EXCURSIONS TERRESTRES

Soar by Goldbelt Tram up 1,800 feet above the city to take in one of the most expansive and beautiful views in Alaska. Once at the top of GoldbeltTram, you'll find that the Tr’ale house is the starting point of an extensive trail system, be sure to stop in and get the latest information about the trail conditions, plant life and wildlife. Your optional hike includes observation platforms in the rainforest and Alpine meadows. At the Mountain House, you can watch a complimentary film, Seeing Daylight. Shop at the Golbelt Tram Gifts & Gallery, a unique shop that includes all your souvenir needs as well as those one of a kind, handcrafted, museum-quality jewelry and artwork. Refreshing food and beverages are available for purchase at the Timberline Bar & Grill. The Goldbelt Tram is a family, friendly attraction, suitable for all ages and abilities.

Relive a bit of Alaskan history through experiences that reflect the gold rush days of Skagway. For an understanding of the importance of sled dogs both past and present, you will visit a musher’s camp in Dredge Town and watch these canines demonstrate their strength and stamina. Prospectors in the gold rush era used the breed to pull their heavy, gear-laden sleds through the snow. You will also pan for gold just like those prospectors, except gold will be guaranteed in this case and an assayer will be nearby to weigh and evaluate your find. You will see the route the prospectors took in Klondike Gold Rush of 1898 by boarding a private car on the White Pass Railway and riding to summit of the pass, where you will celebrate the occasion with a toast. A costumed guide will describe the attractions as you take in the breathtaking panoramic views.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Visit a musher’s camp and watch sled dogs demonstrate their strength and stamina.
• Interact with the sled dogs and puppies.
• Pan for gold much like the prospectors during the gold rush.
• Ride a private railway car to the White Pass, following a route that the prospectors took.

OVERVIEW

Join your Alaskan captain and their crew on a cruise through the waters surrounding the naturally beautiful islands around Ketchikan. Once onboard, relax inside the heated main cabin or out on the observation deck, as you prepare for your first sighting of the iconic American bald eagle. Along the way, you will be treated to panoramic views of the historic lighthouse on Guard Island and the Tlingit and Haida hand-carved totem poles and clan house at Totem Bight State Park. You will also witness a diversity of ecosystems as you cruise past coastal residential areas on Revillagigedo Island and along the undeveloped shoreline of Gravina Island, much of which is blanketed by the Tongass National Forest, our world’s largest temperate rainforest. Wildlife is abundant, so keep an eye out for not just bald eagles, but harbor seals, sea lions, seabirds, and whales. While taking in the scenery, enjoy a hot chocolate, freshly brewed coffee, or soda of your choice alongside a snack sampler plate of Alaskan specialties, including a traditional alder-smoked salmon.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Admire Alaska’s natural beauty while cruising to and from Guard Island.
• Relax in the boat’s heated main cabin or out on the observation deck.
• See the colorful, carved Tlingit and Haida totem poles at Totem Bight State Park.
• Look for wildlife such as bald eagles, harbor seals and humpback or orca whales.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Feel the adrenaline rush of riding in an actual hovercraft! This 75-minute trip takes you from the bustling dock to a secluded Ketchikan beach and on to hidden coves teeming with native wildlife and spectacular Alaskan scenery. Take your seat among a small group of 12 fellow thrill seekers, settling inside the covered and enclosed cabin of your unique watercraft, which is designed to have minimal impact on this pristine wilderness. Your heart will start pounding faster as you push away from land and start flying across deep-blue Inside Passage waters, speeding along craggy coastlines, lush with tall evergreens. The vessel will then gently drift onto a black-sand beach, and you'll have the chance to hop out and breathe in the fresh air while walking along the shore. Enjoy the serenity that can only be found in this part of the world. Then, get ready for more action as you lift off dry land and glide across the water in search of more wildlife. Breaching whales, splashing harbor seals, and soaring bald eagles are often seen during the trip, so be sure to bring your camera.

Hoonah is a lively fishing community, an old logging town and the world’s largest Tlingit village. Your guide will describe how this coastal community came in existence when the rapid glacial advance of the Little Ice Age forced the clans from their ancestral home in Glacier Bay. You will learn the feats of local fisherman, what it’s like to drive on the Alaska Marine Highway, and how the people rebuilt when the village was destroyed by fire during WWII. Upon your return to Icy Strait Point you will gather at the Heritage Center Native Theater for the Tribal Dance and Cultural Legends performance where you will be thoroughly entertained and educated through song, dance, and storytelling. You will be invited to dance with our Tlingit family on stage and will also have an opportunity to have your photo taken with one of the performers.

Begin your journey with a scenic drive along the Tongass Narrows en route to Totem Bight State Park, home to one of the world’s largest stand of totems. Immerse yourself in the beauty of the Tongass National Rainforest as you stroll under the canopy of majestic hemlock and cedar trees. Through lively stories and narrative, you’ll learn about the culture and lifestyle practiced by the Northwest Coastal Natives. You’ll also have an opportunity to enter a traditional Native clan house to see how they lived first hand. Prior to departing the park, you’ll have a chance to photograph a magnificent collection of totem poles located in a picturesque setting.

During a brief stop at the quaint Alaska Totem Trading store, you’ll have an opportunity to shop and view beautifully carved totems along with a collection of vintage automobiles and guns. While travelling back to the pier, you will be engaged with an entertaining town overview and learn of the industries which built Ketchikan and helped to make it the “Salmon Capital of the World”. Order of tour may vary.

