LDS Alaska Shore Excursions - Tracy Arm

Tracy Arm isn't a shore excursion or even a port of call. It is scenic viewing at its best! For about 4 hours the ship sails up and then back through the Tracy Arm Fjord. You will want to be out on the deck for this adventure because the view is best enjoyed with 360 degree vision. The fjord is narrow, the waterfalls spectacular and the ice floes so thick sometimes the ship can't make it all the way to the end.

Wildlife is abundant so keep your eyes open. You might see a brown bear fishing alongside the shore, or a seal sunning on a small iceberg, or perhaps a whale. A naturalist will be on the ship and he or she will share over the loud speaker system some interesting facts about the area. You will learn about glaciers and how they formed the fjord as well as some of the "U" shaped valleys in the area.

The naturalist is also very good at spotting wildlife and directing your attention to the area where you can view them.
We are usually in this area during the morning hours so don't sleep in, you just have to see this to believe it.

LDS Alaskan Shore Excursions - Victoria BC

Victoria is a jewel of a city. It has a European atmosphere and an old world feel. Old style light poles line the streets draped with hanging flower baskets. The old Empress Hotel has ivy growing up the walls and the city is teeming with people. A very vibrant city indeed. The ship ports on the backside of the city and the walk can be too much for most people. If you just want to visit the town you will need to ride the shuttle bus provided by the ship at a nominal fee. Our tour is going to take you through the city center and our guide will point out the local attractions from the bus. Our ultimate destination on this tour is the Butchart Gardens but along the way you will pass beautiful ocean vistas and view the city from a lofty vantage point above the city. It takes an hour before we arrive at the gardens and once we arrive the time is yours to spend as you see fit. We will give you a map and flower guide along with the ticket for entrance. Once inside you can shop, choose to eat something from the snack bar or sit down at several full service restaurants, or just start off exploring.

There are flowers and amazing landscapes everywhere so take your time and enjoy. We are here in the evening and the soft light as the sun goes down casts some unusual tones over the gardens so take some time at sunset to as they say, smell the roses!

For those on a cruise in July and August the gardens display fireworks at dusk and we will stay for those on our tour. It is primarily seating on the grass and the fireworks are some of the best I have seen. After the fireworks it is a mad dash back to the ship as we cut the time very close by the time the fireworks are complete.

LDS Alaskan Shore Excursions - Skagway

Well folks Skagway is the epitome of the real wild west. The town consists of one long main street with wooden boardwalks, general stores, ice cream parlors (one owned by the local Bishop), and boutique shops. Oh, there are some small side streets to explore as well but you'll get that old west feeling just walking along Main Street.

When in town watch for the LDS church building. It is a log cabin, maybe the only building we have made that way. Our tour in Skagway runs parallel to the Yukon Trail. We travel by bus along the highway all the way to Canada with interesting stops along the way.

For example you will stop at Liarsville for some honest to goodness gold panning. While you won't get rich you will come away with a few flakes of gold and if you come each year with us it won't be long before you actually have an ounce, and with the current price of gold you could almost pay for another cruise. The local guide will show you how it is done and even give you a plastic bag, think small bag, to hold your gold.

We continue on our way toward Canada, Yukon Territory along this scenic highway. There are several pullouts with spectacular views and our guide will give you a few minutes at several of them to get that awesome picture.

You even get to stop at a waterfall where a plastic cup will be issued to taste the pure mountain water as it cascades from the tops of the mountains. Eventually we make it to the US/Canada border, pass through Canadian customs, and into Canada. We turn the bus around a few miles later after stopping on a plateau for pictures and a bathroom.

On the return journey down the same road, we stop for pictures at the US border. Seems like everyone has to have their picture taken by the large "Welcome to Alaska" sign. The tour concludes with a visit to the local graveyard where you will learn the local folk tales of Soapy Smith.

You may choose to stop off in town for shopping or continue on the bus to the ship for a lunch and nap.

LDS Alaskan Shore Excursons - Juneau

Juneau is the capital city of Alaska and an unusual capital it is. You can't drive here, there are no roads into or out of the city so you have to fly or come by water, those are the only options. You will see why it is so inaccessible once you look at the imposing mountains and cascading waterfalls that surround the area.

You can easily walk through the entire town and when you do watch the narrow alleys you pass. Many of them have long, steep wooden walkways that are impressive. At least they are impressive if you don't have to walk up them, probably not so cool if you do. And don't forget to stop by the Red Dog Saloon and get your picture taken coming out of the swinging doors.

We only offer one tour here in Juneau but it combines the better parts of what you can see and do in the area. We start off with a city tour which doesn't really take too long but our guides seem to like to point out every building and tell you the entire history of each one. Once out of the city the road runs alongside the ocean with the mountains on the other side. Keep your eyes open when you cross the streams in this area. It is prime salmon fishing ground for Bald Eagles and often you will see 10 or 12 eagles scouring the banks looking for dinner. In fact it is the same dinner you are about to have in a couple of hours. About 40 minutes later we approach the Mendenhall Glacier Park.

