Whale Watch & Salmon Bake

Cruise into beautiful Auke Bay looking for humpback whales feeding and breaching the water’s surface, and then enjoy a traditional Alaskan salmon bake.

After departing from the pier, you will enjoy a brief but picturesque drive to Auke Bay, a pristine waterway named after one of the Alaskan native first people. Upon arriving, you will board a jet-powered catamaran specifically designed for sightseeing and cruising Alaskan waters. Before long, you will be out in a prime area for whale watching.

Humpback whales are often spotted here, even close to shore, and the sight is breathtaking. You may see these majestic creatures breaching the water’s surface, waving their flukes up and down as they dive, and feeding voraciously to fatten up for their winter migration south.

You might even spot them bubble-net feeding, a unique technique in which several whales swim in an ever-shrinking circle while blowing bubbles below a school of fish. The bubbles force the fish upwards and cluster them into a column, presenting the perfect opportunity for the whales to gorge themselves. It’s a mesmerizing sight you will not soon forget.

Following the whale-watching adventure, you will dine at the Gold Creek Salmon Bake. The salmon will be grilled over a fragrant alderwood fire, imparting the fish with a unique taste. The all-you-can-eat meal includes other signature Alaskan side dishes and desserts, so bring a hearty appetite. After dining, you might pan for gold at Salmon Creek Falls and see mining relics at the Wagner Mine.