SHORE EXCURSIONS CREDIT

Your journey begins with a narrated tour of downtown Juneau and the city's highlights as you make your way to Mendenhall Valley -- home of the Mendenhall Glacier. Upon arriving at Mendenhall, your Driver-guide will point out many of the attractions that you'll want to experience during your 2 hour stay. Areas you'll want to explore include the central view from Photo Point, the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center -- includes a short film telling the story of the Juneau Ice Field, several scenic trails. The duration of the stay will allow for ample time to walk out to Nugget Creek Falls where you can stand along the shore as a large glacier fed waterfall terminates nearby. This same shore provides the closest view of Mendenhall Glacier without standing on the ice. Other area trails include Steep Creek -- where sockeye salmon can be seen spawning from mid-July through September, and the Moraine Ecology Trail. Each of these trails meanders through the Tongass National Forest, and many offer different viewpoints of the glacier in the background. Due to occasional bear activity, food consumption is prohibited in the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area.

Board your motorcoach for a scenic 10 minute drive to Knudson Cove, a private waterfront estate in the Tongass National Forest. Upon arrival, guides will instruct and outfit you with safety equipment in an open air forest pavilion. Your adventure begins as you ascend into the trees and gravity pulls you along the ziplines. Nestled on a platform in the park, keep an eye out for eagles and ocean views. You can take an optional challenge route that leads you across swinging logs and rope bridges. Feel the speed and acceleration of the ocean zip, where you'll land above the water on a freestanding platform. Then take the final zip to the take the UTV up the hill to the 50 foot climbing tower where guides will show you techniques to climb to the top and safely auto belay to the ground. For those that are less adventurous, guides can assist you in skipping elements if you choose. You’ll complete 6 ziplines, with time to shop for souvenirs before returning to the pier.

Travel along the incredibly photogenic Klondike Highway to the Canadian border, while pausing along the way to snap pictures of the gorgeous wilderness. The road pretty much follows the trail that prospectors carved out during the Gold Rush of 1898. The countryside is still largely undeveloped, except for a few bridges and the White Pass & Yukon Route Railway that parallels the road. Roadside stops will be made to view natural attractions such as ancient glaciers and Pitchfork Falls, a lovely cascade that splits into branches that resemble the tines of a pitchfork. After pausing at the Canadian border at White Pass summit, you will travel back down the Klondike Highway toward Skagway. Commentary will enhance your understanding of the attractions and the area’s history.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Travel a picturesque highway that follows a trail created during the Gold Rush of 1898. • Snap pictures while pausing at scenic lookouts with views of glaciers and waterfalls. • Stop at the summit of White Pass, which marks the U.S. and Canadian border. • Hear enlightening commentary that describes the area’s history and attractions.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress warmly in layered clothing. • Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Become a citizen science observer for the day aboard a safari vessel, where you will observe marine animals such as humpback whales and collect data of great scientific value. After departing from the pier, you will soon board a safari vessel specifically designed for wildlife viewing. The custom-built vessel features large-panel windows and sits low in the water to offer the best vantage point from inside the heated cabin or out on the open bow. A naturalist guide will be onboard as you take on the role of a citizen science observer, which entails collecting data and documenting wildlife activities for a local university and regional science programs. During the cruise, you will attempt to track and record the behaviors of various marine creatures, including humpback whales. It will be a hands-on experience that may include invasive species monitoring, humpback whale identification, and recording observations of marine mammals. Your completed data log will be used to help scientists improve their understanding of the marine food chain and environmental factors that affect wildlife populations. You might even spot a humpback whale breaching the water’s surface, as they feed voraciously here to fatten up for their winter migration south. Whatever you observe and record, you can be assured that your effects will contribute to the safeguarding and deepening of our understanding of the delicate marine environments of Southeast Alaska.

Try your luck fishing in crystal-clear waters teeming with salmon, while enjoying a stunning backdrop of glacier-carved bays and fjords and the natural beauty of Tongass National Forest. Ketchikan is known as the Salmon Capital of the World, so there is no better place to catch these highly prized sportfish. Once you reach the prime fishing grounds, a deckhand will supply you with fishing gear and you will troll for salmon using a downrigger. Anglers will rotate from rod to rod, so that everyone has the same amount of time on each one. Five species of salmon live in these waters, including king salmon, which are also called Chinook salmon. Pink salmon are the most abundant species and they are vigorous fighters. If you want to keep what you catch, it can be processed and shipped anywhere in the United States.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Fish for hard-fighting, highly prized salmon.
• Enjoy a stunningly beautiful, natural backdrop.
• Ship your catch home if you wish.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear comfortable rubber-soled shoes.

Cruise through the spectacular Tongass Narrows in a Zodiac boat and take in the extraordinary coastal scenery with the chance of seeing iconic Alaskan wildlife. You may captain the 4-person Zodiac or ride along as a passenger. Either way, the views from sea level will be breathtaking. You will follow the guide’s boat past the islands off Refuge Cove and on to Totem Bight State Historical Park, home to a replica village like the ones the indigenous Tlingit and Haidas inhabited in the 19th century. The guide will entertain you with stories about these earlier times, logging, and the history of businesses such as the Ketchikan Pulp Mill. The Tongass Narrows is teeming with wildlife, and you may spot orcas and humpback whales breaching the water’s surface. Bald eagles are commonly seen soaring above, along the shore and feasting on fish that they have just plucked from the sea.

