Alaska’s rugged, vast natural habitat begs to be explored, a fact that’s perhaps most evident in the state’s southwestern region. Expanding from the Gulf Alaska westward toward Asia by way of the Aleutian Islands, this corner of the largest U.S. state features contrasting sceneries that range from snow-capped mountain ranges and quaint seaside villages to windswept tundra and barren volcanic landscapes. As one of the richest salmon areas in the world, southwest Alaska draws record numbers of wildlife species, as well as travelers eager to unlock all its natural treasures.
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Anchorage
Alaska's largest city is a vibrant, eclectic metropolis with modern luxuries, natural wonders and a frontier spirit. The diversity of the city's residents means a there are always a multitude of arts and cultural activities, dining options and events. Summer brings sunny days – and sunny nights – and mild temperatures. Many travelers sailing on a cruise from Seward fly into Anchorage and travel to the cruise ship in Seward by car, train or bus. Consider spending extra time in Anchorage pre- or post-cruise to take advantage of the all the city has to offer.
British Columbia Coast
The unspoiled waters, miles of rustic coastline and numerous species of land and marine wildlife along the British Columbia Coast make for picture-perfect scenery at every curve. This is a common route that cruise ships take while sailing to and from Alaska.
College Fjord
Many cruise ships sail through College Fjord, an inlet enclosed by more than ten glaciers. From the cruise ship, passengers will see where the glaciers meet the sea and maybe even spot sea lions resting on the ice floating in the water. Choosing a balcony stateroom will allow you to take in these breathtaking sights from the comfort of your own room.
Cordova
Cordova is a hidden gem in the midst of lofty peaks located on eastern Prince William Sound. The Copper River Delta, home to millions of migratory waterfowl during spring migration, and the Copper River's prized king salmon put Cordova on the map. Visitors to Cordova can take a sightseeing cruise to Child’s Glacier or hike through the Chugach Forest.
Dutch Harbor
The historic town of Dutch Harbor sits on a tiny island in the middle of Unalaska Bay. The spectacular bay cuts deep into mountainous Unalaska Island, part of the Aleutian chain. Dutch Harbor is rich in both ancient and WWII history. Visitors can learn about one of the oldest Native American cultures in the Aleutian Islands who first inhabited the area more than 6,000 years ago. Sample fresh fish caught by local fisherman or wild berries that grow freely in the area.
Elfin Cove
Elfin Cove is a village that provides stunning scenery, wildlife and year-round fishing. Alaska's world-class sport fishing paradise comes alive in the summer when fishermen fill the lodges of the 20-resident town. Aside from fishing, visitors can kayak, hike and enjoy the scenery and wildlife. Elfin Cove is only a short boat ride away from Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve.
Esther Passage
Visit Esther Passage on a glacier cruise through Prince Williams Sound. This amazingly narrow channel is just off of College Fjord and only accessible by smaller ships.
Frederick Sound
This busy marine passage in southeastern Alaska provides travelers with an abundance of fishing opportunities. Frederick Sound is the summer feeding ground for many humpback whales, making it one of the best places in the world to spot these majestic marine mammals. Orca, sea lions, porpoise and birds are also often seen in the area.
Glacier Bay
Glacier Bay provides travelers with the perfect day of cruising quietly through the best of Alaska. Visitors should have their camera ready to capture the moment giant pinnacles of ice crack off the face of the glaciers.
Haines
This historic town is set on a peninsula along the deep blue waters of the Lynn Canal. In town, visit the Chilkat Center to experience Tlingit Indian heritage preserved through art and dance and the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve to spot Alaska’s most famous feathered resident.
Homer
Homer, the cultural capital of south-central Alaska, offers a wide range of restaurants and art galleries in its commercial district as well as sweeping views of white-peaked mountains and glaciers set against a deep blue bay.
Hubbard Glacier
The longest river of ice in North America, the Hubbard Glacier is also one of the most active glaciers of its kind in Alaska. Traveling by ship gives the best view of this massive natural wonder. The glacier has vibrant blue coloring throughout and is 70 miles long and more than 6 miles wide. Listen as sheets of ice separate themselves from the glacier, known as “galloping,” and crash into the sea with a loud crack that echoes for miles.
Hyder
Hyder, the “Friendliest Ghost Town in Alaska,” is a prime place to see bears in their natural habitat. At the Fish Creek Observation, watch as brown and black bears feed on salmon swimming upstream.
Icy Strait Point
Icy Strait Point offers something for every traveler. Extreme adventurers can explore the beautiful wilderness by going mountain biking, ocean kayaking, alpine hiking or deep-sea fishing. Those seeking a more relaxed adventure can watch a Native dance performance, learn about the town’s historic cannery at the museum or shop for arts and crafts.
Inside Passage
The Inside Passage is a coastal route for vessels that weaves through islands on the Pacific coast of Alaska. This route offers stunning sights such as green islands, majestic mountains and sparkling glaciers such as the famous Hubbard Glacier.
