I have fond memories of coming here as a child in the 80s so was excited to come back 40 years…read morelater. It's still fun! An adventurous drive up the mountain, a beautiful town set in the middle of the woods, and friendly and outgoing staff. We enjoyed exploring all the small buildings with the endless antiques. No panning for gold for us, but people seemed very into the activity.

We didn't go panning for gold, but lots of people were there doing just that! We just checked out…read morethe history of the place. It's amazing how nothing was every thrown away. Everything is somewhat preserved creating a time capsule. And lovely gardens. It's a beautiful place in the summer. The flowers and water make it an easy way to spend some time here.

Snapple has got it wrong, THIS place is made from the best stuff on earth !…read more Everything from the pingauzer ride, breathtaking views of the valley, sweet dogs and meeting Nick was the highlight of my Alaska trip! Now, prior to heading out to Girdwood and taking the trip, I read the description and thought "Eh, this sounds a bit campy." We did it regardless and do not regret it. Riding up a mountain, playing with puppers small and large, going on a ride in a cart pulled by aforementioned dogs.. sounds silly but it was more fun than watching a kitten chase a laser beam. Mother nature also graced us with a clear, 70 degree day as well. That helps! I've read about some blatant dog abuse that goes on with certain teams or kennels that are associated with the iditarod. Taking that into consideration, these pups did not appear to be mistreated in the slightest. In fact, you could tell Nick absolutely adores all of the dogs and isn't just putting on a show for the tourists. He talks about them as if they were his kids in a sly, goofy way that's rather hard to describe. The doggos, despite short leashes and funny looking houses seem as if they are quite well taken care of and are absolutely ecstatic about doing their job -- running! Shockingly enough, they're equally as estastic to meet strangers as well! If you're looking for a great way to spend an afternoon, check these folks (AND CUTE PUPS) out. Man, I'm a sucker for a cute furry face.

Nic and staff are all great. His office staff were very accommodating as we had scheduling issues…read more They provided us with several options and would have been happy to refund our fees. Fortunately we were able to make the tour. The ride to the kennel is a bit rough but you really get the feel for the area. Nic gives a interesting introduction and you are encouraged to interact with the dogs. He tells stories about himself and the dogs. You then learn how to harness the dogs and off you go in his cart. Taking turns through the sometimes dusty trail on a thrill ride. You finish the tour at the puppy pavilion, where you learn more about the racing and then PUPPIES!! We had enough time to ask questions and never felt rushed. A great day, and then Tyler recommended pizza at Chair 5 in the town of Girdwood, to die for pizza. https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g31000-d8421789-r595086029-Girdwood_Mushing_Company-Girdwood_Anchorage_Alaska.html#

I would not recommend this tour company. Our guide was impatient and provided very little safety…read moreinstruction. During the trip, my companion fell into the snow, and the guide showed little concern or compassion. What made the experience worse was what happened afterward. After I posted a negative review on Google, the business owner falsely claimed that I had never toured with them and even resorted to personal insults. I later noticed that the company responds to every negative review across platforms in a similarly confrontational way. They frequently justify their behavior by saying they are a "small family business," but that does not excuse dismissing legitimate safety concerns or attacking customers. If anything goes wrong during your trip, be prepared for this company to deny responsibility as if they are not grown-ups.

Amazing experience! The owner and guides were awesome. Very personable, knowledgeable and upbeat. I…read morewas disappointed that the glacier tour was unavailable but the mountain tour did not disappoint. The views were beautiful. I enjoyed being able to go at my own pace and speed up when I felt comfortable. It wasn't the best conditions but the crew ensured we still had a good time. Highly recommended.

Spectacular is one of the superlatives to describe the experience with Captain Al and the Northern…read moreExplorer. We hiked, saw bears, doll porpoises, and the most amazing scenes of glaciers from Blackstone Bay. The food was a culinary delight, Christian out did himself each night. Rena oozed hospitality and exceeded our every need.

