Alaska in Miniature

With our two young kids in tow, ages two and eight months, my husband Matt and I drove nearly 10,000 miles from Los Angeles to Alaska and back, spending a month in a cabin on Alaska's Kenai Peninsula. We camped along the way, and cooked our meals at pit stops. At night, the maroon dome tent became a play fort for the kids, and we piled in the blankets, toys, and books to keep them entertained. All four of us slept peacefully, snuggled together like a pack of wolves.

Two days after entering Canada (day four of the trip), we reached the infamous Alaska Highway. Built during World War II, it runs 1,488 miles from Dawson Creek, British Columbia to Fairbanks, Alaska. Though supposedly paved along its length, it's notorious for lengthy sections of road construction, but also for abundant wildlife and breathtaking scenery. Quaint signs warn drivers to watch for wildlife on the road--moose, caribou and native sheep.

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