I like Steve's second paragraph suggestions. Lots of great hikes/scrambles along Turnagain Arm (some, I might say, are on SP
). The Alyeska north face one has this extra perk: they give you a free beer at the bar at the top if you tell them you walked up. But I digress from kid-friendly things...
The Crow Pass/Eagle River hike would not have worked too well with my kids when they were 11/13. There's quite a bit of interest at the Crow Pass end, but the last dozen dusty miles into Eagle River Visitor Center might not have the variety of cool stuff that kids appreciate. Depends on the kids.
Stuff I did with my kids at that age:
--Nancy Lake Canoe Trail: This is sooo fun with young people because of the constant variety, the teamwork of getting though the (short) portages, opportunities to swim, fish for easy-to-catch pike, explore ... take 2 days for the 15-lake circle, stopping at Lynx Lake #3 or James Lake cabins (or camping at Lynx). The system is located on the way to Denali. Canoe rentals very convenient.
--Kayaker's Cove Lodge in Resurrection Bay. Very, very affordable. More of a hostel than a lodge. Get there by water taxi. Sea kayaks come with yours stay. Great, sheltered waters to kayak in spectacular scenery with wildlife. For variety, there are awesome scrambles on the peaks behind the cabin, fun with kids if you are careful. Fits well with doing other Seward stuff that is kid-friendly, such as Kenai Fiords tour for whales and ice.
--Rabbit Lake/Suicide Peaks. On SP. Single overnight camping trip. However, timing is important--given this year's snow, do it at the end of your trip rather than the beginning to give things time to green up back there.
--Mt. Magnificent, camping on the ridge.
--Hook Point cabin off Cordova (beaches, seacliffs, shipwreck, amazing mountain hiking--but serious bear precautions required). PM if interested.
tigerlilly wrote: Where is a good place to see critters?....Would goofing around Denali be OK? or would bus ride be too long?
Denali does offer your one pretty sure bet of seeing bears, and the bus ride can work with kids if they are really into critters. For marine critters, go for Kenai Fiords, esp the tours that include Chiswell Islands. For moose, try biking the Anchorage coastal trail from Point Woronzoff south to Kincaid Park. Dall Sheep are on the cliffs at the Anchorage end of Turnagain Arm. The Rainbow Peak hike, also on Turnagain Arm, has a reasonably high return on a variety of wildlife sightings (bear, sheep, moose, lynx, eagles), but on some trips you won't spot anything. Binocs help, of course.
Have fun! Happy to help if you have more questions.