. Maybe you’ll even catch some street art from the windows!
A Splash Pad
It’s not surprising that a city this hot would specialize in splash pads to cool off, but these splash pads are amazing! Tucson has dozens of splash pads, but some family favorites are Heritage River Park and Brandi Fenton.
San Xavier del Bac Mission
The San Xavier del Bac Mission is a gorgeous church with beautiful grounds on the Tohono O’odham reservation. It’s free to enter and walk around, and it’s absolutely beautiful. Bonus: try some fry bread being sold in the parking lot! If you’re looking for how to talk to your kids about Indigenous people, you might be interested in this post.
Reid Park Zoo
Reid Park Zoo is a small zoo, with a ticket price that’s just right! Adult tickets are only $10.50, which is a fabulous admission price for a zoo. We didn’t visit this zoo ourselves, but I can’t possibly write about things to do in Tucson with kids and ignore the fact that there’s a perfectly kid-sized zoo there.
Tucson Botanical Gardens
If you or your kids love beautiful desert plants, this is the place for you! It’s large enough to be fascinating, but small enough to be accessible for families with small children.
Things to do in Tucson with Kids: Day Trips
Kitt Peak Observatory Tour
Kitt Peak Observatory Tour
This was a surprisingly cool detour for us! It’s about an hour from where we were staying, but totally worth the drive. Not only was it free with our ASTC membership, but the tour of the telescope was really fascinating. The views from Kitt Peak were worth the trip, too! Be aware that toddlers might find it dull, but the adults sure didn’t! Our big kids were into it, too.
Mount Lemmon
Driving up to the top of Mount Lemmon takes some time, but the views are worth it! There are lots of hiking opportunities, but there are plenty of views straight from the overlooks. And snow-loving kiddos will be excited to play in the snow at the top in the winter! There’s also skiing for the winter sports inclined. Check out these web cams for snow updates.
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument is another desert preserve where you can appreciate the beauty of the Sonoran desert. Lots of hiking opportunities exist there, or you can just enjoy the cacti from a scenic drive.
Nogales, Mexico
For families looking to day trip south of the border, Nogales, Mexico is an easy option for those with passports. Stroll the market and experience Restaurant Bar La Roca before heading home for the night. The easiest way to visit (paperwork wise!) is to park your car here and walk across the border.
I hope this post has been helpful in discovering things to do in Tucson with kids! If you’re taking a road trip with kids, I HIGHLY recommend a Yoto player for the journey. And if you’re wanting your kids to journal about your trip, consider this instant download from our store:
If you’ve ever wished for an easy way to capture what your kids learn as you travel, this is it! Forget other state worksheets that require boring, irrelevant details like the state flower. Let’s write about what we learned and experienced! This state worksheet digital product includes leveled worksheets for kids: one two page log…
If you’re looking for Alaska vacation ideas, you’ve come to the right place! This guide features 20+ pages of what we learned throughout a summer RVing Alaska with Kids.
Portage is a great base for nearby hiking and paddling (and even day tripping through the tunnel into Whittier!). I even recommend it as a stop on my 7 day Alaska itinerary. There are two nice spots here. The first can be found on Portage Glacier Road at N 60°47’33.30″, W 148°54’1.38″. This spot is right on a pond and has room for a few rigs. It does fill up though, and we weren’t able to fit. There’s also zero cell service here. Our backup spot was Portage Valley Parking at N 60°51’12.36″, W 149°0’23.46″. This spot is a big parking lot right off of the Seward Highway. It’s noisy during the day, but plenty quiet at night. Super level and good cell service. We stayed for several days and loved the views and easy parking!
Eagle River Boondocking
Eagle River is a great boondocking location if you’re looking to be convenient to Anchorage. This location is the North Fork Eagle River boat launch and a big highway pullout on the way to the Eagle River Nature Center at N 61°16’6.54″, W 149°20’54.06″. Cell service on this road is not good.
Palmer Boondocking
Palmer is a place we returned to several times for its pastoral prettiness and convenient location. We stayed at several spots here, including an RV park (if you want info on the best RV park, it’s in my Alaska ebook!). Here are two Palmer boondocking sites I’d recommend. The first is just outside Palmer called Slipper Lake at N 61°43’57.00″, W 148°55’19.98″. The location is convenient and the lake is pretty with swans swimming on it. The cell service is two bars, the road in is rough for .25 miles, and there is shooting range noise during the day. The second spot is on the Matanuska River at N 61°30’12.30″, W 149°1’40.32″. It’s a very pretty spot with decent cell service, but scout ahead. If the river is running too high, there isn’t enough sandbar to camp on.
