Optional Post Meeting Tours
Anchorage – Cultural Affairs
May 7 – 10, 2005. Take a cultural exploration of Anchorage – Alaska’s largest city with more than 260,000 residents. As research indicates that cultural tourism is on the rise as a sought-after travel experience with visitors seeking unique adventures indigenous to an area, Anchorage has a unique advantage. Alive and thriving with culture, the city beats year-round to world-class performing arts, comedy shows, big name bands, and Broadway performances. The Anchorage art scene flourishes with gorgeous galleries, outdoor markets, unique gift stores, malls, and specialty shops. View itinerary
Itinerary Highlights include Downtown Historic Walking Tour, Anchorage Museum of History and Art, the Alaska Native Heritage Center, Eklutna Historical Park, Eagle River Nature Center, and the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts. Moderate amount of walking.
Fairbanks – Gateway to Authentic Alaska Adventure
May 7 – 11, 2005. Fairbanks began as a bustling gold mining town when the establishment of E.T Barnette’s trading post on the bank of the Chena River coincided with the discovery of gold and the city became a major hub for supplying prospectors in the Interior. Today, Fairbanks continues to serve as a hub for visitors exploring Alaska’s vast Interior and the Arctic. Learn about the rich history of Fairbanks, the culture and natural history of the region and its earliest inhabitants, the Athabascan Indians. Visit Chena Hot Springs and travel across the Arctic Circle. View itinerary
Itinerary Highlights include Historic Walking Tour, New Horizons Gallery and Arctic Travelers Gift Shop, downtown Fairbanks, Arctic Circle Adventure tour (approximately 17 hours), Trans-Alaska Pipeline, Alaska Bird Observatory, University of Alaska Museum of the North, Chena Hot Springs Resort, and the Large Animal Research Station. Moderate amount of walking.
Haines – Life on the Wild Side
May 7 – 11, 2005. Untamed adventure! Sample Haines' spectacular scenery and abundant wildlife with options to raft a river, kayak, canoe, hike, or climb on glacier ice. For outdoor enthusiasts, Haines is an all-season recreation and adventure paradise. Rich in Tlingit Indian Culture and Alaskan history, Haines has museums, quaint retail shops, contemporary and traditional art galleries, and a variety of nature and adventure tours. Easily accessed by air, highway, and sea, many visitors choose Haines as a home base for excursions to Glacier Bay, the Yukon, Interior Alaska, and other Southeast Alaska communities. View itinerary
Itinerary Highlights include Tlingit Park Playground, Hammer Museum, Sheldon Museum, Alaska Nature Tours, Alaska Kayak/Deishu Expeditions, Chilkat Guides float trip, Alaska Mountain Guides glacier climb and nightlife tour.
Homer – Where the Road Ends and the Sea Begins
May 7 – 11, 2005. Nestled in the hills along Kachemak Bay, overlooking the Kenai Mountains, Homer is known for its scenic beauty, awesome fishing, arts community and people. During your visit Homer will be in the throes of the annual spring migration of thousands of shorebirds to the mud flats of Kachemak Bay. This spectacle is the foundation of the May 5-8, Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival, Alaska's largest wildlife viewing festival. Workshops, keynote speakers, art fairs, birding tours, guided viewing stations, boat trips, kayak trips and more related to shorebirds are in full swing. View itinerary
Itinerary Highlights include Alaska Islands and Ocean Center, Gull Island Cruise, flightseeing tour, halibut or salmon fishing, Homer fine art gallery tour, Howling Husky Homestead Ranch, full-day kayak trip, and the Pratt Museum. Moderate activities, no experience required.
