What To See And Do

Glacier Viewing

Get up close to the truly ancient, enormous rivers of ice that sculpted Alaska's impressive landscape. Visiting glaciers is one of the highlights of a journey to Alaska and there are an estimated 100,000 glaciers in the State, covering three percent of the landscape and creating most of its rivers. Glaciers are rivers of ice that flow from ice packs high in the mountains, where more snow falls than melts. In constant motion, they can move at speeds of several feet a day.

Tidewater glaciers, which are visible from your cruise ship, flow to the sea and are found at the head of fjords or inlets which they carved while retreating. Calving occurs when pieces of a tidewater glacier break off and fall into the sea and the thundering sounds associated with calving glaciers as pieces fall into the sea are as impressive as the sight of it happening.

By Land
A number of glaciers are within viewing distance of Alaska's highways, and you can even walk up to and on some of them!

By Sea
Your cruise liner will probably more than satisfy your requirements as they pull up close to the glaciers in Glacier Bay National Park, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Prince William Sound, however smaller boat trips are available carrying sightseers up close to the huge faces of blue ice in Prince William Sound and Kenai Fjords National Park. These trips are readily available in Valdez, Whittier and Seward.

By Air
Alternatively you can take flightseeing trips aboard small planes and helicopters for an aerial view of the entire glacier flow which may sometimes even include a glacier landing. Rest assured, flightseeing companies that land on the ice provide cold-weather gear and guide you on a safe area of the glacier!

Alaska’s main glaciers and viewing areas include Glacier Bay National Park & Reserve; Hubbard Glacier; College Fjord; Tracy Arm & the twin Sawyer Glaciers; Mendenhall Glacier & the Juneau Icefield; Columbia Glacier & Prince William Sound.

Wildlife Viewing

The pristine wilderness of Alaska has the privilege of being home to some of the world’s most incredible wildlife. Within such a large expanse of land with over 47 State and National Parks the opportunities for wildlife viewing are simply endless and an amazing experience not to be missed. The state has many species which aren’t found anywhere else in the country as well as being a haven for many facing extinction in the rest of the world. It is home to the largest population of bald eagles, black and brown bears on the planet. Where else can you see polar bears, bald eagles, blue and humpbacked whales, gray wolves, grizzly bears, orcas, lynx, moose, and hundreds of other rare and endangered species in their original and undisturbed natural habitats?

Whale Watching

Whale watching is a favourite Alaska pastime with humpback and killer whales present in large numbers. Humpback whales are common sights in Alaska from late spring to the autumn as most of them return there after spending the winter in Hawaii. The best places to spot them is in the Inside Passage, Prince William Sound, and Glacier Bay. Humpbacks are easy to spot. When they surface to breathe, they shoot a plume of mist and water into the air and make a short, puffing sound. Find this, and you’ll probably see their tales surface a short time later as they come to the surface and dive back down to the depths of the ocean.

Bear Viewing

Bear watching is one of Alaska’s most popular visitor attractions as the state contains more than 98 percent of America’s entire population of brown bears, plus it is also home to large populations of black bears and polar bears, although visitors will rarely see the latter. In the summer cruise months the bears are extremely active and you don't have to rely on chance to see them as guides can help you do it safely at any of a number of parks.

Brooks River Falls in Katmai National Park is world-famous for its bear viewing possibilities and despite being in a remote, roadless part of Alaska, Brooks River is fairly easy to get to with day trips available from Anchorage. It can be expensive but very worthwhile as there are about 2,000 brown bears in Katmai National Park and during the peak season at Brooks Falls (usually July and September) there can be as many as 60 to 80 bears on the river and up to about 12 bears fishing for salmon at the falls at once. Whilst Brooks River Falls may be the best place to nearly guarantee a bear sighting, it is far from the only place in Alaska to see bears. Denali National Park is one of the most popular areas in Alaska to view bears in their natural habitat and are frequently spotted by visitors on one of the many bus tours available.So whether you have a couple of hours or a full day, the bears are out there; you just have to select a way to find them.

Flightseeing

Distinctively Alaskan, flightseeing by plane or helilcopter is an ideal way to really feel the magnitude of Alaska. A variety of tours, excursions and charters are available, from 30-minute hops to full-day outings. Flying is a way of life in Alaska as roads cover less than 25 percent of the state. A trip to Alaska would not be complete without a flightseeing excursion giving visitors a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take in the majesty of Alaska's untapped wilderness. From one end of the state to the other, there’s never a shortage of pilots to take you for a bird’s eye view of this great land. Circle majestic Mt. McKinley, land on a glacier and go exploring, access backcountry wilderness, visit a remote village or drift peacefully in a floatplane past bears as they feast on summer salmon.

Many companies base flightseeing and air taxi services in Anchorage. The distinct aircraft can take off and land on water, thanks to pontoons affixed to their undersides. An abundance of flightseeing operations can also be found north of Anchorage in Talkeetna.

Kayaking

Kayaking in Alaska is one of the best ways to view marine wildlife up close. Sea lions, otters, seals and whales are frequently spotted while on the water, and spotting animals from a kayak provides a sense of awe that is hard to match from the deck of a large ship. Sitting inches above the icy-gray waters of Southcentral's coastal regions and paddling amongst the ice and wildlife is a simply wonderful experience. It's the perfect way to explore the coves and islands at your own pace, nudging up close to a floating iceberg, paddling among jumping salmon and better still there are no motors to spoil the experience.

Kayaks are available for rent, or you can take a guided tour. Kayaks come in one-person and two-person varieties and are very stable and can be manoeuvered with a rudder. Renting your own kayak requires some experience, but most companies that rent kayaks are happy to provide visitors with instruction and advice to get them on their way. The learning curve for most people is about five minutes, and it doesn't take an uber-athlete to enjoy the experience.

