Alaska - Elemental Quests

Alaska is surreal and dreamy. You will enjoy fish-out-of-water moments in its quirky, slow-paced Alaskan towns. Getting to its isolated towns is part of the fun. You can fly into hubs such as Anchorage and Fairbanks. You could drive the rugged Alaska Highway to Denali or navigate the Iditarod Trail by dog sled to Nome. The easy way is to take a luxurious cruise ship from Vancouver through the Inside Passage. The ship sails on calm waters while passing by massive fjords, rugged sea cliffs, and glacial bays. Tucked along its jagged coast, tiny island ports offer rich nature and deep cultural history in one unforgettable stretch.

ADVENTURES

Ziplining in Icy Strait Point

Go ziplining on a 90-second ride at speeds up to 60 mph

MUST SEES: KETCHIKAN

Creek Street

Creek Street is a charming wooden boardwalk on stilts above Ketchikan Creek. Once a red-light district for lumberjacks and fishermen, it’s now an atmospheric stroll along colorful houses. Married Men’s Trail is the discreet exit point.

Salmon Walk

Hundreds of salmon pack into Ketchikan Creek. After years at sea, they fight upstream and wait for a moment to leap up a waterfall. Only 20% reach the spawning grounds, and clever ones slip past the fish ladder. At the top, dead fish rot by the bank.

Totem Heritage Center

This holds the oldest totem poles in Alaska. The Tlingit and Haida carved the poles 200 years ago. The raven and eagle clans united in marriage and dominated the art in the region.

Tongass Historical Museum

The museum has exhibits on local Alaska native culture. It also has exhibits on cedar trees and the logging industry. Read about the terrible man-killer, a deformed grizzly named Old Groaner.

Lumberjack Show

The Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show is at the former site of the Ketchikan Spruce Mill. The Spruce Mill team faces off against the Dawson Creek team. They compete in axe throwing, chainsaw carving, logrolling, and woodchopping.

Seaplanes

Dozens of seaplanes fly above the Ketchikan Harbor Seaplane Base. A couple daring pilots buzz the cruise ships. Bush pilots provide lifelines to remote areas in the Alaskan wilderness. You can also tour the Misty Fjords in a floatplane.

MUST SEES: JUNEAU

Juneau is located on the mainland side of the Gastineau Channel across from Douglas Island. It is a gold rush town that pivoted to the fur trade and finally to tourism. The colorful buildings are sort of frozen in time and resemble the wooden buildings shown in old western films.

Mendenhall Glacier

Catch a cab from Juneau and drive 13 miles to the Mendenhall Glacier. The receding glacier frequently causes flash flooding, which may prevent visitation.

Tracy’s

Tracy’s King Crab Shack has the best king crab legs in Alaska. Skip the long lines at the main shack by the waterfront. Take a 15-minute walk to shack 2 at the northeastern corner of the harbor.

State Capitol

Take a self-guided tour during regular business hours. Wander through the halls and examine the seats of power and offices. There are fascinating paintings illustrating life in Alaska.

Main Street Plaza

Below the Alaska State Capitol, there are two bronze statues. The “Windfall Fisherman” is an Alaskan brown bear holding a salmon. William H. Seward stands on a block of marble, commemorating the purchase of Alaska from Russia for 2¢ an acre.

MUST SEES: ICY STRAIT POINT

In Tlingit, Hoonah means “Where the north wind doesn’t blow.” The winds in Southeast Alaska typically flow fiercely throughout the region. Hoonah’s position in Icy Strait and the surrounding mountains block direct heavy winds.

Hoonah

Hoonah is the largest Tlingit village in Alaska. The Tlingit have lived in the place “where the north wind doesn’t blow” for thousands of years. From the orca statue, the boardwalk leads to the waterfront, cannery, and Crab House restaurant.

Waterfront

Hoonah’s scenic waterfront on Chichagof Island includes the boat harbor, fishing docks, and dining. At the pebble beach below the boardwalk, you can skip stones in the tranquil water.

Gondolas

The green Transporter gondola climbs from Wilderness Landing to Hoonah for free. For $50, the red Sky Peak gondola rises steep Hoonah Mountain to a scenic overlook. For the ZipRider, the red gondola is included to reach the launch tower.

Nature Trail

Hike the half mile nature trail from Wilderness Landing to Hoonah. Walk among tall Sitka spruce, western hemlock, yellow cedar, and brown bears of Tongass National Forest. Along the way, there’s a viewpoint of an eagle’s nest.

ZipRider

The ZipRider is the world’s largest zipline. You will fly 5,495 feet down the mountain over the Alaskan coastal rainforest. In a seated harness, you will reach speeds up to 60 mph on the thrilling 90-second ride down to sea level.

MUST SEES: HUBBARD GLACIER

Hubbard Glacier

North America’s largest tidewater glacier at 76 miles surges into Russell Fjord. Where Yakutat Bay meets Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, you first glimpse its mass. Sail past Disenchantment Bay’s icebergs to Haenke Island for the best views.

Mt. St. Elias

Was’eitushaa is the mountain behind Icy Bay with a pyramidal peak, which resembles the Matterhorn. The second highest peak in the US ascends 18,008 feet at the edge of the Gulf of Alaska. Look for it when you enter Yakutat Bay.

Mt. Fairweather

At 15,266 feet, Tsalxaan is the seventh tallest mountain in Alaska. It is within Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve in the Saint Elias Mountains. Captain James Cook named the peak in 1778 after a spell of good weather.

WILDLIFE

Bald Eagles

Alaska is home to the largest bald eagle population in the US, supporting 30,000 birds. Bald eagles feed mainly on fish, swooping down and snatching the water with talons. The national bird perches in tall trees with a clear view to scan for food.

Salmon

How do you remember Alaska’s 5 salmon species? Thumb rhymes with Chum. The poking finger pokes you in the eye: Sockeye. Your biggest finger is the King. Wear your Silver on your ring. Pink is for pinky. At Ketchikan, see the salmon run.

Whales

In Alaska’s icy waters, spot humpback, orca, minke, or gray whales. You have an almost 100% chance of seeing whales in June in Juneau’s channels. Pods use bubble-net feeding to trap schools in a ring of bubbles and lunge through the center.

CRUISE SHIP

Solstice

Celebrity Solstice combines elegant staterooms with a modern top-deck space hosting games and live music. Dining is a diverse mix of high-end restaurants. Downtime includes an open-air running track, card room, and game lounge.

FOOD

King Crab

Red king crab is the most prized crab species with a sweet flavor and dense luxurious texture. The biggest leg segment has the sweetest and firmest meat. The smaller leg segment is more tender and even juicier. The body has a big bundle of flaky flesh. It also has a shockingly high price.

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