Juneau
Juneau, Alaska’s remote capital, sits in the state’s panhandle, at the base of 3,819-ft. Mount Roberts. It’s a popular cruise-ship stop, reachable only by boat or seaplane. A tram carries visitors 1,800 feet up Mount Roberts to an alpine area with hiking trails, wildflowers and views of Gastineau Channel.
Katmai National Park
Katmai National Park and Preserve is best known for its 2,000 brown bears. Summer visitors are able to watch bears catch and snag salmon mid-air. Katmai is also home to pristine waterways with abundant fish, a vast wilderness and a rugged coastline. Visitors also have the opportunity to raft, hike the Valley of 10,000 Smokes and kayak in the chain of lakes and rivers known as the Savonski Loop.
Kenai Fjords
The Kenai Fjords is a glacial paradise that houses stunning scenery, unbelievable wildlife and aquatic journeys. The fjords are long, steep-sided, glacier-carved valleys that are now filled with ocean waters. The Harding Icefield, a mountain landscape elevated over one mile high, rises above this dramatic coastline.
Ketchikan
Ketchikan was originally founded as a Native American fishery before growing during the 1898 Gold Rush to the Klondike. Much of the town's colorful past is still evident, both in the city center and especially in the nearby Native American villages, where visitors will be enchanted by colorfully carved totem poles and the fascinating legends that surround them.
Kodiak
Kodiak, Alaska’s largest island, is also known for its outstanding fishing, with access to all five species of salmon along with cod, trout, halibut and rockfish. Kodiak’s most popular attraction is Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge, a 2,812 mile refuge that covers two-thirds of the island and is home to 3,500 bears. The island’s mountainous terrain is also home to foxes, otters and eagles.
LeConte Bay
LeConte Glacier Bay is a 12 mile-long fjord carved out of the coastal mountain range by glaciers over the course of thousands of years. Traveling by boat makes it possible for visitors to get a close-up look at awe-inspiring icebergs, wildlife and the colossal size of the glacier itself.
Lynn Canal
Lynn Canal offers stunning views of glaciers clinging to the mountains. Lynn Canal is home to many species of wildlife, so visitors may catch a glimpse of playful sea lions or humpback whales as they cruise through the scenic waterway.
Metlakatla
Metlakatla is located in the Inside Passage and is home to the Tsimshian people who have been living on the island since 1887. A short distance away from Ketchikan and right across the border from Canada, this small community represents a unique example of how ancient rituals can be interwoven with modern life and the values of the west. Travelers looking to explore the Tsimshian way of life will be rewarded with cultural hands-on experiences, including live song and dance performances in full regalia.
Misty Fjords
Sail past mammoth cliffs that rise out of the water and be awed by the sheer scenic beauty. Those who visit Misty Fjords feel closer than ever before to the untouched serenity of the natural world as they are surrounded by blue glacial lakes, tall waterfalls, and snowcapped peaks. Keep a watchful eye out for bald eagles soaring overhead, black and brown bears foraging along the shore, Dall porpoises riding the bow wave of the ship and harbor seals sunning themselves along the rocky ledges.
Nome
Nome is the finish line for the 1,049-mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. Around town are artifacts from the gold rush, including turn-of-the-century steam engines, old mining claims and railroad tracks. Easily spot herds of musk oxen and reindeer grazing on the abundant wild flowers and tundra plants. The area is also home to bears, moose, fox, beaver, wolves, wolverine, lemmings, voles and shrews.
Petersburg
Founded by a Norwegian immigrant, Petersburg is fishing town with a Scandinavian feel, holding much of the Old World charm and character of a small European town. Enjoy a performance of time-honored Norwegian dances along with homemade food at the Sons of Norway Hall or explore the rainforest that surrounds the town. Outside of town, find remnants of old Tlingit fish traps and ancient petroglyphs.
Pribilof Islands
Pribilof Islands consist of five islands, two of which are inhabited: St. George and St. Paul. During the summer, the area sights more than 2.5 million seabirds of more than 230 species, making it home to the largest seabird population in the Northern Hemisphere. The islands also play host to the largest gathering of marine mammals in the world, including more than one million fur seals. Other wildlife include songbirds, snowy owls and blue foxes, as well as a resident reindeer herd is located on St. Paul. These islands give travelers the perfect opportunity to spot a diverse group of beautiful creatures in their natural habitat.
Prince Rupert
Located on Kaien Island in British Columbia's far north, Prince Rupert is both a commercial center and a traditional fishing village. In fact, many of the city's restaurants, shops and galleries are housed in the pioneer buildings of its early days. Beyond the city limits, rugged coasts, sandy beaches, rain forests and mountains collide to form some of the most dynamic landscapes in the Northwest.
Prince William Sound
Millions of years of glaciation created Prince William Sound, 10,000 square miles of protected deep coastal waterway consisting of tributaries, fjords, passageways, islands and rocky shores. The 3,000 mile coastline has all the ingredients for creating unforgettable Alaskan memories. More than 20 glaciers can be found in Prince William Sound, including Columbia Glacier, the largest tidewater glacier in South Central Alaska and the fastest moving glacier in the world.