We just returned from our two week trip to Alaska. The middle part of that was 5 days and 4 nights…read morewith Captain Al and his crew for our cruise. Unexpectedly, we ended up being the only guests as others had backed out. We started out of Seward with a nice trip from Anchorage with Joan and Jeff as our shuttle team. They were both very personable and a pleasure to make the trip with to Seward. We were greeted with champagne and quickly got underway. Our accommodations were exactly as described in the Master suite. After two days of being wined and dined, we finally had to say, the "food is amazing, but we don't eat this much in a day. We need to slow down on the amount" LOL Certainly all you could possibly eat and nicely prepared. En En set beautiful tables for every meal and and our wine glasses were never dry. The weather was not the best for the first few days, so with everyone's agreement, we decided to roll the dice and cross the Gulf of Alaska to head towards Whittier. At that point, the weather became amazing, we did kayaking and had a 13,000 year old cocktail (Bourbon on Glacier ice). Who knew we would go to Alaska to get a tan? We spent the entire time cruising out on the deck getting sun. Captain Al and his team were wonderful hosts. I guess I could address every complaint that has been posted, but I'm not going to give it much credibility by spending any time on it. Yes, the boat is not brand new, but we had no issues on board (except the battery, but that's a little joke between Captain Al and us.). I can't speak to any of the other accommodations because we did not see or use them, but there were absolutely no complaints with ours. We are already considering the possibility of taking friends and going again some time. Thanks for everything Captain Al, En En and Christian! It was the trip of a lifetime! Thanks for being a part of it! Lori and Bob

fun experience. Pass by heading to Girdwood-- sped by, then turned around. Had 2 people that have…read morenever been to the mine before. 1 did the Gold panning, while we checked out the Gift Shop and property. He got a vial of gold and fleks to take home with him. Pleasant and informative staff. Worth taking the time to stop in on our trip South of Anchorage. +++

This is a small place to stop along the Turnagain Arm. I feel it's good for families with young…read morechildren. The gold panning is relaxing and just their speed. There are live animals on site and some fun Alaska gifts. It's a dollar for each person the enter and the buckets of dirts come in 20, 50 or 100 dollars increments. Overall, it's worth at least the dollar to stop and look around.

Alaska has been my husband's dream destination for years. Well, he planned a 2-week trip to Alaska…read moreusing the Princess Cruise Line, but doing this "CruiseTour", with the help of cruise line travel agent. "CruiseTour" is where you combine the Alaskan Cruise, along with train, tour bus, lodge stays, etc.etc., making the trip very comprehensive...though definitely more complicated! Honestly, I would have preferred to go straight to the cruise ship and back...and skip all the hassles. HOWEVER. Here's the deal. I've mentioned in a previous review that I didn't care too much about the train ride TO Talkeetna (heading towards the 2 wilderness lodges) because of its weird dining rules, as well as disappointing views. On the way back from the lodges, we took a tour bus (luckily a big, comfy one!) to Whittier, where our ship awaited us. First of all, this tour bus as incredibly LONG...as in 9 hours, including a lunch stop!! I nearly had a fit the night before when I first realized it was going to be that long (my husband, not exactly the Master of Details) didn't realize this either when he planned out this entire trip. Well...luckily...the tour bus ride turned out to be somewhat of a blessing. The bus from Denali to Whittier took several bathroom breaks along the way (much to the relief of many older passengers, I bet!), and even a long lunch break in Anchorage. Best part? The views were SPECTACULAR!!! It was one picturesque scene after another...mile after mile, especially in the last hour, nearing the Whittier port. Even the long tunnel passageway leading to our cruise ship was magnificent. I would have NEVER thought I'd think this long of a ride would be worth it...but it was. Surprisingly, I liked it better than the much cooler train ride to Talkeetna. Also, the bus was pretty comfy all in all with good A/C. So YES, this may sound like a scary option in terms of the length of the ride...but if you want a good, long look at Alaska at its finest, it's actually a great option.

We had a group of 14 stay here. The Yurts are cozy to sleep in. Good place to stay when you don't…read morehave much luggage with you. The yurt I stayed in was for 4 ppl. It has a skylight, side window, lamps, fan, usb plugs. Cute decor Cute camp ground with lights. There is a fire pit, grills, picnic tables, fridge, sink, bathrooms with showers, board games.

