Alaska: Call of the Wild

Tour begins: 6:00 PM, The Hotel Captain Cook.  A transfer is included from Anchorage International Airport to The Hotel Captain Cook. Join us for a welcome dinner tonight.

In Alaska, dog sledding is both a very popular sport and an important mode of transportation to remote places where roads still don't go. Drive from Anchorage this morning to Big Lake for a visit to a facility where Alaskan huskies train to become sled dogs. Continue on to Talkeetna for a jet boat* ride with a naturalist guide to look for bald eagles, beavers, moose and even bears that live along the river, and a nature walk in the Alaskan bush to see a turn-of-the-century trapper's cabin. If the weather is good, you'll have an incredible view of Alaska's famous Denali en route to your wilderness lodge for a two-night stay. Once there, you and your family can compete in a high-tech treasure-hunting game – known as geocaching – where you'll use a GPS system to find hidden treasures.

Nature is everywhere on a morning hike* at Talkeetna Lake, with loons and kingfishers above you, and a forest brimming with wildflowers and wildlife surrounding you. As you walk, your local guide shares stories about how the first native peoples survived in this beautiful but wild land, and about life in Talkeetna today – and, of course, about amazing encounters with wildlife. After lunch at your lodge, travel to Trapper Creek to visit the private homestead of Joanne Porterfield, nestled in the Alaska wilderness; her family's gardens and farm have flourished here in the shadow of Denali for more than four decades. Later, back at your lodge in Talkeetna, enjoy an interpretive experience with storytelling, s'mores and more around an old-fashioned campfire tonight.

Depart your lodge in Talkeetna and soar over the Denali foothills in a small plane (weather permitting) for a breathtaking bird's-eye view of towering Denali, the tallest mountain in North America. After your flight, you'll travel to Anchorage for a visit to the Alaska Native Heritage Center, a renowned cultural center and museum where you'll come away with a greater understanding of Alaska's indigenous people. Following a tour and lunch, continue on to the wildlife-rich Kenai Peninsula and a two-night wilderness lodge in Seward on the Kenai Peninsula. The peninsula is a gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park, where glaciers flow from an icefield into coastal fjords. Dinner is at leisure at your lodge.

Seward and the Kenai Peninsula provide the perfect setting for your choice of outdoor activity. They include a guided hike to Exit Glacier, sea kayaking* in Resurrection Bay or a float trip on the Kenai River. Later this afternoon, visit the Alaska Sea Life Center – a renowned marine research facility and public aquarium; it serves as a hub for marine research, education, and wildlife rehabilitation in the state. You can explore exhibits showcasing Alaska's diverse marine ecosystems, including underwater viewing areas to observe marine life up close. The center is also actively involved in wildlife conservation efforts, particularly focused on the unique marine species found in the cold waters of Alaska. Tonight, dine at a local restaurant in Seward.

On today's visit to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving Alaska's wildlife through education, you'll be introduced to the orphaned animals being cared for at this rehabilitation center. Think moose and musk ox, bald eagles and grizzly bears. From here, it's a short trip to Crow Creek Gold Mine, where you'll learn about this historic mine and the art of gold panning and platinum prospecting. At the turn of the 20th century, "gold fever" brought scads of hopeful miners to this area in search of untold riches. You'll meet a prospector, pan for gold and enjoy a barbecue lunch. Mid-afternoon, continue to your resort hotel in Girdwood, where you and your family will spend the remainder of the day as you please.

Today it's all aboard the Alaska Railroad to travel along the breathtaking shores of Turnagain Arm to Whittier. Here a boat waits to take you off on an exciting cruise on Blackstone Bay in Prince William Sound. You'll cruise past thundering waterfalls and spectacular glaciers, some towering as high as 1,700 feet above the boat. Listen to the sounds the glaciers make as they groan and crack; consider the colors of the ice as it reflects the light; and keep an eye out for eagles, otters and harbor seals. En route back to your hotel, you'll travel through the Whittier Tunnel, the second longest highway tunnel in North America. Tonight, join us for a great time exchanging stories of your adventures at our farewell reception and dinner.

Tour ends: Girdwood. Fly home anytime. A transfer from The Hotel Alyeska to Anchorage International Airport (approximately 60 minutes) is included. Allow a minimum of two hours for flight check-in. Ask at booking about additional hotel nights before or after your trip.