Glacier View Boondocking
This was one of my favorite parking spots in all of Alaska. We stayed here twice for the gorgeous glacier view and ease of parking. It’s a highway pulloff on the Glenn highway at N 61°56’51.00″, W 147°8’49.98″. It would make a good base for a Matanuska Glacier tour, but it’s not near much else. Luckily the view is an experience in itself.
Boondocking in Glacier View
Talkeetna / Denali State Park Boondocking
This spot is between Talkeetna and Denali State Park, and it made a great jumping off point for visiting both. It’s the old East West Express Trail at N 62°24’43.20″, W 150°15’21.12″. It’s an overgrown scenic viewpoint with plenty of room for big rigs. We also were basically alone back there in the woods for a few days with usable cell service.
Outside Denali National Park Boondocking
This spot is an excellent spot for boondocking just outside of Denali National Park. It’s a pullout on the Parks highway at N 63°32’25.50″, W 148°48’21.72″. With how far in advance the park camping books up, this can be a great spot for last-minute planners.
Valdez Boondocking
Valdez is a stunning destination that shouldn’t be missed (I’ve written about what to do there!). The city has cracked down on boondocking recently, but I have two spots to recommend. The first is right outside of town on the riverbed at N 61°4’37.86″, W 146°10’45.30″. Scout ahead because the road in is rough and water levels make a big difference in accessibility, but cell service is good. It’s gorgeous, too. The second location is half an hour outside of town in Thompson Pass at N 61°9’6.60″, W 145°43’37.26″. It’s got gorgeous glacier and mountain views, plus plenty of room. No cell service, though.
Boondocking in Alaska: Kenai Peninsula
Moose Pass Boondocking
Moose Pass was such a favorite boondocking spot that it topped our list of favorite camping spots in Alaska! This Trail Lake dirt parking lot is at N 60°30’10.74″, W 149°22’6.78″. Cell service is decent here and lots of room. Its biggest perk is being able to kayak right from the yard and watch float planes landing. It also makes a decent base for Seward if you don’t mind driving in.
Kayaking on Trail Lake
Exit Glacier Road Boondocking
The closest boondocking to Seward is on Exit Glacier Road. There are various spots on the riverbed for smaller rigs, but big rigs are best served by the roadside pullout at N 60°10’12.60″, W 149°30’47.28″. Exit Glacier Road is the perfect jumping off point for hiking to the Harding Icefields, but there’s no cell service on the road.
Skilak Lake Boondocking
Lower Skilak Lake has a state park style dry campground that’s free at N 60°28’15.84″, W 150°28’5.94″. It’s absolutely stunning, and you can launch a kayak right from your site. Full disclosure: most sites are not sized for big rigs, but it was empty enough that we could shove our 37′ fifth wheel halfway into a spot and not be in anyone’s way. No cell service and a bumpy road to get here, but a great place to break up the trip between Homer and Seward.
Outside Homer Boondocking
Homer has also made boondocking in town impossible, but you can camp directly on the beach at Whiskey Gulch at N 59°49’52.02″, W 151°49’19.80″. Scout ahead to see if you’re comfortable with the steep hill coming out. If you are, it’s a beautiful spot and accessible to Homer sightseeing.
Boondocking in Alaska: Southcentral Alaska
Haines Boondocking
We fell in love with this sweet little boondocking spot right outside of Haines. It’s just a roadside pulloff, but with views from the couch of the ocean! It’s at N 59°15’30.72″, W 135°26’26.22″. We had slow cell service here, but could drive quickly into town or walk right down to the beach. It was also right near the ferry so we had easy access when we ferried to Skagway! Catching the northern lights here multiple nights didn’t hurt either.
Northern lights in Haines
Skagway Boondocking
There’s no big rig accessible boondocking in Skagway, BUT you can stay at Garden City RV with no hookups for just $10 a night. Its easy location made this a no-brainer for us. Bonus for super cheap, hot showers.
Carcross Boondocking
Okay, Carcross is not technically Alaska. But if you drive into or out of Skagway, you’ll come through Carcross. Don’t be like me and leave little time to stop. Carcross is unbelievably beautiful. Stop at Big Thing Creek at N 60°3’30.18″, W 134°34’1.38″ and take your time exploring this amazing area.
