Things to do / Travel Guide
Whale Watching
There is nothing in the world that can describe the feeling of sidling up next to a pod of magnificent humpback whales as they make their way up the coast of the Alaska Panhandle. Sit in luxury and comfort as your captain expertly steers the boat safely within view of these awesome mammals. Additionally, these waters are not exclusive to the humpback, so be prepared to see many other sea animals along the way, such as Orca (killer whales), sea otters, sea lions, and dolphins.
Scenic Train Ride
White Pass & Yukon Railroad offers visitors an excellent way to take in the awesome scenery around Skagway. The two- to three-hour-long train ride offers gorgeous panoramic views of the entire area. While the ride is expensive, costing upwards of $100 per person, a great advantage of this activity is that the fully-narrated train excursions depart and return right alongside the docking port for cruise ships.
Mendenhall Glacier
Just a short drive away from the state capital, Juneau, across a lake full of small icebergs, an enormous ice field flows down the valley. Welcome to the Mendenhall Glacier, named for Thomas Corwin Mendenhall (1841-1924), who was the Superintendent of the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey from 1889 to 1894. Just 13 miles from downtown Juneau, visitors will love this prime example of glacial geology; a worthwhile stop during your Alaska Panhandle trip to be sure.
The visitor's center was built in 1962, and has been renovated and enlarged to include an exhibit gallery and theater. Visitors can choose between a ramp, stairs, or an elevator to reach the visitor center's entrance. Once there, you will enter the exhibit through a simulated ice cave. To your right is the “Recipe for a Glacier” exhibit, and after that you will see a video monitor which presents animated views of Mendenhall Glacier advancing and receding, with a time-line enhancement. Virtually all the exhibits here assist in explaining how the Mendenhall Glacier creates and affects the valley's ecosystem. You'll never look at ice in quite the same way again after seeing this giant cube!
Fun Attractions in Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka, Skagway, and the Alaska Panhandle
Cool-Things-to-Do
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