Begin your trip in Vancouver, a superlivable city packed with natural beauty. Surrounded by mountains and oceans, this high-rise city gives you the best of both worlds—urban vibes mixed with outdoor fun. A lot of places claim to have it all, but Vancouver actually does. You get modern city life, but with a fresh, nature-filled twist. One minute you’re in the middle of downtown, and the next, you’re staring at whales and mountains. For a killer view, head up to the Vancouver Lookout Tower for a 360-degree look at the city and beyond.

Wondering what to do first? If you’re into art, hit up the Vancouver Art Gallery or the Contemporary Art Gallery. For the nature fans, hop on a ferry to Vancouver Island to see grizzly bears, whales, and orcas. If you’re more into culture, check out Canada’s biggest Chinatown. You can grab some dim sum or explore old Chinese apothecaries that go way back to the 19th century.

Stanley Park is a must-see too. It’s a huge park right on the edge of the city with great trails and views. Walk or bike the Seawall, a 20-mile path where joggers, skaters, and walkers hang out. Or bike from Coal Harbor to Kitsilano Beach, where you can chill on the sand and take in awesome views of the mountains and city skyline.

Sail through Alaska’s awesome winter scenery, weaving between snow-covered islands and massive glaciers. This 500-mile stretch is like cruising through a real-life postcard, with huge mountains rising from the shoreline and islands scattered across the dark waters. It's a popular route because the waters are calm, and you'll see amazing sights – killer whales swimming alongside, harbor seals chilling on ice, and clouds hugging the mountains. Watch glaciers crack and drop giant chunks of ice into the water with a splash. While nature's power is impressive, the peaceful beauty of this trip – with humpback whales breaking the surface – is what really sticks with you. The Inside Passage takes you through glaciers, remote villages, and stunning fjords, giving you a front-row seat to Alaska's wild coast.

The Salmon Capital of the World is a thrilling introduction to wild and wonderful Alaska, sitting at the southern gateway to the Inside Passage's famed route of larger-than-life scenery. Cruise through the waters or soar just above in a sightseeing plane to take in the full majesty of the magnificent Misty Fjords National Monument. Home to grizzly and black bears, as well as cruising whales and swimming seals, the wildlife spotting opportunities in this majestic corner of the world are nothing short of spectacular. Towered over by steep banks and valley walls, Ketchikan's ocean inlet is peppered with granite stacks, looming from the waters. Surrounded by glorious landscapes, head to the Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary, which is alive with bald eagles, black bears, and remarkable, thick, yellow banana slugs. The squeamish are advised to keep well clear. Visit Ketchikan's Heritage Center, where a collection of intricately carved totem poles rises up, preserving the heritage of the indigenous Tlingit and Haida people of these lands. Ketchikan has the world's largest collection and some of the oldest and most precious totems in existence. This frontier city hasn’t always been so wholesome, however. See the colorful historic street that is built on crooked stilts over Ketchikan Creek, which has a crude history as the main red-light district in the city. The brothels closed in the 1950s, but you can explore this legendarily seedy past at Dolly’s House, a brothel turned museum. See the Married Man Trail, a historical route used to enter Creek Street away from prying eyes.

Extraordinary adventures amid nature's wildest staging await at Juneau. The majestic Mendenhall Glacier sprawls down from Juneau Icefield, which provides an icy cap to the area's rip-roaring scenery. State capitals simply don't get more dramatic than this isolated, remote city lost amid the Alaskan wilds. Even the roads eventually peter out, absorbed by forests and viewpoints, firmly underlining the isolated location, hidden behind an impenetrable wall of rigid mountains. Rise up to Mount Roberts Tramway's viewpoint to see the city swallowed by this most colossal backdrop. This is glacier country, and no fewer than 38 ice flows branch off from the main Juneau Icefield, slowly carving out valleys in their wakes. Taku Glacier cuts deep into the mountain, forming a colossal sculpture that is one of the world's thickest - almost a mile deep. Mendenhall Glacier cascades down, just 12 miles away from downtown, terminating in its own lake and visitor center. With 1,500 square miles of ice field to explore, one of the best ways to take in the magnitude and majesty of this epic ice sculpture is to hold on tight as the propeller whirs, and you soar into the skies on an exhilarating sightseeing flight. Cruising up above the icy world that fills in these serrated mountain peaks is a once-in-a lifetime experience. The animals that inhabit the Southeast Alaskan wilds are just as inspiring as the landscapes – families of bears patrol the riverbanks, bald eagles survey the surroundings watchfully, and Pacific humpbacks migrate from Hawaii's waters to feast on the krill-rich, icy waters. Fish for huge catches, power across the ice in a snowsledge, or kayak just below glaciers. However you choose to immerse yourself in it, Juneau's incredible outdoor adventures never disappoint.

