Things to do in Alaska
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Anchorage Helicopter Tour: Glacier Landing & Chugach MountainsYou fly from Girdwood airport over the Chugach Mountains, land on a glacier for thirty minutes of walking and exploring with your pilot, and return with views of meltwater pools and backcountry wildlife. The flight is weather-dependent, small groups only, and includes all fees and taxes—just arrange your own transport from Anchorage or add their shuttle service when you book.Is it for me?Book this if you want to land on a real glacier without arranging your own transport logistics or worrying about timing—the fixed schedule and small-group format mean you show up, fly, and the rest is handled. The weather dependency is the only catch, but that's also what keeps the ice safe and the views genuine.
Resurrection Bay Wildlife Cruise: Gray Whales in SpringResurrection Bay wildlife cruise from Seward is a 4-hour boat tour through protected waters in search of migrating gray whales and resident marine wildlife. An experienced captain and naturalist crew narrate the journey, sharing insights about the animals, the area's history and the landscape. Binoculars, coffee, tea and water are included; the boat operates in all weather, so dress for the conditions.Is it for me?This is a shared boat tour led by a captain and naturalist, so you watch and listen rather than navigate yourself—it suits anyone who wants to see migrating whales and marine wildlife without needing to know where to look or what you're seeing. The fixed 4-hour schedule and the crew's expertise mean the day is structured for you; you show up dressed for cold water and the rest unfolds.
Denali Flightseeing Tour from Talkeetna: Glacier Landing OptionYou fly 1.25 hours above Denali's glaciers and peaks in a small ski-equipped aircraft with a pilot's live narration on your headset. The optional glacier landing adds 30 minutes and lets you step onto the ice. Local transfers to Talkeetna airport are available. Bring a camera and expect to see the Kahiltna Glacier, the Ruth Glacier's 4,000-foot gorge, and seven major glaciers across the Alaska Range.Is it for me?Right for travelers who want to see Denali's glaciers and peaks without hiking or a multi-day expedition—the flight does the traveling for you. Expect to be airborne for 1.25 hours with views that change constantly; if you add the glacier landing, plan for closer to two hours total and the chance to step onto the ice.
Matanuska Glacier: Guided Winter Hike & Scenic Drive with LunchYou’ll walk across Alaska’s Matanuska Glacier with a local guide who knows every crack and story in the ice. Feel your boots grip blue glacial fields, stop for photos you’ll keep forever, then thaw out over lunch with mountain views before heading back to Anchorage — and maybe find yourself thinking about that silence long after.
Kenai Fjords cruise: Captain-led glacier and whale tourA seven-hour guided cruise through Kenai Fjords National Park departing from Seward, where your captain chooses the day's route based on current wildlife sightings, ice conditions and expert knowledge. The tour includes a wildlife guide, lunch and extended time on the water to maximize encounters with tidewater glaciers, whales, puffins, otters and sea lions. Dress in layers; binoculars and a camera are worth bringing.Is it for me?Book this cruise if you want the captain's expertise to drive where you go—the flexible routing means you chase the morning's best wildlife reports instead of following a fixed itinerary, which is what turns a seven-hour boat ride into a hunt for breaching whales and calving glaciers.
Skagway: Waterfalls & Wildlife Cruise with Smoked SalmonYou’ll ride a heated boat from Skagway along Lynn Canal, spotting waterfalls up close and watching eagles circle overhead. Taste local smoked salmon at a glacial harbor stop while your guide shares stories about Alaska’s wild past. This cruise isn’t just scenery—it’s full of small moments that stick with you long after you’re back on shore.
