EXCURSIONES EN TIERRA

OVERVIEW

Settle in for a spectacularly scenic drive around Astoria with occasional stops at landmarks that best reveal the city’s history. Astoria was named for millionaire businessman John Jacob Astor, whose fur trading company established this first permanent settlement west of the Rockies. As you travel around the city, you will hear fascinating facts about Astoria and learn about historical events such as the raging fire that nearly destroyed the downtown in 1922. Along the way, you can expect to see the Liberty Theater, where Clark Gable made his first stage appearance. Other highlights include the Doughboy Monument that commemorates those that fought in World War I, a Victorian mansion built for Astoria’s first millionaire and the mural-adorned Astoria Column that the Astor family funded. Climb the 164 steps to the top of the column, and you will be rewarded with the ultimate panoramic view of the city.

HIGHLIGHTS

• See key landmarks on a panoramic driving tour through Astoria.
• Understand the influence of John Jacob Astor on his namesake city.
• Hear commentary about momentous events such as the fire of 1922.
• Take in the sweeping view of the city from atop Astoria Column, if you wish.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

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.

Private car service - Indiana Jones Style! This tour begins on the Ketchikan dock and is fully customizable to your wishes. Tour Ketchikan in rugged luxury. in a Hummer H2, a plush vehicle modeled after the military HumVee, and an an extremely knowledgeable tour guide at your service! You choose your destination and tour itinerary based on your group’s interests and input from your guide. Among the many options available, that are sure to please the history buff, native arts & culture enthusiast, outdoor adventurer, and nature lover are several totem pole parks, including Potlach Park, Totem Bight State Park, and Totem Heritage Center; walk through the magnificent rainforest and along pristine beaches, a stop at Herring Cove to look for wildlife in season, waterfall viewing, cultural centers, and diverse hiking options. All entrance fees to attractions listed above are included in the price. Hiking trails range from easy to complex and are accessible by road across the island. Lunch Creek Trail is a moderate to more challenging 4-mile hike that begins by winding through mature cedar and spruce forest, transitioning into natural tread interspersed with boardwalk climbing through spruce stands and muskeg meadows and ending in a subalpine forest at Emery Tobin Lake. Scenic views include a trailside waterfall. Custom stops can include but are not limited to: shopping, dining or exploring almost anything on the island. Wildlife stops can be made at any time the opportunity arises.

An all you can eat mouthwatering assortment of warm and cold dishes awaits your arrival in Skagway. Feast on wild Alaskan caught salmon grilled over an open alder wood fire as part of this feast in the forest. Enjoy Chilkoot Chicken, Panners Pasta, Prospector Pete’s Reindeer Beans, Liarsville Rice Medley, Sluice Box Slaw and other fresh salads, plus cornbread and blueberry cake for dessert. Beer and wine are available for purchase.

This delicious meal also includes a visit to an 1898 replica campsite located in the historic Liarsville region. During your visit, take time to reflect on how the prospectors of yesteryear survived. Chat with the colorful characters and gold-digging madams as you enjoy a glimpse back at life during the Klondike gold rush. Visit the Fancy Goods Gift Shop to find that special souvenir.

Join professional mountaineering guides for a two-hour trek through a glacial icescape. A scenic helicopter flight will take you to your trekking site. No experience is necessary, as guides will teach you the proper use of the mountaineering gear so that the remote areas of the glacier can be accessed. All you need to bring is a camera, a willing attitude and an appetite for adventure.

Join this bear-viewing opportunity, which is accessible by road. You'll begin with a narrated eight-mile coastal drive to the forested area of Herring Cove located within the Alaska Rain Forest Sanctuary. Meet your guide and set out on a walking expedition to locate some of the black bears that call this area home. You will pass through tall stands of hemlock, spruce and cedar as you explore the sanctuary. An elevated boardwalk trail leads you to private viewing platforms overlooking Herring Creek, where bears often come to fish for salmon in the stream. The nearby Whitman Hatchery ensures that the river is teeming with salmon every summer. Typically, large numbers of black bears gather here to feed on these huge runs of salmon that are returning to spawn in the stream. Bald eagles perch in the trees, waiting patiently for scraps left by the bears. Mink and marten often frequent the area, and seals often hang out near the mouth of the stream feeding on the bountiful fish runs. You will have ample time to observe the wildlife activity. Walk through the historic Herring Bay Lumber Company sawmill established by legendary pioneer Ben Fleenor. Transportation to and from the sanctuary is by motorcoach.