Feel the same rush of excitement as the gold rush chasers did when they first arrived in Skagway, intent on finding their fortune. While the gold may now be gone, a treasure trove of natural glory waits to be discovered here. The adrenaline of America’s legendary gold rush still pulses along Skagway's streets, especially in Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park and the historic downtown area, which sprang up during the heady heights of the 1890s goldrush. The jagged mountain ridges, with peaks of white snow above a treeline of soaring pine forests, provide a reward for the ages. Recapture the evocative sense of adventure as you ride one of the world’s most spectacular railroads. Your engine can puff steam below the precipitous, colossal scenery while the vintage carriages curve around the White Pass and Yukon Route, alongside tumbling waterfalls and spanning deeply etched gorges. Wander historic trails like the Chilkoot Trail Hike to walk in the well-trodden footsteps of the gold seekers. Set on the northern tip of the Inside Passage, Skagway luxuriates in a remarkably beautiful and dramatic landscape. Explore mighty rivers teeming with thick salmon leaping over rapids and see brown bears edging from the shelter of the trees. Endless forests spread as far as the eye can see, while bald eagles perch on treetops, surveying the surroundings from above. Whales roam offshore, and glaciers creak and calve nearby in this magical natural kingdom.

A distant land of bears, wild landscapes, and icy adventures, sail between glorious islands and witness the diverse wildlife of the Inside Passage. Eagles watch over the scenery overhead, while whales and sea lions add glorious weight to the animal life that thrives and thrashes in these icy seas. With a quintet of Pacific salmon species filling the rich rivers and waterways with life, settle back to enjoy the show, as Sitka's immense setpieces play out before you. You might notice the onion-shaped dome atop St. Michael’s Church – a relic of the area's Russian history. Sitka formed a part of the Russian Empire until a deal was struck in 1867, and the territory was sold to the United States, with the handover ceremony taking place here in Sitka. The native Tlingit culture is an important presence, and elaborate totem poles rocket up in Sitka National Historical Park. They mark the battleground of 1804, when the indigenous people clashed fiercely with the Russians. The snow-capped peak of the dormant volcano, Mount Edgecumbe, draws understandable comparisons with Mount Fuji's symmetrical cone. Climb to thrilling heights as you arrive on Kruzof Island, and enjoy richly spellbinding views of the scattered Pacific islands while hiking. Whether you want to spend your time flying above snow-dusted mountain ridges, fishing for colossal King salmon, or savoring Northwest frontier cuisine in waterfront restaurants, there's no shortage of ways to experience Sitka's natural wonders.

Hubbard Glacier, off the coast of Yakutat, Alaska, is the largest glacier in North America, with a calving front that is more than six miles wide. One of the main sources for Hubbard Glacier originates 76 mi inland. It has been a very active glacier, experiencing two major surges in the past 30 years. This glacier was named after Gardiner Greene Hubbard, a U.S. lawyer, financier, and philanthropist. He was the first president of the National Geographic Society.

Monumental scenery surrounds you in this remote corner of the world, where glaciers calve and whales cruise through inky waters against an immense mountain backdrop. Almost totally submerged by the colossal landscapes around it, Seward and the wonders of Kenai Fjords National Park offer some of Alaska's most astonishing and thrilling scenery. Located in a deep gash in the Kenai Peninsula, Seward is a place to immerse yourself in nature's majesty. Fjords carve into the landscape, while the Harding Icefield, which caps Kenai Fjords National Park, reaches out its icy fingers, with glaciers spilling down between mountain peaks. Head to Holgate Glacier to come face-to-face with a breathtaking stack of intense blue and white ice. Get up close in a kayak or boat ride to slalom through the discarded confetti of ice chunks and perhaps even witness the powerful spectacle of an ice ledge creaking and groaning before plunging to the waters below. The city of Anchorage is easily within reach from here, offering an incongruous contrast to the wild wonders of Alaska. A place where deep-sea fishermen bump shoulders with businesspeople on the 9-5, it's a fascinating, remote city. Anchorage is home to almost half of the Alaskan population, and its humble skyline is dwarfed by the snowy peaks of the wilderness beyond. Don’t miss the opportunity to immerse yourself in the unique culture, traditions, and heritage of the First Nation people of these lands too.