The area is better known as The Copper Valley, but it is home to the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve. This preserve is the largest park in the United States covering 13.2 million acres. It is equal to six Yellowstone National Parks. The Wrangell Mountain Range, to the east of the park has nine of the twenty highest peaks on the continent. Mount St. Elais, the second highest peak in the US, stands at 18,008 feet.

College Fjord was named after several Ivy League colleges that funded their discover expedition in 1899. All six of the glaciers in college Fjord were named after the respective colleges, those glaciers on the left for the women’s colleges and those on the right for the men’s. As you enter the fjord, you will be almost completely surrounded with glaciers, both a very daunting and beautiful landscape.

Although just as beautiful, College Fjord is not quite as big as Glacier Bay.  Cruising past these East Coast college namesakes as you eat lunch on the ship deck is a marvelous experience.  Your cruise ship will get quite close to these and they are very picturesque.  You’ll have millions of great pictures and none to throw away.

Kenai Fjords National Park is located south of Anchorage on the Alaska Bay near Seward.  This historic town and Mt. Marathon sit at the gateway to one of Alaska's most scenic venues.  This is a must see for visitors as the area is renowned for its wildlife, Kenai’s rocky coastline is home to bald eagles, thousands of sea birds, sea lions, harbor seals, porpoises, sea otters and whales.

The National Park Cruise is the keynote attraction with a 6-hour scenic cruise of the national park area.  The ship carries 100 people or less, has a morning and afternoon departure and includes a boxed lunch or dinner.  The cruise provides you with views of puffins, bald eagles, glaciers and marine wildlife including seals, sea otters and whales.  It may also be your first change to see glacial ice, as the boat crew displays samples picked up from the bay.  Take your coat and long pants – it is much better to shred clothes if you need to than to shiver in the cold weather here (see article about Packing for Alaska).

This tour can be added as a transfer upgrade or a 1-night package on most Holland America cruisetours that stop in Anchorage or Alyeska, so if your schedule allows, stay a night in Seward or nearby Alyeska for a wonderful evening in a 5-star hotel in the wilderness.

Alaska's Inside Passage is included on many of Holland America Line's cruises and cruisetours. It is known as the "panhandle" of Alaska and is one of the smallest regions in the state, but also one of the most visited. The Inside Passage is a narrow waterway that runs 500 miles north from Ketchikan to Yakutat. Between, you will find lush forests teeming with wildlife, towering mountain peaks, about 1,000 islands, over 50 stunning glaciers, and abundant marine life. During your scenic cruising, you'll be happy that you've chosen Holland America Line for its wrap-around teak promenade deck and large balconies.