Whittier to Anchorage: Wildlife, Brewery & Lake Hood Tour

Alaska wildlife up close, craft beer lunch, seaplanes and sweet stops

You’ll travel from Whittier to Anchorage with stops that feel personal: see rescued wildlife up close at the conservation center, eat lunch at a local brewery surrounded by mountains, try fresh chocolate straight from the source, and watch seaplanes skim across Lake Hood—all with a local guide who knows every bend in the road.

What’s included

Your day includes pickup at Whittier port, bottled water and snacks along the way, all entry fees (including Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center), lunch at Girdwood Brewery with food trucks on site during summer months, sweet samples at a chocolate factory stop—and flexible drop-off anywhere you need in Anchorage city limits before your Alaskan adventure continues.

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Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Whittier to Anchorage scenic transit tour

• Travel from Whittier to Portage Valley
• Visit Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
• Lunch at Girdwood Brewery with food trucks
• Sample chocolates at chocolate factory
• Explore Earthquake Park
• Watch seaplanes at Lake Hood
• Drop off in Anchorage at requested location

The Experience

The first thing I remember is the way the air felt stepping off the ship in Whittier—cool and sharp, with a hint of salt and spruce. Our guide, Sam (who’s actually from Girdwood), waved us over with a thermos of coffee and this easy grin. We piled into the van and started winding through the Chugach Mountains. The road hugged Turnagain Arm so tightly it felt like we could reach out and touch the water. Someone spotted white dots on a cliff—Dall sheep, apparently. I squinted but honestly, I mostly saw rocks. Everyone was laughing about it though.

Portage Valley was next—seven glaciers in one sweep if you count right (Sam did). It’s quiet there, except for the wind rattling through birch leaves. Then we rolled up to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. I didn’t expect to get that close to a moose—its breath clouded in the morning air, and its fur looked rougher than I imagined. There were brown bears too, sort of lumbering around behind fences. The place felt honest—like they really cared about these animals who couldn’t make it on their own.

Lunch was at Girdwood Brewery—a picnic table outside with food truck tacos that dripped all over my hands (worth it). The beer tasted like pine needles and sunlight somehow. A couple next to us shared their fries and told us about living through an Alaskan winter; I still can’t picture that kind of cold. After that came chocolate—the smell hit before we even walked in. Watching molten chocolate tumble down a 20-foot waterfall is weirdly hypnotic; I bought some for my sister but ended up eating half myself on the bus.

Earthquake Park surprised me—I’d read about the ’64 quake but standing above those rippled hills made it feel real. The signs are blunt: whole neighborhoods vanished here. Last stop was Lake Hood where floatplanes buzzed overhead every few minutes. There’s something wild about watching pilots just… take off from water like it’s nothing special. By then Anchorage felt closer than I expected, but also bigger somehow.

Top questions

How long does the Whittier to Anchorage tour take?

The tour lasts about half a day, including travel time between stops from pickup in Whittier to drop-off anywhere in Anchorage.

Is lunch included on this transit tour?

Lunch is included at Girdwood Brewery with options from local food trucks available daily during summer months.

Can you see wildlife on this route?

Yes, you’ll visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center where you can see rescued bears, moose, caribou, bison, wolves and more up close.

Are there any unique stops between Whittier & Anchorage?

You’ll stop at Portage Valley for glacier views, Earthquake Park for history, a local chocolate factory for samples, and Lake Hood to watch seaplanes.

Is pickup included from Whittier port?

Yes, pickup from Whittier port is included at the start of your journey toward Anchorage.

Where does the tour end in Anchorage?

You can request drop-off anywhere in Anchorage city limits after all scheduled stops are finished.

Are snacks or drinks provided during the trip?

Bottled water and snacks are provided throughout your journey as part of your tour inclusions.

Is this tour suitable for families or young children?

The tour is suitable for all ages; infant seats are available upon request and strollers can be accommodated.