Shore Excursion Details

Alaska Bears & Silver Bay Homestead Experience

Sitka, Alaska

Alaska Bears & Silver Bay Homestead Experience

DETAILS

  • 31/2
    hrs Estimate Duration
  • Snack

See how orphaned and displaced bears are cared for in a rescue center and explore a remote homestead on a deep-water fjord. Enjoy views of Sitka from the roadway during your narrated motorcoach tour to Fortress of the Bear, where you will enjoy up-close views of the brown and black bears in residence. Naturalists will elaborate on why the bears were brought to the sanctuary, their personality traits and how they are ensured a fulfilling life at the rescue center. The stories are inspiring, as many of the bears were once malnourished, injured or orphaned. Living in the remote Alaska wilderness can be challenging for animals and people, as you will discover in more detail at a private homestead on Silver Bay that has been in the McGraw Family for generations. Cruise through Silver Bay aboard your enclosed, heated expedition vessel while taking in the beauty of glacially-carved fjord. Look for jumping salmon as you pass by Medvejie Hatchery and learn of its importance to the local fisheries. Ashore at the head of Silver Bay, gather around a crackling campfire and hear tales of the prospectors that came to the area hoping to strike it rich. Since little precious metal was found in the area, the quick thinking prospectors named the inlet Silver Bay, with hopes of driving speculation in the area in order to sell their claims to unwitting investors in the Eastern United States. Take in the natural beauty of the area from the shoreline as well as from your expedition boat as your expert guides search for Steller sea lions, brown bears, and other species of wildlife common to the area. At Sawmill Cove, board your motorcoach to return to Sitka while your driver guide points out areas of interest such as Sitka National Historical Park and the Alaska Raptor Center.


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


Need to Know:

Note: This tour is also conducted in reverse order. Tour not recommended for guests full confined to a wheelchair. Guests must be able to walk up or down a steep ramp and navigate steps to board bus and boat. Bring rain jacket, wear layered clothing and comfortable walking shoes. Tour departs by bus in the Tour Departure Terminal. The boat is a heated expedition vessel that has inside seating area with a restroom. Your tour may end downtown at the Sitka Visitor Center or at the Sitka Sound Cruise Terminal. Free shuttle buses, departing every few minutes, provide transportation between downtown and the Cruise Terminal.

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ACTIVITY ATTRIBUTES

Excursion Type:

Adventure

Activity Level:

Image Title
  • 1
    Easy
  • 2
    Moderate
  • 3
    Challenging
Tours with this activity level involve a considerable amount of physical activity such as substantial walking over cobblestone streets, uneven or steep terrain, climbing stairs, or extended periods of standing. Not recommended for guests with physical limitations. Comfortable, sturdy shoes are recommended.
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