Glacier Bay National Park in Alaska welcomes more than 400,000 visitors every year, even though the park cannot be accessed by car. This UNESCO World Heritage Site — a body of water and coastline crusted with huge glaciers — can only be reached by air or by sea.
Getting to Glacier Bay National Park
Luckily for those who aren’t cruising, Alaska Airlines offers daily jet service from nearby Juneau to Gustavus (about a half-hour flight) during the summertime. Year-round air taxis and charter flights provide more transportation.
Most visitors do arrive by cruise ship, as many cruise lines sail through Glacier Bay. Other options for reaching this stunningly beautiful destination include tour boats, charter boats, or private vessels. Tour vessels depart daily from Glacier Bay Lodge, but if you decide to get a private boat you must obtain a permit and reservation in order to enter.
Once you have figured out your plan of action for getting to Glacier Bay, you are ready to begin your adventure.
Exploring Glacier Bay National Park from the Lodge
Glacier Bay Lodge offers many tours, including the Glacier Bay Tour, the only day tour permitted in the park. The seven-hour excursion brings you face to face with the Margerie and Grand Pacific Glaciers, two of the 11 tidewater glaciers. Flight-seeing is another option, with this excursion flying guests over Brady Icefield, providing photo ops for eager tourists. Other activities at the lodge include whale watching, hiking, kayaking, and fishing.
From the tidewater glaciers to snowcapped mountains, the park offers 3.3 million-acres of breathtaking views of fjords and ocean coastlines, with activities for true adrenaline junkies. For kayaking, try the Alaska Mountain Guides (800/766-3396), voted a “Tour of a Lifetime” by National Geographic Traveler. These talented guides will take you on a great adventure, the most popular being a one-day kayaking trip to Point Adolphus, a popular area with whales.
Whale watching is a big draw to the area, and many companies offer great tours. Step aboard the US Coast Guard certified, Taz (907/321-2302), for a great experience. This vessel will take you to the feeding grounds of the humpback whales, where you can see whales do acrobatics and listen to them harmonize. This three-and-a-half hour tour departs two times each day, but for larger groups they offer custom tours.
Glacier’s Visitor Center has Kids’ Programs
For those looking to get some camping in amidst the naturalistic scenery, you must do training at the Bartlett Cove Visitor Center. This free, 30-minute orientation will grant you a permit for camping, and a bear-resistant food container. Permits are free and required for May 1 through September 30. Orientation is also required for kayakers.
Families traveling with smaller children are in for a real adventure. A fun activity to keep the kids happy is the Junior Park Ranger program. If you came by boat, head to the visitors center on the second floor of Glacier Bay Lodge. Those who come by tour vessel simply find a ranger onboard and start learning! (Cruise ships to Glacier Bay often have their own onboard Junior Ranger programs). After picking up your Junior Ranger Booklet, complete the steps and present it to a ranger, then you will get your Junior Ranger Badge.
Other park ranger activities include daily walking tours through the park, and the ranger program each night in the auditorium of Glacier Bay Lodge, where they show movies.
Gustavas, Base for Exploration of Glacier Bay
If you are looking to stay in the park the only lodging option is Glacier Bay Lodge (866/761-6634), near Bartlett Cove. The best part about the lodge is waking up to the beautiful view of the Fairweather Mountain range.
As the gateway to Glacier Bay, Gustavus, Alaska (907/500-5143) is a must for all travelers. All visitors will cross the Four Corners, a 10-mile long road that leads from the airport to Bartlett Cove in the park and onto Rink Creek Road. All of the businesses in town are along these roads, and travelers are invited to stop at any one of them for a map. There is not a McDonald’s or a shopping mall in sight, but there are plenty of bed and breakfasts, like the Bear Track Inn, great for dining, and local stores to keep you well rested and prepared for your adventure.
Summer temperatures in the area fall between 50 and 60 degrees, so be sure to bring your warm clothes, and raingear, as it rains frequently in Southeast Alaska. For everything else you need to know about an independent visit, check out the NPS site, Glacier Bay National Park.
Dear Reader: This page may contain affiliate links which may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Our independent journalism is not influenced by any advertiser or commercial initiative unless it is clearly marked as sponsored content. As travel products change, please be sure to reconfirm all details and stay up to date with current events to ensure a safe and successful trip.
family travel forum offers a variety of unique programs and services for grandparents, kids and pets for all kinds of facilities are available there
I agree with you . In it something is. Now all became clear, I thank for the help and I hope to see more such articles.
Oh I do hope to visit some day! What a great place to work!
Thank you for sharing your stuff on blog.It is doubtless that we have similar interests.Something are very helpful to me.
I had a very interesting trip in Qubec city and enjoyed the restaurant Aux Anciens very much.
I am planing a big family travelling, maybe it is a great help to me….
good article.like it very much,thank you.
It's pretty much an amazing page. thanks!
