One Day in Icy Strait Point, Alaska
Home to 4,400 bears, Alaska’s Wildest Kitchen and a rain-forest, Icy Strait Point is small, but mighty.
Out of our four cruise ports, Icy Strait was the smallest and most remote. If you don’t plan excursions, you can do some wandering around, but the attractions are limited. Still, this was one of my favorite stops.
Here’s what to do for the day in Icy Strait Point, Alaska.
Hike through the rainforest
Not your typical rainforest, with hemlock trees and mossy wetlands, this forest is home to many bird species and bears (though we didn’t run into any).
The rainforest grounds are mostly flatland, so they are easy for all ages to walk through.
Starfish, jellyfish and other creatures awaiting the tide’s return.
Walk the beach during low tide
Alaska has one of the lowest and highest tides in the world. Early in the morning, during low tide, you can walk far out on the beaches and find several fish, starfish, crabs, and other sea creatures. In the photos, you’ll see the green tide line, which will be reached in the evening before cruise departure.
Low tide at the boardwalk. The green line is where the tide will hit in the evening.
Explore the boardwalk
Look through the non-touristy shops that are full of art, furs, foods and other native keepsakes. The walk features small homes and an open beach.
Grab a scenic bite to eat
Icy Strait has a few waterfront-view restaurants. We chose to eat at the main one, as they’ve got fresh seafood - I went for salmon, as that is what they are known for - and a good atmosphere. Sit out on the back patio and watch the water planes fly around, and be sure to keep and eye out for whales.
If you choose to eat at Icy Strait’s main restaurant, this will be one of your few chances to connect to wifi.
Excursions:
Salmon Bake at Alaska’s Wildest Kitchen (my favorite)
Ziprider zip-line
I’ve linked the events/activities that I go more in depth about, so check those out if you want to know more. Thanks for stopping by!