Juneau Glaciers, Wildlife, and History
May 7 – 10, 2005. Experience Alaska’s capital city, its diverse history and natural wonders. Explore a glacial ice field, search for local wildlife, hike amongst the towering spruce and hemlock in the ancient rainforests, and learn about the Russian and Tlingit cultures and their influence on Southeast Alaska. View itinerary
Itinerary Highlights include Mendenhall Glacier, Alaska State Museum, historic district of Juneau, helicopter flightseeing and glacier landing, fishing or kayaking, Tracy Arm boat cruise, Mt. Roberts Tram guided hike and nature center, Alaska Gastineau Mine and Mill. Includes active two-mile hike on glacier.
City of Kenai – Go Right to Kenai
May 7 – 9, 2005. Influenced by Dena’ina Athabascans, Russian and American cultures, the City of Kenai’s history spans centuries. Learn about the past and discover more recent influences on Kenai’s history, including commercial fishing and oil exploration. Be one of the first visitors to tour Alaska Native Arts Now, an art show featuring contemporary works by some of Alaska’s finest Native artists. Visit the Kenai Peninsula’s only National Historic Landmark and get amazing views of three active volcanoes located across Cook Inlet. History, culture and FUN! Kenai offers it all. View itinerary
Itinerary Highlights include the Kenai Visitors and Cultural Center, Old Town Kenai, Captain Cook State Recreation Area, beach horseback riding, Kenai Landing – 90-year old converted cannery, the Chase family commercial fishing setnet site, Challenger Learning Center of Alaska, and Kenai Golf Course tour, and the Holy Assumption of the Virgin Mary Russian Orthodox Church. Easy walking and beach hiking.
Ketchikan – Rainforest Adventure
May 7 – 10, 2005. Ketchikan is situated within the heart of the Tongass National Forest, north of Seattle and south of Juneau. This picturesque community is a popular destination for sport fishing enthusiasts, hikers and campers, art lovers and those interested in Native American culture. It is also Alaska’s second largest cruise ship destination. Customize an itinerary from a wide range of available activities. View itinerary
Itinerary Highlights include Saxman Native Village, Creek Street, Deer Mountain Tribal Hatchery, Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary, Southeast Alaska Discovery Center, Tongass Historical Museum, Totem Heritage Center, Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show, the George Inlet Cannery, Loring Jet Boat Tour, Misty Fjords National Monument Cruise, salmon fishing and choice of adventure activities. Moderate to strenuous activity.
Kodiak – Island Adventure
May 7 - 11, 2005. Rediscover nature at the Kodiak Island Archipelago, where man yields to the environment and visitors find inspiration for the mind, body and spirit. Enjoy spectacular scenery and maritime beauty, and explore the densely forested trails of Kodiak. Marvel at the lifestyle of the Alutiiq people who have lived in the islands for over 7500 years. Situated in the Gulf of Alaska, the Kodiak Island Archipelago is made up of 16 major islands and many smaller islands. Kodiak is the largest island and home to most of the area's residents. Two thirds of the island is encompassed in the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge. View itinerary
Itinerary Highlights include Flightseeing, marine wildlife tour, Fort Abercrombie State Historical Park hike, Kodiak Harbor, Kodiak Military History Museum and the largest Coast Guard base in the nation.
Mat-Su Valley – Mount McKinley Base Camp Adventure
May 7 – 9, 2005. Located in the heart of Southcentral Alaska, the Mat-Su Valley features 23,000 square miles of Alaska’s prime visitor territory. Find top attractions, exhilarating activities and natural wonders. Learn about Alaska’s official sport of dog mushing. Explore the adventure-filled town of Talkeetna where flightseeing, river rafting and jet boat tours give visitors wide vistas of Mount McKinley. Learn about Alaska’s agriculture heartland, Palmer, and get a close-up look at the Ice Age survivor – the musk ox. View itinerary
Itinerary Highlights include Iditarod Sled Dog Race Headquarters, Martin Buser’s Happy Trails Kennels, park ranger discussion about climbing Mount McKinley, Musk Ox Farm, flightseeing tour to base camp, and ATV adventure.
