A few years ago, my wife and I and our son Dash (our second son was not born then) had a life-changing opportunity to travel to Alaska by train. Whitney and I had been racing for a long time, but none of us had enjoyed a comfortable train ride (free viewing of broadcast vistas) since our Eurail-pass college tour. Happily, we were living in a time when the old railway system was being revitalized, and railways around the world were being revitalized for family-friendly tourism. What we were most excited about was that the rides we were going to board were a brand new GoldStar first-class Alaska Railroad service; is among the best ways to sample the amazing beauty of the interior of the state.
I always thought we were going to take our first trip to Alaska on one of those ubiquitous cruises, but the train was in line with our circumstances, what if Dash was two years “inaccessible”. Traveling by train also gave us the ability to get in and out of the lane as many destinations as we had hoped – thus enabling us to enjoy the thrill of a helicopter ride over the breathtaking peaks of the Denali National. However, our favorite place was the last and smallest: the small harbor town of Seward, where we were able to enjoy the sundial family trips; visiting the most complete aquarium I have ever seen (and from Dash’s point of view, it was the highlight of the trip), the Alaska SeaLife Center; and a spectacular glacier cruise near the pod of orcas.
Anyway, our vivid memories of the trip took place on the train. As we boarded the Denali Star at Fairbanks, we had to put an end to our anxiety — you would not blame us, and we would spend hours with the toddler. Happily, Dash boarded the train quickly, mimicking its whistle with his voice as it moved, and soon, he was settled comfortably. I started to relax until Whitney came back from the GoldStar open-air view, with her hair open and eyes open, telling me about a “religious” related experience. Before I got down to Denali, I checked it out and saw what he meant. (Remember those York Peppermint Patties ads? I felt that way.)
Riding trains later was also fun; even the longest journey (from Denali to Anchorage — eight hours!) was a breeze. Dash succumbed (usually) to the rhythm of the train wheels and fell asleep, giving Whitney and me a much-needed opportunity to share a small Alaska beverage and get lost in the snow-covered mountains just outside our window. As we disembarked (hesitantly) on our last trip, we felt more comfortable than when we boarded — not the usual feeling of parents at the end of the 470-mile journey with their children!
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POSTED IN: TRAVEL · TAGGED: ALASKA WITH KIDS, EDUCATIONAL TRAVEL, FAMILY TRAVEL, FAMILY TRIP, FAMILY VACATION