For a great Alaska trip, start with the letter 'K'

I'm not sure why, but many of my favorite Alaska adventures begin with "K."

Kodiak is nearly a year-round destination for our family. There's definitely more to do in the summer, though. In addition to harvesting some salmon and halibut on a deep-sea charter, you can enjoy some delicious "Night Watch Porter" from the harborside brewery, Kodiak Island Brewing Company.

Make plans to sail on a gourmet dinner cruise with Marty and Marion Owen. Their boat, the "Sea Breeze," is a beautiful teak-trimmed motor yacht. They set sail each afternoon for an easy cruise around the harbor to see sea

lions, eagles, puffins and lots of other critters. Then, they dock in a protected cove and serve up a delicious meal featuring Alaska seafood and fresh produce from Marion's garden.

History buffs will love a trip to Fort Abercrombie, the former Army base that was once the command center for Alaska's World War II campaigns. In addition to the great views of the ocean and hiking trails to the beach, there's also a wartime museum in one of the former ammo bunkers

Learn more about the history of Kodiak Island's people at the Aluutiq Museum. To learn about the strong Russian influence on the island, check out the Baranov Museum. Both the Aluutiq Museum and the Baranov Museum are downtown, just a block from the ferry terminal.

The Kennicott area near McCarthy is a great adventure, too. Okay, I'm pushing it with the "K" theme. The community is McCarthy, and it's in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, but you get the idea. It's an eight-hour drive from Anchorage to the footbridge in McCarthy, which allows for the three-hour drive for the last 60 miles on the McCarthy Road. This runs from Chitina, across the Copper River back to McCarthy. You can drive it -- just go slow. Once in McCarthy, you can stay at Ma Johnson's Historic Hotel in "downtown" McCarthy. Or, you can head up the hill to the old Kennicott Mining District and stay at Kennicott Glacier Lodge. Both offer comfy accommodations.

There are several "must do" activities once you arrive. You have to go on the Mill Tour of the 14-story building. This is where the copper ore came in from a series of trams. Your guide will walk you through the process and detail the discovery and development of the mine and the railroad. It's a fascinating story.

You have to go hiking on the Root Glacier, which flows right past the Kennicott Glacier Lodge. It's a two-mile hike up to the glacier. Go with St. Elias Alpine Guides or Kennicott Wilderness Guides. They both do a great job. You can choose from a simple glacier hike (with crampons), or an ice-climbing excursion. Go ahead -- go ice climbing! It's great fun, and you get a closer look at those crevasses, I promise you!

There are plenty of other optional activities, including flightseeing, hiking, rafting and mountain biking. Don't miss it.