Catching a glimpse of a bear can be thrilling. Watching a whole bunch of bears fishing, fighting, and, um, frolicking? Even better. That’s reason enough (though there are loads more) to head to Wrangell, a town that’s not on most cruise-ship itineraries. Fly in or ferry there, then sign on for a guided day trip out to Anan Creek. After a boat ride 30 miles southeast of Wrangell, you’ll do a small scramble from the boat up some (at times) slippery rocks and pop onto a mile-long boardwalk trail. Your guide, who will have given you the 411 on all the bear safety info you can handle, will cry “Hey, bear” while keeping watch for bears coming down through the old-growth forest or walking toward you on the trail. Then you’ll have several hours on the bear-viewing platform, watching both brown and black bears do all the things bears do. It will—guaranteed—be one of your best days ever. Oh, bring your raincoat. Definitely.
