What a fabulous day! Scenic boat ride with humpback whale and porpoise sightings, walk through the…read morewoods with snack of Sitka spruce, canoe to the glacier, and even had a swam photo bomb our scenic glacier view! Special thanks to driver and canoe guide Laurel! And naturalist Lindsey turned a morning into a memorable adventure. Thank you for your insights, your knowledge, and energy!

Off the grid might be an understatement…read more People say, "it isn't about the destination, its about the journey, man". In this case, the destination, Davidson Glacier, was stunning, but getting there was the real adventure. When we disembarked in Skagway, we didn't have an excursion pre-reserved. We wanted to get away from the endless jewelry stores and tourist traps and do something active, but didn't want to take any of the helicopter or small plane trips (long story). So we looked over the options offered by a local tour company [1] and decided on the Glacier Point Wilderness Safari. It was described as a high speed jet catamaran ride followed by a nature walk and canoe trip to the edge of a glacier. What we didn't realize is that we would leave civilization far behind and embark on something more unique than we realized. We left the metropolis of Skagway (pop. 1500 in high season) on the catamaran for an hour cruise to the remote area of Glacier Point. On the boat, our guide started telling us about the area and the group of hardy and humorous souls that live on the island during the summer months. You see every summer ten people live and work on the island in a little community with no running water or electricity while taking visitors to the glacier. And when the weather turns bad, which it invariably does in Alaska, and the trips are canceled, they have the place all to themselves. And boy was it beautiful. We were the first group to visit after a 3-day storm and they were really happy to see some new faces. Half the fun of the excursion was talking to the guides and asking them about their daily life on the island and what brought them there. It was fun to imagine what it would be like to join them for a few weeks in this exquisite solitude, but I know my limits. One of our family jokes is that I'm a 'state park kinda girl.' The canoe trip was a bit of a disappointment because we are a family of paddlers and although you are in a 30' Voyager canoe, the paddling itself is brief and ceremonial since the guide operates an outboard motor. And based on the skills (or lack thereof) of the motley crew of tourists, the motor is a good call. I wouldn't categorize the trip as active since you do far more sitting than walking or paddling. It was extremely cold, so take them up on their offer of extra layers. Unlike our other visits to glaciers, we got close in and time stood still as we gazed at the intense blue color, fragments, cracks, crags and landslides. Alaska is a land constantly on the move. Most glaciers are receding at an alarming rate, so there was awe tinged with sadness that it will never be the same. You've got to take it all in while it lasts. They had silly jokes, songs, provided history about the area and facts about glaciers. It was totally interactive and you never got the sense they were just going through the motions. All in all, one of our favorite outings in Alaska. And it was WAY OUT. [1] We booked through M&M tours, but others booked in advance through their cruise ships although this tour was not an option on Princess Cruises excursion list.

We booked this tour through shore excursion group and had a fantastic time! This tour really takes…read moreyou around to all the gorgeous spots in Skagway. We even got to visit the cemetery to see soapy! Many picture opportunities and our tour guide Jodie was extremely friendly and knowledgeable. We would recommend this tour to anyone coming into town, 100% worth it. BRING YOUR PASSPORT, it's required!

Raymond our tour guide was super friendly. We were debating on going on the Skagway Train ride, but…read morethis was so much less! Unless you want that train experience, this was so much more cost effective. Great views of the mountains and you get glimpse of the Gold Rush historic places. TIP: bring your passport, and ensure you use the restroom prior to your tour. There's only remote outhouses on the stops.

We did the Exclusive Photography tour in Haines with Nicholas. We were picked up at our RV park in…read moreSkagway and brought to the ferry terminal for the trip to Haines. While the tour could accommodate up to 10, we had the good luck to be the only two! This allowed us flexibility to see many areas of Haines we might otherwise not get to. Nicholas was a fantastic guide. He started by asking questions about what we might like to photograph and see. I always learn something new and this time was no exception. I took well over 100 photos and the time flew by; before we knew it, we were headed back to the ferry. The only hitch was the return to our RV park. We were given vouchers for the city bus but it only took us left than halfway back. Not a problem, it just would have been nice to know (we would have walked the entire way and not waited 15 minutes for the bus)

Our large family did the Yukon suspension bridge tour with Joe. He was great! Very insightful,…read morefriendly and entertaining. We accidentally left a back back on the bus and quickly and easily got it back later in the day. Would definitely recommend him and the tour company.

