Vancouver, surrounded by mountains and the ocean, is a vibrant haven for outdoor lovers and cosmopolitan travelers. Its neighborhoods-Stanley Park, the West End, Gastown, Yaletown, and Chinatown-blend scenic pathways with rich arts, food, and culture. Famous as a filming location, it offers old-growth cedar forests, dramatic landscapes, and abundant wildlife: a big city perched on the edge of wilderness.

Encircled by emerald rainforest and mist-veiled mountains, Ward Cove opens the door to Alaska's wild beauty. Nearby, glacial blue lakes, waterfalls, and snowcapped peaks frame Misty Fjords National Monument, best seen by floatplane or boat. Explore Tlingit and Haida heritage at Saxman Village, stroll Creek Street's historic boardwalks, or enjoy bear viewing and kayaking. Ward Cove invites adventure shaped by nature and spirit.

Alaska's Hoonah Island is an epic land of humpback whales, bountiful bears and legends of the indigenous Tlingit told for thousands of years. A rugged paradise big on nature, you can kayak the coast, hike the Tongass National Forest, flight-see Glacier Bay and eye the waves for pods of orca and sea lions on scenic sailings. Cook up a feast with coho salmon or king, snow and Dungeness crab, and take in an eagle's-eye-view of the world while ziplining over the forested slopes of Mount Hoonah.

Encircled by mountains and waterfalls, Valdez is called the "Switzerland of Alaska." See Valdez, Columbia, and Worthington glaciers flow into Prince William Sound, hike lush forest trails, paddle with puffins, or raft the chalk-blue Lowe River. Wildlife includes bears, bald eagles, trumpeter swans, and rufous hummingbirds-some migrating from Mexico.

Kodiak is a remote emerald island known for its unique brown bear subspecies. Rich in Alutiiq and Russian history, it also reflects a rugged fishing heritage along Cannery Row. Visit Abercrombie State Historical Park for WWII bunkers and cliffside seabirds, explore Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge to learn the island's volcanic origins, and end at the Russian onion-domed Holy Resurrection Church.

Seward offers big nature and bigger adventures, with calving glaciers and seabirds as the soundtrack. Sail Kenai Fjords National Park for waterspouts, tailfins, epic icefields, and tufted puffins on shale cliffs. Hike past glacial waterfalls, tackle the Harding Icefield trail or the easier Exit Glacier loop, and take in stunning views of Resurrection Bay's deep glacial waters and towering cliffs.