Day trip wildlife and glacier viewing cruise out of Seward was awesome. We also did a half day guided kayaking trip out of Seward. They weren't cheap, but not horrible. We also did a lot of hiking around Seward and went to the marine mammal rescue center, which was cool.

^ I just realize you said non-cruise. I was thinking cruise. DH and DD did a 10 day land tour in Alaska this summer for her 16th bday, but it was definitely a pricy / trip of a lifetime type trip.

The pricy all day activities are unfortunately the most fun. We did not do the helicopter tour but did a mix of white water rafting, spelunking, zip lining, biking, kayaking, salmon fishing, zodiac boats, off roading, etc.

The one stop I think you could save money and go DIY is Juneau. Take an uber to Mendenhall Glacier visitor center, do the 6.8 mile hike, then take the Goldbelt Tram up the mountain right by the cruise port. Other memorable activities and destinations are more remote and involved and you would really would want a guided excursion. You also don't want to risk being one of those people who gets left behind at port.

Hike Flattop in Anchorage
Anchorage is unique to say the least but the museum is great and the Muse restaurant is really good. Walking down 5th avenue is an adventure. Get a reindeer sausage at one of the vendors.
The best views in town are from Resolution Park downtown. Get a drink at the Crows Nest.
Watch the salmon swim at Ship Creek downtown.
The drive alone to Seward is gorgeous and it's an awesome little fishing town
Portage glacier cruise (cheap)
Take the tram at Alyeska, breakfast at the bakeshop and Double Muskie.
Float trip down the Kenai

We did hikes in Denali. I'd also suggest getting a ticket for the "hiker" bus one day (not the tour bus).

In Anchorage we did Point Campbell Park.

In Seward we hiked Glaciers, saw salmon spawning and took a 7 hour day cruise tour of the Fjords and Glaciers. We're not "cruise" people but that day trip was great.

If you like something of the beaten path, and a slight bit weird, visit Whittier. You really only need a couple hours here.

Raft the Cooper River.
Fish on the Kenai
Go to Homer and let them run around the spit and then go Halibut fishing.
Stop at any Bakery but in particular the Alpine Bakery in Girdwood.
Personally, I think Anchorage is a little dirty.
Hiking anywhere, although bring bear spray.
My kids just like walking the beaches on the peninsula and discovering things.

Where in Alaska? It's a big place.

Anonymous wrote:Our teens enjoyed:
Kayaking to a glacier
ATV rides to a homestead - from Talkeetna
White water rafting (in a dry suit) - from Talkeetna
Snorkeling (in a dry suit)
A whale watching trip (from Seward)
Hiking in Denali with a ranger/naturalist - saw the big 5: caribou, mouse, wolf, dahl sheep and bears

So, daily excursions/activities with a price tag times # of family members = $$$$

Forgot to mention there are the remnants of an old mining town at Hatcher pass that are neat to check out.

We’ve taken our teens twice
Most of the pricey adventure things were big hits.

ATVing to a glacier
Adventure hike with ice climbing on the matanuska glacier
Kenai fjords boat tour
Fishing - both river and open water
White water rafting near Denali

But they also loved less pricey activities like hiking and picnicking at Hatcher pass, putzing around Talkeetna, seeing the bears at the alaska wildlife conservation center, and riding up the gondola at Alyeska.

I know you have concerns about safety but there’s really nothing like seeing things from above.
We rode a helicopter to dog sled on a glacier.
And a flightseeing tour of Denali where we landed in a glacier. Both were really awesome.

The two things they didn’t love were kayaking in Seward and riding the shuttle into Denali.

We went with tweens and the following excursions were big hits and we still talk about them years later. I think my kids still would have liked these as teens.

https://sewardhelicopters.com/seward-dog-sled-tours/ (this is the first and only time I have been on a helicopter or let my kids go on a helicopter)

https://wildthingzdogmushing.com/

https://micaguides.com/matanuska-glacier-ice-climbing/ (we did a day of hike-in ice climbing - not the helicopter trip)

kayaking in Chugach State Park (we did this on our own - nothing reserved in advance)

Our entire family had a great time overall. We did a driving trip (not a cruise).

Our teens enjoyed:
Kayaking to a glacier
ATV rides to a homestead - from Talkeetna
White water rafting (in a dry suit) - from Talkeetna
Snorkeling (in a dry suit)
A whale watching trip (from Seward)
Hiking in Denali with a ranger/naturalist - saw the big 5: caribou, mouse, wolf, dahl sheep and bears

Ask them!
There is a lot to do in anchorage (museums, gardens, zoo, trails) or just drive south towards alyeska and look for dall sheep etc.

Alaska is a very expensive trip unless you plan to just hike in nature and wander around towns. Practically speaking, the pricey excursions are popular for a reason: it takes time to travel to the activity and you need a guide (for many reasons, including the potential for encountering bears).

The kids that I know who truly enjoyed Alaska were heavily engaged and entertained by pricey excursions and private charter boats (eg, fishing).

Because I’ve heard mixed reviews by people from my circle (parents liked or loved it, but kids didn’t seem to enjoy it), I haven’t planned a family trip to Alaska—and I’m on the fence as to whether DH and I would enjoy it (as compared to other destinations).

What were your favorite activities to do in Alaska (non cruise) with active teens? Struggling to decide because many of them are nearly all day (6-8 hrs) and pretty expensive. On the fence about anything involving helicopters/ small planes due to safety and cost.
Thanks!