All 5 s! Don't be fooled in to thinking you will be totally roughing it! This place is glamping at…read moreits finest! The yurts are wonderful and roomy, the beds are comfy, they keep everything tidy, and they provide so many perks! Let me expand, they have an incredible staff, people who truly love what they are doing and their enthusiasm is infectious! Every night we were there a warm fire greeted us with snapping and popping welcoming us back from our Seward explorations! The kitchen and cooking area is always clean and welcoming. You must cook your own food, there are flattops, BBQ grills, or even a stick by the campfire. I was familiar with s'mores which they provide ingredients for but I was introduced to stick bread, its life changing! There are so many options to use you can make gourmet meals or something simple, they make it easy no matter what your cooking abilities will allow! Morning coffee and tea are waiting hot and fresh, they also provide pancake/waffle mix for you to add to your planned meal. They have a supply of chocolate chips for a sweet twist but if you want with Alaskan style, and if you're lucky enough to be staying during blueberry season the property is abundant with high bush blueberries! Send someone out on a blueberry walk and add them to your fresh waffles or pancakes. Alaskan summer brings out the midnight sun, literally, but for extra light the paths to all of the yurts are well lit which make late night snack time or early morning coffee pleasant. The yurts do not have bathrooms inside them, you must venture out to the shared facilities. If you want an adventure that is unique, fun, and will be a memorable part of your Alaska experience, the Nauti Otter is the best!

It's a winner!…read more Alaska has so much spectacular scenery. It's everywhere you look, and this trail takes the prize for most stunning. Seriously. It looks, feels, and smells really nice. The only downside is that it's popular, so don't expect a quiet, solitary time. There are lots of people on this path, but at least it will keep the bears and moose away! ha

Winner, winner, chicken dinner! One of my favorite "easy hikes." The city of Girdwood is…read moreenchanting. I'm in my very own version of Beauty and the Beast whenever I'm adventuring in the area. I was grateful to have been able to experience this trail in its entirety, prior to an accidental death, and the ultimate closing of the hand tram. You can start this hike at the Alyeska Hotel (more popular) or at Crow Creek Mine (less popular). From Crow Creek Mine to the gorge it's about 1 mile. With the hand tram closed, theres no safe way to cross the gorge. From the Alyeska Hotel to the gorge, it's about 2 miles. I'd recommend starting from the hotel for a longer hike. That side also has many natural staircases, unique bridges/water sights, basically, the best photo opps. When in season, this trail offers lots of berry, mushroom, and other foraging opportunities. Highly recommend.

Short cruise on Portage Lake to view Whittier Alaska Portage Glacier. There are specific times so…read moremake sure you check the times. We went to their lodge to buy tickets, then you have to drive another like 1 or 2 mile to the actual cruise dock. You can skip all these and go to the cruise dock because they sell tickets there too! We didn't know. The cruise itself was only like 1 hour which was enough. They stop at the glacier to let everyone take pictures, they don't get too close though. It was a good ride, we enjoyed it. There were some snacks and beverages sold in the bottom. Plenty of parking .

Awesome cruise and reasonably priced! It's a lovely feeling to witness a tide water glacier so up…read moreclose! The staff were friendly and informative and the amenities on board were good! All in all good experience! :)

My wife and I took the glacier tour this past Monday and had a wonderful time! Our guides, (Derek,…read moreMichelle and Kera), were fantastic and very informative throughout the day. We appreciated the time spent on gear prep and safety tips along the way. The Long Rifle Lodge was an added treat afterwards, which provided a fantastic view and great food. We highly recommend this tour.

Wow! What an amazing experience. My wife and I booked the transfer tour from Anchorage to Whittier…read more Our tour guide, Michelle, was incredible. She was a wealth of knowledge and such a fun person to spend the day with. Everywhere we went, she seemed to know everything. She interspersed personal anecdotes allowing us to get to know her better and to understand more about the area. Everything was included in the price of the tour. Lunch (of your choice - not just preset options), a beer at the brewery, and admission to the nature center were all taken care of. There were also snacks and water available in the van. We got lucky with a small group (4 people including us!), but the van only holds 13 people - much better than the giant coach busses! I cannot recommend Salmon Berry, and Michelle in particular, highly enough