Both spontaneous and planned encounters with wildlife of land, sea and sky await groups throughout Alaska.
If attendees keep an eye out, they may spot a bald eagle in a nearby tree, or a moose disrupting the flow of traffic on a main thoroughfare.
Or groups might set out to mingle with Alaska’s wild residents via whale- or bird-watching tours, fishing excursions, kayak adventures, sanctuary visits and more.
Anchorage
Wildlife is everywhere in Anchorage; the city is home to many critters, including moose, bald eagles and Dall sheep.
According to Julie Saupe, president and CEO at Visit Anchorage, tours are aplenty in the area and offer a great way to see wildlife, but attendees should also keep their eyes peeled for wildlife sightings when they’re just wandering around the city.
Among the most popular tours for groups is a glacier/wildlife cruise in nearby Prince William Sound, where otters, sea lions, seals, and humpback, orca and minke whales are regular sights.
“Transportation to and from Anchorage is available by motor coach or aboard the Alaska Railroad’s Glacier Discovery Train,” Saupe said. “The ride to the dock itself is a good place to spot beluga whales in the waters of Turnagain Arm and Dall sheep on the rocky slopes of the Chugach Mountains.”
Located a few blocks from the Anchorage Convention Centers--home of the William A. Egan Civic & Convention Center and two event facilities, the Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center--is Ship Creek, a popular sport fishery that operates during the summer.
“King salmon run beginning in June, and silver salmon return later in July and August,” Saupe said. “Viewing platforms cross the creek, giving everyone a good view of the action. The Bait Shack has gear rental and licenses available on-site.”
Fairbanks
In Fairbanks, groups are encouraged to hang out at Running Reindeer Ranch, where they can take a guided nature walk in the forest with reindeer.
According to Helen Renfrew, director of meetings and conventions at Explore Fairbanks, each walk is a unique experience depending on season, trail conditions and the mood of the reindeer, who may leap into the air a la Rudolph if the spirit moves them.
Groups may also choose to spend time with Mary Shields, an Alaskan dog musher and the first woman to ever complete the Iditarod race, and her huskies. During a visit, Shields tells tales of falling in love with sled dogs and experiencing some of the most beautiful places on Earth.
Juneau
Juneau is a wonderful place for exciting, scenic whale-watching cruises.
“Humpback whales, orcas, sea lions and eagles thrive in our pristine seas and skies,” said Kirk Stagg, convention sales manager for Travel Juneau. “Excursion capacities range from six to a 100 people and within minutes of leaving the dock you can view these magnificent creatures within the legendary views of the Inside Passage.”
At Macaulay Salmon Hatchery, located five minutes from downtown Juneau, groups will see 14 small aquariums as well as a 5,000-gallon aquarium stocked with 150 local species of marine life.
“Watch salmon return home to spawn by the hundreds,” Stagg said.
Tours are available year-round and space is available to accommodate group events.
Matanuska-Susitna Valley
Located about 35 miles north of Anchorage and extending all the way to Denali National Park, the Mat-Su Valley includes the towns of Palmer, Wasilla and Talkeetna.
For meetings in the Talkeetna area, according to Casey Ressler, marketing and communications manager for the Mat-Su CVB, a spectacular wildlife viewing opportunity entails flightseeing.
“Talkeetna is the hub for Denali adventures,” he said, and cited four flightseeing operators: K2 Aviation, Talkeetna Air Taxi, Sheldon Air Service and Alaska Bush Float Plane Service. “Their Otter-style airplanes seat 10, and in addition to potentially seeing wildlife, they can also land on glaciers in the Alaska Range. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience that is a perfect add-on to any meeting in the area.”
Those in the group who prefer staying on dry land can check out the Glenn Highway National Scenic Byway, which Ressler said is known as a birder’s paradise.
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Valdez
Kayaking and hiking are recommended activities for those groups interested in a wildlife sighting when meeting in Valdez.
Area kayak outfitters, including Pangaea Adventures and Anadyr Adventures, offer groups exhilarating day, multiday and customized tours complete with backdrops including icebergs, glaciers, waterfalls and wildlife such as sea lions, bears and Dall’s porpoises.
“Most Valdez kayak group tours travel through and around wildlife and sea life hot spots within Prince William Sound,” said Laurine Regan, executive director at the Valdez CVB. “It’s not uncommon for groups to come across an orca whale and her calf playing in the Port of Valdez before heading to Prince William Sound, or have a close encounter with a humpback whale breaching in the waters of the Sound.”
Groups will also enjoy hiking excursions in the area, which is known as the “Land of the Waterfalls” in the summer after the snow melts.
“Being stuck in meetings all day means getting outside to enjoy the views that surround Valdez is a must-do experience for visiting groups,” Regan said. “Area hiking trails suit all levels of fitness, from the Dock Point Trail to the more challenging trails of Shoup Bay and John Hunter Memorial Trail. All provide wildlife and majestic views of the surrounding Chugach Mountains.”
Ketchikan
Ketchikan prides itself on being the “salmon capital of the world,” so salmon fishing is a must for anyone visiting, according to Patti Mackey, president and CEO of Ketchikan Visitors Bureau, who explained fishing season here begins with steelhead and king salmon in the spring and wraps up with silver salmon in September.
“Meeting attendees have several options to choose from when it comes to fishing charters, and some of our fishing lodges have great meeting space so it's virtually seamless,” she said, adding: “One of our favorite suggestions is to conduct a group ‘derby.’”
A derby involves teams on charter boats, which typically hold six people, competing for prizes and/or bragging rights for bringing in the most fish, most poundage, etc.
Due to its salmon population, there is a large variety of wildlife in Ketchikan, including bald eagles and black bears.
“Bear viewing opportunities include guided tours in and around Ketchikan, with some of the most popular locations accessible via a short floatplane trip,” Mackey said.
There are also cruise tours to locations like Misty Fjords National Monument, where larger groups will potentially view bears and marine mammals including seals, sea lions and whales.
Sitka
The many wildlife viewing opportunities in Sitka include visiting St. Lazaria National Wildlife Refuge for a bird tour featuring tufted puffins, auklets and guillemots; the Alaska Raptor Center, which has meeting space, to see bald eagles, owls and other raptors up close; and Fortress of the Bear, a brown and black bear sanctuary for orphaned cubs with a large raised viewing platform.
Groups interested in a waterborne pursuit can check out Allen Marine Tours’ Sea Otter & Wildlife Quest, a catamaran outing.
“Your destination is wildlife on this wide-ranging water expedition,” said Sherry Aitken, director of tourism for Visit Sitka. “While viewing rafts of sea otters, learn how these smallest of marine mammals were brought back from the brink of hunting extinction to thrive in this rich ocean ecosystem, which includes humpback, grey and killer whales, steller sea lions, fur seals and numerous birds including orange-billed tufted puffins and white-headed bald eagles.”
