Alaska: Hubbard Glacier & Skagway to Vancouver

If you're interested in dramatic landscapes and diverse wildlife, then Valdez is for you. Ideally nestled along Prince William Sound, this picturesque town seems to have it all-towering mountains, wildflower-carpeted meadows, iceberg-dotted waters and expansive glaciers. Feel Free to go a little wild on an exhilarating shore excursion, from fishing and whale watching to glacier hikes and much more. Or explore the town's Gold Rush history, browse local shops and savor fresh seafood.

Get up close and personal with the gigantic Hubbard Glacier, North America's largest tidewater glacier. It's 1,350 square miles of blue ice and one of the most active in Alaska.

In a single year from 1896 to 1897, this remote town along the Inside Passage grew from a few tents to a city of 20,000 gold seekers. Today, travellers come in search of other riches - to experience yesteryear along Skagway's charming boardwalk lined with buildings that replicate those Gold Rush days.

Juneau has been called “Alaska's peak experience,” certainly due in part to its unparalleled glacier viewing from such places as Tracy Arm Fjord, the Juneau Icefields and Glacier Bay National Park. Kayak up one of the area's many protected waterways, go flightseeing, tour historic downtown or try your hand at panning for gold. The majestic Mendenhall Glacier lies nearly 12 miles outside Juneau, a treck worthwhile.

Its Tlingit Indian name, Kach Khanna, means "spread wings of the eagle." Chances are you'll see one of these magnificent birds perched atop a Sitka tree. Thanks to its abundant rainfall, Ketchikan is surrounded by some of the world's most lush wilderness.

Positioned between the snow-dusted North Shore Mountains and the rich, blue waters of the Pacific Ocean, Vancouver blends big-city sophistication with small-town charm. Don't miss Queen Elizabeth Park - a 130-acre civic arboretum accented with sculptures by modern artist Henry Moore.