The glacier-rich waters of coastal Alaska are as pristine as they were a thousand years ago. Because of its size (and its history as a railroad port), there is plenty of nightlife and there are lots of good restaurants in the picturesque old-time downtown area. You can couple a trip around Portage Valley with a visit to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center to add a more educational element to your day. Anchorage is the largest city in Alaska and acts as the gateway to the states vast and abundant wildernesses. TheEdge of the Glacier Trailleaves the first loop and climbs steeply to an overlook at the side of the glacier before returning. Spencer Glacier Encircled by mighty peaks brimming with glaciers, Girdwood is a laid-back antidote to the bustle of Anchorage. 1 Best Day Trips from Anchorage, Alaska ; 2 Alyeska Resort and Girdwood. Which one is right for you? The ever changing nature of the scenery is its charm, gorgeous in any Being in Alaska is an adventure every day! With only a day, your best bet is to focus on the Alyeska Resort area, with its comprehensive hotel and year-round aerial tramway. Spend the day retracing the. The 13 most accessible and spectacular glaciers out of over 30,000, One has better whale watching, the other better glacier viewing, Nine Alaska experiences you shouldnt missand will never forget, Our rundown of the best all-around Alaska travel experiences. Anchorage Alaska, Day Tours, Excursions | Alaska Tour Excursions Anchorage Tours & Transfers. Choose one of the Anchorage day tours below to enhance your Alaska vacation experience. Slurp local oysters backed with champagne at The Cookery or cozy up by the massive wood stove at Resurrect Art Coffee House Gallery. Climb aboard a comfortable coach for a narrated journey along Turnagain Arm Drive. Encircled by mighty peaks brimming with glaciers, Girdwood is a laid-back antidote to the bustle of Anchorage. Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, The 9 Best Northern Lights Viewing Spots Near Anchorage, How to Travel to Alaska in January and February, The Best Large Family & Group Vacations in Alaska, How to Get from Anchorage to Your Cruise Port in Whittier or Seward (or the reverse! All tours include admissionsWith 907 Tours, thousands of satisfied guests have enjoyed the scenery of the Turnagain Arm of the Cook Inlet, one of the most beautiful places in the world. Gain unique into the local history and culture of Alaska's most populous city from guides with generational ties to the region. The trail, with a mountain goats view of Turnagain Arm, alpine meadows and beluga whales, can also be accessed at the McHugh Creek (Mile 112), Rainbow (Mile 108) and Windy (Mile 107). ANCHORAGE WINTER TOURSSept 18, 2018 - May 15, 2019. Hop on this historic and scenic 15-mile tour of Anchorage. Youll get whisked back to Anchorage down the Seward Highway for one last adventure. Activity Level: Easy Departs 10:30 am 7-8 hours What You'll See and Do: Summer Day Tours from Anchorage Reserve with confidence with our Worry-Free Booking & Cancellation Policy! Let us simplify it for you, How much does an Alaska summer vacation cost? Skip the hassles of logistics and gear with this small-group tour that picks you up in the city and transports you to the glacier, where you can embark on a hike of a few miles. TheTalkeetna Historical Society Museumis agreat introduction to the area's indigenous and frontier past. If you've already crossed something off your sightseeing to-do list, guides are more than happy to customize your experience. Nearby Palmer,the town of Knik boasts a rich sled-dog history, since it's the home of many Alaskan mushers (and checkpoint 4 on the race route). Getting there:Eagle River is less than half an hour from Anchorage along Glenn Highway / AK-1 North. As you roll along in the city, delight in sights like moose (safely) crossing the road and seaplanes descending on Lake Hood and Lake Spenard. After a 1 to 1.5-hour van transfer (each way) from Anchorage, you arrive at Alaska Browse tour, Enjoy a day tour from Anchorage with flightseeing from Lake Hood over the majestic Chugach State Park! Combine a sightseeing tour and a glacier cruise into one full-day itinerary with this excursion from Anchorage. What Day Trips in Anchorage are good for avoiding crowds? THE 10 BEST Day Trips from Anchorage (UPDATED 2023) - Tripadvisor Alaska Day Cruises | Best Glacier & Wildlife Cruises If youre most interested in seeing tidewater glaciers, take a wildlife & glacier cruise out of the port of Whittier into Prince William Sound, 1.5 hours south of Anchorage by car or rail. Visit Exit Glacier, pause for lunch at the Resurrection Roadhouse, and enjoy a dog sled ride and tour at the famed Seavey kennel. Kantishna Experience(Unavailable Summer 2023). Alaskas largest city with its trademark slogan Big Wild Life will treat you to a variety of museums, dining options, and the shopping you might expect in any medium sized U.S. city. We offer several different day tours to experience the beautiful glaciers and wildlife. Anchorage is not only the hub of Alaska life, its also a great jumping off point for hiking in the Chugach Mountains, exploring Denali National Park (including climbing Denali), and visiting Portage Glacier or the Kenai Peninsula. Just an hours drive from Anchorage, the MV Ptarmigan let you get within 300feet of the towering ice wall called Portage Glacier. The tour operates, Get up close to Portage Glacier aboard the mv Ptarmigan on a one-hour cruise. This tour is a great way to see Seward in a day. All aboard Anchorages favorite city tour! If you're here for the outdoors, roll down the local waterways with Talkeetna's knowledgeable river guides if you're lucky, you'll get a view of Denali from the Chulitna River. Events may be subject to change. This waterway, that