From Alaskan history and native culture to a culinary tasting, enjoy all aspects of what makes Ketchikan unique! Begin your tour with an action-packed performance at the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show where you will celebrate a bygone era. Southeast Alaska’s rich logging history comes to life with thrilling displays of strength and agility. These world champion athletes wearing spiked boots and hard hats, compete in 12 athletic events that utilize seven-pound axes, six-foot razor-sharp saws, tree climbing gaffs, and souped-up chainsaws. This will be one hour of non-stop excitement and laughs that is unique to all of Alaska. Join us in Saxman Native Village for a culinary experience to learn all about Alaskan ingredients and their uses in a modern cooking environment. The culinary tasting will offer a unique setting to enhance your culinary knowledge and expand your palate with true Alaskan ingredients. Start with an Alaskan styled charcuterie board prepared with smoked salmon, wild game meats, artisan cheeses and fruits; followed by two additional courses selected by the Chef. Sit and marvel as the Chef goes through the ingredients and demonstrates the techniques used for preparing one of the dishes. All these items pair deliciously with the local wines and beers included. The culinary demonstration is complemented by a cultural showcase of Alaska Native art, featuring a variety of priceless and historical pieces from the Cape Fox Corporation Native Art Collection. Some of these artifacts include traditional hand carved pieces by Master Carver, Nathan Jackson, along with other items coming from the original Village of Cape Fox. Your local tour host will teach the Tlingit customs, traditions, and stories of the Elders as they guide you through the exhibits.

OVERVIEW
Cruise the pristine waters off Sitka, admiring the impressive scenery while the guide offers all sorts of fascinating facts about the local history, wildlife and floathouse that you will visit. One of the most fascinating topics is how Sitka served as the capital of Russian America until 1867, when the United States purchased Alaska. You may also hear about Sitka’s cultural history. Once known as the “Paris of the Pacific,” Sitka claims to have had the first opera house, performing arts theater and grand piano on North America’s west coast.

Wildlife thrives around Sitka, and you might see bald eagles soaring overhead and sea otters, sea lions and seals frolicking near the rocky coast. Don’t forget to scan the forest edge for brown bears and black-tailed deer. In time, you will stop at a floathouse in Camp Coogan Bay, which was named in the 1870s for a soldier who established a wood-cutting camp in the surrounding wilderness.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Cruise the waters around Sitka and hear about the city’s extraordinary history.
• Find out why Sitka was known as the “Paris of the Pacific.”
• Watch for iconic Alaska wildlife like bald eagles, brown bears and sea lions.
• Visit a historical floathouse on a serene bay.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

This excursion combines a trip over the Klondike Highway with a ride on the White Pass & Yukon Railroad, leaving you time for further exploration during your visit to Skagway. This tour is presented in multiple foreign languages simultaneously.

Your experience begins onboard a comfortable mini-bus whose large picture windows afford spectacular views as you travel through Skagway and north along the Klondike Highway up through the West White Pass in the St. Elias Range. This is the highest coastal range in the world, and one of North America's most scenic mountain roads. Your guide will tell a century’s worth of White Pass stories, and there are plenty of landmarks along the way including Dead Horse Trail, the old Brackett Wagon Road, Pitchfork Falls and Moore Bridge. Photo opportunities of numerous glaciers and peaks abound.

Upon arrival at Fraser, British Columbia, you’ll board a vintage narrow gauge railcar for your trip aboard the world famous White Pass & Yukon Railroad. The train takes you through the opposite side of the Pass, and down the other side of the canyon, with new breathtaking panoramas of mountains, glaciers, and waterfalls back down the grade to Skagway.

Take a van ride to beautiful Clover Pass for a paddle in the Tongass National Forest. You’ll be welcomed and led down to the waterfront facility, introduced to your tandem kayak, and receive a safety briefing. The protected waters of Clover Pass provide you with the opportunity to experience the tranquil setting of the Tongass National Forest. As you paddle, you’ll learn about the natural and cultural history of the area while keeping a keen eye out for bald eagles, their nests, seals, jumping salmon, humpback whales and when the tide is right, star fish.

Experience a genuine Alaskan adventure while supporting the official state sport! Take an exhilarating sled ride and play with husky puppies, all in the heart of the lush Alaskan rainforest. Upon arrival at this authentic summer training camp for mushers and their sled dogs, you'll participate in a sled dog summer training run on a custom designed, wheeled summertime sled. Discover the power of a team of Alaskan huskies as they whisk your sled down a mile long trail through the depths of the Tongass National Rainforest! Then join a dog handler and sled dogs for interactive demonstrations on mushing equipment and the impeccable care the dogs receive.

Your dog handler will also entertain you with knowledge about the training, history, races and inspiring efforts required by this sport. Admire the untamed beauty as you walk across a suspension bridge overlooking Fish Creek. This camp is surrounded by moss-covered forest with huge spruce and hemlock trees. Then cuddle up with a husky puppy and take your picture with one of these adorable future athletes! This excursion is the perfect mix of Alaska’s culture, history, adventure, rugged wilderness, and of course sled dogs and puppies. Complimentary refreshments are provided.

Catch gold fever on this panning adventure where gold is guaranteed! You’ll walk in the footsteps of Joe Juneau whose strike at Gold Creek set off the Alaska gold rush 130 years ago. Your prospector guide will provide a short city tour and lively narration with tall tales of the gold rush era en route to Gold Creek, the original spot where gold was discovered.

Your expert prospector will demonstrate gold panning techniques and you'll be off to the gold fields to strike it rich. Not only will you get to keep what you find, but you’ll also get a Gold Claim Certificate. Then, savor an all-you-can-eat Alaska salmon bake, including side dishes and dessert. Roast marshmallows over a campfire, enjoy musical entertainment and walk the trail to the waterfall and the remains of the historic Wagner Mine. You can shop at the Trading Post for Alaskan goods.