Thanks, I had been looking for these forms for a friend of mine. Thanks for putting them up here. Nice and informative.
Well, this site really help me a lot!
Wow, excellent data regarding this issue. You might want to let me know how long will it take? Because I like to write the thesis or may be it would be nice to detect the thesis writing service. Thank you very much.
As a single mom it is very helpful to me to have this information available. thanks for making it easy to figure out what I need to take my baby to DR next month.
Yes, it does sound like a really great trip and we can't wait to go to Belize on our next family vacation.
Yes these points are very important to remember if you are traveling for the first time. Nice post.
Your journey is really fantastic, thanks a lot for sharing it with us!!
Hello from Belize!
The *correct* phone number for Clarissa Falls Resort is:
011-501-824-3916
Please drop by for a visit or stay for awhile!
I would like to tell that gallipoli is really great country with its huge history We visited gallipoli last month and spent almost 3 days we visited all historical side such as Gallipoli, Ephesus, and troy we were very happy by our company because they provided us a package for part of turkey and everything was excellent http://www.toursingallipoli.com everything was planned very well We were indeed lucky that we had this service I have to say that this trip was fantastic.
For all the travelers who are seeking info on internet regarding requirement I would recommend your page. A handful of prior knowledge will always help you out.
Fantastic Maui resort. I have enjoyed a lots of spaces in Hawaii.
Thanks for your comments! We'd love to hear stories from other readers about how you're measuring impact.
looks for hotels that cater to us and can provide us with a good experience that our kids will enjoy and remember.
site is pretty helpful for travellers, thanks a lot!!
This is nice verbalize for everybody and we are thanking you bottom of our heart.
Valuable information! I am looking forward to get some more info from your notes.
Valuable information! Looking forward to seeing your notes posted.
The picture of the light thing reminds me of a festival of lights near where I live. Every year the city sets up a ton of lights in a park and you can pay to drive through it. Its a lot of fun. Great post.
We are in the middle of planning the next family vacation. We looked at some of the traditional venues for hosting it, but went with the place that allowed the family to rent individual houses for each family group. It will allow us more room than we'd get in a hotel as well as many of the comforts of home. Of course, it came with swimming pool for the kids but they also have a shuttle service that will take the reunion family members to tour the local city. This is a reunion venue that gets what a family is looking for.
You presented very useful tips for particularly those who are traveling for the fist time.
Great tips to improve one’s knowledge! It’s really good post. Thanks for this useful knowledge.
Napolitano to EU counterparts: "The U.S. is committed to working closely with our European partners to develop innovative and effective ways to ensure our mutual safety while protecting the privacy and civil liberties of all citizens."
This may not extend to the WikiLeaks publisher, but it portends lots of new security measures being tested at international airports. Our advice: travel light and get there early.
thank you for the tips… you helped me to choose the right destination for the winter vacation.
Thx. Because of this article I know now, what kind of documents I need. I can not expect the next holiday. Best regards
basically have to point out you come up with several fantastic points and definitely will write-up a variety of options to add in just after a day or two.
If you're traveling for the first time it would be too difficult to do all stuff yourself. Make sure you are availing professional assistance.
It is always good to have all the information before heading towards any tour. All the papers should be compiled at a place. this article is useful in true sense. Thanks a lot.
I think is site is pretty helpful for travellers, thanks a lot!!
I don't have any words to appreciate this post…..I am really impressed ….the person who created this post surely knew the subject well..thanks for sharing this with us.
Excellent read, I just passed this onto a colleague who was doing a little research on this topic. And he actually bought me lunch because I found it for him. So I should thank you for the free lunch I got.
It is good to see you verbalise from the heart and your clarity on this important subject can be easily observed.
it is good to be informed before you start the holiday… you can have many issues with your children
Wonderful post… Very informational and educational as usual!
Looks like you are a specialist on this because you just made it so easy to be with you, motivated me to learn more on the subject! May I ask you, do you devote a lot of effort to it because you seem to be so in tune with issue? Thanks
I needed it badly last year when I had to visit my brother and his wife 🙂 Thanks anyway it is definitely helpful for many of us.
Great page! That is what I need. Thanks very much!
great posting your article is surprisingly helpful for people that are traveling to different countries like myself and that do not have the know how to get this type of stuff figured out
I don't think so..Medical Treatment Authorization Letter is too much important while any trip…
Valuable information! Looking forward to seeing your notes posted.
I have look this post and will definitely refer this articles to all my close friends and colleagues. Thanks for posting!
Wonderful post… Very informational and educational as usual!
I want to visit Cebu.Chua are u a Philippians? Can you help me about the information about the cost, tourist place and hotel in Cebu. You can mail me at loopslike@gmail.com
Thanks for sharing the article. I travel alot, and when I stay at hotels, I am seeing many more activities for kids, families, and themes for kids. I know my family always looks for hotels that cater to us and can provide us with a good experience that our kids will enjoy and remember.