| Alaskan cruises have so much to offer you | | | | for a special treat. |
| onboard - casinos, fine dining, entertainment, and | | | | 5. Museums |
| other typical outdoor cruise adventures. However, | | | | Every town has a history, but in Alaska, the cities |
| shore excursions are an important part of all | | | | seem to seep with history. You can take a |
| cruises. With the diversity of Alaska, there are | | | | historical tour of cities or small towns in Alaska on |
| many beautiful shore excursions that you can | | | | most shore excursions. Most cities also have |
| take. Depending on where your cruise goes in | | | | historical museums that you can visit, and some |
| Alaska, you may be able to do all or most of | | | | even offer guided tours. |
| these on one single cruise. | | | | 6. Historical Village Tours |
| 1. Alaska Glaciers | | | | This kind of excursion includes tours of small |
| Visiting glaciers from one or more of the stops on | | | | villages, which can be very different from tours |
| your Alaskan cruise can be a breathtaking and | | | | of large cities. You can see the way that ancient |
| beautiful experience. You can see the glaciers up | | | | people lived and worked in Alaska, and also learn |
| close, and hike to them or take tours. Going on | | | | about the American history that is found in all of |
| tours of glaciers, and learning about the diverse | | | | these places as well. Village tours are very popular |
| plant and animal life found in and around them can | | | | when it comes to shore excursions on Alaskan |
| be one of the best experiences of your Alaskan | | | | cruises, because the small villages of Alaska are |
| cruise. | | | | places where the history is still living. |
| 2. Alaskan Flightseeing | | | | 7. Monument Tours |
| Flightseeing is something that comes standard | | | | Monument tours are exciting off ship excursions |
| with just about any Alaskan cruise shore | | | | as well. There are lots of monuments that you |
| excursion destination. Flightseeing is sightseeing by | | | | can visit while in Alaska, and you can often see |
| plane, and it came about because of the | | | | these by bus, boat, or plane. Many times, you'll be |
| overwhelming and breathtaking beauty of the | | | | as excited by the scenery surrounding the |
| Alaska, but the inaccessibility to see much of this | | | | monuments as by the monuments themselves. |
| state in an afternoon. Each time you're off the | | | | 8. Rain Forest Tours |
| boat, you'll probably have a chance to do some | | | | A rain forest in Alaska? Who knew! Alaska's rain |
| flightseeing, whether you're taken to glaciers, | | | | forest can be found in several stops along your |
| national parks or monuments, or simply for a look | | | | Alaskan cruise. You can take rainforest tours or |
| at the actual land that you've been cruising | | | | helicopter or flightseeing tours of these areas. You |
| around. | | | | can learn even more about the area and the |
| 3. Fishing | | | | rainforests as well, on your shore excursions. |
| Alaska's coast is known for its fishing - and its | | | | 9. Hiking or Biking |
| seafood. At just about every stop, you'll have the | | | | You can get out into the beauty of Alaska and |
| chance to do a shore excursion that includes | | | | take hiking or biking tours of the surrounding |
| fishing. You can do so from land, from docks, or | | | | areas on your on shore excursions. You can |
| even from smaller fishing boats. Most of the time, | | | | experience the beauty first hand, by being a part |
| you'll also be able to sample what you've caught | | | | of it. Usually cruise lines will have bikes to rent or |
| as well! | | | | hiking trails to suggest to you. |
| 4. Mining Tours | | | | 10. Dog Sledding |
| Much of current Alaskan history is based around | | | | Lastly, dog sledding is an important sport in |
| the mining industry. Many ports' shore excursions | | | | Alaska, and you can witness it first hand during |
| include a chance to tour a mine or learn about the | | | | any time of the year, by visiting dog kennels, |
| history of that particular mine. You'll be able to | | | | learning about the sport, or even trying it out for |
| see them first hand as well as purchase mining | | | | yourself. Make sure you include this activity and |
| memorabilia. Some towns even have fairs to | | | | some of those listed above on your next Alaskan |
| celebrate their mining history, so you might be | | | | cruise! |
| lucky enough to visit during that time of the year | | | | |