Things to do in Alaska
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Ketchikan fishing fleet walking tour with drinks at two barsFish Tales & Ales is a 90-minute guided walking tour of Ketchikan's fishing fleet and Creek Street, bookended by drinks at two fishermen's bars. You're led by a fisherman who lives on the docks and knows the boats, the crews and the stories firsthand. The tour includes two house drinks and photos taken by your guide; minimum age is 21.Is it for me?This tour is built for anyone who wants to hear Ketchikan's fishing industry and bar culture from someone who lives it—a guide who knows the fleet, the boats and the stories firsthand, rather than a general history tour. The fixed route and timing mean the two bars and the docks are arranged in sequence, so the day holds together without you planning the stops or the drinks.
Snowmobile & Helicopter Tour Seward: Godwin GlacierA private snowmobile and helicopter activity in Seward combines a helicopter flight over Resurrection Bay and Godwin Glacier with a guided snowmobile ride across the glacier's snowfields near Kenai Fjords National Park. The day starts with a helicopter briefing and flight to the glacier base camp, followed by 10+ miles of snowmobiling on varying terrain, overlooks of Day Harbor and the Pacific, and a scenic return flight. Drivers must be 15 or older; passengers 6 or older. Combined weight of three passengers cannot exceed 600 lbs, and individual passengers may not weigh over 280 lbs clothed.Is it for me?The ride covers 10+ miles of snowmobile terrain and includes a helicopter flight, so plan for roughly three and a half hours and a moderate level of physical fitness. You choose whether to drive or ride as a passenger when you book, and the guide handles the route and pacing on the glacier.
Anchorage Wildlife & Portage Glacier Tour: Guaranteed SightingsThis guided tour from Anchorage combines a visit to Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center—a 200-acre park with over 1.5 miles of accessible trails through animal enclosures—with views of Portage Glacier. The drive south follows the Seward Highway along Cook Inlet and Chugach State Park, with stops at Beluga Point for photos and wildlife watching. A live guide in English or Spanish is included, as is hotel pickup. The tour runs 3 to 4 hours and suits all fitness levels.Is it for me?The 3 to 4 hour window leaves room for breakfast before pickup or a late lunch after you return, so it fits into a day with other plans. If you have only a morning or afternoon free, this tour fills it without eating the whole day.
Midnight Sun ATV and Dog Sled Adventure in Willow AlaskaA 2-day adventure at Snowhook Lodge in Willow, Alaska, combining a 3-hour midnight sun ATV ride through the Talkeetna Mountains with a summer dog sled tour at sunrise. The package includes a private cabin, hearty Alaskan dinner, breakfast, all gear, and a 2-hour cart ride with a team of huskies. Drivers must be 18 and licensed; passengers are welcome from age 6.Is it for me?Book this if you want two completely different ways to move through Alaska's backcountry in a single trip—the speed and control of an ATV paired with the slower, animal-powered rhythm of dog sledding. The fixed itinerary and included meals mean you're not piecing together logistics between activities; you wake, eat, and the next adventure is waiting.
Dog Sled Adventure in Willow Alaska: Iditarod VeteransA two-hour dog sledding adventure in Willow, Alaska, where you mush a team of retired Iditarod sled dogs over hills and through snow-covered terrain. You'll ride in a custom sled built for two passengers plus a guide, taking turns at the front and back runner so both of you can experience handling the team. The guide stays with you throughout to build your skills and share local history. Available November through early May, depending on snow conditions.Is it for me?If you're staying in Anchorage or nearby without a rental car, Snowhook's short distance from the city means you can book a ride or arrange pickup without the logistics of driving yourself to the trailhead—the guide handles everything once you arrive, and you go straight to the dogs.
Columbia Glacier Helicopter Tour with Landing: 90 Minutes, AlaskaThis 90-minute helicopter tour over Columbia Glacier in Alaska includes a 30-minute landing on remote ice where you walk the glacier with your pilot guide, drink pure meltwater, and photograph crevasses and icebergs from the ground. The flight departs from Valdez with shuttle transfer included, and Alpine Air Alaska's pilots have logged more than 30 years operating in the region. All taxes and fees are built in.Is it for me?The pilot speaks English and narrates the entire flight, so you follow the geography and the glacier's features as you fly. This works for anyone who wants context and story woven through the experience rather than silence or music.
Alaska Whale Watching & Wildlife Tour with Local GuideYou spend 2.5 hours on the water and shoreline with a local guide who adjusts the route based on real-time wildlife activity. Expect close views of sea otters and humpback whales, ancient indigenous sites, and a genuine chance at bears, wolves, and sea lions. Private transportation is included, and the pace suits any fitness level—just bring layers and a camera with a decent zoom.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see Alaska's wildlife without arranging your own transport or joining a large charter—the small group and local guide are what make the difference between a crowded boat and a real chance to see something unexpected.
