10-Day Alaska Itinerary: A Perfect Blend of Wildlife, Mountain & Sled Dog Adventures

We’re still riding an Alaska high after an unforgettable 10-day adventure to the 49th state—Land of the Midnight Sun. Visiting Alaska has been on our bucket list for years, and it lived up to every expectation: wild, beautiful, and charmingly quirky. Even a week later, we’re still adjusting to Central Time after spending so many days without real darkness—just golden twilight that lingered all night long. I knew about the “midnight sun,” but hadn’t quite grasped how constant daylight would feel. If you go in June, expect bright skies 24/7!

Here's a quick overview of our trip. We will follow up with some more detailed posts on some of the experiences.

Our 10-Day Alaska Itinerary (Early through Mid-June)

Arrival Day: Fly into Anchorage (ANC). Stay up and eat late dinner to ease into Alaska Standard Time (3 hours behind CST).

Day 1 – Kenai Peninsula: Drive from Anchorage to Seward. Stop along the Turnagain Arm for incredible views and visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. Stay near Seward.

Day 2 – Seward: Hike in Kenai Fjords National Park, explore downtown Seward, visit Bear Creek Weir. (Boat tour rescheduled to Day 3 due to weather.)

Day 3 – Boat Tour/Seward to Soldotna: Take a 6-hour Kenai Fjords boat tour. In the evening, drive to Soldotna.

Day 4 – Homer Day Trip: Drive to Homer. Visit the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, hike, and stop by the Soldotna Visitor Center and River Walk.

Day 5 – Drive to Talkeetna: Break up the drive with lunch in Anchorage, a stop at the Iditarod Museum, and scenic overlooks in Denali State Park. Stay near Talkeetna.

Day 6 – Talkeetna: Enjoy local hikes, a history walk, a visit to the Denali NP Visitor Center, and a relaxing canoe outing.

Day 7 – Talkeetna to Healy: Make your way to Denali, stopping at viewpoints and hiking in Denali State Park. Visit the park's visitor center and stay near Healy.

Day 8 – Denali National Park: Take the Denali bus tour deep into the park and hike.

Day 9 – Return to Anchorage: Scenic drive back with a  few hikes en route and stop at Transportation Museum in Wasilla.

Day 10 – Anchorage: Spend the morning at the Anchorage Museum before flying home.

A simplified way of thinking about this: 1 night Anchorage, 2 nights Seward, 2 nights Soldotna, 2 nights Talkeetna, 2 nights Healy/Denali, 1 night Anchorage.

This itinerary does have some longer drives- Day 5 (4.5 hours) and Day 9 (4.25 hours) were the longest drives. Drive time was one of the reasons we didn't stay in Homer, as that would have meant a 6-hour drive on Day 5. Besides, we don't have as much enthusiasm for Homer as other places. We did go there to visit, but that was because it was raining in Soldotna and not in Homer.

Trip Highlights

Kenai Fjords Boat Tour

A must-do! This 6-hour cruise from Seward gave us a front-row seat to Alaska’s marine life. We saw orcas, humpback whales, sea otters, Steller sea lions, seals, puffins, and bald eagles. Getting up close to a calving glacier—feeling the cold air, hearing the cracks—was unforgettable.

Mount Denali

Also known simply as Denali (as preferred by Alaskans), this towering peak is North America’s tallest at 20,310 feet. We were lucky: Denali was visible nearly every day of our trip. Most visitors never get a clear view, so we soaked in every glimpse from Talkeetna, Denali State Park, and within the national park itself. Note that the best views are actually from the state park.

Sled Dogs!

As dog lovers still grieving the loss of our beloved Ozzie, we were drawn to any canine encounter. At the Iditarod Museum outside Wasilla, we toured the exhibits and enjoyed a short ride with Riley Dyche’s team of seasoned Iditarod dogs. Later in Healy, our Airbnb had 15 Alaskan Malamutes—including two sweet retirees, Nanook and Alaska—that won our hearts. While we missed the sled dog kennels in Denali NP due to limited hours, we caught a great film about them at the visitor center.

