Day 1: This is the day we have been waiting and planning for! For those who choose, we meet at the office in Yoder for our transfer to the Wichita airport. We fly into Anchorage, Alaska’s largest city, to start our journey. Overnight in Anchorage.

Day 2: This morning enjoy breakfast before leaving by motorcoach. Traveling on Highway 1, our first stop is a picture opportunity at the Matanuska Glacier. This is the largest glacier accessible by vehicles in the United States. Its terminus feeds the Matanuska River which we will be traveling alongside this morning. We stop at the Wrangell St. Elias Visitors Center to learn about the largest National Park in the United States, Elias National Park. We also visit Bridal and Horse Tail Falls. (B, L)

Day 3: After breakfast, we board the Stan Stephens Columbia Glacier Cruise, where we visit Prince William Sound and Meers or Columbia Glacier (ice pending). In addition to the amazing ice, we will see wildlife along the way that calls the Sound home. We also learn about the mining, oil shipping, earthquake, and fishing history of the area. A light meal is served on board. (B, L)

Day 4: What an exciting day is in store for us! After breakfast, we depart for a unique day trip experience. We fly on small charter planes into the community of McCarthy. On our flight, we see awe-inspiring views of Mt. Blackburn and Wrangell–St. Elias National Park and Preserve. A flyby of Kennicott and McCarthy before we land helps orient us to the area we are about to explore. We visit Kennicott Mine, an abandoned copper mining camp established in 1903. Kennecott Mining Corporation operated 5 mines in the area. Kennecott became a bustling mining camp filled with miners and their families. Here we view the giant red mill building from the old Kennecott Copper Company, which stands 14 stories above the Kennicott Glacier. After our flight back to Chitna, we take a tour of the Fish Wheel on the Cooper River. This is a well-known area where Alaskan natives get their winter supply of salmon. (B, L, D)

Day 5: This morning we head up the Richardson Highway to Fairbanks, making stops along the Pipeline. Lunch is served at Gakona Lodge. Upon arrival in Fairbanks, we enjoy dinner before checking into our hotel for a 2 night stay. (B, L, D)

Day 6: Today is a free day on your own. We get many requests to experience “North of the Arctic Circle” since it is only about 150 miles from Fairbanks. You may choose to fly to Fort Yukon, a historic fort, or Utqiaqvik (Barrow), the northernmost point in the United States. Maybe you would like a driving tour to the Arctic Circle or a drive/fly to the Arctic Circle. Fly to Anaktuvuk Pass, a remote Eskimo Village or Manley Hot Springs. There are attractions right in Fairbanks, including golfing or fishing. Or it may feel good to simply relax at the lodge for part of the day. We will help you make arrangements for your free day. (B)

Day 7: This morning we board the Riverboat Discovery for a trip that will introduce us to a family who has made the rivers of Alaska a way of life for five generations. No stop in Alaska is complete without talking about the Iditarod. We visit Susan Butcher’s home, Trail Breaker Kennels, for a hands-on dogsledding and Iditarod demonstration. Lunch is included. Leaving Fairbanks this afternoon, we are in store for an incredibly scenic drive as we head south on Highway 3. By late afternoon we arrive outside the Denali Park entrance for our 2-night stay. Upon arrival, we can explore the area outside the park. (B, L)

Day 8: This morning we board the park bus for a narrated tour into Denali Park. An experienced driver/guide shares the natural and cultural history of Denali. We enjoy views of the Alaska Range while hearing stories of the historic climbs of Denali. If weather permits, we may enjoy a sighting of “The Mountain” and possibly wildlife. Bring your cameras and binoculars for this view of Denali! (B, L)

Day 9: This morning we have a early departure for Talkeetna. Embarking on Mahay’s Jet Boat. On their boat, we experience a 130 mile round trip river excursion through Denali State Park and into the nationally registered Wild River Park of “Devil’s Gorge.” Along the way we stop and see how the early settlers of the area lived. There is also a visit to an authentic trapper’s cabin with its original furnishings to see how trappers lived in "Bush" Alaska at the turn of the century. Enjoy shopping and exploring this very unique community of Talkeetna which will be home for the night. (B, L)

Day 10: After a leisurely morning we leave Talkeetna and continue south, stopping at a Musk Ox Farm in the Matanuska Valley. We will have some free time in Anchorage this evening. (B, L)

Day 11: An early morning awaits us as we board the Alaska Railroad Goldstar for a scenic train ride to Seward. Discover for yourself why National Geographic Traveler ranked the Coastal Classic Train among their Top Ten Train Rides in North America. Departing Anchorage, the train winds along Turnagain Arm, where the steep mountains of the Chugach Range plunge directly to the sea. Then it veers away from the road system into the backcountry wilderness – and what many consider to be the most scenic stretch of the entire Railbelt. Upon a late morning arrival into Seward the train comes to a halt on the shores of Resurrection Bay. This afternoon explore Alaska SeaLife Center on the shores of Resurrection Bay. We get a "windows to the sea" with close encounters with puffins, octopus, harbor seals, sea lions, and other marine life. (B)

Day 12: Today we cruise the Kenai Fjords National Park on our wildlife and glacier tour. We travel to towering walls of ice where you can hear the glaciers move as well as see the brilliant blues in the ice. The most commonly seen sea life includes otter, sea lions, seals, eagles, and possibly whales. Lunch is served on board the vessel. We return to Seward for the night. (B, L)

Day 13: Today with wonderful memories of our awesome vacation in ALASKA, we travel back to Yoder. (B)

$tbd