Port call · USA SHORE EXCURSIONS

The 15 Best Shore Excursions in the USA

82 tours  ·  from $9 a head

Alaskan icefields, Hawaiian lava fields and a New England fall. These 15 American port days are priced, timed and clear about which of them depend on the weather.

Skagway Shore Excursion: Full-Day Tour of the Yukon - Tutshi Lake and the first mountain views
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Skagway Shore Excursion: Full-Day Tour of the Yukon

1.Full-Day Tour of the Yukon

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 799 reviews · 6 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $173Our pick

Ride from your Skagway cruise pier into Canada’s Yukon with a guide such as Connor, Mike, Andrew, or Patrick. Expect a small-group minibus, frequent photo stops, possible wildlife sightings, lunch at Wild Adventure Yukon, a museum, huskies, Carcross, and Emerald Lake. Bring an original passport and any required visa.

“Fantastic trip and the tour guide was phenomenal! Our guide was incredibly personable. He had us laughing while learning all about the area from Skagway to the Yukon. There was a bear at one of the stops along the way and he made sure to keep everyone at a safe distance to enjoy the bear but maintain safety.”

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Juneau Shore Excursion: Helicopter Tour and Guided Icefield Walk - The return flight over Juneau Icefield
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Juneau Shore Excursion: Helicopter Tour and Guided Icefield Walk

2.Helicopter Tour and Guided Icefield Walk

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 536 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $440

Fly from Juneau to Herbert Glacier with Coastal Helicopters, then step onto the ice for a guided walk, glacier water, and wide mountain views. Your pilot handles the commentary and route, with pilots such as Cameron, Cody, Keith, Max, and Markus praised for their calm, friendly approach. The tour lasts about 2.5 hours, weather permitting.

“Everything about the trip was exceptional. Our pilot Cameron was extremely knowledgeable about the entire area in the town and on the glacier. It was about 65° in town and surprisingly mild on top of the glacier, we only needed a light jacket. I would highly recommend this tour to everyone.”

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Skagway Shore Excursion Chilkoot Trail Hike and Float Tour - The Chilkoot Trail begins with a real climb
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Skagway Shore Excursion Chilkoot Trail Hike and Float Tour

3.Skagway Shore Excursion Chilkoot Trail Hike and Float Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 513 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $145

You’ll hike two miles through temperate rainforest, climb roughly 300 feet on steep, uneven ground, then relax on a gentle Taiya River float. Guides such as Dominic, Danny, Rachel, Owen, and Bob add local stories, Gold Rush history, and sharp eyes for mushrooms, berries, eagles, and other wildlife. Port pickup, snacks, gear, and return transport are included.

“beautiful hike through forest …fairly steep path up with stone steps and down . Would of been good to have walking pole Spectacular float down Taiyu river Guide was good at pointing out eagles along river and local trees and plants during hike”

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Skagway Shore Excursion: White Pass Summit and Skagway City Tour - Pitchfork Falls and Bridal Veil Falls provide easy photo stops
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Skagway Shore Excursion: White Pass Summit and Skagway City Tour

4.White Pass Summit and Skagway City Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 417 reviews · from $72

Join Frontier Excursions & Adventures for a 2.5 to 3-hour narrated mini-bus tour from Skagway’s cruise terminal to White Pass Summit. See Pitchfork and Bridal Veil Falls, Tormented Valley, Summit Lake, the Gold Rush Cemetery, and the Welcome to Alaska sign. Guides such as Beverly and Garrett add local stories and practical help.

“Great trip. Well informed guide. Lots of good stories. She made sure we got in the Yukon. Had fog on the way up..”

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Hilo Shore Excursion: Active Volcano, Lava Tube, Waterfall and Gardens - Chain of Craters Road without the long drive
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Hilo Shore Excursion: Active Volcano, Lava Tube, Waterfall and Gardens

5.Active Volcano, Lava Tube, Waterfall and Gardens

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 393 reviews · 5 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $187

Join Mauka Makai Adventures for a 5.5-hour Hilo tour through Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Guides such as Jill, Julie, and Josh share local stories while you see Kilauea, steam vents, Thurston Lava Tube, lava fields, Rainbow Falls, Big Island Candies, and Liliuokalani Gardens. Pickup is available at the Hilo port, select hotels, and airport.

