Alaska Trains & Kenai Fjords

Experience the journey that National Geographic Traveler ranks among its Top Ten Train Rides in North America with an Alaskan guide. From Fairbanks to Denali, see historic gold mining districts, the Nenana River canyon gorge, Horseshoe Lake, and Denali National Park while enjoying large picture windows, freedom to roam between Adventure Class cars, and the Wilderness Cafe. Then, relax with Goldstar Service from Anchorage to Seward, featuring a private bar, glass-dome ceilings, and outdoor viewing platform for unbeatable views of massive glaciers and towering waterfalls as we wind along Turnagain Arm through the wilderness of the Kenai Peninsula.
_{Photo Credit: Mike Criss}

This incredible facility is the only one of its kind in the state, combining a public aquarium with marine research and education as well as wildlife rescue and rehabilitation. Witness a Steller sea lion glide past underwater viewing windows and puffins diving in a carefully crafted naturalistic habitat. Learn about the life cycle of Pacific salmon and stop by the Discovery Touch Tank to feel the prickly and squishy living tide pool creatures that call Alaska’s waters home.

Spanning over six million acres of Alaska’s interior wilderness, these preserved lands boast a diverse terrain of tundra, dense forests, and awe-inspiring glaciers that accommodate some of the most spectacular wildlife in the country. The heart of the park is Mount Denali, North America’s tallest mountain, reaching 20,320 feet and often shrouded in clouds. When conditions are favorable, you may catch a glimpse of its soaring peak – a bucket list experience of a lifetime. This area also draws in people from around the globe hoping to see Alaska’s “Big Five” which includes moose, caribou, grizzly bears, Dall sheep, and the elusive gray wolf.

Relax aboard our catamaran as the experienced captain fully narrates our journey and provides information on the area’s wildlife, history, and geology. View an active tidewater glacier and watch for possible calving, where chunks of glacial ice break off and crash into the water. If possible, the crew will pull a small floating ice chunk on board to admire the detail and beauty. Be sure to also keep your eye out for marine life sightings, such as orcas, humpback whales, Steller sea lions, harbor seals, puffins, eagles, and many species of seabirds.

Alaska’s history comes to life as we cruise down the Chena River. While aboard an authentic sternwheeler, we marvel at the “Wedding of the Waters” where the Chena and Tanana Rivers meet, observe an Alaskan bush pilot in action, and watch a champion sled dog demonstration from the kennels of the late Susan Butcher, four-time Iditarod winner. Along the way, we go ashore to be immersed in frontier living with a guided walking tour of a recreated Athabascan Native camp to discover how the Athabascans skillfully survived for over 10,000 years.
_{Photo Credit: Courtesy of Riverboat Discovery, Explore Fairbanks}