If you want your family vacation to be both entertaining and educational, Alaska is a natural playground bursting with opportunities for leisure and learning.

From the Northern Lights to wildlife and glaciers to Gold Rush history, read on to discover four Alaskan destinations perfect for your next family vacation.

DENALI

This is a walk in the park — a National Park, to be exact. With unmatched views of towering Mount McKinley, dense boreal forest, expansive tundra and diverse wildlife around every switchback, Denali National Park is perfect for hiking. Our top pick for wildlife viewing is the Horseshoe Lake Trail, a moderate three-mile loop trail that traces the railroad bed before descending a steep hill into a picturesque valley overlooking Horseshoe Lake and the Nenana River. Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife of all kinds, from teeny-tiny Arctic ground squirrels to massive moose wading through the lake, wandering caribou and Dall sheep. For every animal you spot, you can find evidence of even more, like squirrel middens, beaver-felled trees and even a beaver dam visible right from the trail.

JUNEAU

From mushers to microbreweries, Alaska’s capital boasts activities for kids and adults alike. Opt for the Juneau Dog Sled Discovery Tour deep into the Tongass National Rain Forest on Douglas Island. Upon arrival, you’ll receive a warm and fuzzy welcome by the camp’s star residents: a trained team of Alaskan dogsledding huskies. Experience the thrill of being pulled by these majestic animals as you race down their summer training trail, winding through fragrant spruce trees in the crisp Alaskan air. Afterward, you and your family will learn about the life of a real Alaskan musher firsthand. You’ll even have the chance to meet (and cuddle!) the newest litter of adorable husky puppies, hearing about how they are raised, trained and cared for on their journey to become professional working sled dogs.

SKAGWAY

Think pioneer history sounds boring? Try ascending 3,000 feet of sky-high cliffs over nearly vertical mountainside. In the late 1800s, Skagway became the mountainous golden gateway for prospectors embarking on the treacherous journey into the Klondike Gold Fields — a journey you can recreate today with a scenic drive up the historic Klondike Highway to the White Pass Summit or by riding inside the vintage train cars of the White Pass & Yukon Route Railway. Watch magnificent Alaskan wilderness unfold over breathtaking views of jagged cliffs and remote valleys on this thrilling journey through history. Visit scenic stops like Pitch Falls and the Moore Bridge Turnout, the Tormented Valley of British Columbia, the famous “Welcome to Alaska” sign and even the original Klondike Trail of ‘98 worn into the rocks — a permanent tribute to the thousands who ventured this way in search of fortune.

GLACIER BAY

With more actively calving tidewater glaciers than any place else in the world, Glacier Bay National Park is the ideal destination for up-close encounters with these massive, ice-blue monoliths. The longest tidewater glacier in North America is the famous Hubbard Glacier, which flows over 75 miles before falling into the sea. Linger on deck and listen for the “white thunder” as slabs of ice break off the glaciers and plunge into the bay with a thunderous crash. With a face seven miles wide and over 600 feet tall, the ice that breaks off from this glacier originally fell as snow as long as 500 years ago. Talk about historic! Plus, glaciers aren’t the only thing to see here. With its millions of acres of mountains, waterways and fjords, Glacier Bay is an excellent spot for viewing wildlife, from bears foraging in the river to soaring bald eagles, bumbling sea lions, majestic orcas and even massive humpback whales.

Whale watching in Glacier Bay