Bears, Trains & Icebergs Tour Alaska: Spencer Glacier floatThe Bears, Trains & Icebergs Tour combines a roundtrip on the Glacier Discovery Train, a guided visit to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, and a 2-hour float past icebergs on Spencer Glacier Lake and down 7 river miles of the Placer River Valley. The tour runs 7 to 9 hours and includes a sack lunch, snacks, and a live English-speaking guide; children from age 2 are welcome. Departures are at 9 AM or 10:40 AM.Is it for me?Choose the 9 AM departure if you want the full day to unfold without rushing; the 10:40 AM start compresses the same itinerary into a tighter window, so the earlier time gives you more breathing room at each stop. Both options cover the same three landscapes—the center, the train, and the glacier float—so pick based on when you prefer to start your morning.
Ketchikan: Neets Bay Bear Observatory & Tongass Forest TourYou ride a coach from the Ketchikan port to Clover Pass Lodge, then board an enclosed boat for a one-hour cruise through Tongass National Forest to Neets Bay. A guided walk brings you to the bear observatory, where you watch black bears feed in the salmon stream for thirty minutes. The boat and coach return you to port with a snack included. The whole experience takes your port hours into the wilderness and back.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see wild bears without arranging your own permit or transport from the cruise port—the exclusive permit access and fixed schedule mean you get a rare wildlife experience that fits inside your port hours.
Meares Glacier Cruise Valdez: Prince William Sound WildlifeYou board in Valdez, cruise Prince William Sound for seven and a half hours watching glaciers and wildlife, and return with lunch and snacks included. The long duration means you see more animals and spend real time at the glacier face instead of a quick pass-by. Bring a camera, layers for the water, and if you have special dietary needs beyond vegetarian, pack your own meals.Is it for me?Book this if you want to spend a full day on the water watching glaciers and wildlife without arranging your own boat or managing the timing — the eight-hour window is what makes it possible to see animals on their own schedule instead of rushing between stops.
Ziplining in Skagway: Tongass National Forest over WaterfallsZiplining in Skagway takes you from the cruise dock through downtown and along the coast to a mountain base in the Tongass National Forest, where you suit up and fly a course of multiple lines—the longest stretches 750 feet—that pass directly over glacially-fed waterfalls. A live guide leads the whole day, which runs about four hours and includes the Unimog ride up the mountain, safety briefing, the full zipline course with four suspension bridges for photos, and the ride back down. Children from age 6 are welcome; you must weigh between 50 and 265 pounds.Is it for me?The four-hour day includes a scenic drive and a rugged mountain climb before you reach the ziplines, so plan for a full morning or afternoon away from your ship. The course itself is built for all fitness levels, and the brake system means you set your own pace on every line—speed is optional, not required.
Dog Sledding in Alaska: Hands-On Experience with Iditarod MushersThis hands-on dog sledding activity in Alaska puts you behind the sled on a wheeled cart with a live guide and expert mushers from a Top 10 Iditarod Kennel. You'll run the dog team through a training course, learn what "Gee" and "Haw" mean, watch an active eagle's nest nearby, and get a presentation on mushing before cuddling husky puppies. Pickup is included; the experience runs about 75 minutes and suits all fitness levels.Is it for me?You're doing the driving yourself on the wheeled cart, not watching a demonstration—the dogs respond to your commands and you steer the run. This suits anyone with a free afternoon who wants to handle the team rather than just observe, and it works for families because children ride along and get hands-on time with the puppies afterward.
Fairbanks: Arctic Circle Day Trip with Yukon River & PickupYou’ll cross into the Arctic Circle from Fairbanks with a local guide, stop at the Trans-Alaska Pipeline viewpoint, stand by the Yukon River’s edge, and collect your own Arctic Circle certificate. Expect big skies, strange silences, and stories that stick with you long after you’re home.
Ketchikan: Pub Crawl with Local Stories & DrinksYou’ll join a real Ketchikan pub crawl led by a local who knows every story behind those weathered bar stools. Sip top-selling drinks at three unique pubs, swap laughs with bartenders, see vintage photos, and end up feeling like part of this rainy Alaskan town for an afternoon.