Wildlife Encounters

• Moose: We saw several on the drive to Homer and throughout Denali. With ~200,000 moose in the state, your chances are high!

• Brown Bears (Grizzlies): We spotted six bears in Denali - comprised of two separate groups of a mama and two cubs during a hike. The binoculars came in handy.

• Caribou: Lone caribou sightings at first, but later a small group. We heard there was a local herd nearby.

• Eagles: Bald eagles were abundant in Seward, and we spotted golden eagles along Turnagain Arm.

Other Activities

Fishing (Even Though We Didn’t Do It)

We’re not anglers, but we appreciated watching the salmon at Bear Creek Weir near our Airbnb in Seward. Seeing them line up to leap upstream was a unique thrill.

Hiking

So many great, short hikes took us into lush forests, along rivers, and near glaciers. Bug spray was a must near Talkeetna, where the first mosquito hatch of the season had just occurred!

Canoeing & Kayaking

We lucked out with Airbnb hosts who provided access to canoes and kayaks on peaceful lakes. We paddled on this small lake near Talkeetna.

Flightseeing

We didn't do this, but chartering a small plane to fly around Denali or land on a glacier is a popular activity. It was more than we wanted to spend, but others might find this a must-do.

Planning Tips & Reflections

Why June?

We traveled in early June, the tail end of the shoulder season. While it’s still popular, it's not quite peak cruise ship and bus-tour crowd levels. That balance of longer days and fewer crowds made June ideal.

Flying from MSP to ANC

Direct flights from Minneapolis to Anchorage made this easier. We used points, but even cash prices weren’t bad—around $500 round-trip. The evening flight helped us adjust to the time change.

Driving vs. Cruising

When people hear we went to Alaska, they often ask, “Which cruise?” But cruises aren’t our style. Instead, we rented a Ford Bronco and hit the road. Driving gave us freedom and flexibility—and a chance to avoid crowds. (Train travel is also an option, but pricey compared to Europe.)

Alaska is Expensive

Lodging, car rentals, and food add up quickly. We used points for flights, hotels, and car rental days to stretch the budget. The fjord cruise was purchased during a great President’s Day sale. Lots of pizza and brewery meals helped keep things casual and affordable.

Lodging Strategy

We booked our lodging about 6 months before our trip, which felt late. For the best selection, plan at least a year ahead. We stayed in a hotel in Anchorage but booked unique Airbnbs, each offering a taste of local life.  These all worked really well for 3 people (son, Cormac was with us).

• Seward: A tiny cabin with a ladder-access loft and great trails nearby.  Cozy Rustic Custom-crafted Cabin - Guesthouses for Rent in Seward, Alaska, United States - Airbnb

• Soldotna: A modern, floating-feel house on Denise Lake—complete with loons and morning fog.  Serene cabin over Denise Lake - Cabins for Rent in Soldotna, Alaska, United States - Airbnb

• Talkeetna: A handcrafted log cabin with swings, a firepit, and big Alaska vibes (plus mosquitos).  Hand crafted Log Home - Cabins for Rent in Talkeetna, Alaska, United States - Airbnb

• Healy: A musher’s cabin (kennel_fluffybutts) next to a sled dog team and surrounded by tundra. Unforgettable. Secluded "Musher's Cabin" with sled dog kennel - Cabins for Rent in Healy, Alaska, United States - Airbnb

Final Thoughts

Alaska exceeded every expectation. It’s a land of contrasts—fierce and serene, rugged and welcoming. The landscapes are dramatic, the wildlife abundant, and the people genuinely kind. We left with full hearts, tired feet, and excitement about this 49th state.

If you’re thinking of visiting, start planning now—and prepare to fall in love with the Last Frontier.