“Jill was fabulous! Told us tales from Hawaiian folklore, facts about everything, and I do mean everything. The volcano was erupting and the most awe inspiring thing I’ve ever seen.”

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Ketchikan Shore Excursion: Rainforest Canopy Ropes and Zipline Adventure Park - From Ketchikan Port to the Forest
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Ketchikan Shore Excursion: Rainforest Canopy Ropes and Zipline Adventure Park

6.Rainforest Canopy Ropes and Zipline Adventure Park

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 390 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $150

Spend about 3.5 hours at Southeast Exposure Outdoor Adventure Center, crossing canopy ropes, bridges, suspended logs, and seven ziplines through tall cedars. Guides such as Eli, Mallory, Frank, Shea, and Cade have led groups with calm safety instruction and local nature facts. Expect rain, physical activity, and a possible climb up the 50-foot tower.

“A superb small group adventure. This is not a production line zipline trip like most I have been on. And you can take your own pics. It was a bit over-challanging for an 84-year-old guy like me, but I did it. Transportation from town was in an 8-passenger van. And we were the only group there. Great zipping with some over water. Best zip-lining I have ever done.”

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Hilo Shore Excursion: Volcano Safari Lava Caves & Black Sand - Kaumana Caves: a short walk into a lava tube
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Hilo Shore Excursion: Volcano Safari Lava Caves & Black Sand

7.Volcano Safari Lava Caves & Black Sand

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 363 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $154

Travel from Hilo port or your hotel in a small group of up to 14. With guides such as Ellen, Troy, Dave, and Lori, you’ll visit Rainbow Falls, Kaumana Caves, Lava Tree State Park, Pohoiki Bay, Pahoa, and Leilani Estates. Expect uneven ground, steep cave steps, changing stops, and a local lunch stop at your own cost.

“Our guide was excellent. Her name was Ellen S. I would highly recommend her as a tour guide. She knew the history of the volcanos and took us to the best places to see the lava. I would recommend this tour.”

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Ketchikan Shore Excursion: Eagle Island Sea Kayaking - Paddling across protected Clover Pass
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Ketchikan Shore Excursion: Eagle Island Sea Kayaking

8.Eagle Island Sea Kayaking

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 359 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $115

You’ll ride from Ketchikan to Clover Pass, learn tandem-kayak basics, and paddle about 90 minutes toward Eagle Island with guides such as Eli, Sarah, Katy, or Gavin. Calm water suits beginners, while seals, eagles, starfish, sea lions, salmon, and occasional whales add a wild Alaska touch. Gear, instruction, and port transport are included.

“We had Eli as our tour guide, he was super nice and very knowledgeable with the History of the area.”

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Kona Shore Excursion: Sea Turtles, Historic Kona & Coffee - At a glance
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Kona Shore Excursion: Sea Turtles, Historic Kona & Coffee

9.Kona Shore Excursion: Sea Turtles, Historic Kona & Coffee

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 324 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $149

Meet your guide at Kailua Pier for a small-group Kona tour covering Greenwell or Bay View Farm, St. Benedict’s Painted Church, a local lunch stop, and Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park. Guides such as BJ, Kelvin, Rusty, Marissa, and Jessica add island history and local context. Turtle sightings are possible but never guaranteed.

“The tour was amazing, learned lots of local history and saw turtles!! Kelvin was an awesome tour guide.”

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Skagway Shore Excursion: Yukon Discovery Tour - Waterfalls, alpine lakes, and White Pass viewpoints
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Skagway Shore Excursion: Yukon Discovery Tour

10.Yukon Discovery Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 256 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $185

This six-hour coach tour takes you from Skagway through White Pass into Canada and the Yukon. You will stop for waterfalls, lakes, mountain views, wildlife, lunch, a petting farm, and a dog-mushing camp. Guides such as Raymond, Clay, Rebecca, and Scott are praised for lively local stories. A sled ride is available as an upgrade.

