Travel with Kids: Alaska

While many travel videos covering Alaska focus on the state's short summer (often spotlighting the lush, temperate garden areas of the Inside Passage frequented by cruise ships), this entry in the Travel with Kids series starts near the Arctic Circle and then heads for the interior city of Fairbanks—during winter! Bundled in weather-appropriate clothing, the Roberts family (Jeremy and Carrie, and young sons Nathan and Seamus) go mushing with a team of sled dogs, cruise on snowmobiles, and visit the Aurora Ice Museum (the building and interior furnishings are made entirely of carved ice). The family also visits the geo-thermal-powered Chena Hot Springs and learns about the former territory's earliest known inhabitants at the Museum of History and Art and the Alaska Native Heritage Center in Anchorage. Renting an RV, the clan drive through the vast, wildlife-filled wilderness to the Kenai Peninsula, stopping at Homer (where they kayak in Kachamek Bay), Seward (for whale watching), and Whittier—on Prince William Sound—where they observe glaciers crashing into the water. DVD extras include a trip planner with information on accommodations, transportation, and other activities; tips and resources; an “Alaska at Home” section with crafts, recipes, and a wildlife guide; and a bloopers reel. As a vacation guide packed with helpful advice—or a travelogue to enjoy in a warm living room—this is highly recommended. Aud: P. (C. Block)