Page 231 - Vacation Country Travel Guide

I have had a front row seat to nature’s greatest shows of glacier calving, whales breeching and Kodiak
bears battling over salmon. Along the way I have come across some remarkable towns and have met
extraordinary people from all over the world. When most people plan their Alaska vacation they book one of
the numerous cruise ships that frequent the waterways of the 49th state. While traveling in one of these
floating cities has its place, it does impart a more restricted form of vacationing as groups of people
are herded on and off the ship with very limited time devoted to each port. If sight seeing with
thousands of other people isn’t for you, then I would suggest you follow the itinerary for Travel
Guide’s “Eight Perfect Days in Southeast Alaska.” Nestled in the southern archipelago like
jewels in a crown, lies the capitol of Juneau, along with the delightful cities of Sitka,
Wrangell, Skagway, Haines, Petersburg and Ketchikan. To experience these towns
is to encounter quintessential Alaska-pristine rivers, cultural heritage sites, awe-
inspiring glaciers and of course bears. A person can leave the commotion
and traffic of Seattle, Washington in the morning and by the afternoon be
watching bears fish for salmon in Anan Creek outside of Wrangell. There
has never been a better time to visit Alaska.

Leaving Shelter Harbor American Bald Eagle Foundation
Auke Bay
Haines Alexander Baranof
Sitka

Mendenhall Glacier,
photo by Charles Baxter
229