I took my 85-year-old dad on a bucket-list trip to a remote part of Alaska. It changed how I think about aging.

After traveling to Alaska with my 85-year-old dad, I learned aging doesn't have to halt adventures.

Catherine Cody

As I looked out the window of a tiny seaplane approaching Alaska's remote Katmai National Park, I felt my 85-year-old dad squeeze my shoulder from the seat behind me.The roar of the engine made conversation impossible, but I didn't need words to understand his excitement when he spotted a herd of caribou galloping along the river below us.As the seaplane dipped closer to the water, we saw our first brown bear of the trip, half submerged in the river and swiping a fat, pink salmon with its enormous paw. We were awestruck.I couldn't believe we were experiencing this together.Exploring the Alaskan wilderness with an 85-year-old might sound unimaginable and a little worrisome, but my dad proved to me it's possible.My dad loves traveling, but he had never been to a national park

My dad prepared extensively for our trip to Katmai National Park.

Catherine Cody