“Raymond our tour guide was amazing, stopped at all the right places and explained every step of the way. The most amazing views. Highly recommend is you are going to Alaska. 6 hours that went way to quickly”

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Skagway Shore Excursion: Scenic River Float Tour - Wildlife chances on the river
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Skagway Shore Excursion: Scenic River Float Tour

11.Scenic River Float Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 240 reviews · 2 hours 15 minutes to 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $102

Ride from Skagway through the Dyea Valley, then float about 40 minutes down the calm Taiya River in a raft holding up to 11 people. Guides such as Owen, Erin, Danny, and Rachel share local history and point out eagles, seals, and possible bears. The tour suits families, older adults, and anyone seeking a gentle Alaska outing.

“The whole experience was excellent from the beauty of nature to our wonderful, friendly guide. We’d book it again.”

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Boston Shore Excursion: Boston Hop-On Hop-Off Trolley Tour - Starting at Faneuil Hall and the historic center
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Boston Shore Excursion: Boston Hop-On Hop-Off Trolley Tour

12.Boston Shore Excursion: Boston Hop-On Hop-Off Trolley Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 193 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $52Best value

See Boston by narrated trolley across three routes covering Faneuil Hall, the North End, USS Constitution, Beacon Hill, Copley Square, the Seaport, and the cruise terminal. You can ride all day, hop off to explore, and return to the ship on the blue shuttle loop. Guides such as Benny, Timbo, and Crafty are known for lively storytelling.

“The waiting for a shuttle was in average 30 minutes. Often shuttle was already filled to capacity when it arrived. Spent more time waiting for a shuttle than actually touring Boston. Not worth the money.”

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San Diego Shore Excursion: San Diego Seal Tour - Starting at Seaport Village near the cruise ships
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San Diego Shore Excursion: San Diego Seal Tour

13.San Diego Shore Excursion: San Diego Seal Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 180 reviews · 1 hour 45 minutes (approx.) · from $53

Board an amphibious vehicle at Seaport Village for a narrated San Diego tour with about 30 minutes on land and 60 minutes on the bay. You’ll pass military sites, the airport, Maritime Museum, SeaWorld, and Quivira Basin, where sea lions often gather. Guides such as Kim, Dan, and Marlene have added local stories and humor.

“We had a wonderful tour of San Diego, land and sea. For someone with limited time, this and the City Trolley ride makes a complete overview of the town. We had such a good day!”

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City and Mountain Summit Shore Excursion in Skagway - From Skagway’s Gold Rush town to the mountain pass
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City and Mountain Summit Shore Excursion in Skagway

14.City and Mountain Summit Shore Excursion in Skagway

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 158 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $79

Ride from Skagway toward the White Pass Summit with a local driver-guide, stopping for waterfalls, mountain views, glacial valleys, the Gold Rush cemetery, and photo opportunities. Guides such as Chad, Scott, Lewis, and Noah are known for lively stories and helpful photography. The tour lasts about 2.5 hours and may cross into Canada.

“The views were SPECTACULAR! The waterfalls were impressive. A most enjoyable three hours with lots of vistas and interesting information.”

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Helicopter To a Dogsledding Experience - Landing at Herbert Glacier
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Helicopter To a Dogsledding Experience

15.Helicopter To a Dogsledding Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 150 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $727

Fly from Juneau with Coastal Helicopters to a remote Herbert Glacier camp, where a musher and team of Alaskan huskies take you on a real snow dogsled ride. You can stand on the runners or sit in the sled. The tour lasts about three hours, includes transport and gear, and allows no more than 12 passengers.

“This is an experience of a lifetime! Sam was an awesome guide and the helicopter guy was super cool too! I could have spent all day with these dogs! It went by way too fast! I loved getting to know the dogs and their individual personalities. Sam was great at highlighting those quirks that each dog had! Eg: Beebop and Johnny!!”

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