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| Courtesy Nathan Bipes |
Visiting Southeast Alaska is a treat even for those Alaskans who live in other parts of the state. This portion of the state enjoys a temperate rainforest climate and offers a cross-section of outdoor activities within just a few square miles. This is the type of place where you can be on a glacier one minute and a fast-flowing river the next. You can go sea kayaking one day, and backpacking the next. It’s no wonder so many visitors choose Southeast as their destination of choice when visiting the state. It’s a condensed version of the whole of Alaska, yet manageable for those with only a certain amount of time to visit.
The state’s capital city is a good starting point for any Southeast vacation. The Juneau Convention and Visitors Bureau touts Alaska’s scenic capital city as a convenient hub for the Inside Passage, just a quick two-hour flight from Seattle. Accessible glaciers, stunning scenery, abundant wildlife, Alaska Native culture and historical charm are yours in Juneau, most within 15 minutes of your hotel. (888-586-2201)
Lodging in Juneau ranges from rustic to luxurious. In the downtown area, close to waterfront activities, shopping and restaurants is the Goldbelt Hotel. The 106 guestrooms feature magnificent water and mountain views, luxury suites, and hospitality and meeting rooms. The complimentary airport shuttle, free parking and free wireless Internet is available for all travelers. They offer seasonal discounts and group rates plus Alaska Airline miles may be available. (888-478-6909)
The Westmark Baranof Juneau is a historic hotel located in the midst of major attractions, two blocks from the State Capitol, the State Office buildings and the waterfront. The hotel features 195 rooms and suites; most with a view of Gastineau Channel or famous Mount Juneau. Recent renovations include a new fitness center, fine dining in the Gold Room, Bubble Room Lounge, room service and free wireless. (800-544-0970)
For lodging, the Juneau Airport Travelodge is both convenient and comfortable. Catch some sleep at the 100-percent nonsmoking Travelodge Hotel, Mi Casa Restaurant and Travelodge Lounge. The hotel is located across from the Juneau International Airport in the Mendenhall Valley. There is 24-hour airport and ferry terminal shuttle service, indoor heated pool, wireless Internet, in-room safes, microwave and refrigerators and fish freezer. (907-789-9700)
For those who want to be pampered, Pearson’s Pond Luxury Inn and Adventure Spa offers unparalleled beauty, quality, service and hospitality at Alaska’s most celebrated and only Diamond and Select Registry lodging experience. Their casual ambiance, luxurious accommodations, award-winning gardens and pristine rain forest setting make this the perfect central location for your Alaska adventure vacation, wedding, special occasion, or business trip. (888-658-6328)
Or combine your lodging with adventure. Southeast Charters’ Captain Bob and his crew make you feel comfortable and secure in the pristine Alaskan wilderness. Travel with them through the remote Inside Passage in style and luxury with three private cabins, each with full bath, and fresh caught seafood prepared by their skilled executive chef. (877-600-6780)
Juneau has more miles of hiking trails—130 miles, according to the Juneau Convention and Visitors Bureau—than roads. Experience the ultimate Alaskan adventure with NorthStar Trekking. Discover the diverse landscape of Southeast Alaska as your helicopter flies over the temperate rainforest, granite peaks, and glaciers. Upon landing on the glacier your guide will instruct you on basic glacier travel. No experience is necessary. (907-790-4530)
With 50 years experience in Alaska skies, TEMSCO Helicopters offers a variety of glacier adventures. Whether you choose a glacier landing, a walk on the famous Mendenhall Glacier or a glacier dog-sled tour, you will soar over spectacular mountain peaks and deep blue glacial crevasses for an awe-inspiring experience of a lifetime. (877-789-9501)
The stunning views aboard the Mount Roberts Tramway shouldn’t be missed in Juneau. The tramway climbs 27 to 2,000 feet, taking you to a pristine alpine environment in just six minutes. At the top you will find trails, an observatory, nature center, restaurant, bar, theater and two gift shops. (888-461-8726, www.goldbelttours.com/mount-roberts-tramway)
For those who prefer to have a retail adventure, explore the many unique and interesting shops in the downtown Juneau area.
