We went on the all day Meares Glacier cruise. The weather when we departed was cold and foggy and I…read morewas able to snap several "moody" photos. Was afraid we might not see much wildlife but wow, there were so many opportunities from eagles (in trees and on icebergs), to adorable sea otters, whales, puffins, and sea lions. I easily took 200 photos! Every time something was spotted, the boat would slow or stop, and information about what we were seeing was explained. Of course, there was the star of the show - the Meares Glacier. We got very close to it and stayed there for a good 15-20 minutes. The boat has plenty of inside and outside seating and you are also welcome on the bridge. We were served a warm bagel with choice of cream cheese, butter, or peanut butter about an hour after departure. After leaving the glacier, we were served lunch. I'm a vegetarian so I brought my own sandwich but they were happy to offer just the veggies, rice, and roll without the chicken. Free coffee, tea, and water all day. Staff was friendly and approachable.

Captain Allen was fantastic. We saw eagles, humpback whales, porpoises, sea otters, stellar sea…read morelions and did I mention touching ice from the glacier? We saw so many icebergs and the Columbia Glacier. Bring a sandwich or snacks or buy some at the canteen (cash only). I would recommend to everyone going to Alaska.

We had an amazing, unforgettable experience with Lu-Lu Belle boat, Captain Fred and his lovely…read morecrew! Captain Fred is a wealth of knowledge about Valdez and his extraordinary experience with the waters! He navigated very tight spaces for wildlife and got us within 1/4 mile to the face of the Columbia Glacier. The smaller boat (which is Captain Fred's home) made for a more cozy and warm ambiance, oriental rugs and all! :) There is food and snacks available during the cruise, they even baked fresh brownies, which warmed the soul in the cold weather! We were also allowed to bring a cooler of snacks! They don't serve alcohol but we were told you are able to bring your own wine and beer. For me, this is the best wildlife cruise in Valdez.

We looked at the two major glacier trips out of Valdez and choose this one because of the reviews…read more Boy were they right! We had the best day of our trip so far. Captain Fred and crew Sara & Jake were fantastic. You can tell they really want you to have the best time. The boat was so clean and the food was simple but good. The smell of the fresh cooked brownies was not fair, you had to have one! We saw so much wildlife and stopped extremely close to the glacier. We would do this trip again in a heartbeat. Go for this trip on the Lu-Lu Belle you will not regret it.

Our family joined Captain William "Bill" Comer for a trip the first week of August, and it was the…read morehighlight of our year. We had an outstanding time hitting silvers the first day out. Bill took us out for a day of pulling squid from the depths of Prince William Sound the next day--a rare and thrilling experience! Even on a day where the weather was less than ideal, Bill's experience showed; he moved us across multiple locations to ensure we stayed on the fish. The views of the mountains and the Sound were breathtaking. If you are looking for a top-tier charter out of the Valdez marina, Legacy Adventures is the only way to go!

Food is comfortable and delicious, service is outstanding! The lodge is gorgeous and comfortable.read more

Was fortunate to be able to stay two nights at Tsaina off-season (late September) as we visiting up…read morefrom San Diego for a wedding being held at the lodge. The dining area is gorgeous, the food was amazing and as someone else noted, they have true (and unique) craft cocktails. Our room overlooked the Richardson Glacier, a sublime and million-dollar view. Rooms were cozy but well appointed, very clean and modern. Am making a vow to come back sometime in the winter and use Tsaina as a base of operations for some heli-skiing.

Blueberry Lake is a small campground with about 10 overnight sights and about 8 day/picnic sites…read more The first handful of picnic sights are directly on the lake, then only 1 or 2 of the campsites have direct access to the lake. The rest if the campsites and daysites are scattered along the windy terrain. It looks like this location doesn't get a lot of visitors since it's about 20 miles out of Valdez proper. This site is in a valley and no cell service and not much tree cover, so it's pretty windy and not much to do on-site. Worthington glacier is down the road a little way, and there is hiking and berry picking around as well if you know where to look, but you definitely need a car, or at least a bike from this point.