The ground crew at the Skagway Terminal was excellent. They communicated everything clearly through…read moreeach step of the tour. Watching the ground crew handle the turn around for each group was a well oiled machine. Kudos all around. The pilots William and Megan were Terrific, we would highly recommend them if you have the chance to fly with them. Coltan was a terrific guid in the glacier full of humor and knowledge that kept everyone engaged. The safety and care that Coltan and his fellow guides showed everyone during the glacier hike was exceptional.

Booked a "helicopter glacier discovery" excursion through our cruise line, which was partnered with…read moreTemsco. The location was right next to where our ship was docked, and we were met by the tour staff, who were awesome. As most excursions go, they're extremely organized, gave detailed but clear instructions about everything from the itinerary to safety procedures. The pilots, tour guides and other staff were all welcoming, helpful, informative and accommodating...if you ever take a trip to Alaska and have the opportunity to do a helicopter tour, I highly recommend doing so! It's definitely worth the money and an incredible experience.

This is it. This is what I'd like to talk about. The trail that starts in downtown Skagway, Alaska…read moreand leads to Upper Dewey Lake and eventually Devil's Punchbowl! I'm not shy about this, lol, so I'm just going to say it...the views from high above were blissful! Joyous! Incomprehensible! Lol, can I go any further? Hehehe. Now...for my first ever visit to Skagway, I had stopped in at the Visitor Center, spoken with a few of the locals and done my research. If there's one hike you must do while here, it's this trail that navigates to Upper Dewey Lake and then finally Devil's Punchbowl. Briefly, I want to say...along my adventure...a few other hikers I passed by said the sights and surroundings reaching Devil's Punchbowl were 10 out of 10! Yeah, sure, I didn't really believe these people. These (in my head) were amateur explorers, lol. What did they know? Here I am, having visited almost every national park, having accomplished loads of hikes and trails. Lol, I'm Mr. Know It All! So...I didn't really take these random acquaintances seriously. Well, obviously, I am here writing this, my story, and yes...this hiking trail that takes you to the upper limits of Skagway...standing high above the inlet of the Alaskan Panhandle has won my full support and approval! This was easily one of the 10 BEST HIKES I have ever accomplished! Almost 4000 feet high! Feeling like I'm on top of the world! I can't stress enough the type of mighty feeling I felt in my belly! The freedom! Just, (tears of joy), breathing in that fresh Alaskan air was unlike anything else. I am beyond grateful to be writing about this, lol. And...once again...this hike relit my fuel, to say...I take nothing for granted. I am humbled. Thank you Skagway, Alaska! This Dewey Lake Trail leads to all sorts of different pathways. You don't necessarily need to trek to Upper Dewey Lake and Devil's Punchbowl. There's the Lower Dewey Lake Loop (nothing special), Sturgill's Landing, and mediocre Icy Lake and Upper Reid Falls. But...going all the way to Upper Dewey Lake and Devil's Punchbowl was monumental! First off...if you're going to make it all the way to Upper Dewey Lake...you MUST FINISH it till the end at Devil's Punchbowl. MUST. Some cruise ship passengers I was hiking alongside never ventured fully to Devil's Punchbowl. They missed out. Because...Dewey Lake was just okay. But...the real highpoint of it all happens when you're climbing to Devil's Punchbowl. Especially in the afternoon time with the sun at your back makes for the perfect setting. All my wondrous moments came while at the top of the mountain. Then, I could view Upper Dewey Lake and the colorful snowcapped mountains in their entirety and, wow, this is what it's all about! Also, off to the left hand side while climbing, you can view downtown Skagway and the cruise ships docked in port. This Upper Dewey Lake Trail to Devil's Punchbowl took 8 hours to complete. They say it's an all day hike but I started at 12pm and finished by 8pm...a little before sunset. Here are the statistics... - To arrive at Upper Dewey Lake, it's 7 miles roundtrip gaining 3100 feet in elevation. Definitely, strenuous. - To arrive at Devil's Punchbowl, in total from the trailhead it's 9.5 miles gaining 3700 feet in elevation. At this point it's all adrenaline, lol. And...so let me just talk about the incline and how hard the hike was. After the initial start...it's nothing but serious climbing and climbing and climbing. Especially, there'll be a sign beside the Lower Dewey Lake Trail Intersection stating to arrive at Upper Dewey Lake...it's only 2 more miles. But...that 2 miles is straight incline. Just be prepared with water and food/snacks and embrace the challenge. One thing...Skagway is known for having loads of cruise ship passengers. If you're from a cruise and want to head to Devil's Punchbowl, you must start this trail immediately when exiting the ship. Unfortunately, along the way to Upper Dewey Lake, there's nothing to view. It's plenty of switchbacks and intense trekking upward through forest on a dirt pathway and beside a streaming river. In the end...the reward of it all is snapping stunning photos from the top of the mountain, located just outside Devil's Punchbowl. This hike totally rejuvenated and motivated me to explore what's next on my summer journey throughout Alaska. Btw...the actual Devil's Punchbowl was average. It's all about the views peering down upon Upper Dewey Lake and Skagway. Like out of a photoshopped magazine or postcard, lol. Looking at my pictures, they really don't do justice. Finally, the views from high above were so special. I can't put into writing other than to say you must come here and do this, to reinforce, to believe, that the world is a beautiful place and there's nothing like standing among the heart of the great outdoors.

