New excursions and particular occasions await summer time guests to Alaska

Alaska tour operators are gearing up for summer time by outlining new excursions and particular celebrations. For some, it marks a return to full service after three years of pandemic-related interruptions.

Skagway’s White Move & Yukon Route (WP&YR) will commemorate 125 years of service in 2023 whereas additionally resuming outings into Canada. The pandemic halted the corporate’s excursions to Carcross, Yukon, and to Fraser and Lake Bennett in British Columbia.

The cross-border journeys retrace a route taken by Klondike gold rush stampeders within the late Nineties. One-way and roundtrip excursions are amongst different choices on this yr’s WP&YR schedule. Extra outings highlight the White Move summit, supply bus connections to Whitehorse, Yukon, and supply wilderness entry for hikers.

WP&YR will host a Could 27 celebration to mark its one hundred and twenty fifth anniversary, and subsequent summer time occasions can even commemorate the milestone. 

A number of different Alaska corporations are additionally increasing excursions this summer time.

In April, the Sealaska Heritage Institute
will unveil the primary 11 installations on Juneau’s new Kooteeya Deiyi
(Totem Pole Path). The nonprofit employed 10 Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian
artists to create works for the 30-pole path that may finally run
from the downtown waterfront to Heritage Sq., on the Sealaska
Heritage Institute Arts Campus. Signage accompanying every set up
will determine the clan, crests and artwork-related info.

In honor of its one centesimal anniversary in 2023, the Alaska Railroad is providing the 12-night Centennial Particular journey bundle between late Could and early September. The bundle highlights all three of the railroad’s each day summer time routes and consists of sightseeing adventures in two nationwide parks, a go to to the distant Spencer Glacier Whistle Cease, a guided float journey, a sled canine kennel cease, entrance to an Anchorage Museum exhibit showcasing the railroad’s centennial and different actions. President Warren G. Harding drove a golden spike into the bottom in Nenana in 1923 to mark the observe’s ceremonial completion. At the moment, the Alaska Railroad’s primary line carries passengers and freight 470 miles between Fairbanks and Seward. Department traces lengthen service to Whittier, Palmer, Healy and Eielson/North Pole.

Brothers Dan and Chris Morris based Alaskan Footprints to highlight the culinary highlights and historical past of Anchorage. The corporate affords strolling excursions of downtown and the Spenard neighborhood together with Matanuska Valley van excursions and customizable personal outings.

Palmer-based Revel Treks & Excursions now leads daytrips and in a single day adventures for explorers in any respect ranges. Choices embody native cultural excursions, nature and historical past walks, hike and brew outings and a seven-hour backcountry tundra trek. This summer time, the corporate can even accomplice with Yoga Untamed on two five-day yoga and backpacking retreats.

The Seward Hospitality Group’s new Alaska Journey Park incorporates a family-friendly ropes course, aerial challenges, impediment runs, climbing partitions, mountain bike trails and different actions.

New Juneau Lighthouse Excursions excursions discover Auke Bay and journey to Sentinel Island, the place friends will view a 1902 lighthouse and stroll a boardwalk loop with scenic views of the Lynn Canal fjord. Guides share lighthouse tales and level out wildlife starting from bald eagles and Steller sea lions to humpback whales and Dall’s porpoises. The tour consists of narrated transportation to and from downtown Juneau, with a cease on the Brotherhood Bridge viewpoint overlooking the Mendenhall Glacier.

Klondike Electrical Bicycles opened in 2020 and continues to increase its roster of e-bike and electrical automotive leases and excursions. The brand new Skagway Path and Sail outing is a nine-mile, guided e-bike journey that showcases waterfalls, glaciers, scenic overlooks and wildlife on a three-hour tour. It consists of lunch, a gold-panning expertise and a crusing session on the Taiya Inlet. Guests also can lease a Ford Mustang Mach-E electrical automotive and cruise the Klondike Freeway into the Yukon in Canada.