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5 Awesome Pacific Northwest Road Trips

If you want a family vacation that guarantees rugged landscapes, outdoor adventures and memories that will last a lifetime, then it’s time to take your clan on a road trip across the Pacific Northwest. There are an endless number of routes, destinations and famous sites to see—we picked our five favorites to help get the planning started. Click through for details on where to go, stay and play on your getaway.

Northward Ho!—Anchorage to Denali State Park—161.1 Miles

The Route

Anchorage to Denali State Park Ak: Follow AK-1 N and AK-3 N for 98 mi. to Talkeetna. Take Talkeetna Spur Rd and AK-3 N to Danil State Park.

The Starting Point

Keep your eyes peeled, you might spot a moose or two as you head out of Anchorage!

Denali

Do
Hop on a bus and take the kids on a tour that will give them the opportunity to get up close and personal with a real grizzly bear. Denali Park Village offers wilderness tours that will take you 62 miles into the national park where you are likely to see a variety of animals including moose, caribou, wolves, and sheep while you get the full Alaskan tundra wilderness experience.

For a truly unforgettable time, take to the sky on a flightseeing tour with Denali Summit Flight. This tour will take your clan almost 21,000 feet up for an incredible view of the Denali summit and the surrounding areas.

Stay
The Grand Denali Lodge and the Denali Bluffs Hotel are two great options for your Alaska road trip accommodations. The lodge has panoramic views of the Denali Canyon and it is located under a mile away from the National Park entrance. You can stay in a guest room or reserve a cabin for extra room. The Bluffs Hotel is located on the Sugar Loaf Mountain slopes close to area attractions and has cozy rooms with private balconies.

Eat
Head to the Denali National Park restaurant—The Salmon Bake— to experience a real Alaskan menu. Try the famous Halibut tacos or the Cedar plank salmon. If the younger set isn't ready for fish, not to worry, there are burgers just waiting to be served up!

photo: Erik Segerdell via Flickr

What is your favorite PNW family road trip? Share it with us in the comments below.

—Annette Benedetti