Things to do in Alaska
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Sitka Land Tour: Bears, Raptors, Totems with Local GuideThis small-group land tour of Sitka visits four major stops—Fortress of the Bear, Alaska Raptor Center, Sitka National Historical Park, and scenic viewpoints—in a comfortable van with a local guide, all admission fees and snacks included. The tour runs 2.5 to 3 hours and is scheduled to fit cruise ship arrival and departure times, so the timing is locked in before you book.Is it for me?Book this if you want wildlife and cultural sites covered in one shared van tour timed to your cruise schedule, with an English-speaking guide and all fees included.
Denali Flightseeing Tour from Talkeetna: Glacier Landing & Peak ViewsYou get a guaranteed window seat on a small aircraft, fly over Denali and the Kahiltna Glacier with a two-way headset to hear the pilot's commentary, and optionally land on a glacier. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included. Choose between 1.25 hours in the air or 1.75 hours with a glacier landing — either way, the flight covers the West Buttress route, Mount Hunter's granite walls, and the Great Gorge before you return to Talkeetna.Is it for me?Right for travelers who want to see Denali's scale and the climbing routes without a multi-day trek — the flight covers what takes weeks on foot. Plan for a half-day commitment: pickup, check-in, the flight itself, and return to your hotel by early afternoon.
Ketchikan salmon and halibut fishing charter: Small-group anglingA salmon and halibut fishing charter in Ketchikan puts you on a boat with 3–6 people, a captain who guides you to productive water, and all the tackle and bait you need to fish. The captain handles the navigation and instruction, so the day is about casting and reeling, not learning technique on your own. Pickup and drop-off from a designated meeting point are included; you choose between a 4-hour salmon trip, a 5-hour halibut charter, or a 6-hour combination of both. A fishing license is required in some options and included in others—confirm which applies to your booking.Is it for me?Salmon delivers constant action in a shorter window; halibut demands patience for trophy-sized catches; combination lets you experience both species in one outing.
Private Fishing Charter in Ketchikan: Salmon and HalibutA private fishing charter in Ketchikan puts you on calm, protected waters with a local guide targeting salmon, halibut or both, depending on the option you choose. The guide meets you at your cruise ship and provides all fishing tackle; the waters around Ketchikan are sheltered by islands, making them suitable for families and all skill levels. You pick the duration and species focus at checkout, and some options include a fishing license and king salmon stamp.Is it for me?Book this if you want a private boat where the itinerary and target species shift based on what you want to catch that day, rather than following a set schedule with other anglers.
Hoonah Alaska: Kayak Tour with Wildlife & Harbor PickupYou’ll paddle gentle waters outside Hoonah with a local guide who knows all the stories behind those mossy shorelines and old logging camps. Expect easy harbor pickup (don’t wander to the wrong kayak shop!), all your gear ready, maybe some rain in the air — but also laughter and those moments when Alaska feels huge and close at once.
Turnagain Arm: Wildlife Center, Glaciers & Girdwood LunchYou’ll travel from Anchorage along Turnagain Arm with a local guide, stopping first at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center to see bears, moose, and more up close. Glaciers fill your view as you explore Portage Valley before sitting down for lunch in Girdwood’s rainforest setting. Expect animal encounters, glacier air, and small surprises you’ll remember long after.
Denali Flightseeing Tour: Alaska Range & GlaciersThe Grand Denali flightseeing tour from Talkeetna covers more of the Alaska Range than any other tour available, following river systems across the Susitna Valley and over the Kahiltna Glacier—the longest in Denali National Park at 45 miles—before crossing to the remote arctic alpine tundra on the north side. You fly in a ski-equipped aircraft with live pilot commentary on individual headsets; hotel pickup and drop-off are included for select Talkeetna hotels. A glacier landing option adds 30 minutes and puts you on the ice itself.Is it for me?Book the base Grand Denali if you want the full Alaska Range route and the deepest glacier views without committing to extra time on the ice; add the glacier landing if standing on the Kahiltna Glacier itself is the moment you came for.
