Alive with the hum of high-energy adventure, Vancouver is a sophisticated cityscape on the edge of British Columbia’s wild interior. This multicultural city offers a bit of everything: big city buzz, sky-high mountains and Pacific beaches. If you’re a history buff you can view First Nations artifacts at the Museum of Anthropology. Take little ones to meet over 50,000 aquatic creatures at the Vancouver Aquarium, or get a bird’s eye view of old-growth forest at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park. Horseshoe Bay salmon fishing… Granville Island paddle boarding… Grouse Mountain’s aerial tram— discover loads of outdoor adventure in Vancouver, from the bay to the backwoods.

Alive with the hum of high-energy adventure, Vancouver is a sophisticated cityscape on the edge of British Columbia’s wild interior. This multicultural city offers a bit of everything: big city buzz, sky-high mountains and Pacific beaches. If you’re a history buff you can view First Nations artifacts at the Museum of Anthropology. Take little ones to meet over 50,000 aquatic creatures at the Vancouver Aquarium, or get a bird’s eye view of old-growth forest at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park. Horseshoe Bay salmon fishing… Granville Island paddle boarding… Grouse Mountain’s aerial tram— discover loads of outdoor adventure in Vancouver, from the bay to the backwoods.

Day at sea

Sitka truly offers the best of Alaska. Its small-town appeal stems from a unique blend of Russian, Tlingit and American history. Its snow-capped peaks and volcanic Mount Edgecumbe pose among the state’s most postcard-worthy scenes. And its rare wildlife astounds, from Saint Lazaria Island’s orange-beaked puffins to Alaska Maritime Refuge’s 40 million seabirds. This is off-the-path Alaska, where you can kayak Sitka Sound alongside swimming sea otters or fly-fish for the world’s biggest halibut. Whether it’s hiking Baranof Island trails or listening to tribal stories passed down for generations, in Sitka the midnight sun never sets on adventure.

The tiny town of Skagway still looks like it did during the Klondike Gold Rush over 100 years ago— and today it remains an outpost for thrilling Alaskan adventure. An old-time street car ride along bustling Broadway Street reveals well-preserved buildings, including the state’s oldest hotel. You can see engraved walrus tusks at the Corrington Museum, or get lost in riveting historical reenactments around town. If outdoor adventure is more your thing, there are plenty of ways to amp up the adrenaline, from sledding with Alaskan Huskies on Laughton Glacier to rafting Lynn Canal, the longest fjord in North America.

Experience the daunting power of the largest tidewater glacier in North America. While most glaciers tend to thin and retreat, Hubbard Glacier continues to thicken and actively advance toward the Gulf of Alaska, earning the nickname “Galloping Glacier”. Sailing into Disenchantment Bay near the glacier’s 400-foot-tall face, you’ll get panoramic views of its gigantic expanse— Hubbard is a monstrous 76 miles long and 1,200 feet deep.

Sandwiched between towering Mount Marathon and glistening Resurrection Bay, the small town of Seward is surrounded by breathtaking scenery and action-packed adventure. Downtown’s Main Street houses a cluster of historic buildings decked out in colorful murals— and its Kenai Peninsula backyard serves as a spectacular outdoor playground. Hit the water for kayaking to tidewater caves, or go flightseeing over bright-blue Exit Glacier. You can hike Caines Head Trail’s pebbled beaches and mountain bike Lost Lake Trail’s alpine valleys. In Seward you’ll discover authentic native cultures, thrilling sport fishing, expansive icefields and all-out adventure— no matter which direction you turn.