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- [Narrator] If you're planning an Alaskan cruise
watch this first to decide which ports of call to visit
and what Alaska Cruise shore excursions to expect
at each destination.
- [Narrator] We've been on three different Alaskan cruises
with three separate companies
and have packed each trip full of Alaska shore excursions.
These are the tours that we recommend
and what you can expect on each one.
- [Narrator] Before we get started, make sure to subscribe
to our channel and click on that bell
for notifications so you don't miss a thing.
And be sure to check the tours in the description below
because we've listed the shore excursions
with links and prices.
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- [Narrator] First up is Ketchikan,
the salmon capital of the world.
- [Narrator] Known as Alaska's First City,
Ketchikan got its name because it is the first port of call
as you cruise north along the Inside Passage.
There are plenty of things to do in Ketchikan
and we're gonna highlight a few of its top attractions.
All right, let's go shopping on Creek Street.
- Creek Street runs along the Ketchikan Creek
and there are plenty of shops, restaurants
and historical buildings to explore.
The boardwalk was once the city's red light district
but today it's made
for tourists to enjoy its colorful buildings
and beautiful views of the creek.
But the number one excursion we suggest is
to watch bears feed on salmon in their natural habitat.
It's one of the best places in Alaska to see this.
We're in the hide watching the bears
and there are four black bears feeding right now.
It's incredible.
Ketchikan is known as the salmon capital of the world,
attracting plenty of bears to the shores of its rivers
during the spawning season.
- [Narrator] Watching from a safe distance
from within our hides
we witnessed a half a dozen bears come and go
during our 90 minutes on the island.
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- We're taking a float plane out and are we ever lucky?
It's a beautiful day, clear skies, so it's a go.
Can't wait to see what we see.
Another popular shore excursion
in Ketchikan is taking a scenic flight
in a float plane over the Tongass National Forest
and Misty Fjords National Monument.
This national monument has vertical slopes
reaching 3,000 feet out of the ocean
and is covered with rainforest.
It's truly one
of the beautiful coastal scenic flights in Alaska.
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We're at Ketchikan Tours in Ketchikan, Alaska.
- Driving the zodiac here in Ketchikan, Alaska.
Let me tell you, the zodiac tour is one
of the most fun things you'll do in Ketchikan.
- [Narrator] This is a great way
to see the top attractions in Ketchikan
but the real thrill is being able
to drive your own zodiac in the Alaskan waters.
- On the lookout for the humpback whale.
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Ketchikan has the world's largest collection
of standing totem poles, and a great way to learn
about them is to visit the Totem Heritage Center
which houses an extensive collection
of totem poles from all of the Alaskan cultures.
Also, make your way
to the Saxon Native Village to see more totem poles
and an authentic clan house.
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- Next up is Juneau, Alaska's capital.
When visiting Juneau,
one of the best things you can do is go whale watching.
You are guaranteed sightings, and we are heading out
on a small whale watching adventure, a photography tour.
And then we're going to go to the other star attraction
in Juneau which is Mendenhall Glacier.
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Juneau is one of the premier places for whale watching
and it's one of the most popular excursions
on an Alaskan cruise.
It was then on to our guided hiking tour
through the Tongass National Forest
where we saw salmon spawning
and learned about the flora and fauna of the area
before hiking to the star attraction,
the Mendenhall Glacier.
This is one of the most accessible glaciers in Alaska
and it is not to be missed.
There are several excursions to Mendenhall Glacier
from paddling in a canoe
to hiking directly to Nugget Falls from the visitor center.
You can get right beside the glacier
and there are specific tours
that you can book to see the Mendenhall ice caves.
But remember, the Mendenhall Glacier is retreating quickly
so ice cave sightings are not guaranteed.
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- Make sure you take a stroll on the boardwalk
and check out all the little shops
and restaurants around there.
They've laid it out really nice.
Even if you don't do an excursion
Juneau is worth visiting to see its old Wild West facades,
take a ride on the Mount Roberts Tramway
or check out it museums and restaurants.
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Our next stop was Skagway, which is the gateway
to the Yukon and heart of the Klondike Gold Rush.
Downtown Skagway is a national historic park dedicated
to the Klondike Gold Rush.
There are more than 100 historic buildings
and structures featuring exhibits, films
and interactive displays that explore the history
and culture of the region.
You can have a drink at a saloon,
pop into an old brothel, and even catch a show.
Come to the Days of 98 Show.
Just outside of town is a Klondike Gold Rush Cemetery
where the likes of writer Jack London
and notorious outlaw Soapy Sales are laid to rest.
Trolley tours and city tours will take you
to the Skagway's top attractions.
- [Narrator] Skagway is also the gateway
to the Chilkoo Trail
and you can book hikes to take a portion
of this historic route used
by prospectors in the 1800s.
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- [Narrator] One of the most popular attractions
of this gold rush town is the White Pass Railway.
- All aboard the White Pass Railway.
- [Narrator] This historic narrow gauge railway was built
in 1897 and takes you up to the summit of White Pass
into Canada's Yukon territories.
It is considered one of the great train rides in the world.
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- The railway is one of the most popular
and one of the most reasonable tours in Skagway.
