Nestled in the rugged beauty of Alaska’s Katmai National Park—where wild rivers tumble over salmon-filled waterfalls—one family’s legacy has helped shape both the tourism and aviation landscape of the region. At the center is Sean Petersen, owner and operator of Fly Katmai, an aviation company specializing in day trips to the world-renowned bear viewing and fishing areas of Brooks Falls.

The native Tinglit people called the area “Kootznoowoo”, meaning fortress of the bears.

The first thing you’ll notice about Ketchikan is the sky, buzzing with sea planes. Dubbed the sea plane capital of Alaska, there are over...

Katmai National Park holds a special place in the heart of Alaskans. For 10,000 years, since the close of the last ice age, the progression