Salmon Berry Tours Sightseeing

For some of the best-led and most interesting small-group day tours in and outside of Anchorage, go with Salmon Berry Tours. This experienced, locally run company offers a superb guide-to-visitor ratio, creating a real feeling of intimacy, while their expert guides will help deepen your understanding of the area. From city overviews to forays just outside town, Salmon Berry Tours offers experiences from 2.5 hours up to a full 8-hour tour. You’ll always find an engaging tour that fits within your time frame and budget. Here are the most popular options.

Scenic City Tour

A lot of companies offer Anchorage city tours, but very few of them visit this many sites, are guided by locals, and use vans instead of motorcoaches. With Salmon Berry Tours, you’ll travel the city in the comfort of a van, with an Alaskan guide who will take you on a historic and scenic spin around the city. The tour includes a panoramic view of Anchorage, a historic stop at Ship Creek (where the city started), a guided walk through Earthquake Park, and a visit to Lake Hood—the world’s busiest floatplane base.

Glacier Turn

Portage Glacier, Turnagain Arm, Mt. Alyeska Tramway, the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center: Taking in the amazing combination of glaciers, mountains, and wildlife makes this one of the classic itineraries out of Anchorage. You’ll float among icebergs on Portage Lake, explore the spectacular coastline of Turnagain Arm, and get to know moose and musk ox at the wildlife center. Many companies offer similar tours, but few are all-inclusive. With Salmon Berry Tours, the price includes all admissions and a tasty lunch, and your guide will be with you the whole time—from pickup at your hotel to the glacier cruise and back to your hotel. You won’t have to worry about any logistics. And you can learn from the naturalists at Portage Lake or the biologists working with orphaned grizzlies, then ask your guide to share even more stories.

Independence Mine State Historical Park

Discover what the life of an Alaskan miner was all about in the early to mid-20^th century. The 90-minute drive from Anchorage to this fascinating historical hot spot climbs from Anchorage into the mountains. When you arrive, your expert guide will take you on a trip into the past while exploring the area’s rich mining history at Independence Mine State Historical Park. Learn all about the activities that took place here as you walk among buildings like the General Manager’s House, Bunkhouse No. 2, and the Assay Office. Opt for the 45-minute walking tour and you’ll hear all about the Gold Rush, the pioneering families that lived here, and the local flora and fauna. And because Salmon Berry Tours manages this site, you’ll also gain access to some of the mine’s buildings that are normally closed off, like the apartments and mess hall. You’ll come away with a better understanding and appreciation for what life was really like at a real Alaskan mine!

Don't have a car? no problem! The Hatcher Pass History & Hike Tour provides roundtrip transportation from Anchorage highlighting the Independence Mine State Historical Park.

About Salmon Berry Tours

When Candice McDonald left her job at a large tour company to start Salmon Berry Tours, her mission was to keep her groups small and personal, so she hired only Alaskans and used vans instead of buses. It’s worked. From Candice’s original Anchorage city tours and Portage Glacier trips, she’s added dog mushing, glacier treks, flightseeing, gold mine tours, custom itineraries, and more. People love these tours not only because they’re great trips with expert guides, but also because they’re all-inclusive: transportation, logistics, and entrance tickets are all taken care of. And your Salmon Berry guide will be with you the whole time, so you’re guaranteed professional, seamless service.

Salmon Berry Tours offers a seemingly endless number of trips. In addition to their own creative itineraries, they also pair up with top-flight guiding companies to create dream trips. They also take popular tours and make them better—like adding an extra stop on their city tour to get a panoramic view of Anchorage. Plus, they allow guests to get out of the vehicle and walk around for a better view—and better photos! Open year-round, Salmon Berry Tours operates out of their office in downtown Anchorage, across the street from the Log Cabin Visitor Center. Stop by or call and they’ll help find a trip for you, regardless of the month. They’ll even work with you to custom-craft itineraries, from half-day trips to multi-day adventures.