Road to Haines Boondocking
This also is in Canada, but you’ll drive through on the way to or from Haines. This area of British Columbia is also absolutely stunning, and I recommend a stop. The gravel area at N 59°43’10.50″, W 136°36’8.52″ is big rig friendly and surrounded by gorgeous views. No cell service, though!
I hope this list of boondocking in Alaska spots for big rigs was helpful! Please let me know in the comments if you try any of them.
If you’re overwhelmed by learning to boondock, but you want to take advantage of these amazing Alaska boondocking spots, I can relate! We learned to boondock in Alaska because of these places, and I write a boondocking 101 guide that’s packed full of everything I wish I’d known when we started:
This 10-page guide will assist RVers in learning the basics of boondocking, or camping off-grid! We share everything we’ve learned as a family living off-grid and boondocking in our RV.
And if you need help itinerary planning, don’t forget to check out my RV Alaska ebook!
Disclaimer: Product links in this blog post may be Affiliate links, and I will earn a small commission for each purchase made through these links at no extra cost to you. Affiliate income helps fund our family travel and allows me to keep creating inspiring family travel content for you. I so appreciate when you use my links to make purchases you would have made anyway.
For more about our adventures in Alaska, check out these posts:
We may be a nomadic family now, but we launched from Brooklyn! We lived in New York City for over ten years. So who better to share a list of best museums for kids NYC?
There’s a common misconception that NYC isn’t a great destination for families, but I think that couldn’t be further from the truth. True, there are certain transportation and crowd logistics to overcome. But it’s so worth it for the vast array of cultural experiences NYC has to offer!
This list encompasses my absolute favorite museums in New York City that I think are great choices for families. Some are children-oriented, but most are just amazing choices for anyone that happen to be interactive and kid-friendly. Those are the museums that are always my favorite anywhere — welcoming to children, but still fascinating for adults!
If you’re taking a vacation to NYC, consider printing out this kid travel journal to fill out as a record of your trip!
If you’ve ever wished for an easy way to capture what your kids learn as you travel, this is it! Forget other state worksheets that require boring, irrelevant details like the state flower. Let’s write about what we learned and experienced! This state worksheet digital product includes leveled worksheets for kids: one two page log…
The American Museum of Natural History is world-famous for a reason: it is amazing. It’s also massive! There are dinosaur bones, a planetarium and butterfly garden, rare gems, all the animals your heart could desire, and even an entire blue whale sculpture hanging from the ceiling. This museum is the quintessential big-city museum for animal lovers (like most kids!). Bonus points for watching A Night at the Museum before your visit to get the family extra excited.
Admission starts at $28 for adults, $16 for kids (suggested admission for Tri-State area residents!). Advanced ticket reservations required. This museum is right off Central Park, which makes it perfect for before or after a park picnic.
Museum of the Moving Image
The Museum of the Moving Image is one of those museums that I would recommend to almost anyone visiting NYC. It’s the only museum in the country dedicated to the art, science, and technology of movies. They have Star Wars memorabilia and a hands-on Jim Henson exhibit, plus a bunch of programming for families. There are exhibits like a booth where you can practice recording your own voiceover. It’s a super fun place! Plus, tickets are more affordable than some of the more famous museums.
Admission is $20 for adults, $10 for children. If you head to Astoria for this museum, get some Greek food in the neighborhood while you’re there!
New York Transit Museum
New York Transit Museum
The New York Transit Museum is the *ultimate* destination for kids who love things that go! The basement of this museum is a decommissioned subway station filled with vintage subway train cars. You can walk through all of them and observe how subway technology and comfort evolved. It is fascinating! There are also interactive kid-friendly exhibits upstairs like a nearly life-sized play bus. This museum is a can’t-miss if you have a train loving kid (or grownup!) in your group.
Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children. FREE if you have a museum membership with ASTC reciprocity! This would be a great museum to combine with a walk over the Brooklyn Bridge.
Brooklyn Children’s Museum
Of all of the many children’s museums in NYC, the Brooklyn Children’s Museum is the best in my opinion. The Manhattan one is fun, but always absolutely packed. In Brooklyn, there are some small animals to observe, a giant bus to play on, a grocery store to pretend shop in, and rotating exhibits upstairs. My kids’ favorite part was always the water play section, though, where we have spent so SO many happy hours. Bonus is that parking is easy right outside this museum if you’re driving in.