A strenuous trek up the hill with a lot of switchbacks and is not for the faint of heart as this is…read morea difficult strenuous walk that reminds me a lot of some of the trails I walked in Hawaii. Big chunks of the path going up the hill is uneven with wet/loose dirt and exposed roots and imbedded rocks that you need to stay focused on. The vegetation is lush and green and is quite serene. Nice elevated views in spots with lake views and alternate trails around the lake. We only got as far as Dewey lake and there trail system on this day (which is what this review and rating reflects) due to another hike we had taken earlier in the morning where we ran to of time and had to return to the ship for departure. Having said that, I see in the other review that the Punchbowl is amazing and that is something we will have to do on the next trip here which we will definitely be doing at some point in the future. Upper Reid falls was also a goal for us as we saw the lower Reid falls earlier in the day which was absolutely gorgeous. Overall a nice but strenuous place to hike that offers some beautiful scenery along the way.

This was my first time to a wildlife center and our tour guide described Steve (the owner and…read morewildlife expert) as a "trip". He was eccentric but overall, I felt that that personality fits perfectly well in his role. He knew exactly what he was talking about and kept our group of 40+ people constantly entertained. I don't want to spoil the tour and animals that I saw but this was simply amazing. If you are in Haines for a day, or even two hours, I would recommend spending them HERE. You get to see wildlife up close and see them interact with the amazing staff at hand. You get to feed, pet, learn, and observe animals up close and personal like never before. 1000/10 experience, come PLEASE Also: wear mosquito repellent and/or cover up! They were EVERYWHERE

This could be good but it needs work. Cages are haphazard and not maintained well. They might…read moreconsider investing money into the facility. Kroschel's jibber jabbering gets old. Could be more informative with less noise. Some fun stuff tho-the little critters using the black tubes is clever. Patrick seems kind and normal. Clearly loves the animals. Why didn't we see a wolverine?

The iPad that was essential not to miss any key points did not work. They provided a binder but it…read morewas impossible to keep up with and not get carsick. When I reported that the iPad did not work, I was given an excuse about it being the end of the season or sometimes people allow their children to play with it and mess them up.I was also told, they usually don't work anyway by the person who checked in the vehicle. I could have rented a car for a lot less but paid the additional money for the guided tour which I did not get.

Avis rental car, calling themselves DIY Jeeps, advertise rental of Jeep Wranglers as a self guided…read moretour in Skagway Alaska. When we got there, we were told the company was Avis, and Avis had sold all but one or two Jeep Wranglers. It was a classic bait and switch scam as we were given a SUV instead, for the same price. We had rented three Wranglers and we're given three Cherokees. It was like we rented Ford Mustangs, and were given Ford Pintos instead, for the same price. False advertising. The workers said that Avis bought DIY Jeeps from the local owners, You can rent a SUV directly from Avis for much. cheaper. You'll be missing the boxed lunches and tour narration. Or, rent a SUV for an even better price from their competitors. We were very disappointed

Small community Park in Haines near the waterfront. It was June, the children out of school, so…read morethere was a Summer camp going on in the park as we passed by. There's a large grassy area, bathrooms, a Keystone Driller display, and a small picturesque graveyard hidden amongst the trees at the park's border. Beautiful foliage at the edge of the park.

It's a playground and my son surely enjoyed it. A great pleasant surprise for him after 4300 miles…read moreon the road