Alaskans like to call this a "drive in" glacier and while you do get close it is still a few miles away. We get to spend an hour here, or maybe a few minutes but the view is inspiring and the glacier massive. Take along your binoculars and just look at the rugged, craggy peaks of ice as they flow ever so slowly down the mountain side. The bright blue color you might see along the face of the glacier indicates a new iceberg calved from that place not too long ago revealing the new ice beneath. There is a nice visitor center here with panoramic windows from which to view the glacier, especially good if the weather is less than perfect. There is also a movie about glaciers if you want to take the time to see it.

Most of our passengers like to set off on foot along the many paths leading down to the lake directly in front of the glacier face. It isn't a hard walk and the paths are smooth and even. Once we have spent our time here we board the bus once again and start off towards the surrounding mountains to visit the chapel in the mountains. It is a picturesque little chapel and the full length picture windows in the front of the chapel look out directly towards Mendenhall Glacier. You will enjoy this bird's eye view of the glacier not to mention the beautiful mountain flowers.

This is just a short 15 or 20 minute break and then we are off to the Salmon Bake. The outdoor village is situated at the base of a mountain and the picnic tables are garnished with red and white table cloths and protected overhead with canvas tarps. The specialty here is salmon of course. The fresh salmon is BBQ'd on a grill right in front of you with a special sweet sauce. A salad bar rounds out the main course along with ribs and chicken if salmon isn't your thing. Don't forget to look around for the campfire. Wander by, grab a stick and roast some marshmellows for dessert. Once you are done with dinner you have a choice to make.

There is a shuttle offered by the Salmon Bake every 20 minutes that will take you back to town for shopping or exploring or to the ship. You may choose to linger a little while and hike the short path up the mountain to a waterfall. It is nice and if the salmon are running you will see them along the creek bed spawning.

You will still have some time to shop in town so take a few minutes and take the hike. Once you get back in town try to count the numerous waterfalls on the surrounding mountains, you'll be amazed at the number you can spot. By the way just a recommendation from the VP, stop by the Alaskan Fudge Shop in town, it can't be beat.

LDS Alaskan Shore Excursion - Ketchikan

Alaska is the final frontier. I think that is why it is so popular and one of my favorites from a North American gateway. Ketchikan is one of the first stops on an inside passage itinerary and a perfect port to begin exploring and seeing those things that Alaska brings to mind. Salmon fishing is one of those Alaskan things and Ketchikan is known as the Salmon fishing capital of the world. Totem Poles also are a big part of visiting Alaska and this is a great place to get to know something about them. And don't forget the quaint shopping area called Creek Street, shops built on stilts over a river. On a sunny day there isn't a nicer place than Creek Street and the glimmering river below.

Of course Ketchikan also holds another record beside the Salmon Capital, it is also the wettest spot in Alaska so finding that sunny day might be elusive. Plan on rain and if you get a sunny day it will be a nice unexpected extra.

We are able to offer 3 different shore excursions on this trip and I want you to become acquainted with Ketchikan through these tours.

Totem Poles and Lumberjacks. This tour starts with a 2 1/2 to 3 hour trip that highlights Totem Bight Park. The park is situated in a cove along the ocean, also known as a bight and features trails through old rain forest growth. The foliage is almost tropical as you view large ferns and green grasses. After a short walk along the trail you enter an open area surrounded by totem poles of various sizes and shapes. The local guide will tell you what the figures mean and how placement on the pole has specific meaning.

A Clan House has been restored in the same area where you can sit inside and listen to folkloric tales from the area tribes. There is some free time to explore and take pictures once you exit the Clan House. Be sure and take the boardwalk near the ocean edge, if the Fireweed is in bloom you are in for a real treat. You may spend your free time visiting the bookstore in the park, or the souvenir shop just up the road a few paces. Included in the tour is a quick overview of Ketchikan. You can be dropped off in the shopping district, at the ship, or continue on the "Sea" portion of our next tour, Ketchikan Land and Sea.

The Lumberjack Show is a continuation of the Totem Bight tour. Once you have completed the tour listed above you will then be dropped off at the Lumberjack Show in the middle of Ketchikan. You will divide up into cheering teams and encourage your lumberjack team to win the title. The competition consists of pole climbing, log sawing, a log roll and many other events.

This show is featured on ESPN when they air the Lumberjack Championships each year.

The show will last about an hour and once it is finished you will have some free time to explore Ketchikan on your own or you can choose to walk back to the ship for lunch . The city is small and you are in the middle of town so nothing is very far away. Enjoy!