Amazing adventure with bear, eagles and fish (oh my!) and Natalie was great!!
Because it was just us four, Natalie gave us a real authentic Alaskan, up close and personal, wildlife experience (i.e. not driving around in a tour van crammed in like sardines with 20 other people fighting to look out the window). Her truck even had a bench seat and seatbelts in the bed so we got to ride in the back and had the best views! She picked us up and within a mile or two outside of town we saw two bears like 50 yards away. We even had a front row seat to a little "in the jungle" action between momma and papa bear. We didn't have the best camera phones, so the pics of the bears are not great and we didn't get any pics (only video) when they were a lot closer to us.
Natalie also took us to a very secluded part of the river way back in the mountain to fish. In order to get to the river, we had to walk a little ways through the woods to the water (very easy hike). As soon as we get out of the truck we see fresh bear tracks! The fishing was really good and the scenery was gorgeous. About every 3-5 casts we caught fish (then released them). Since the salmon run had not yet started, we caught Dolly Varden, Cutthroat and Steelheads.
We booked the trip independently, not through the cruise line. The cruise line scares you into thinking the ship may leave you if you don't book through them. We never had that fear and Natalie confirmed that in the 11 years she has been doing this, not her or any other independent tour guide has ever not gotten someone back to the ship. They all carry satellite radios, so that, if something were to happen, they can radio a fellow tour guide to come get the guests and take them to the ship.