Jineit is run by a Native nonprofit in the Sealaska building, offering silver and copper jewelry as well as wood carving, drums, masks, clothing, travel mugs that all feature Native artwork and totemic designs. Proceeds help fund cultural programs. (907-463-4844)
Glacier Smoothie Soap was voted “Best Gift Shop in Juneau” in the 2010 Readers Choice Awards (The Juneau Empire). Visit the “little cabin bursting with Alaskan goodness” on the waterside between Tram and Red Dog (next to library). Open May-September, Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (888-456-8325)
Deemed “Juneau’s Best Bookstore” by the Lonely Planet Guide, Hearthside Books and Toys has been serving Juneau for more than 35 years with the largest selection of Alaska and general books in Juneau. Also find maps, fine cards, quality toys, games and gift items. Mail orders welcome. By the airport in the Nugget Mall and downtown by the clock. (866-789-2750)
Alaskan Brewing Company crafts some of the country’s best beers in one of the most beautiful settings on earth. Find Alaskan beers throughout the Western States and Alaska. While in Juneau enjoy a tasting at the brewery, visit our store downtown, The Alaskan Brewing Depot, or shop online. (907-780-5866)
Forty-thousand gold seekers passed through Skagway. Today, visitors to Skagway can retrace the steps of the Klondike Gold Rush miners by climbing the Chilkoot Trail, a steep two- to six-day walk, depending upon your stamina, with shelters along the way. For details on planning a trek and getting the necessary permits, call 1-907-983-2921.
Relive the rich gold rush history with a tour on the White Pass & Yukon Route—aka the “Scenic Railway of the World.” Built in 1898 during the Klondike Gold Rush, this narrow gauge railroad is an International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark traveling through breathtaking mountains, glaciers, gorges, waterfalls, tunnels, trestles and historic sites. Also visit the White Pass & Yukon Route Train Shoppe, for clothing, gift items, authentic railroad merchandise and model trains. (800-343-7373)
M & M Tour Sales Inc. in Skagway is a good place to save money by booking tours for your Southeast Alaska cruises—including Juneau, Ketchikan and Skagway—with multiport discount combination packages. Book your tour with a real Alaskan living in Alaska. All tours are guaranteed. (866-983-3900)
If overnighting in Skagway, check out the Westmark Skagway. A downtown hotel with 151 rooms adjacent to the Klondike Gold Rush National Park and located within the Historic District of Skagway. The hotel features two restaurants including the popular Bonanza Bar & Grill, meeting room, coin-laundry, and Avis Car Rental desk, and is located near local stores and attractions. (800-544-0970)
Dejon Delights is a family owned business with shops in Skagway and Haines, another must-stop on your Southeast itinerary. They produce the finest, handcrafted smoked salmon, halibut and black cod from local, wild Alaskan fish, as well as fresh fish and quality Alaskan-made gifts from family run businesses, including birch sap and wood products, syrups, jams, mustards, game meats and pet treats. Shipping year-round since 1984. (800-539-3608, 907-766-2505)
From Skagway, drive or take a short ferry ride across the bay to beautiful Haines, a town known for its friendliness, beautiful summers and impressive population of eagles. Haines has a bit of a drier climate, receiving less rainfall than its neighbors but the same warmer temperatures that Alaskans come to appreciate after a long winter. The Haines Convention & Visitors Bureau and Visitor Center provides area information to help travelers make the most of their adventures and where they can learn all about what there is to see and do in this real Alaska town. (800-458-3579)
Haines is home to the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve, 48,000 acres of protected land that is home to 250 pairs of resident eagles, and reaches an impressive 4,000 bald eagles from November to March. But don’t overlook Haines’ other offerings—from kayaking to cycling to whale watching and fishing.
Chilkat Guides specializes in eco-adventure tours. With daily rafting trips through the Alaska Bald Eagle Reserve, hiking trips on the Chilkoot Trail and canoeing trips at the Davidson Glacier, their primary focus is to make guided tours into the wild fun and enjoyable. (907-766-2491)
Alaska Rod’s proudly offers a wide variety of Native and local arts and crafts. Shop for handcrafted knives, medicinal salves made from local plants, Native carvings, arts and crafts, photos, jewelry, prints, handcrafted soaps, leather work, felted wool sculptures, locally printed T-shirts, turned Birch bowls and more from more than 45 artisans. (907-766-2352)
The Alaska Guardhouse B&B is located on the main parade field in historic Fort Seward and was originally the jail. Today, it is a modern B&B with three “cells.” Enjoy the views of Lynn Canal in the convenient location four blocks from downtown. (866-290-7445)
Established in 1988, Sockeye Cycle Co. features bicycle tours, rentals, sales and service. Their two store locations in Haines and Skagway serve Southeast Alaska and the Yukon. See glaciers, wildlife and scenic wilderness as you cycle along the regions roads and trails. (877-292-4154)
Don’t overlook the smaller towns and villages in the region, such as Thorne Bay, Coffman Cove, Wrangell and Ketchikan. These towns have a rustic yet authentic feel and the scenery is unparalleled.
