Wild About Alaska: Glaciers & Wildlife With Your Family

Program Registration: 5:00 p.m. After you check in and have your room assignment, join us at the Road Scholar table in the lobby to register with the program staff and get your welcome packet containing the up-to-date schedule that reflects any changes, other important information, and to confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please ask for your packet when you check in.

At the hotel.

Orientation: 7:00 p.m. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. This is a Road Scholar Grandparent program. Grandparents are responsible for their grandchildren. If/when separate age group activities are conducted concurrently, program staff will supervise. Minors are never to be left unsupervised. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.

At the hotel.

Our day begins with a visit to a musk ox farm. Here we'll have the chance to meet the herd while walking around the farm. Located in the Manatuska Valley, the farm is home to over eighty musk oxen. The musk oxen are Ice Age mammals that, at one time, roamed the earth alongside woolly mammoths and saber-tooth tigers. Here we'll learn about the history of the farm as well as their commitment to the husbandry of the musk ox and production of qiviut. Qiviut is the soft under-wool that is produced by musk oxen and spun into yarn. After learning all about the farm, we'll work together as a group to create an enrichment activity for the musk oxen. Then we'll have the chance to see how the heard reacts to the toy or puzzle we created.

At a local restaurant.

We’ll board our motorcoach and make our way back to Anchorage where we’ll visit the Alaska Native Heritage Center. This is the largest cultural institution in Alaska, and while we’re here, we’ll learn about the unique indigenous cultures that have shaped Alaska’s history. Journey through 10,000 years of Alaska Native history and culture through art, dance, Native Games demonstrations, and exhibits, and walk through traditional Native dwellings. You'll even have a chance to try some Native dancing and drumming!

At a local restaurant.

At leisure.

At the hotel.

We'll have an early start this morning to transfer to the railroad depot for our train journey to Spencer Glacier. All aboard the Alaska Railroad Coastal Classic train, where we'll travel through spectacular scenery. The Alaska Railroad is one of the best ways to travel throughout Southcentral Alaska, as it traverses almost 500 miles of remote and wild landscapes and boasts stunning scenery at every turn. Relax, enjoy the views, and don't forget to keep an eye out for moose, bald eagles, and even mountain goats! After arriving at Spencer Glacier, we'll meet our local experts for a briefing before our 7-mile float down the Placer River. No experience necessary – choose to help paddle or simply relax and enjoy the stunning scenery.

Boxed lunch on the train.

Our return to Anchorage gives us a chance to experience the Glacier Discovery train. This journey takes us through Grandview through the Upper Placer River Gorge Canyon for more spectacular scenery and chances to see wildlife. Disembarking in Portage, we'll take a motorcoach for the remaining distance to Anchorage.

At a local restaurant.

At leisure. Prepare for check-out early tomorrow morning and our journey to Seward.

At the hotel.

This morning we'll check out of the hotel and load our luggage onto the bus. Then we'll make our journey south towards Seward, AK. This will be a very scenic ride as we drive along the shores of Cook Inlet and Turnagain Arm. We'll travel through the valleys an canyons of Chugach National Forest, past glaciers, rivers, and lakes. After driving through the mountains of the Kenai Peninsula, we'll come upon the coastal town of Seward. Keep an eye out for birds, moose, and other wildlife throughout our journey. We'll stop at Exit Glacier for a ranger-led interpretive walk in Kenai Fjords National Park. Exit Glacier received its name for serving as the exit for the first recorded crossing of the Harding Icefield in 1968. You may also choose a shorter walk and spend some time at the Nature Center.

Boxed lunch.

After lunch, we'll make our way to the Alaska SeaLife Center.The SeaLife Center is a cutting-edge marine research facility and was established in the aftermath of the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Money from damages assessed by the state on Exxon was used to start up the research center. One special focus was to study the long-term effects of the oil spill on the people, the animals, and the land of South Central Alaska. The Center has become a top-notch research facility, drawing researchers from all over the country. We'll participate in two hands-on educational programs to learn more about the sea animals that call Alaska home. Programs may include a squid dissection, creating bioluminescence, and learning from veterinarians on how to care for stranded or injured marine mammals. After our visit, we'll transfer back to our hotel and check in. The rest of the afternoon is free to explore Seward independently. Your Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Make sure to stop by the harbor to watch the fishermen bring in their catch! You may be able to spot a harbor seal waiting for scraps in the water below.

This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant in downtown Seward or choose a local spot with great harbor views. Choices of fresh local fare are plentiful, and your Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

At leisure.

At the hotel.

This morning we'll make our way to the harbor to embark our catamaran. We'll sail out into beautiful Resurrection Bay and Kenai Fjords National Park for our glacier and wildlife cruise. The Russians who "discovered" the bay on Easter Sunday named it Resurrection Bay; "Easter" was commonly referred to as "Resurrection." Join rangers on board to learn how to identify various mammal and bird species, and have a chance to earn your Junior Ranger badge!

Boxed lunch aboard the boat.

Our cruise continues on this afternoon. We'll keep an eye out for seals, sea lions, otters, numerous birds (including some puffin varieties), and whales set against a backdrop of magnificent tidewater and hanging glaciers. We may even see some glacial calving.

At a local restaurant.

At leisure.

At the hotel.

This morning we'll head over to the Seavey Iditarod Racing Team's facility, located at three-time Iditarod champion Mitch Seavey's homestead. Here we will take a thrilling, 2-mile dogsled "IdidaRide" on their summer "sleds," offering a chance to feel the power, energy, and excitement of the dogs as they pull us along. We'll visit with a member of the team to learn about the trials of this demanding race and meet some of the puppies in training!

On your own at the food truck at Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. This food truck has many lunch options including mac and cheese, soup, chili, reindeer hotdogs, buffalo brats, sandwiches, and more.

We'll leave Seward behind and begin our return to Anchorage via motorcoach with a stop at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. The center cares for hundreds of displaced animals each year to rehabilitate them for return to the wild. They often have iconic Alaskan animals such as musk-ox, moose, caribou, bison, bear, and elk in their care. A staffer will give us a brief look at the enclosures, then we'll have some time to explore on our own and see the animals that interest us most. Back on board our coach, we'll drive the remaining distance to arrive in Anchorage in the early evening.

At a local restaurant. We'll take this opportunity for a program wrap-up, reminiscing about all of the unforgettable sights we have seen throughout this program and all we've learned with new Road Scholar friends.

We will arrive at our original hotel in Anchorage and check in. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.

At the hotel.

If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!