Alaska Railroad has figured out a way to include wild life in its attraction in a way that serves both the interests of the animals and the tourists that have come to see them.

A new day trip aboard the Glacier Discovery Train goes to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center (AWCC), a rehabilitation center for orphaned and injured animals.

From horse drawn carriages in New York, elephant riding in Thailand to swimming with dolphin facilities around the world, the role of captive animals in tourism is under siege. The new Alaska Railroad program gives visitors a chance to contribute to helping restore wounded animals to the wild.

 Along the way they experience some of the dramatic beauty of the Alaskan wild. The train departs from the Historic Anchorage Downtown Depot daily at 9:45 a.m. through Sept. 14. The train rides alongside the along the Turnagain Arm, an inlet that borders on the Kenai Peninsula. The Turnagain Arm is known for tides that turn direction.

From there, a shuttle carries passengers to the Center where they will be able to see moose, caribou, elk, brown bear, black bear, wood bison, arctic fox, lynx and musk oxen. The package also gives passengers a chance to experience the Center’s newly completed Bear Education Awareness Research Sanctuary, an up-close look at bear habitats.

After a lunch, which is included in the $160 price ($110 for children two to 11), guests re-board the train and continue on to Spencer Glacier and Grandview before heading back to Anchorage. At 5:30 p.m., the train will pull back into Portage Station, and guests can choose to board a motor coach and return to Anchorage at 6:45 p.m., or continue by train on to Whittier and return to Anchorage at 9:45 p.m.

Daytrips have become increasingly popular products for Alaska Railroad, especially as features in independent itineraries. The company’s website offers several daytrip possibilities as well as a full line up of Vacation packages ranging in length between two and 10 days. The railroad also customizes packages. Altogether it carries about 400,000 passengers a year as well as cargo to points scattered around America’s last true wilderness state. 

The company trade website features a 36-minute webinar on how agents can better sell the product.