Anchorage Northern Lights Tour & Photography with PickupYou're picked up at 9pm and driven to a heated shelter outside Anchorage, where a professional guide uses weather forecasting to position you for the aurora. The tour runs only on nights with strong visibility odds, includes hot drinks, snacks, and photography instruction or portraits, and returns you to your hotel around 3am. You pay only if the tour operates.Is it for me?A good fit if you're serious about seeing the northern lights without arranging your own transport or guessing which nights are worth staying up. The 9pm-to-3am window is exactly when the aurora is most active in winter, and the forecast-only operation means you're not paying for a night when conditions are poor.
Sitka Private Tour: Bears, Raptor Center & Castle Hill ViewsYou’ll step off the dock in Sitka and straight into real Alaskan moments: walking forest trails with a local guide, watching rescued bears play at Fortress of the Bear (just remember to reserve), meeting eagles at the Raptor Center, and catching harbor views from Castle Hill. This private tour moves at your pace—so you can linger where it matters most.
Seward: Resurrection Bay Kayak to Tonsina PointYou paddle 1.5 miles across Resurrection Bay to Tonsina Point with a professional guide, explore the point and its wildlife, then paddle back — all in one morning. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, along with snacks and hot drinks. No kayaking experience is required, and the small-group format means the guide can adjust the pace and share details about the bay's geology, glaciers, and animals as you go.Is it for me?Book this if you want to try sea kayaking without committing to a full day or a remote wilderness trip — the short distance and guided pace mean you get the experience of paddling Resurrection Bay and spotting wildlife without the logistics of arranging your own transport or timing.
Halibut Fishing in Alaska: Small Group, Farther WatersHalibut fishing in Alaska puts a rod in your hands on a hardtop aluminum cabin cruiser with 5 or 6 other guests and a licensed guide, fishing depths of 200-400 feet or more on the halibut flats. The guide positions you to entice the fish and instructs you on the hook, but the fight is yours — if the rod bends, you feel the power of the ecosystem pulling back. The boat travels farther into distant, productive waters than most half-day charters, which means better odds at halibut, rockfish, cod, and other deep-sea species, plus coastal scenery and wildlife like whales, sea lions, and porpoises. The Inside Passage shelters you behind islands when weather moves in from the open sea.Is it for me?Book this trip if you want to fish farther into productive waters than half-day charters typically go — the distance is what gives you better odds at halibut and a real chance at wildlife, and the small group means the guide can position each person where the fish are moving.
Ketchikan: Self-Drive Zodiac Boat & Wildlife SearchYou drive your own Zodiac through Southeast Alaska's rainforest islands, following a guide boat in search of bald eagles, seals, sea lions, whales, and orca. The tour includes three to four wildlife stops, all gear, and hot beverages on return. Expect the pace and route to shift based on where animals are that day.Is it for me?Right for travelers who want to be active on the water rather than just observe from a passenger seat, and who are comfortable with cold spray and a moving boat. You'll be out on the water for several hours, so plan for weather and bring a camera you don't mind getting wet.
Mendenhall Glacier Hike Juneau: 7-Mile Trek & Glacier ViewsYou hike 7 miles through Alaska's largest temperate rainforest, gaining 800 feet of elevation over rocky, slippery terrain, to reach a ridge overlooking Mendenhall Glacier's blue ice face and Nugget Falls. Your guide leads the pace, provides snacks and water, and handles transport from your hotel. Plan for 4 to 5 hours on the trail if you're fit and conditioned for steep hiking with a backpack.Is it for me?Right for hikers with solid fitness who want to see Mendenhall Glacier's blue ice and surrounding peaks without a multi-day expedition. Expect 4 to 5 hours of steep, rocky terrain with a full backpack—that's what gets you to the glacier vista and back in one day.
Fairbanks: Private Dog Sledding Yukon Quest Trail & YurtYou’ll bundle up in Fairbanks’ deep winter, meet each husky by name, then glide along the historic Yukon Quest trail wrapped in furs under open sky. Expect laughter over tangled boots, warm moments inside a Mongolian yurt, and quiet awe when you pause on a frozen pond with your dog team.
