Things to do / Travel Guide
Most visitors will be touring the Alaska Panhandle based out of a cruise ship. Major cruise lines traversing the Inner Passage from south to north will stop at, in order, Ketchican, Juneau, and Skagway. Smaller ships may dock in the smaller ports like Haines, Sitka, Wrangell, Petersburg, or Yakutat, which brings an especially authentic flavor to visitors. Overcrowding isn't an issue as the larger ships dock here, affording visitors a much more intimate look at these well-preserved Alaskan towns.
Juneau
Juneau is the capital of Alaska and has the third-largest population of any city in the state. The city may surprise you with its unique composition of both sophistication and raw, natural beauty. Located in the heart of the Tongass National Forest, the city has done a splendid job of keeping close to its historical and cultural roots, which can clearly be seen in its excellent local museums. The area's natural beauty also calls to visitors who can enjoy hiking miles of great trails that pass through tidal beaches, rainforests, and can even ascend mountains capped with postcard-like alpine meadows. Juneau's central location affords visitors easy access to Glacier Bay National Park, the Taku River, Admiralty Island, Pack Creek Bear Preserve, and Tracy Arm Fjord.
Ketchikan
Ketchikan is the southernmost major city in Alaska, a little over 220 miles southeast of Juneau. The waterfront buildings found here watch over the Tongass Narrows, the main waterway through which all cruise ships enter the city's port, are supported by a network of pilings, and are joined together by a great boardwalk.
Skagway
More than a century ago, Skagway was the first stop for those prospectors coming from the sea routes on the way to the rich Klondike gold fields in the Yukon. Today, visitors will see the gold-mining town in much the same way, nestled between picturesque mountains, at the head of the Chilkoot Trail, due south of Juneau. Great access to plenty of activities like hiking, camping, and kayaking makes Skagway a worthwhile stop for visitors to the Alaska Panhandle.
Haines
This picturesque and quaint port town is a veritable looking-glass back into the frontier days of the Alaska Panhandle of the 1870s. Brightly-colored buildings line the port area and beckon the visitor to explore. With surprisingly-good summer weather, Haines offers visitors great outdoor activities like camping, hiking, and fishing. There are also some interesting museums and historical locations to keep you busy.
Sitka
Sitka is the first major town south of Juneau, and was the capital of Russian Alaska until the U.S. took over in 1867. Sitka is located on the mountainous Baranof Island, and is surrounded by a host of small forested islands. In the distance to the west is the dormant Mt. Edgecumbe - a dead ringer for Japan's Mt. Fuji. Ancient Sitka was home to the Tlingit natives, and is still the center of their culture. Sitka is the largest city in area in the United States - larger than the entire state of Delaware - with just about 9,000 people residing in its almost-3,000 square miles.
Inside Passage
Dotted with glaciers and forested with beautiful hemlock and spruce trees, the region's Inside Passage is known for pristine water, snow-topped mountains, spectacular fjords, and richly-forested islands. Most of this area is covered by the Tongass National Forest, a giant 17 million-acre rainforest. Other parts include Glacier Bay National Park and Misty Fiords National Monument, near Ketchikan. Additionally, smaller boats are able to explore more remote areas such as Angoon, Hoonah, Pelican, Kake, Tenakee Springs, and Metlakatla.
Places to Visit in Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka, Skagway, and the Alaska Panhandle
Places-to-Visit
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