Drive a Polaris RZR through a private rainforest preserve in the rugged Alaskan wilderness. After an orientation briefing, you will gear up for a 90-minute guided trek along winding mountain trails and off road. With the guide leading the way, your caravan of adventure karts will set off into the rainforest. A comfortable pace will be maintained as you thread your way around steep curves, climbing to a height that will present unparalleled views of the Tongass National Forest, Behm Canal and the Inside Passage. Stops will be made along the way to soak up the grandeur and natural beauty. Drivers and passengers will have the opportunity to switch positions. Be sure to watch for wildlife the entire time, as eagles, deer and bears are frequently sighted.

Discover the diversity of the southeast Alaska landscape via helicopter as you fly over temperate rainforests and granite peaks that surround Alaska’s capital city. After your flightseeing tour, your pilot will land at our trekking site on the Mendenhall Glacier. Your guide will teach you how to use trekking poles and crampons for balance and traction, enabling you to travel easily on gently rolling glacial terrain. During this non-strenuous, one-hour interpretive walk, your guide will point out and explain the glacier features and allow you ample time for photos.

This tour is available for prebooking’s only. Soar high above the gorgeous northern shore of Maui in a helicopter and land in a rainforest for a closer look at the tropical landscape. You will fly over thundering waterfalls, the famed windsurfing setting at Ho’okipa Beach, and the mega-surf break at Pe’ahi, a spot with such monstrous swells that it is nicknamed “Jaws.” Many of the locations are so remote that they can only be observed from the air, as there are no roads, only dense jungle and precipitous cliffs. One such site is Keopuka Rock, a steep sliver of an island known as Jurassic Rock because it was featured in the opening sequence of the movie “Jurassic Park.” In time, you will land in a rainforest clearing and toast the experience with a glass of champagne. The landscape there is blanketed with banana trees, papayas, pineapples and lilkoi, a colorful passion flower that grows on a vine.

HIGHLIGHTS

• See Maui’s gorgeous northern shore while flying in a helicopter with wraparound windows.
• View famed surfing and windsurfing beaches, roaring waterfalls and remote sea cliffs.
• Touch down in a rainforest (landing is dependent on the current weather conditions at flight time) and celebrate the experience with a champagne toast.
• Total airtime approximately 20 minutes, each way. Landing approximately 30 minutes.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.
• Helicopter tour requires guest weight. Guests are asked to provide this information to the Destination Manager once onboard.

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!

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.

OVERVIEW

When you visit Southeast Alaska and combine the originators of glacier helicopter tours with Alaska’s largest operating dogsled tour company, you get a once in a lifetime experience. You’ll fly over the lush rainforest, deep blue crevasses and glacier carved peaks as your pilots deliver a spectacular flight seeing tour en route to the dogsled camp on Mendenhall Glacier. Here the professional mushers and Alaskan sled dogs will have you driving the team or relaxing in the sled as you take in the awe-inspiring scenery. You'll have time to talk with the mushers about the great 1,000-mile Iditarod race or take pictures with the dogs before your helicopter takes you back to the base. Don’t miss this truly Alaskan experience!

HIGHLIGHTS

• Soar over the pristine wilderness that borders Juneau in a helicopter.
• Land on Mendenhall Glacier, a 13-mile-long river of ice.
• Help Drive a dogsled along a trail on the glacier.
• Discuss the finer points of dogsledding with professional mushers.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress warmly, in layers, in weather-appropriate clothing, gloves and a hat, sturdy and comfortable close-toe shoes.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.