Alaska’s kayaking hotbeds include Prince William Sound, Kachemak Bay and Resurrection Bay; the Inside Passage; and Kenai Fjords National Park and Glacier Bay National Park and rental is available in just about all of Alaska’s coastal towns such as Ketchikan, Sitka, Juneau, Seward, Homer, Whittier and Kodiak.

Rafting

While kayaking can be a soothing day spent floating along at just about any pace, rafting is dictated by the river and can be a thrill ride or a lazy meander, depending on what type of river and rafting tour you choose. Expert guides can make the swirling white water of a foaming river fun and safe. In addition to location and mild or wild water, rafters have a choice when it comes to the effort they want to expend on a trip. Most companies offer both paddle boats and oar boats. In paddle boats, participants grab a paddle and respond to the commands of the boat's guide. Everyone is more likely to get wet. In oar rafts, the guests sit back and watch while the guide does the work, directing the boat through the rapids and along the river. Companies offer trips through Class IV and Class V rapids or both. .

Rafting makes a fun group or family activity and can be enjoyed all over the state from the Kenai Peninsula to Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and from Denali National Park to the Brooks Range. Near Denali National Park, one of the most popular activities is to raft the Nenana River. Tours range from an hour or two to a full day.

Dogsledding

Dogsledding or “mushing” gives visitors a taste of Last Frontier life and legend. And even in the snowless months of summer, dogsled rides are available on glaciers. Helicopters ferry visitors into the mountains, where glaciers provide year-round ice and snow. Teams of huskies and their handlers already on the glacier demonstrate the features of the sleds and escort the visitors on a safe trail. Don't worry about lugging your winter coat - the tour company provides warm parkas and boots. Glacier dogsled tours are available in the summer at Juneau, Skagway and Seward.

Panning for Gold

The lure of gold touched almost every corner of Alaska and there's still gold in Alaska's hills and streams and you can still pan for gold for free at several streams in the Interior, including the one where the Fairbanks gold rush began. Opportunities include joining a ranger-guided walking tour through the restored buildings of the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park in Skagway; panning for gold in Juneau and Fairbanks or take a day-trip on the White Pass & Yukon Route Railway to experience gold-rush era travel..

Fishing

An angler's dream, Alaska offers some of the most spectacular fly-fishing, saltwater fishing, freshwater fishing and even ice fishing in the world. There are five kinds of wild Pacific salmon plus halibut the size of barn doors, rainbow trout that weigh 15 pounds, and delicate arctic grayling that slash at flies. It can be as easy as pulling off the side of the road and casting a line. Or you can charter a boat or float plane to whisk you off to a secluded fishing hole where you can reel in one of the more than 627 species that inhabit the Alaskan waters. With over 3 million lakes, 3,000 rivers and countless fish-filled streams, you can see the challenge isn't catching fish, but deciding what kind to catch and where!

The Northern Lights - Aurora Borealis

The aurora is active all year in Alaska but can only be seen when the Alaska nights are longest and the sky darkest. Although they are at their most dazzling outside the cruise season from December to March they can still sometimes be seen from late August through to early April. Although they can be seen around Anchorage, the light show is often much brighter and reliable the further north you go towards Fairbanks and the Arctic region.

History & Culture

Although Alaska's statehood is relatively brief, the state's history is long and colorful shaped by a series of fur, timber, gold, fishing and oil booms and busts. Alaska Natives, who make up 15 percent of the state's population, maintain many traditions, such as whaling, subsistence hunting and fishing, and old ways of making crafts and art and are keen to share their cultural traditions with visitors. Native heritage history and culture can be found in such diverse places as Ketchikan and Anchorage, as well as in hundreds of villages where people live in traditional ways. Alaska visitors can experience the state’s unique Native culture through many avenues including totem carving, Native dancing, the blanket toss, traditional music, crafts and festivals as well as cultural and historical museums and heritage centres. There are a number of venues that provide opportunities to interact with Native Alaskans, to learn about traditions, crafts, music and other cultural distinctions.

Railroads

The great state of Alaska is served by two railroads - the Alaska Railroad and the White Pass & Yukon Route Railway. The Interior and Southcentral regions are served by the Alaska Railroad, which in the summer transports tens of thousands of visitors. The Alaska Railroad's two main trains are the Denali Star, which connects Anchorage and Fairbanks through the mountainscape of Denali National Park, and the Coastal Classic, which connects Anchorage and Seward. One train goes each way each day on each route. Between mid-May and mid-September, passenger trains run daily between Anchorage and Fairbanks. Passengers often continue to Seward from Anchorage. The Alaska Railroad is the busier of the two. Its two routes shuttle summer sightseers between Seward and Anchorage and Anchorage, Denali and Fairbanks.

The White Pass & Yukon Route railway, based in Skagway, is a popular excursion for cruise-ship passengers. The historic route, which echoes the trip taken by stampeders during the Klondike gold rush of the late 1890s, crosses into Canada and returns to Skagway two or three times a day during the cruise-ship season.

Shopping

Wherever you go, you'll find unique Alaskan products and crafts. Be sure to look for the “Made in Alaska” logo, which indicates an item genuinely manufactured in Alaska. If you find a silver hand logo, it identifies the item as a Native Alaskan handicraft. Handcrafted items, made of walrus ivory and other by-products of subsistence hunting, provide an income source for Native Alaskan artisans and a valuable investment for the buyer. Be careful though – some wildlife products cannot be transported through customs without special permits.