Find yourself easing into the Valdez pace of life with a local character treating you to tea and treats by the sea. Then wander with your guide towards a local fisherman hotspot and fuel your day like a fisherman would. Find yourself immersed in the local art hub full of unique works inspired by the life people live in Valdez. Let your guide tempt your taste buds down Brewery Row where you will learn the brew process from grain to glass from an up-and-coming Alaska brewery. The tour involves an exclusive tasting of their unique brew developed solely for the Taste of Valdez Walking Tour paired with small bites of gold from the sea created by their favorite local eatery. Follow your guide and finish your adventure like a local where you can connect with them through food, art, and entertainment at a venue like no other.
 
Please note: This is a walking tour, guests should bring waterproof jackets, layers and gloves / hat on cold or rainy days. This tour will run rain or shine and guests should be able to walk 1 mile without help or assistance.
 

 

Haines, Alaska is where two important rivers, the Chilkat and Chilkoot, meet the sea. This small town (2,500 residents) is located on a peninsula flanked by mountain ranges and these two glacial-fed rivers.  This 2.25-hour small group (14 guests maximum) tour provides a chance to get to know both important rivers. Start with a short drive through Historic Ft. Seward and make your way to the Pyramid Island Lookout.  This wide delta is where the braided Chilkat River drops tons of glacial silt every day into the ocean. Continue along the edge of the salt water to the Letnikof Cove Cannery Lookout. Here, the Rainbow Glacier and Chilkat Mountains provide a stunning backdrop to the red buildings of this historic salmon cannery. You’ll retrace your steps back towards downtown Haines and travel in the opposite direction to the mouth of the Chilkoot River. The road winds along the salt water. Keep your eyes open for birds like surf scoters and marine mammals like harbor seals.  Your next stop will be where the Chilkoot River flows into the sea. This is a peaceful location where “all things Alaskan” come together- the river, the ocean, the mountains, and the forest.  Bald eagles are often spotted here soaring and calling to each other above the spruce trees. Return to Haines with a final stop at Picture Point, where you can photograph your ship with the iconic white buildings of Historic Ft. Seward and the Chilkat Mountain behind.
 
Please note: Wear layered clothing appropriate for the weather. Cameras and or binoculars are suggested but are optional.
 

 

Mitkof Island Panoramic tour starts as you shuttle to the Whale Observatory at Outlook Park. Enjoy the short drive along Sandy Beach Road through the community to the Whale Observatory, a covered Nordic-themed timber framed shelter with spotting scopes overlooking Frederick Sound. Perhaps you’ll spot a humpback whale, orca or an iceberg from nearby LeConte Glacier. You’ll board back onto the bus and drive “out the road” as locals call it to Falls Creek and Blind River Rapids trailhead. Your driver and guide, born and raised in SE Alaska, will explain life in a small town along the way.  Falls Creek has a beautiful waterfall and salmon fish ladder. Your guide will explain the life cycle of salmon, their role in the local environment, and their importance to the local economy. Continue out the road to Blind River Rapids. You will walk ¼ mile on the flat boardwalk (handicap accessible) to Blind River Rapids. The boardwalk allows your feet to stay dry as you observe the local ecosystem. You will see muskeg, bear’s-favorite Skunk Cabbage, Alaska wildflowers and berries, and lodgepole pines. The rapids are a popular spot for fishing and salmon viewing. Your guide will explain the various types of salmon that are found in the area. Bald eagles are also common in the area. You will return to the bus with your guide and make your way back to town.
 
Please note:  Wear comfortable walking shoes and weather appropriate clothings and bring your camera, water and rain gear.
 

 

Join your captain and biologist guides on a magical discovery of wildlife in the protected waterways of the Inside Passage. Travel to nearby feeding grounds on a covered jet boat and find whales chasing after schools of small fish, otters frolicking playfully in the kelp beds, sea lions fighting over the best spot on a perch, seals basking on a rock or peeking at you from the water.  Sometimes you may find Orca cruising the waterways in search of food or porpoises following the boat to play in the wake. Eagles fish to feed their young and seabirds look to take advantage of the leftovers from feeding mammals. This day is about animals. Where they go, you will go.  The biologist guides will decide the best itinerary for the day  based on the conditions and the behavior of the animals at the time of year. This 5- hour tour includes a sandwich and snack lunch, water and a brief stop on the beach.
 
Please note: Your captain and guides strive to include as much wildlife as possible, however wildlife sightings of all species are not guaranteed.  Weather, sea conditions and safety are important factors in where the captain chooses to go.  Wear weather-appropriate clothes and shoes for boating.
 
