I'm assuming you guys going sometime in the summer? You will need to get access to a car or truck.
For both bears and whales, the Kenai Peninsula is your answer.
Hope you like a little hiking. I've hiked to the Russian River Falls and have seen a few bears at the falls. The falls are considered a "poor man's Brooks Falls" as far as bear viewing goes.
http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm...sianriverfalls
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTg584D707o
For whales, your best bet is a whale watching day cruise. I've seen humpbacks out of Seward and while halibut fishing out of Homer.
http://www.kenaifjords.com/day-cruises/
I've been on Kenai Fjord's day cruise: National Park Tour with Fox Island. We saw a few whales, visited the Aialik Glacier, ate dinner at Fox island.
Good luck.