Dog Sled and Snowmobile Combo in Willow AlaskaA dog sledding and snowmobile combo activity in Willow, Alaska pairs a 2-hour morning run with Iditarod sled dogs and a 3-hour afternoon snowmobile ride over groomed trails and powder. The experience includes all winter gear, lunch between activities, and expert guides who tailor the snowmobile portion to your skill level. Passengers as young as 8 can ride; snowmobile drivers must be 18 with a valid license.Is it for me?Book the single-person snowmobile if you want full control of the machine and your own pace through the trails. Choose the two-person option if you'd rather share the ride and split the cost, or if you want to experience the day with a partner.
Seward Helicopter Dogsled Tour: Drive Sled Dogs on GlacierA 2-hour helicopter and dogsled tour in Seward pairs a glacier flight with hands-on mushing: you stand on the runners and drive an Iditarod team's sled dogs across real snow at high elevation, meet the athletes afterward, then fly back over lower glaciers and Resurrection Bay. Includes helicopter flights (roughly 40 minutes round trip), an hour at the dog camp with about 25 minutes on the sled, and waterproof overboots; local Seward transfers are included. Check in 30 minutes early, and dress in layers with a waterproof shell — the camp sits high and weather can be cold and wet.Is it for me?If you're staying in Seward without a car, the included local transfers mean you don't arrange your own way to the glacier — you're picked up and delivered back. The two helicopter landings and the hands-on mushing pack a full mountain experience into 2 hours, so a short visit to Seward still reaches the glaciers and the dogs.
Fall Dog Sled Adventure in Willow Alaska: Train with Racing TeamsA 2-hour dog sled adventure in Willow, Alaska, where you ride in a custom-built 5-passenger vehicle pulled by a team of sled dogs preparing for winter racing season. The guide explains the training, teamwork and dedication mushers invest in their teams, and you interact with the dogs and photograph them in motion across the autumn landscape. Children from age 2 are welcome.Is it for me?Your guide speaks English throughout, so you'll follow the explanation of mushing, training and the dogs' preparation for racing without needing translation. This works for anyone from age 2 up who can sit comfortably in the vehicle and wants to see how sled dogs actually train in fall.
Moonlight Dog Sled Adventure in Willow AlaskaA 3-hour moonlit dog sled adventure in Willow, Alaska, where you arrive for a warm dinner by the campfire, meet both active sled dogs and retired companions, then drive a team through the Talkeetna Mountains under the starry sky. All winter gear and a live English-speaking guide are included; arrive 30 minutes early to settle in.Is it for me?Three hours is long enough to cover real distance and feel the rhythm of the run, but short enough to fit into an evening without eating the whole day. If you're arriving in Willow with a free night and want to do something that matters, this fills it completely. Not suitable for pregnant travelers.
Northern Lights tour Hatchers Pass with photographer guideThis Northern Lights tour departs Anchorage and drives two hours into Hatchers Pass, a turn-of-the-century mining site at nearly 4,000 feet elevation where you watch for auroras and set up cameras with a local guide and award-winning photographer. The guide uses professional aurora-tracking tools and live weather data to maximize your chances of seeing the lights, and will help you capture shots with your phone or camera; if conditions aren't favorable, you can cancel in advance. Private transportation and parking are included.Is it for me?Book this tour if you're staying in Anchorage without a car or prefer not to drive at night in unfamiliar terrain. The guide handles the two-hour mountain drive and uses professional aurora-tracking tools to find the best viewing spot, so you show up and watch the sky instead of hunting for conditions yourself.
Dryland Dog Sled Ride in Alaska: Meet Iditarod Racing DogsA dryland dog sled tour at Susitna Sled Dog Adventures, the kennel of Iditarod musher Rohn Buser, where you ride in a cozy 5-passenger vehicle pulled by racing sled dogs, then spend time in the yard meeting the team and learning how dogs and mushers work together. The ride covers 0.5 to 2 miles depending on weather and season; after dismounting, you'll see the sled and equipment up close, and if puppies are present, you'll end with cuddles from the next generation of athletes. A live guide in English leads the experience, which runs about 90 minutes and welcomes children from age 2.Is it for me?Families with children from age 2 up will find the 5-passenger vehicle and short ride (0.5 to 2 miles depending on weather) manageable, and the kennel visit lets kids spend real time with the dogs instead of just watching from a distance. If you want to see a working Iditarod facility and understand what sled dog racing actually demands, this is the behind-the-scenes access most visitors don't get.