 

Golf in the Alaskan wilderness, between the snowcapped mountains and the temperate rainforest. Here you'll find the friendliest people in Southeast Alaska and the coffee pot always on. Come and test your skill as you avoid the large jutting rock on the course’s signature ninth hole. Bear and deer are sometimes seen grazing as nine USGA rated fairways rise out of the wetlands to form Muskeg Meadows. Sitting atop a foundation of byproducts from the once flourishing Wrangell timber industry, the 32-acre course offers a unique golf experience, boasting a 30-tournament schedule which is highlighted by the annual Alaska Airlines tournament. Rest at the newly added activities shelter, which serves to provide a location for guests to chat with locals, order a burger and a beer, or view the interpretive signage detailing the course’s conception.  Observe the abundance of wildflowers and the wide variety of birds as you walk the course but keep an eye on your ball—ravens have been known to steal balls as they rest gently on the greens. Don’t worry, because if you have a witness, you’ll be awarded a free drop according to the “Raven Rule.”  Golf clubs, balls and cart are included in this unique outing. After nine holes, transportation will be provided back to the ship.
 
Please note: Golf cleats are not required but please wear waterproof, comfortable walking/hiking shoes.
 

 

Board your motor coach for the 35-minute narrated journey to North Pacific Cannery, a National Historic Site and the oldest intact cannery community left on the British Columbian coast, situated on the Skeena Estuary. The Skeena has provided nourishment, transportation and inspiration to people of the north for over 10,000 years. You will be stepping back in time to discover the cannery’s boardwalks, industrial buildings and workers’ housing, all built in the late 1800s to facilitate a booming canning operation, the ABC Packing Company, the parent company of North Pacific Cannery, and the world’s foremost packer of sockeye salmon, accounting for more than one quarter of British Columbia’s total salmon pack. You will be welcomed to North Pacific Cannery, a sprawling historic site expertly restored to its 19^th century condition. Through a 15-minute epic multimedia experience you will travel down 350 miles of the Skeena River, through the fur trade era to the gold rush to the age of paddle wheelers. This will be followed by a 45-minute interactive tour of the cannery complex itself, complete with demonstrations of original machinery. A coastal ecologist will provide hands-on insight into the estuary ecosystem at tidewater before you have an opportunity to explore the cannery gift shop — featuring indigenous artwork and a variety of products by local crafters. A tour guide will accompany the group back to the cruise ship, ready for conversation and questions.
 
Please note: Wear comfortable walking shoes. Dress for the weather. Part of the tour is indoors, part of the tour is outdoors.
 

Board a bus at the pier and settle in to enjoy a fascinating and informative guided excursion around the City of Prince Rupert. Learn about the history, heritage and culture of the City with a knowledgeable guide; experience the beauty of the Northwest Coat at scenic stops; visit the Kwinitsa Railway Museum that celebrates the City’s history as the terminus of the GTP railway, and discover the ancient history of Northwest Coast peoples at the world class Museum of Northern BC. As you tour, see sights reminiscent of the many peoples and cultures who founded the City, adventurers and entrepreneurs who wanted to be part of what was to be a transportation hub linking Canada to the countries of the Pacific Rim. From the British gentleman who founded a dairy at Cow Bay and gave it its name, to the Chinese gold miner who started Prince Rupert’s longest lasting grocery, from the many shop owners who set up their first businesses in tent towns, to the American and European gentlemen who invested in the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway and its fleet of ships. Stop at a scenic viewpoint and look out over Prince Rupert Harbour and the famous Metlakatla Pass. Imagine this stretch of Northwest Coast as the ice from the last glaciation receded and sea levels rose, but where a few thousand years later the Tsimshian made their winter villages with great cedar houses and canoes, and thrived in the rich coastal landscape. Drive through downtown, take in the diverse styles of architecture, pass City Hall, and head toward the waterfront, the location of Prince Rupert’s industrial history. Learn about the modern day port, the transportation hub that now, a century after Prince Rupert was founded, does link Canada to the countries of the Pacific Rim. Stop at the waterfront’s Kinsmen Park and visit the Kwinitsa Railway Station Museum, where you will learn about the building of the cross-Canada Grand Trunk Pacific Railway and the founding of the City. Finally travel to the Museum of Northern BC, known for its important First Nations collection, impressive exhibits, knowledgeable guides, and stimulating tours. Connect with the ancient past, exploring the art, history and living culture of the Tsimshian. Then board the bus for the short trip back to the pier, or spend more time and the Museum and enjoy a leisurely downhill walk back to the pier.
 
Please note: Wear comfortable walking shoes.  This tour is wheelchair accessible.