But if you wanna take things up a notch,
book a helicopter tour to see the surrounding glaciers.
These mammoth glaciers are located high in the mountains
and can really only be appreciated from the sky.
Aerial tours are always pricier than other excursions
but it's well worth it,
and some include hiking on the glacier
or hiking in the Tongass National Forest.
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Next up is Anchorage, the largest city in Alaska
and it is often the jumping off point
for many cruises leaving from Whittier.
There's great dining and hotel options here
and there are plenty of excursions to be had.
You can book tours that will take you out
to the Turnagain Arm, or you can book some boat tours
to explore the fjords and glaciers
and the wildlife of the area.
When in Anchorage,
you may want to book your dog sledding adventure
with an actual Iditarod racer
or spot wildlife at Chugach National Forest
and the Alaskan Wildlife Conservation Center.
From here, you can also hop on the Alaska Railway.
The Alaska Railroad isn't just about getting
from point A to point B,
it's about savoring the journey itself.
Originally built to access the territory's vast resources,
today it takes travelers on an unforgettable journey
through some of Alaska's most stunning landscapes.
The moment you board this train
you're treated in comfort and style
with domed windows for panoramic viewing and dining cars.
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This is awesome!
You can come right back to the back of the train
to a viewing platform to get some fresh air.
It's wild. - Whoa!
- The Alaska Railroad connects key Alaskan destinations
including Anchorage, Denali National Park, and Fairbanks.
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Vancouver, Canada is our final port
of call on our Alaskan cruise.
This beautiful city on the West Coast is worth spending
at least a night or two after your cruise to Alaska.
Make sure to take a city tour
and check out a couple of its top attractions.
When you come to Vancouver,
you have to make sure you come over to Stanley Park
and go for a walk along the seawall.
You can rent a bike and it's a great way
to just get some fresh air
and people watch and see the skyline.
Stanley Park is located in the heart of the city
and is a large 1,000-acre park with plenty of attractions.
Most city tours will stop here.
There are so many things to do
in Stanley Park that you could spend an entire day here.
This is one of the most visited aquariums in the world
and it's in the center of Stanley Park.
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If you can book an excursion to Grouse Mountain,
we highly recommend it.
It has amazing views and it's filled with adventures.
We are at Grouse Mountain today in North Vancouver
and we're going to go do some zip lining.
So we're just gonna take the gondola up
and then do a zipline adventure.
Alright, we're here
with Mountain Ziplines on Grouse Mountain
and we are going to do some zip lining with Colin Braden.
Woo-hoo.
We did zip lining in Vancouver
but it is offered on many stops
on both the land and sea portion of Alaskan cruises.
Okay, we're at the top and it is a big cloud.
This is gonna be cool.
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Yeah, baby!
- [Narrator] Grouse Mountain Zipline
is a five line double track circuit taking you
over canyons and old growth forest
at speeds of up to 80 kilometers per hour.
- Right? - All right.
This is a faster one.
- This is the fastest one today.
- Oops. The fastest one today.
- Since I only- - Ah, I'm scared!
Okay. I'm not, but it's gonna be fun.
Countdown one, I knew it! (screams)
(laughs) Whoo!
Whoo!
- This is awesome.
Whoa!
- [Narrator] Whoa!
- [Narrator] Cut to these.
Come in hot.
- Whoo. - Nice.
(both laughing)
That was fun.
It actually made my eyes water
it was going so fast. - Whoa!
- Whoa! (laughs)
That was awesome.
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- There are a lot of things to do on Grouse Mountain.
It's more than just hiking.
There's a lumberjack show.
There's the canopy walk and ziplines.
There's a restaurant
and there are some grizzlies up here as well.
Grouse Mountain is home
to two grizzly bears that were rescued as cubs.
If you missed seeing a brown bear on your cruise
this is a great way to see these adorable rescues
that live on five acres of parkland.
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When you visit Vancouver
you have to come to Granville Island.
- [Narrator] Granville Island is an artist district filled
with eateries, boutiques, artist studios
and even a brewery.
It's a great place to spend the afternoon.
- Well there are a lot of different ways
to get around Vancouver.
You've got the hop on, hop off bus
you have the shared bike programs.
You have public transit and the SkyTrain
and you have these great aqua buses,
little ferries that take you across
from Granville Island to other parts of the city.
If you're going to stick around a while
we highly recommend heading out to Whistler.
As North America's largest ski resort
and home to the 2010 Winter Olympics,
this four-season resort is an outdoor lover's dream.
There are hiking trails, fun attractions, museums
and plenty of restaurants making
for an excellent overnight trip before or after your cruise.
There are plenty of detours
from Vancouver that offer tours to Whistler.
If you want to find out more things to do in Whistler,
check the links below.
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Well, that's a wrap of our journey
through our favorite Alaskan cruise ports
and shore excursions.
We hope we could help you choose the right adventure
for your Alaskan cruise
and let us know what you decided and how you liked it.
In the comments below.
Remember to hit the Like button
if you enjoyed this journey and leave a comment
to let us know your favorite Alaskan destination.
Until next time, safe travels and keep exploring.