San Juan Islands
The island averages only about half as much yearly rainfall as Seattle and sees sunshine about 247 days out of the year, far more than the rest of the Pacific Northwest. San Juan Island is an enchanting place where gentle breezes push the smell of sea air across fields of lavender, orca whales splash through sparkling seas and majestic bald eagles soar through unparalleled sunsets.
Sawyer Glacier
Seward, a common port for many Alaskan cruise itineraries to embark and disembark, is not only one of Alaska's oldest and most scenic communities. Seward’s downtown district is filled with quaint shops and art galleries and some of the most exciting outdoor adventures imaginable are right around the corner.
Seward
Seward, a common port for many Alaskan cruise itineraries to embark and disembark, is not only one of Alaska’s oldest and most scenic communities. Seward’s downtown district is filled with quaint shops and art galleries and some of the most exciting outdoor adventures imaginable are right around the corner.
Shumagin Islands
The Shumagin Islands are a group of 20 islands south of the mainland of Alaska. The waters are filled with a wealth of fish and marine mammals. The largest Islands are the Unga Island, Popof Island and Nagai Island. Sand Point is the port location and is popular with outdoor adventurers because of its beautiful views. Travelers can even catch a glimpse of the majestic herd of buffalo that freely roam in the protected valleys throughout the island.
Sitka
Sitka has perhaps the richest history of any Alaskan town. Explore the blend of Russian and Native American cultures while enjoying the unspoiled landscape at the gateway to remote Southeast Alaska. Both the local residents and abundant wildlife add to Sitka's authentic feel.
Skagway
With its colorful history Skagway is one of the most interesting and bustling towns of the Inside Passage. Skagway was born during the Gold Rush of 1898 when more than 10,000 adventurers used the community as the starting point of their hunt for gold. Now, nature has reclaimed the land, offering visitors the opportunity to explore the rainforest, visit historic ruins, breathe in the fresh mountain air.
Strait of Georgia
Located between the Vancouver Island and the British Columbia mainland, the Strait of Georgia is home to more than 1000 species of marine life, including killer whales, salmon and sea lions.
Tracy Arm
Nestled between 3,000-foot high sheer granite cliffs, the narrow, twisting slice of ocean called Tracy Arm Fjord weaves through the Tongass National Forest for roughly 35 miles. The shoreline is spotted with waterfalls created by melting snowcaps and trees sprouting at odd angles from rocky outcroppings. Travelers cruising through Tracy Arm should take time to admire the landscape and keep an eye out of animals.
Valdez
The outdoor wonderland of Valdez, called the "Switzerland of Alaska" is rimmed by some of the world’s tallest coastal mountains. This picturesque setting is a prime destination for travelers, located on a wedge of flat land on the shore of Port Valdez, a deep-water fjord. There are glaciers aplenty, a dazzling mountain backdrop, infinite marine wildlife and opportunities for outdoor experiences.
Vancouver
Most of Canada's imports from and exports to the Orient and Australia pass through Vancouver, Canada's gateway to the Pacific. From the harbor entrance, spot the Lion's Gate, made up of twin mountain peaks closely resembling crouching lions. Visitors enjoy discovering this cosmopolitan city, from the shops of Robson Street to historic Gastown.
Ventura
Fuerteventura will calm any traveler. The miles and miles of golden sands in Janda, the clear blue sea, the cloudless open horizons only broken by the occasional palm-tree or broom bush around a tiny hamlet: everything is designed to relax the soul. Stroll along the beach through the golden sand, watch as the calm blue sea reflects sunshine and enjoy the magnificent seafood delicacies of the island.
Victoria
Located on the southern tip on the island of Vancouver in British Columbia, the city of Victoria is probably best known for its mild climate and active outdoor lifestyle. In fact, the city has been named the "fittest city" in Canada more than once. Among the many attractions are world-famous gardens, its 150 years of British history, gourmet dining and fantastic shopping.
Whittier
Whittier is nestled at the base of mountains that line Passage Canal, a fjord that extends into Prince William Sound. The surrounding peaks are snowcapped for most of the year and a glacier hangs above the town to the west. Whittier is a berry picker's paradise with blueberries and salmonberries growing in abundance at the edge of town.
Wrangell
Wrangell is one of the oldest towns in Alaska and the only place in Alaska to have been ruled by the Russians, British and Americans. Prehistoric rock carvings or petroglyphs, dating as early as 8,000 years ago, have been found here. All this and more makes Wrangell a great place to get lost in Alaskan history.
Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge
The Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge is a striking tundra environment, consisting of a broad, flat delta stitched through with rivers and streams and dotted with countless lakes and ponds. The refuge's fresh and marine waters are home to more than 44 species and the drier upland habitats boast populations of both brown and black bears, caribou, moose and wolves. Along the coast of the refuge, the waters of the Bering Sea host a variety of marine mammals, including harbor, ribbon and bearded seals and walrus.