Ketchikan Wildlife Tour with Seafood Feast and WhalesThis wildlife and rainforest tour from Ketchikan combines a three-hour boat cruise through Southeast Alaska waterways, a walk through the world's largest temperate rainforest on an elevated boardwalk, and a seafood feast at a remote lodge. The boat is enclosed and heated, and whales are often sighted May through September. A live English-speaking guide narrates the route, and the tour includes bottled water, coffee or tea, and a full seafood boil with Dungeness crab, shrimp, clams, mussels, sausage, corn, garlic, pearl onions and french bread.Is it for me?Book this tour if you're traveling with a small group or family and want wildlife viewing, rainforest walking and a meal all in one outing—the boat's enclosed cabin and the raised boardwalk mean you don't need special gear or fitness beyond a moderate level to see everything.
Ketchikan: Native Culture & Wildlife Tour with Totem HeritageYou’ll walk along Creek Street watching salmon leap upstream, listen to Haida legends beside weathered totem poles at the Totem Heritage Center, and maybe spot black bears or eagles fishing in the rain-soaked forest. A local guide shares stories you won’t find in guidebooks—and you’ll leave with more than just snapshots.
Fairbanks Northern Lights Viewing Cabin 360° AuroraThis is a Northern Lights viewing activity at a professional-grade mountaintop cabin near Fairbanks, where you watch the aurora from indoors or a 10-acre open yard with 360° unobstructed sightlines. A live guide monitors aurora activity using a camera feed and helps you photograph the lights throughout the night. The cabin stays warm with complimentary tea, coffee, hot chocolate and snacks while you wait for peak viewing moments.Is it for me?Choose the transfer option if you're arriving at the airport or staying in town and don't want to navigate to a mountaintop location in the dark; choose self-drive if you have a rental car and prefer to arrive on your own schedule. Either way, the cabin's size and open sightlines mean you're not competing with other groups for viewing space or jostling for a spot at the window—the whole point is room to move and sky in every direction.
Juneau Scenic Road Trip: Wildlife & Glacier ViewsA private 3-hour scenic road trip through Juneau's 100-mile road system with a live guide, bottled water and photo stops at Nugget Falls, Mendenhall Glacier, the Gastineau Channel and downtown landmarks. The tour is the only one covering the full Juneau road network, taking you past salmon and seals at the docks, mountain goats in the mining areas, and glacier views from Brotherhood Bridge. Pickup is included; the van holds up to 11 passengers or runs as a private tour for smaller groups.Is it for me?Book the private tour option if your group wants the route to yourself and the guide's full attention; the van works just as well if you're comfortable sharing the drive and the stops with other travelers.
Juneau Whale Watching Tour & Jet Boat with Local CrewYou’ll board a small jet boat in Juneau with locals who know these waters by heart. Watch whales breach nearby, sip hot chocolate as you scan for sea lions and eagles, and share quiet moments with fellow travelers—all with easy transfers included. You’ll remember that hush after seeing your first spout rise against the mountains.
Juneau: Mendenhall Glacier White-Water Rafting & FloatYou board a raft at Mendenhall Lake and float five miles downriver past the glacier, either relaxing in a guide-led boat or paddling your own through Class III rapids. The tour includes a photographer on the bank, wildlife spotting, snacks, and a return transfer to your ship — all within 3.5 hours, so you're back before departure.Is it for me?Book this if you're docked in Juneau for a few hours and want to see the glacier without arranging your own transport or timing — the fixed 3.5-hour schedule is built around ship departures, and you choose between relaxing or paddling depending on how active you want to be.
Ketchikan Rainforest Walk & Totem Park: Small group, local guideA 3-hour rainforest walk and Totem Park visit in Ketchikan led by a local guide with pickup at the cruise ship dock and groups of 11 or fewer. The nature trail climbs about 1.5 miles through moss-blanketed forest along a cascading creek to a waterfall viewing area, then moves to the Totem Park where the guide explains the carved poles and Alaska Native culture of the Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian people. The trail has several sets of stairs and uphill and downhill sections; an easier 2-hour option without stairs is available.Is it for me?Most Ketchikan cruise tours pack you into larger groups and rush the stops; this one keeps the group to 11 or fewer and includes a local guide who shares the stories behind the totem poles and points out the forest resources as you walk, so you actually learn the place instead of just passing through it.