In Thorne Bay, for instance, the Alaskan Escape waterfront cabins offer an affordable alternative for a self-guided fishing experience. Each fully equipped cabin includes a 16-foot Lund skiff with 30-horsepower motor, saltwater rods and reels, crab pot, smoker and freezer. Just minutes from town or from the fishing grounds, the multiple cabins can accommodate 24 to 30 people. (907-254-6662)
McFarland’s Floatel offers mini lodges on the waterfront, two miles by water from the town of Thorne Bay. It’s a do-it-yourself place, with boat and car rentals available. McFarland’s has complete facilities in a private setting, with reasonable rates. (888-828-3335)
In Ketchikan, the Black Bear Inn is the area’s finest waterfront bed and breakfast and vacation rental. From a one-bedroom luxury apartment to the four-bedroom/five-bath inn, all rooms have fireplaces and covered porches, cable TV, free high-speed wireless Internet, and a spa. They are located 2.5 miles north of the ferry terminal and offer pickup and drop-off, fishing and tour packages. (907-225-4343)
Artist and master drum maker Ken Decker welcomes visitors to Crazy Wolf Studio in Ketchikan. Locally owned and operated, the gallery features traditional art from regional Native artists. Carvings, drums, jewelry, prints, basketry, ivory and argillite carvings. (907-225-9653)
One of the most popular activities available in Ketchikan (as well as Juneau) is Alaska Canopy Adventures’ ultimate Alaska zipline eco-adventure. Experience the excitement of gliding along 10 dual cable zip lines, negotiating two treetop sky bridges, and rappelling. Trips include jet boat rides with island beach landings and hillside ascents in an all-terrain vehicle. (877-947-7557)
Taquan Air offers the best of Misty Fjords flightseeing, plus bush pilot and bear-viewing tours. Participants receive a personalized Alaska Bush Plane Certificate. Window seats guaranteed and digital noise-canceling headsets for provided narration. Top pilots and active Medallion Shield Carrier since 2008. (800-770-8800)
Coffman Cove bills itself as “Alaska’s best kept secret on Prince of Wales Island.” Coffman Cove offers many services, including lodging with meals or without, fuel, a liquor store, a general store, a café and bar, equipment and vehicle rentals, fishing charters, meeting and event space. (907-329-2233)
Experience first-class fishing at Sportsman’s Cove Lodge located on Prince of Wales Island. Rated among the top 10 fishing lodges in North America by outdoor writers of Salmon and Steelhead Journal and Traveling Angler magazine, just 20 minutes by floatplane from Ketchikan. Fish the quiet waters of the Inside Passage aboard specially designed 37-foot charter boats. (800-962-7889)
For transportation between your Southeast destinations, try Rainforest Islands Ferry. Year-round passenger and vehicle ferry service starting Summer 2011 between Coffman Cove on Prince of Wales Island, Wrangell, Petersburg and Ketchikan. Shuttle service on Prince of Wales Island and Petersburg with trailers for baggage, freight, bicycles, kayaks and canoes. (907-329-2031)
The City of Wrangell is located in the heart of the Inside Passage, and is surrounded by spectacular scenery. Special events include the Stikine River Birding Festival at the end of April, King Salmon Derby in May and June, and Bear Fest in July. (800-367-9745)
Alaska Cruises & Vacations by Tyee Travel in Wrangell is a great way to get started planning your cruise. From casual small-ship cruises offering remote wilderness experience with fewer than 100 on board, to elegant luxury ships and traditional cruises, to a customized land tour to make your journey complete, book with Alaskans who have experienced Alaska cruises themselves. (800-977-9705)
The Pelican Chamber of Commerce is located in one of the few old-town fishing towns remaining in Alaska and is eager to share that news with visitors. Pelican offers fabulous sportfishing charters, lodges, restaurants, stores and more. (907-735-2460)
Shee Atika Totem Square Inn in Sitka offers comfortable rooms, with free wireless Internet, continental breakfast and a friendly crew ready to help with any questions and make you feel at home. (866-300-1353)