Walk around the base of a massive glacier, and then visit Alaska's only public aquarium and rehabilitation center to see how injured animals are being rescued.
Departing from the pier by coach, you will take a scenic drive to nearby Kenai Fjords National Park for a walking tour of Exit Glacier. One of dozens of glaciers spilling down from the massive Harding Icefield (named for President Harding who visited here), Exit Glacier covers four square miles and is easily accessible. It was known as Resurrection Glacier until the late 1960s, when a group of adventurous mountaineers exited here, becoming the first ever to cross the imposing Harding Icefield. Standing near the base of the dense, bluish mass of ice, you may hear it crackle and groan as it imperceptibly inches along. To further enhance your experience, a park ranger will guide you on an interpretive walk and answer any questions.
Leaving Exit Glacier behind, you will drive back to Seward for a tour of the inspirational Alaska Sealife Center, the state's only public aquarium and ocean wildlife rescue center. Enjoy approximately 90-minutes here, exploring the many exhibits on your own. There is a wide variety of indigenous wildlife here that is housed in naturalistic habitats. Some that you may see include puffins, octopus, sea lions and seals. Many of them are being rehabilitated in hopes of returning them to the wild. You may also observe the center's scientists, who are pioneering research on Alaska's marine ecosystems and especially the animal populations that are declining. Wandering from exhibit to exhibit is a truly enlightening experience.
Following your visit to the center, you will rejoin your coach for the drive back to the pier.
Please note: This tour includes approximately 3-hours of moderate to easy walking, at times over uneven and natural surfaces. This tour is not available to wheelchair guests or those with mobility concerns. Weather-appropriate, layered clothing; a waterproof jacket and flat, comfortable walking or hiking shoes are suggested.