Admission is $15 a person, free hours on Thursday afternoons. Consider adding on time in Prospect Park or at the Prospect Park Zoo to your day here.
Brooklyn Children’s Museum
Tenement Museum
The Tenement Museum is another super unique-to-NYC experience. It offers guided tours through historic tenement buildings to illustrate the history of immigrants in NYC. It’s a really interesting experience with paid actors leading the way. I would take mid-elementary kids and up, only because standing still and quiet might be challenging for the younger kids.
Admission is $30 per person. If you make it downtown to this museum, I highly recommend adding on time in Little Italy or Chinatown. Wo Hop is our favorite Chinese restaurant in the neighborhood.
The Morgan Library & Museum
The Morgan Library & Museum varies in its exhibits widely, but I’ve included it on the best museums for kids NYC list mostly because of the library. It took my breath away the first time I saw it because it truly resembles the library from Beauty & the Beast. If you have book lovers or Belle wannabes in your family, this museum is worth a stop. It’s also so conveniently situated near other outings you’ve probably planned in Midtown, unless the other museums on this list.
Admission is $22 for adults, free for 12 and under. This museum is right near the Empire State Building, Grand Central Station, and 5th Avenue shopping you might already be planning.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Metropolitan Museum of Art is another one of those iconic NYC museums. It’s massive (you could never see it all in one visit or ten!), so there really is something for everyone. Some of the special exhibits are absolutely mind-blowing if you love art. Our kids always especially enjoyed the Egyptian rooms, where you can walk inside a whole temple. To help get your kids even more excited about visiting The Met, read The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. The kids in that story live in the museum for a week!
Admission is $30, free for under 12 (suggested admission for Tri-State residents!). Afternoon tea at Alice’s Tea Cup would be the perfect combination with a visit to The Met.
The Cloisters
The Cloisters is an homage to all things medieval. Medieval art set in a building incorporating medieval architecture. Plus gorgeous gardens! What kid wouldn’t want to explore a castle and then stretch legs outside in a beautiful garden? This museum is a fun excursion way uptown where it’s a more relaxed vibe for anyone feeling overwhelmed by urban life.
Admission is $30, free for under 12 (suggested admission for Tri-State residents!). Explore Fort Tryon Park afterwards or hop across the river into the Bronx to tour Yankee stadium.
Queens County Farm Museum
The Queens County Farm Museum is a working farm that has been producing food for New Yorkers for over 300 years. There are livestock, seasonal events like hay rides, and an interactive children’s farm. This is the perfect outing for anyone looking to connect with local agriculture within the city limits.
Admission is free, except on certain ticketed days. Out of towners might consider combining a trip here with the New York Hall of Science or a delicious meal in Queens’ Koreatown.
New York Hall of Science
The New York Hall of Science is a fun and interactive science center for all ages. It’s packed full of hands-on exhibits that range from complex science to toddler play. My kids always adored the interactive bubble exhibit. This is the perfect way to end a trip through the best museums for kids NYC.
Admission starts at $22 for adults, $19 for children. FREE if you have a museum membership with ASTC or ACM reciprocity! Out of towners might consider combining a trip here with the Queens County Farm Museum or a delicious meal in Queens’ Koreatown.
Bookmark this post with the best museums for kids NYC from someone who lived there with kids for a long time! I hope it helps you as you plan your NYC visit. And let me know if you have any questions in the comments. If you’re interested in museums in other places, check out our best museums for kids list!
Disclaimer: Product links in this blog post may be Affiliate links, and I will earn a small commission for each purchase made through these links at no extra cost to you. Affiliate income helps fund our family travel and allows me to keep creating inspiring family travel content for you. I so appreciate when you use my links to make purchases you would have made anyway.
Paddling with glaciers, dozens of waterfalls, epic mountain passes, and adorable small town charm. There are so many fun things to do in Valdez Alaska! We highly recommend a stop there on any Alaska adventure.
If you need help planning an Alaska itinerary, check out our guide to RVing Alaska! You don’t need to have an RV or to have kids to find this useful, but we do have suggestions for both. Continue below for our best ideas for things to do in Valdez Alaska!
If you’re looking for Alaska vacation ideas, you’ve come to the right place! This guide features 20+ pages of what we learned throughout a summer RVing Alaska with Kids.
