Whittier/Alyeska Tours?

[LovinDivin]

In June there will be 8 of us getting off the Coral in Whittier. We have rented 2 SUV's and are looking for somthing exciting and fun to do all day as our plane does not leave Anchorage until 1:00am. We would be up for anything on the water, ATV's or flightseeing. Should we go do the Portage Glacier Cruise or to the Alyeska Lodge for lunch? Anyone had this situation? We've already been all over Anchorage twice before, and really aren't shoppers and we would like to spend those last hours doing something fun and exciting.

 

We would love any suggestions! Thanks!

[Nancyquilts]

In Girdwood - not the Alyeska Hotel for lunch - the Bake Shop behind the Jade Shop. Bottomless soup and other delicious items. Nancy

[GlacierLady]

Very easy and quick stops are Portage Glacier and Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. Some more ideas around the Girdwood area are the tram at Alyeska, atv and snowmobile rentals... http://www.atv-alaska.com/ , http://www.alaskanrafting.com rafting and float trips, http://www.alyeskaadventures.com tandem paragliding, river jet boats and a zipline, http://www.indianvalleymine.com/ gold panning

 

In Anch http://www.horsetrekkinalaska.com which is next to the Alaska Zoo and close to H2O Oasis, an indoor waterpark.

 

You could also drive to Hope for some whitewater rafting.

[Suzanne123]

Before you get into those SUVs and rush off from Whittier, walk down the dock to any of the glacier tour booths -- absolutely wonderful! Water is glass smooth and you will get closer to the glaciers than at any time on your ocean cruise.

http://www.princewilliamsound.com/738.cfm

Have fun!

[Italy52]

Before you get into those SUVs and rush off from Whittier, walk down the dock to any of the glacier tour booths -- absolutely wonderful! Water is glass smooth and you will get closer to the glaciers than at any time on your ocean cruise.

http://www.princewilliamsound.com/738.cfm

Have fun!

 

 

Do they have reserved seating on the Prince William cruise?

[greatam]

How 'bout hang gliding at Alyeska??? http://alaskaparagliding.com/

 

The view is SPECTACULAR.

 

Time for Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, a look around Portage Glacier welcome center (I thought the little cruise was VERY boring).

 

Then buy the lunch/tram combo to the top of Alyeska and go hang gliding. While others are hang gliding, you can hike and just enjoy the scenery and fresh air.

[Suzanne123]

We made reservations ahead of time and used the Toursaver coupons. I'm not sure if they still participate, but at the time it was buy one ticket get one free.

 

They didn't have reserved seating, but it didn't matter because there were only 16 on board not including a crew of 4 or 5 and a naturalist. The boat was really large (and very clean) and we were able to walk around and go outside, especially when they stopped where the kittakawi (sp?) were flying all around us.

 

They had tables and booths so you could eat comfortably. The lunch was pretty good, and the freshly baked cookies and hot chocolate were wonderful.

[Suzanne123]

double post

[LovinDivin]

Thanks for the ideas and links, exactly what I was looking for. The tram/lunch/paragliding sounds like a real adventure!

[Italy52]

We made reservations ahead of time and used the Toursaver coupons. I'm not sure if they still participate, but at the time it was buy one ticket get one free.

 

They didn't have reserved seating, but it didn't matter because there were only 16 on board not including a crew of 4 or 5 and a naturalist. The boat was really large (and very clean) and we were able to walk around and go outside, especially when they stopped where the kittakawi (sp?) were flying all around us.

 

They had tables and booths so you could eat comfortably. The lunch was pretty good, and the freshly baked cookies and hot chocolate were wonderful.

 

Thanks for the comment regarding the reserved seating. I had seen another post where someone made reference to seating being unavailable because people basically were like "chair hogs" put stuff down at tables and never went back to it during the entire boat trip. Make it difficult to sit down at those places. I didn't want to get on a boat where this would take place and have to stand for the 5 or 6 hours of the tour.

 

By the way, what month did you take the boat tour?

[Suzanne123]

We took the Prince William Sound Tour last June 12th. Maybe it was just a fluke but there was no crowd at all -- completely different from the Kenai fjords tour we took in Seward. This is not a wildlife tour, although you do see a few sea lions and eagles along the way.

This is mainly glaciers. If you want something more strenuous, we passed quite a few kayakers. That also looked like fun.

I think sometimes that Whitter gets a bum rap -- The crowds are all in Seward, but the scenery is gorgeous in both places. At least for water activitives, I think they are comparable.

[Italy52]

Thanks for the response, I appreciate it very much.

[Budget Queen]

Thanks for the comment regarding the reserved seating. I had seen another post where someone made reference to seating being unavailable because people basically were like "chair hogs" put stuff down at tables and never went back to it during the entire boat trip. Make it difficult to sit down at those places. I didn't want to get on a boat where this would take place and have to stand for the 5 or 6 hours of the tour.

 

By the way, what month did you take the boat tour?

 

 

I have gone with Alaska Heritage many times and this is totally inaccurate. There always has been seating for everyone.