Boasting mountains, sea, culture, art, and so much more, many cities claim to have it all, but few can back it up like Vancouver. Famously livable, just visiting this highrise city, surrounded by staggering natural beauty, is a thrill. Offering all of the creature comforts of an ultra-modern, worldly metropolis—even downtown has a hint of mountain freshness to its air—part of Vancouver's appeal is how easily you can swap the skyscrapers for whale-filled oceans and mountain-punctured skies. Head up to the Vancouver Lookout Tower for the ultimate 360-degree views of the city glistening amid the beautiful embrace of the beckoning wilderness beyond. But what to see first? Art lovers might choose the Vancouver Art Gallery or the Contemporary Art Gallery. Nature lovers might rush for the ferry to visit Vancouver Island, where they can encounter grizzly bears, whales, and orcas. Culture vultures, on the other hand, will probably head for the sights and sounds of Canada's biggest Chinatown. From steaming dim sum for lunch to Chinese apothecaries offering herbs to soothe any illness, it’s all here thanks to the migrant workers of the 19th century. The one-of-a-kind treasure of Stanley Park brings wild wonder and natural beauty to this cosmopolitan city's doorstep, and the pine-tree-clad park offers isolated trails and amazing views. Wander the seawall that encircles it—a 20-mile coastal path full of joggers, whizzing skaters, and wandering couples. Grab a bike and cycle between Coal Harbour and Kitsilano Beach. You can top up your tan on the shore as you soak in the glorious views of the mountains and cityscape from the sands.

Navigate through the intricate outlays of some of Alaska’s most staggering winter scenery, threading a needle between craggy, snow-dusted islands and slipping glacial giants. To cruise this 500-mile stretch of Alaskan beauty is to sail through a living work of natural art, with perfectly sculpted mountains soaring from the shoreline and clutches of islands scattered across the dark waters with delicate attention to detail. A common sailing route due to its calm, sheltered waters, gorgeous natural set pieces constantly play out here, whether it’s killer whales accompanying you through the breathtaking icy passages, harbor seals catching a break on floating hunks of ice, or wisps of cloud clinging to distant mountain peaks. Witness Mother Nature at her most dramatic and elaborate along this Alaskan coastline, where glaciers groan and creak melodramatically before finally releasing colossal shelves of ice, allowing them to free fall into the waters below and explode with angry booms and thunderous splashes. While fundamental displays of nature’s power always awe and amaze, it’s the tranquil beauty of this passage—amid still waters, splitting only to reveal the smooth backs of breaching humpback whales—that is relentlessly moving. A journey of glaciers, remote hidden villages, and carved fjords, the Inside Passage is a breathtaking voyage through the intricate mesh of Alaska’s fractured, raw, and spectacular coastal landscapes.

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 rise 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.

If there is one word that sums up Alaska, it is nature. Miles and miles of it. And Icy Strait Point, one of Alaska’s most unspoiled destinations, has nature in spades. To begin with, Icy Straight Point is stunningly beautiful. It is the Alaska of your imagination: eagles soaring overhead, whales breeching before your eyes. Moody, low-hanging clouds set the scene, while velvety green mountains provide the backdrop. Sparklingly clear waters lap at pebbly shores. These are beaches of the adventure kind; you won’t find sun loungers and sombreros here, more like kayaks and canoes, ready for those who want to take their discovery off shore. The village prides itself on being home to "more brown bears than humans", so expect immersive wilderness experiences, from ATV adventures to zip lining through a canopy of trees! Located on Chichagoff Island, 35 miles west of Juneau and right in the center of Glacier Bay, Icy Strait Point began life as a salmon cannery business, providing employment for the residents of nearby Hoonah. The cannery has served the community in many ways, including providing housing for employees after a fire in 1944 destroyed many residents homes. It ceased to function entirely in 1999, and in 2001, the landing was repurposed as America’s only private cruise ship terminal. The Alaskan-owned and operated terminal funnels all its profits back into the local environment and provides employment for around 85% of local residents, many of whom live in Alaska’s largest Native Tlingit village.

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 will 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.

Formed by the retreat of the Guyot, Yahtse, and Tyndall Glaciers, Icy Bay lives up to its frigid name. Sapphire-blue waters are strewn with blocks of ice, and the whole feeling is one of eerie, silent solitude. Yet, despite Icy Bay’s timelessness, it is a relative newcomer to the planet. Icy Bay, as you know, is just 100 years old, although the area is, of course, much older. The Vancouver Expedition passed through the area on June 4, 1794, and noted that the bay was blocked by "the giant tidewater Malaspina Glacier that calved icebergs directly into the Gulf of Alaska". Described as "an indentation of the glacier face" by Captain Vancouver, the 30-mile strait was named but not recorded on any maps. Geographically located 66 miles northwest of Yakutat, Icy Bay lies within Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, Alaska Today, it would be almost unthinkable to not visit the superlative beauty of Icy Bay during a voyage to Alaska. The chilly waters are fed by a stream from the Saint Elias Mountain Range, making the surrounding scenery some of the most spectacular on Earth. Fjord-like conditions have proved a boon for migrating wildlife; expect harbor seals hauled out on bright-blue ice, a plethora of sea birds and marine mammals, and even the odd grizzly perched on the side of the water. The weather might not always be on your side (Icy Bay’s temperature in August is just 11 C or 50 F), but if you like big, bold, beautiful coastlines, then wrap up warm and experience Mother Nature at her very best.

Valdez is a spectacular coastal city tucked away on the deep shores of Prince William Sound. The open scenery is one of unspoiled wildness, majestic mountains, tidewater glaciers, and deep green rainforests. Take the chance to admire this landscape and become a part of it.

Colombier Glacier is one of the fastest-moving glaciers in the world and is renowned for its dramatic carving, leaving colossal chunks of ice in the water. Get up close to this icy phenomenon by boat or helicopter. Flightseeing tours have the advantage of offering exceptional aerial views of the glacier and the surrounding Chugach mountains.

Sea kayaking is popular, and navigating the vast landscape in a small kayak immerses you in nature like nothing else. Visit forgotten glaciers, strange ice formations, and icy sea caves.

Valdez holds some of the oldest fish derbies in Alaska with big prize money, a testament to the superb fishing opportunities available. Try your luck to land a prize salmon or big halibut by shore or sea. If not, watch the experts from mid-June to August, when the salmon are spawning and the waters are silver and pink with fish, sealions, and brown and black bears come to take their catch of the day.

Hiking trails of all levels of difficulty are well maintained and offer awesome views, including dramatic waterfalls and lots of wildlife. With eagles, seabirds, bears, seals, sea lions, and sea otters all commonly seen, and whales and porpoises frequent visitors, it can be hard to know where to look next.

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.