Sled Dog Camp Tour Skagway: Puppy Playtime & Cart RideThis 4.5-hour tour departs Skagway, climbs the Klondike Highway with stops at Pitchfork Falls and White Pass summit, and ends at a remote sled dog camp in British Columbia where you ride in a cart pulled by Alaskan Huskies and play with puppies. The tour includes a guide who narrates the drive, pickup at the cruise ship docks, and an educational talk with the musher and handlers — no time limit on puppy playtime.Is it for me?Most Skagway tours rush you through stops and limit your time at each one. This tour gives you unrushed playtime with the puppies — no clock — and a cart ride pulled by the huskies themselves, so the dogs are the whole experience, not a photo stop between other attractions.
Denali ATV Tour: 2.5 Hours Riding Boreal Forest TrailsA 3.5-hour ATV tour in Denali where you ride single-rider or multi-passenger ATVs through the Alaskan Boreal Forest, covering about 20 miles of maintained and rutted trails, rocky creek beds, and forested paths. Hotel pickup, a professional guide, helmet, goggles and gloves are included; you complete a safety course before heading out and stop for wildlife sightings and photographs along the way.Is it for me?Choose the single-rider ATV if you want to navigate the terrain on your own; pick a side-by-side if you'd rather share the ride and split the cost with a travel partner or family member. The longer time on the trail—2.5 of 3.5 hours—means less time in a vehicle and more time actually riding the taiga, which is what sets this tour apart from other Denali area off-road options.
Portage Glacier Cruise: Glaciers & Wildlife Day Tour from AnchorageThis 8-hour small-group tour from Anchorage combines a one-hour cruise to Portage Glacier with wildlife viewing at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center and a scenic overlook in Chugach State Park. A local guide narrates throughout, hotel pickup and drop-off are included, and the tour provides water and snacks on board. Lunch is available for purchase at the Portage Glacier lodge.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want to see both glaciers and Alaskan wildlife in one day without arranging your own transport or timing — the guide handles the route and the stops, and the van picks you up at your hotel. The small-group size keeps the experience intimate and the guide able to answer questions as they come.
eBike ride on Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, AnchorageA two-hour eBike ride on Anchorage's Tony Knowles Coastal Trail with a local guide, bottled water and pedal-assist bikes that let you cover distance without exhaustion. You ride along Cook Inlet with the Alaska Range as backdrop, watching for local wildlife and migrating birds heading to summer breeding grounds. Minimum age is 12; moderate fitness is expected, and the ride operates in all weather.Is it for me?The ride starts from a central Anchorage location with public transportation nearby, so you don't need a rental car or a ride arranged—book, show up, and ride. The pedal-assist bike means you cover the full Tony Knowles Coastal Trail without the exhaustion of a regular bike, so the two hours stay enjoyable instead of punishing.
Juneau Segway Tour: Coastal Ride to Mendenhall GlacierYou’ll roll along Juneau’s coast on a Segway, catch glacier views most people miss, and walk through Tongass rainforest to a hidden beach for snacks with just your group. Expect eagle calls overhead, salty air on your face, and time to actually breathe—it’s not your usual crowded tour.Is it for me?Cruise the coastline and reach secluded photo spots in three hours—the Segway covers more ground than walking, leaving you time to linger at the beach without rushing back.
Ketchikan: Alaska Snorkeling Tour & Marine Life at Mountain PointYou’ll squeeze into a thick wetsuit and wade right into Alaska’s chilly waters near Ketchikan for a guided snorkeling tour at Mountain Point. Spot bright starfish, curious harbor seals, and colorful marine life while floating above rocky reefs—then warm up with hot drinks before heading back to town. It’s not your typical snorkeling trip, but you might just love it.