Okay, now for the list of things to do in Valdez Alaska! Here goes:
Thompson Pass
If you’re driving into Valdez, you’ll get to enjoy one of its most breathtaking sights before you even get there: Thompson Pass. If you arrive by water, I highly recommend finding a way to drive up to Thompson Pass if you can. It is STUNNING. After a whole summer in Alaska, we started to wonder if we could still be blown away. Then we drove through Thompson Pass, and the answer was YES! This photo and the cover photo for our Alaska e-book was taken there (by Denaa Photography!). There are several short loop trails you can walk straight from the turnoffs up there, and you should definitely spend time doing that.
Bridal Veil Falls & Horsetail Falls
These are other gorgeous sights you’ll pass on the drive into Valdez from the rest of Alaska. Both of these waterfalls are right off the road in the canyon you drive through after descending from Thompson Pass. There are pull-offs right alongside the road, and you should plan to stop. Horsetail Falls had a rainbow at the bottom both times we saw it, and Bridal Veil Falls had stunning cascades and light.
Valdez Glacier Lake
Perhaps my most memorable experience in Valdez was kayaking in Valdez Glacier Lake. The main photo for this post was taken there! I did a lot of paddling in Alaska this summer. But this was the only place I found where you could launch straight from the shore and kayak with icebergs. You can take a tour from town if you don’t have your own kayak or don’t feel comfortable paddling alone. Give as wide a berth as possible to icebergs! Remember that they are several times larger under the water than they are above. And they often break or roll without warning!
Solomon Gulch Hatchery
This was the other one of my favorite things to do in Valdez Alaska. This salmon hatchery becomes a sea lion and sea otter buffet during high tide! Watching these adorable creatures feast on fish (only in the summer!) was unexpectedly delightful. Bears also frequent the area, but we didn’t happen to see any. But stay bear aware!
Allison Point Fishing
Just a bit further up the road is an excellent spot for salmon fishing when the salmon are running in summer. There are so many salmon that my family caught a couple, and that is without any knowledge of fishing whatsoever! Visit Prospector Outfitters if you need fishing gear and/or advice.
Hiking Trails
There are several pretty hiking trails around town. We tried out the Dock Point Trail and the first section of the Shoup Bay Trail. Dock Point Trail is easy and short, with some pretty views of the harbor. Shoup Bay Trail is long and we only completed the first couple of miles before we ran straight into a bear on the trail and turned around. The trail had beautiful views of the bay and grasslands (pictures above!). Even cooler? It was absolutely PACKED with salmon berries during the last week of July. We picked so many that we were able to make Salmon Berry Pie to share with our campground neighbors!
Museum Visits
There are two small museums in Valdez. They’re worth checking out in inclement weather or if you want more background on the city’s history. There is the Valdez Museum and the Maxine and Jesse Whitney Museum. The Valdez City Library is also surprisingly charming if you need somewhere to hang out on a rainy day.
Walk the Harbor
Valdez’s harbor is tiny, but adorable. Walking the harbor and ducking into the adorable shops won’t take all day, but it is worth the time. Duck into The Coffee Co. or Valdez Brewing for a drink. See if you can spot any of the town’s “bunny infestation” bunnies (yes, really)!
Boat or Kayaking Tour
If you’re got money to splurge, consider taking a boat or kayaking tour to Columbia Glacier. This glacier is one of the most active glaciers in the world, leading to dramatic calving events that make for an unforgettable day. If you’re not up for paddling, there are wildlife boat tour options that look incredible, too.
Day Trips or Overnights from Valdez
There are several other amazing excursions just near Valdez that you might want to consider on your trip. You could take a ferry to Cordova, one of Alaska’s adorable and tiny off-the-road-system towns. You could visit McCarthy in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park (the largest in the U.S.!). Closer by, Worthington Glacier is a quick stop off to a nice glacier view.
We loved our time in Valdez, and we loved that it seemed to have a higher locals to tourists ratio. Plus, the adorable bunnies hopping around definitely didn’t hurt But the absolute best part was the incredible glacial activity and up-close wildlife viewing. There are so many fun things to do in Valdez Alaska.
Is Valdez on your list? If you want our favorite Valdez campground recommendation, you can find it in our Alaska e-book!
For more about our epic adventure in Alaska, head to the main blog post or check these out:
