Let’s Explore the Beautiful Alaskan Coast!

Our journey began in Seward, Alaska, where we met our cruise ship. We took a scenic drive along the water, which consisted of many photo stops to the cruise port. The beautiful flower photographed to my left is called the Alaskan Fireweed!

We did not dock at any ports on our first day at sea. However, we visited the incredible Hubbard Glacier located in Yakutat Bay along the inner passage. Hubbard is an enormous glacier stretching over 75 miles. The only way to truly see Hubbard is through a boat, so if you are not cruising down Alaska, I would recommend looking into a day trip out there!

Our first “real” stop on our cruise was to Juneau’s capital city! We explored the Mendenhall Glacier (pictured) and went whale watching during our time in Juneau. Since we only had a few hours, we did not go into the glacier, but if you have more time, I would recommend exploring the Mendenhall caves! We also had quite a fantastic whale watching experience filled with whale sightings. As you can see, there is so much to do in Juneau. No wonder it is the second-largest city in the country by area!

Our second port stop was to the beautiful city of Skagway. We took a fabulous railway excursion to Yukon, Canada, during our stay. The ride was filled with breathtaking views of the White Pass Summit, various waterways, and wildlife. Downtown Skagway is also a must-hit spot! It consists of unique shops, restaurants, and museums.

My favorite stop during our trip was the unbelievable Icy Strait Point. This port is located in Hoonah, which is home to the Indigenous Tlingit people. During our time at Icy Strait Point, we went on an unforgettable whale watching tour led by a local Alaska Native and his daughter. We saw whales, stellar sea lions, birds, and other wildlife.

Our final stop along the inner passage was to the city of Ketchikan. We visited the Totem Heritage Center, explored the town, attended a lumberjack show, and took a scenic walk during our stay. Given that Ketchikan is the city with the most totem poles globally, it is crucial to explore these incredible artifacts. There are countless totem poles throughout the city, and there are several parks to visit and learn more about them! Besides the totem poles, you must explore the one-of-a-kind Creek Street (pictured). Creek Street is a boardwalk located above Ketchikan Creek featuring many unique stops. There is so much to see, do, and eat in Ketchikan that you could stay for months!