HIGHLIGHTS • Skirt along the spectacularly scenic shoreline of the Tongass Narrows in a Zodiac boat.
• Captain the Zodiac, be one of three passengers or switch positions if you like.
• Look for wildlife that includes orcas, humpback whales and bald eagles.
• Learn about the indigenous Tlingit and Haida people and how they lived in the 19th century.

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

All tours include the digital guide, fuel, unlimited mileage, insurance, umbrellas, rain ponchos, gold panning equipment and car seats (if needed). The four-door Jeep has five seatbelts and adequate storage space for a foldable wheelchair. All passengers must be in a seatbelt. No smoking allowed in the jeep. Each party must have at least one licensed driver that is 25+ years old. There is no charge for additional drivers. Licenses can be domestic or foreign but must be on their person (copies are not accepted). The digital guide is GPS integrated to know where the guest is located along their route and will discuss the site they are going to see before they get there. It is programmed to automatically move to the next location once they leave the last site. It will also discuss Alaska's history, wildlife and ecosystem along longer drives and as the guest heads back to their ship near the end of the tour. The guest can simply select 'Next' if they want to skip a location or need to head back to the ship. Guests who go ashore do so with the understanding that they will be mixing with members of the general public.

Step back in time with one of the sensational madams of the Red Onion Saloon! Lavishly costumed and highly entertaining, she’ll greet you with a souvenir garter. She’ll guide you through the streets and back alleys of Skagway, where women of the evening brushed shoulders with notorious characters like Soapy Smith and Frank Reid. You’ll pass historic and haunted Gold Rush buildings as you learn of Skagway’s rich history.

Your experience culminates with a stop at the world famous Red Onion Saloon's restored Brothel Museum. Join in a champagne toast and explore the halls and bedrooms of this celebrated brothel with relics and images of the ladies who worked there. If you’re lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of the resident ghost, Lydia!

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.

Join professional mountain guides for an exciting rock climbing and rappelling adventure on the stunning granite walls of Alaska! Your adventure begins with an interpretive drive through historic Skagway and up into the majestic White Pass Gold Route. A short hike through the temperate rainforest on an interpretive trail will bring you to the base of the spectacular rock face carved by retreating glaciers.

Here you’ll gear up with rock climbing shoes, helmet and harness and then you’re off to enjoy this incredible experience. Choose between over a dozen climbing routes, each ending in an amazing view of the Skagway River and the surrounding wilderness. You’ll also have an opportunity to try an awesome 70 foot rappel! This adventure is perfect for those looking to try rock climbing for the first time, as well as for experienced climbers. Climbing is not mandatory, you can simply enjoy the tour, a cliffside snack, breathtaking views and watch the others scale the cliffs.

OVERVIEW

Perfect for serious adventurers or families seeking a personalized tour, this excursion is customized for your interest and skill level with just five or six guests per boat. Light tackle is our specialty, which ensures that even average sized fish are exciting and rewarding to bring aboard. Your tour begins at a private downtown marina, where you are outfitted head to toe. You'll board an open-air boat and glide into a breathtaking landscape. Head out past the busy charter fishing areas and into secluded locations for wildlife viewing and remote fishing. With custom light tackle, you'll experience the thrill of angling for numerous Alaskan bottom fish species and whichever of the five species of Pacific salmon are in season. Most folks catch fish - this excursion is renowned for the highest catch rate of any Alaska fishing experience. Your skiff then heads to a wilderness campsite where a crackling fire awaits. You'll settle into the stillness of the rainforest, rest on a beach log and breathe deeply among centuries-old spruce trees and fragrant cedars. You'll experience this outdoor culinary adventure as the camp cook blends homemade fish broth and delicately seasoned potatoes. You'll dine on your freshly caught bottom fish served atop a saffron-infused bouillabaisse, and savor fire-warmed sourdough rolls, signature rhubarb-blueberry crisp and steaming mugs of coffee or hot chocolate. It's no wonder Food & Wine magazine rated this "The world's best camp meal ever." If salmon are in season and your group managed to land a couple, our cooks will grill it fresh over the fire for a true Southeast Alaskan experience. Your tour concludes with a short walk back to the ship and memories of fish tales with friends old and new.

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

Past and present thrive side by side in Seattle, and you'll see it all on this tour of the best that Seattle has to offer. Circle the Seattle Center campus on your way to the Space Needle, where you'll soar to the top by elevator for an unforgettable vista of the Emerald City. From here, you'll head over through newly renovated Belltown to the Pike Place Market, the West Coast's largest and oldest open-air farmers market. Here you’ll have the opportunity to browse the hundreds of curio shops and local artisan stalls. Don't forget to check out the 'Flying Fish', one of the more famous vendors at the Market. Then you will be treated to a scenic drive through the city to view Seattle's sports stadiums, and then discover the historic flavor of Pioneer Square, Seattle's birthplace dating back to 1852. Pass the International District and tour through the downtown core and shopping district en route to the airport.