“Take a sip on the wild side” is the slogan for Angela Thompson’s business, Adventurous Winos. It has a nice ring to it, eh?
Sightseeing & Day Tours near Anchorage, Alaska
If you have ever asked yourself, “What can I see and do in Anchorage in one day?“
We have the answer; local tour company Adveturous Winos! They will give you a spectacular tour that will make every minute count.
Angie and her crew offer three itineraries from Anchorage for folks who want to see lots of Alaska in just one day. One itinerary includes hiking on the Matanuska Glacier. Another excursion features a glacier and wildlife tour in Kenai Fjords National Park called the Southern Coastal Adventure.
Southern Coastal Adventure
My whole life was waiting behind Door #3: critters in deep, glaciers up close, and cocktails up high.
In the brochure, it’s called the “Southern Coastal Adventure.” It includes a visit to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, a cruise to the face of Portage Glacier on the mighty m/v Ptarmigan, and a ride up Mt. Alyeska on the tram for some drinks with KILLER views.
Three fun things in one day…. it’s a trifecta, eh? I thought so. Scroll down for the photos.
Our guides: Angie and Pam, are childhood friends from Anchorage. They both have incredible stories about Alaska today—and how it used to be (even before the giant earthquake in 1964).
Our guests Carol and Rob from Ottawa, Canada.
To get in the “Wild Side” vibe, we start the trip with a drive down Turnagain Arm along the Seward Highway. It was a beautiful day for spotting Dall’s sheep.
Not so much for beluga whales—but we were watching.
Tour of the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
Our first stop was at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. The center is close to our hearts for its work to repopulate the wood bison population in Alaska. Everyone loves visiting because you can get close to the animals.
Angie knows all of the animals by name. The bears. The moose. The musk oxen and the porcupines. Angie has plenty of stories about taking care of wild animals. Just ask her!
Everyone loves looking at the critters, but there’s more to see and do!
Portage Glacier Cruise
The next stop is a fantastic cruise of the Portage Glacier. Just down the road in Portage is the mighty Ptarmigan boat to take you to the face of Portage Glacier.
Captain Joy got nice and close after reminding everyone to bundle up against the cold wind, which whips down the glacier! The boat is the only way to get up close to the glacier these days.
Expert opinion: Where should I go this weekend for fun? Sitka, Kennicott Mine, Snug Harbor Outpost, Kenai for an Alaska Safari.
Driving up into Portage Valley offers a great view of the other hanging glaciers. You have to use your imagination to picture the entire valley encased in ice. Those who call Alaska home can see how Portage Glacier has receded over the years.
QUICK: see it before it’s gone!
Along the way between Portage and Alyeska Resort, there are several spots to stop and take Instagram-worthy photos of the beautiful Alaska wilderness: the lakes, the trees, the glaciers, and the rivers.
Depending on when you go, you might see salmon swimming in the stream. It’s just beautiful—and we were lucky enough to visit on a beautiful day.
Take a ride on the Alyeska Tram
If you haven’t taken the tram at Alyeska Resort, what are you waiting for? It’s a fun ride to the top, with fabulous views.
We wrap up our tour with the Adventurous Winos with a few drinks over a delicious lunch.
This is the part of the adventure when we all can share a meal and a beverage. We had LOTS of toasts to our tour guides, Pam and Angie. We talked about other trips we’d taken, other critters we had seen up close, and other mountains we’d hiked or climbed.
So many sips.
But we couldn’t even sip our drinks until Angie set up the “Take a sip on the wild side” shot with the glasses on the railing. Looking out over Turnagain Arm really was dramatic…and it was worth the wait.
Almost. HAHAHA!
Call Adventurous Winos and…ahem….take a sip on the wild side this summer!
Below: Carol and Rob saved a bundle using a coupon from the Alaska TourSaver!
The Adventurous Winos offer several sightseeing and day tours around Anchorage, Alaska. Their expert tour guides will help you make every minute count.
Find The Best Travel Deals To Alaska
Alaska Travelgram can help you save money on your next flight to Alaska and beyond. You have found the original Alaska discount travel website with the best deals on airfare and lodging.
Since 1999, Alaska Travelgram has been dedicated to delivering the best travel deals. You can find last-minute travel deals and quality information about all the top vacation spots in Alaska. We love travel deals, don’t we?
Sign up for our weekly newsletter, and visit our Travel Deals page to learn how Alaska Travelgram can help you save money on airfare, travel packages, Alaska resident travel deals, and last-minute travel deals to Alaska.
More great Alaska adventures on the Kenai Peninsula:
- Explore the Gold Mining Town of Hope
- Fishing and Camping on the Kasilof River
- Take a Glacier Cruise in Seward
- Alaska Safari with Alaska Wildland Adventures
Share this Post
