Whittier Half-Day Trips: Top 5 Tours Reviewed
Thinking about squeezing in a super quick peek at Whittier, Alaska? That’s so cool, actually, and those quick trips, yeah they totally allow you to soak up the scenery without using up your entire vacation. It’s almost a gateway to Alaska’s Prince William Sound, Whittier just might pack a surprising punch in the views department. But hey, with just a half-day, you want to choose your adventure wisely. Below, I have listed five of the highly preferred quick excursions, offering views that suit various travel tastes. So, are you up for it?
1. Blackstone Bay Glacier Cruise
Looking to get up close and see some glaciers? Blackstone Bay is the right place, actually it features several incredible active glaciers, which really makes it like nature’s very own show. The cruise usually takes about five hours, making it ideal if you’re pressed for time and would just like to be efficient. Tours such as these regularly depart from Whittier, heading straight into the heart of the bay. So, keep that in mind. As you cruise, imagine getting some incredibly beautiful, almost jaw-dropping views of the glaciers calving.
Keep your eyes peeled as well, and you may spot some marine life! So cute! Otters, seals, and even whales like these bays for so many reasons. Tour boats, too, often have huge viewing decks along with knowledgeable guides giving very interesting commentary about the local natural wonders, so you’ll be learning as you look. Basically, it’s educational!
2. 26 Glacier Cruise
Want even more glaciers? Check out the 26 Glacier Cruise, too! You will pass by no less than twenty-six named glaciers, actually and this offers like an intense look at the Alaskan glacial landscapes. Most of these trips will last approximately five hours, perfectly suiting the timeframe. As a matter of fact, this allows plenty of viewing time without monopolizing the whole day. These cruises are cool because of the sheer quantity of glaciers you get to look at; seeing one glacier is certainly quite beautiful, but seeing loads together gives you something you just didn’t imagine.
The guides, like they often tell interesting stuff of these ice rivers, so that’s like bonus points if you are curious as well about geology. Also, don’t forget the wildlife! Similarly to Blackstone Bay, the waters along the cruise routes might also surprise you with seals lounging around.
3. Whittier Walking Tour
Would you really rather stick to dry land? What about taking a closer peek around the small town of Whittier, even just walking. These tours often run for a couple of hours; they’re such as this good way to learn some neat trivia. They do a peek around this fairly remote spot, too. One place you might see is Begich Towers, it houses the great bulk of Whittier’s population. As I was saying, the architecture might surprise you quite a lot, because that will really provide interesting insights into the history as well.
A guide usually fills you in on Whittier’s days as it was during wartime as a really significant transportation as well as supply hub, too it’s almost like turning the pages on Alaska’s storybook right beneath your very eyes. What a perfect choice for history buffs!
4. Kayaking Excursion
For an awesome encounter on water that lets you manage yourself, what about trying kayaking? This region around Whittier is super perfect, and there’s the protection afforded from the open ocean. You’ll encounter guides that outfit you so you’ll find what you need and after that they do a quick safety demonstration, too it’s almost time for you to row around. How very cool!
Paddling quietly along those glacial waters presents unique opportunities to witness some marine wildlife plus the stark nature, unlike large tour boats might scare off, you might even just get very, very close as you are so quiet on a kayak. You might locate hidden bays. If you are looking for things that let you do a closer look at the environment, this could well just be for you!
5. Wildlife and Glacier Viewing by Jet Boat
Do you like some more power with all of the view finding? Some companies run shorter visits in jet boats to wildlife hotspots around glaciers. You see far more terrain rather quickly, too it’s almost a nice compromise, even those pressed on timing still. This will give people the rush without dedicating the whole morning.
These tours are usually thrilling and tend to get nearer wildlife with minimum disturbances. If wanting more excitement than cruises afford, then wildlife as well as glacier seeking through use of a fast-moving boat could be considered very enjoyable.