Petersburg – Alaska’s Little Norway
May 7 – 10, 2005. Petersburg is a town that still makes a living from the sea (and is not a port of call for large cruise ships). Leave the crowds behind and visit this thriving fishing village with a strong Norwegian heritage. Petersburg is located on Frederick Sound near the summer feeding grounds of hundreds of humpback whales. The Stikine-LeConte Wilderness Area, with its beautiful LeConte Glacier calving off tons of bright blue icebergs, is just a short boat ride away. View itinerary
Itinerary Highlights include Alaska Sea Adventures 60-foot yacht expedition, Baird Glacier walk, Island Van tour to Blind River Rapids and hike, floatplane to LeConte Glacier, and sport fishing. Moderate activity, includes 2-mile hike.
Seward
May 7 – 9, 2005. Discover a place where mountains rise majestically from crystal blue waters of Resurrection Bay. Now more than 100 years old, Seward reflects the fascinating history of the Alaska pioneer, and played host to the early beginnings of the Alaska Railroad. Twice honored as “All-American City,” Seward supports a vibrant coastal economy, with a community that embraces the entrepreneurial spirit that flows throughout its short history. Whether an art lover, food aficionado, or in awe of natural wonders, find something magnificent in Seward. View itinerary
Itinerary Highlights include Alaska Northern Outfitters fishing charter, Alaska SeaLife Center, historic walking tour. Major Marine Tours Resurrection Bay lunch cruise, Qutekcak Native Dancers and Drum Team, Exit Glacier hike or park ranger visit.
Skagway Getaway
May 7 – 9, 2005. Skagway was the gateway to the Gold Rush of 1898 and became Alaska’s first incorporated city on June 28, 1900. It is considered the northern most point in Southeast Alaska, and geographically the largest city in Alaska at 455 square land miles. Skagway is located 80 air miles from Juneau and 110 road miles from Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Canada. View itinerary
Itinerary Highlights include Skagway Historic District walking tour, Temsco Helicopter tour, halibut or salmon fishing, White Pass and Yukon Route Narrow Gauge Railroad, and Chilkoot trailhead. Moderate activity. Note: Everything is optional. If you want more time on your own, call Buckwheat Donahue at the Skagway Convention and Visitors Bureau– Buckwheat Donahue to makle arrangements and discuss all the options.
Soldotna
May 7 – 10, 2005. Soldotna is the central hub of the Kenai Peninsula, bordered by the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge and divided by the famous Kenai River. More than 3,700 feet of elevated boardwalk and 220 campsites make Soldotna a favorite playground. Enjoy flightseeing tours over Harding Ice Field, guided fishing and wildlife viewing trips, sled dog rides with Iditarod Champion Mitch Seavey and much more. Experiences will last a lifetime. View itinerary
Itinerary Highlights include Hobo Jim, Kenai powerboat float, IditaRide Sled Dog Tours, Hanson’s Custom Carvings, Soldotna Historical Society & Museum, Natron Air, Birding Tour at Kenai River Flats, beach horseback riding.
Valdez – Mother Nature’s Playground
May 7 – 10, 2005. Valdez nestles between the magnificent Chugach Mountains and the pristine waters of Prince William Sound. Valdez' rich history shaped the community that exists today, from the Gold Rush and Good Friday Earthquake destruction to the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill. Visit the Maxine & Jesse Whitney Museum, the largest privately owned collection of Alaskan Native Artifacts. Kayak in Prince William Sound to glimpse towering mountains rising from the sea, and get close to amazing glaciers and marine animals on a day cruise with local experts. Visit historic Keystone Canyon and Thompson Pass to experience two seasons while skiing and whitewater rafting. View itinerary
Itinerary Highlights include Valdez Historical Tour, Anadyr Adventures glacier kayak trip, Stan Stephens Glacier & Wildlife Cruises, Alaskan Native artifacts, Keystone Rafting Adventures and H2O Heli Guides snowcat skiing, Alaska Snow Safaris snowmobile tour or ski/skating. Moderate to strenuous activity, experience preferred for alpine activities.
Contacts and Resources
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