Dog Sled and Ice Fishing Combo in Willow Alaska: Includes lunch and all gearA 5.5-hour activity in Willow, Alaska combining ice fishing and dog sledding, with all gear, tackle and lunch provided. You spend 2.5 hours fishing for Arctic Char, Rainbow Trout and Pike on a frozen lake under expert guidance, return to base for lunch, then ride a team of Alaskan huskies through wilderness for 2 hours. No prior experience is required; ages 4 and up can participate. Available daily December through March at 10:30 AM departure. A valid fishing license must be purchased separately before the day begins.Is it for me?Bring a group of friends or family, including kids as young as 4, and you'll all do the same two things together—ice fishing in the morning, dog sledding in the afternoon—without anyone sitting out or watching from the sidelines. The lunch break in the middle means nobody's exhausted by the end, and you've actually done two separate Alaskan winters instead of rushing through a half-version of each.
Ice Cave Helicopter Tour Alaska: 50 Minutes Flight TimeThis helicopter tour from Anchorage flies you over the Knik River Valley and Chugach Range to land on Knik Glacier, where you explore an ice cave carved at the toe of the glacier. The 2-hour experience includes approximately 50 minutes of flight time and the rest spent on the ice; it runs only a few months each year when the caves are accessible. Your pilot guide leads the exploration on the glacier surface, and safety equipment is provided.Is it for me?This tour suits travelers who want to see a glacier from the inside rather than from a distance—the ice cave is carved into the glacier itself and accessible only in winter, so you're standing in a landscape most visitors never reach. The 50-minute flight time means more time over the range and deeper into the Chugach than shorter winter landing tours, which is what makes the remote ice cave possible.
Seward to Anchorage: Glacier, Wildlife & Coastal ViewsYou ride from Seward to Anchorage with a guide who stops at Exit Glacier for a hike along its edge, takes you to Beluga Point for coastal views and possible whale sightings, and visits the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center to see rescued bears, moose, and other animals up close. Potter Marsh's boardwalks and birdwatching round out the journey. The vehicle, snacks, water, and all entry fees are included, so you step out of the car ready to walk and look, not to plan.Is it for me?Choose this if you want to see Alaska's main natural attractions — glacier, wildlife, coast — in one day without renting a car, navigating the highway, or timing the stops yourself. The fixed route and included guide mean you move through the landscape at a pace that lets you absorb it, not rush through it.
Seward to Anchorage: Glacier, Wildlife & Scenic DriveYou travel from Seward to Anchorage with a guide who knows the landscape, stopping at Exit Glacier for a walk along the ice, the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center to see rescued bears and moose, Beluga Point for Cook Inlet views and possible whale sightings, and Potter Marsh for birdwatching. The drive itself is the tour — you're in an air-conditioned vehicle the whole time with water and snacks included, and the guide fills the hours with real information instead of silence.Is it for me?This works best if you're traveling as a group and want to see Alaska's major natural attractions in one day without arranging separate transportation, park entries, and timing — the fixed route and included stops handle all of that, and the long drive becomes the experience instead of something to endure.
Dog Sledding in Anchorage: Ride with Iditarod MushersDog sledding from Anchorage pairs you with an experienced Iditarod musher and a team of champion huskies for a six-hour outing that includes hotel pickup, a ride (or drive, if you choose) across private trails in Matanuska Valley, views of Denali, lunch in historic Palmer, and all gear. You work directly with the dogs and the musher, riding or taking the reins depending on your comfort level.Is it for me?Book this if you want to work with the dogs and the musher rather than watch from a distance—you're harnessing the team, riding or driving the sled, and learning directly from someone who races them. The six-hour window and hotel pickup mean you don't spend the day arranging logistics; the musher and the dogs are the whole point.
Fairbanks winter city tour: Santa Claus House, museum & pipelineA 5-hour guided tour of Fairbanks and North Pole visiting the Santa Claus House, Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center, University of Alaska Museum of the North, and Trans-Alaska Pipeline Viewpoint in a heated vehicle with a small group of no more than 10 guests. Pickup is included; bottled water and a small snack come along in the van. The guide provides live commentary and photo assistance throughout.Is it for me?The guide speaks English and delivers live commentary throughout, so you'll follow the stories and details without effort—ideal if you're new to Fairbanks and want someone who knows the place to connect the stops for you.
Fishing Charter in Ketchikan: Catch, Cook & Whale WatchA 4-hour fishing charter in Ketchikan where you fish for salmon and halibut, cook your catch aboard the vessel, and watch for whales, orca, dolphins and bald eagles. The guide meets you at the float dock or picks you up from your hotel; all you bring is a moderate level of fitness and a willingness to handle a rod.Is it for me?Book this charter if you want a small group outing where you're actually fishing and cooking, not watching someone else do it. The boat is intimate enough that the crew knows what you're doing the whole time, and the catch-to-table moment on the water is the whole point.