feeds into the Gulf of Alaska, draws its name from the misfortune of James Cook, the pioneering British explorer. Whether you have an hour or a whole day, day tour companies and their professional tour guides have a long list of wow destinations around Anchorage. Cook had no option but to turn again when the hearsay of a Northwest Passage turned out to be just that, hearsay. Admire views of Prince William Sound during the tour. This seacoast area in Southcentral Alaska is famous for its rich marine. See All Activities Most Alaska travelers find themselves with down time in Anchorage, often after flying in or before a late-night flight out. 2-5 day small ship explorations. The classic Alaska Cruise, offered by such companies as Holland America, Princess, and Royal Caribbean. Anchorage is a birder's paradise; more than 130 bird species can be spotted. Enjoy cozy comforts on the high-speed catamaran and wander its outdoor decks as you come within 300feet of massive tidewater glaciers. Hope has beautiful views of Turnagain Arm, a quaint and historic downtown, wonderful gold-rush-era relics, and incredible camping and hiking opportunities. A day long cruise of the fjord is without a doubt the best way to experience and connect with this inspiring landscape. Meet your guide for a small-group hike to see Alaska's alpine forests and tundra. Wildlife in Anchorage Day Trip | Visit Anchorage Hikers, bikers and all round avid explorers will love Eagle River Nature Center. Alaska Railroad Glacier Discovery train in Chugach National Forest Alamy Stock Photo, Anchorage is a perfect home base for these 10 day trips. Here's what you can't miss in Madrid. Not that I'm biased or anything, but there's a reason my old hometown is #1 on my list of Anchorage day trips. We'll visit Portage Lake, the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, Beluga Point, Potter Marsh, and Earthquake Park, each offering unique experiences and stunning views. Your choice for an All-In-One City-Glacier & Wildlife Tour, Best Value if you do not have a lot of time, Walk on the 10,000 year old ice - authentic adventure. Alaska's largest glacier accessible by car is located just outside Anchorage, so don't miss the chance to visit during your stay. Iliamna Browse tour, This full-day Alaska glacier cruise adventure in Prince William Sound begins with a coach or rail transfer from Anchorage to Whittier. Fuel your wanderlust on the open road inMexico with these epic drives. Highlights include viewing the trans-Alaska pipeline and the mighty Yukon River. Visit September to April to see the Northern Lights. THE 10 BEST Anchorage Tours & Excursions - Tripadvisor The ever changing nature of the scenery is its charm, gorgeous in any Being in Alaska is an adventure every day! During the course of the cruise, and dependant on the season of your visit, you will have the opportunity to observe some of natures greatest achievements both in terms of flora, fauna and geography. Salmon and beaver sightings are common along the rushing glacial river. McHugh Creek, is another beautiful adventure. Call 800.544.0552 to book now! Redoubt Bay is one of the most straightforward and accessible locations for bear viewing from Anchorage. Spain's capital is a hub of cultural gems, vibrant nightlife and incredible restaurants for every budget. Where can I store my luggage in Anchorage? Brooks Falls is famous for the site of brown bears bulking up for winter by feeding on salmon trying to make their way upstream. Youll enjoy adeliciouslunch The grizzly bears migrate to the Brooks River to thrash in the powerful river flow snapping salmon travelling upstream left, right and center. You can stretch your legs along the 1500ft boardwalk while spying on ducks, songbirds, grebes and gulls. The 20 Best Alaska Tours Explore Alaska's incredible landscape and learn more about the largest state in the U.S. from experienced guides on a tour. Getting there: It's only two and a half hours to Seward from Anchorage by car or four by train, but if either seems too long to spend on a day trip, you can also fly though that's the more expensive option. Meanwhile, the 127 miles of the Seward Hwy is all Scenic Byway, and there are plenty of turnoffs for gawking and snapping photos. 1. Lazy Otter can also help facilitate taking you and your family on acamping trip. Incredibly the Chugach National Forest is the second largest national forest in the United States of America, narrowly missing out to Tongass across state. Alyeska, where you may participate in any activities you wish, such as hiking, before returning to Anchorage at your leisure. Orca, Humpback and Minke Whales regularly frequent these waters and put on quite the performance. Actually, several reasons. Big ship or small ship? King Mountain view, Glenn Highway AK. Passing through gorgeous inlets and fjords, you'll also get to look for bears, mountain goats clinging to craggy cliffs, and bald eagles. read more. AK 99501 [email protected] Phone: 907-278-3572 Fax: 907 . An Alaska glacier cruise is not just an unforgettable way to experience this unchanged call of the wild, but also the only way to see that quintessential Alaskan coastal scenery you've dreamed of. The 15 Best Anchorage Day Trips to Plan in Your Alaska Itinerary Read also:15 Best Things to Do in Anchorage. Getting there: Turnagain Arm is just south of Anchorage and can be reached on the scenic Seward Highway a worthwhile day trip in and of itself. Read our Privacy Policy. In March, come along with us to watch the mushers as they begin racing on the Iditarod Trail after leaving the re-start north of Willow.Uniquely Alaskan! Visit an authentic trappers cabin and Alaska Native encampment. Eagle River has something of a city center; the Eagle River Town Square is off Business Blvd and has just about every business youll need.