I spent 3 nights and 4 days exploring around Valdez, Alaska. And I had a really good time…read more Valdez, AK is located 300 miles away by road from Anchorage. You can pair it with visiting Wrangell St. Elias National Park. I'd like to rundown a list of the sights, sceneries and attractions from my visit...to maybe help others interested in coming to this beautiful seaside town and what to expect. For a few days, it's more than enough time to get acclimated here and to appreciate another under the radar town that truly exudes a vintage Alaskan setting. Before I relay what I did...yes, Valdez, very well known for its world class fishing trips, and sitting among statuesque mountains all within a charming harbor at the end of Richardson Highway Drive. - Stan Stephens Glacier Tour - I did the Meares Glacier all day tour and had a wonderful time. They offer a shorter excursion to Columbia Glacier as well. - Solomon Fish Hatchery - I could never grasp the whole concept of a fish hatchery, but here during early August, I got to witness how they catch salmon during spawning season and help in the cycle/process of continuing the incubation for future salmons...if that makes any sense. But...the whole process and watching salmon swim upstream surrounded by seagulls was pretty impressive. Doesn't take long to stop on by. - Glacier View Park - very quiet atmosphere to be among a glacier in the background. More importantly, the lake is quite pristine and reflective with floating icebergs situated in the waters. People had their kayaks here to enjoy paddling. You can even have a picnic. Located maybe 10 miles outside downtown Valdez, Glacier View Park is a great hidden escape. - Civic Center Overlook Trail - situated right in town. To find it, just plug the trail into Google Maps. The pathway is as short as it gets, around 3/10's of a mile, but it gives a quick glimpse from high above into the scenery on the opposite side of downtown Valdez. Maybe you need 15 - 20 minutes here, but still, it's an activity, nonetheless. - Homestead Trail - this is located on the left-hand side as you're driving Homestead Road. You'll see a parking area for you to leave your car and then it's a 1/2 mile walk to the Valdez River waters where you'll be surrounded by nothing but refreshing air and currents from boats passing by. At the end of the trail, or sort of the pinnacle...it's really an interesting sight to see especially on a sunny day. You feel liberated, or at least I did, lol. - Dock Point Park and Trail - good spot for barbecuing and having lunch/dinner by the waterside. Plus, when walking the trail, it gives you an inside perspective into the cool mountainous backdrop of Valdez. - Walking around the Downtown Harbor - this is a MUST to get a real feel understanding of how this small town of Valdez can leave a lasting impression on your visit and time here. Though the downtown length is not even 1/3 of a mile long...you can still eat at some amazing restaurants and Food Trucks. Plus, the harbor will offer you opportunities to watch completed fishing trips return with their catches where professionals will wash, rinse and filet the fresh catches right in front of your face. If you stop on by, say, starting at 5pm...you should be able to see what it's all about. Tourists, guides and fishermen brag about how they journey out on Prince William Sound, and you get to view their rewards being some monster fish. The Restaurants - I ate at the famous Potato and the Fat Mermaid. I got a cheesesteak at The Potato with fries and a drink. Yeah, it was expensive...$27 with a drink and gratuity. The cheesesteak was fine. The Fat Mermaid I had heard was well known for their pizzas. I got a small 12" pie, and it was very good with a crispy crust. I noticed 3 Food Trucks in town as well... They were Glacier Grind - BBQ, Nat Shack - tacos, Aunty Yum Yum's Thai Food. I never got a chance to eat at any of the food trucks, unfortunately. For buying little knickknack souvenirs, I recommend Captain Joe's Gas Station. Plus, here, they're open 24 hours and include a laundromat, public showers, snacks and drinks. There's a Safeway Grocery Shopping Store for any foods/extras you may need. There's RV Parks for camping/tenting out in nature. A few include...Bear Paw RV Park, Valdez RV Park and Eagles Rest RV Park. Lastly, don't forget to take a photo with the Valdez, Alaska Sign as you're entering town to officially announce that you have arrived! Valdez, Alaska is a rustic and charming, fishing port town that was one of my favorite places to stop along my summer journey through Alaska. Hope others out there put this place on their itineraries.

OK y'all, Valdez is a lot of fun…read more BUT, you'll have to do your own research and make your own fun. This isn't a town like Seward or Homer where you can just show up and have loads of things to do/places to eat/places to sleep. Being that it's a 6 hour car ride from Anchorage, it's a much more sleepy town. But, if you can unlock its secrets, it has a ton to offer: - World-class ice climbing - World-class backcountry skiing - fat biking - kayaking - (for the wealthy) heli-skiing - 2 glaciers to ogle with easy-ish access - waterfalls to ogle (summer) or climb (winter) right next to the road You'll find much more approachable hiking in the Anchorage bowl and on the Kenai peninsula. Valdez doesn't really have the greatest trail system. If you want to get high you'll probably be doing some intense bush-whacking and/or harrowing stream/creek/river crossing. In the winter many restaurants are closed. The ones that are open, close early, plan accordingly!

False advertising! Don't go there if you want to tent camp! Unless of course you want to pitch your…read moretent in a parking lot on the side of the road. Also there are no maps of the campground available and for good reason... The campground is scattered along the roadside like the garbage it is.

Shoreline salmon fishing steps away; awesome views; campfire pits; fresh water available; RVing…read moredoesn't get any better than this.

We absolutely LOVE this place! We live here in Valdez & during the summer season still take our…read morefish to them for packaging & freezing. It's so easy & convenient & the pricing is great! The owners are kind & all the staff have been wonderful to work with.

Great people, great quality of packaging. Love this place & this small town, it's like being taken…read moreback in time.