Scenic Alaska 7-nights
Crystal Sympohony

Alaska’s largest city is the hub of the state, and its central position, comparatively mild temperatures and outstanding transport system to and from the rest of the country, have made it an important destination for travellers. Perched on the edge of a vast, keenly beautiful wilderness, Anchorage is encompassed in scenic splendour, surrounded by mountains, forest, rivers and tundra; a short drive in any direction offers an abundant variety of wilderness experiences.

The city started out in 1915 as a tented camp for the workers on the Alaska Railroad, and with the later discovery of oil at Prudhoe Bay and the construction of the trans-Alaska pipeline, Anchorage’s development was fast and furious. Today this sprawling city is full of life, with an array of dining options, a thriving music scene, theatres and museums.

Its conservative, transient character is due in part to the fact that many of its residents are from other parts of the US, working for a few years and then moving on. The rest of the population is made up of Alaskan indigenous peoples, oil workers, gold seekers, loggers and fishermen, together with the moose and occasional bear that wander into town. As a cosmopolitan urban area, it has similarities with other small American cities, but still retains a uniquely Alaskan feel.

Over six miles wide and nearly 500 feet high, Hubbard Glacier fills the head of Yakutat Bay. In 1986, it was called the “Galloping Glacier” when it surged nearly 47 feet in one day.

This is an ice heaven of tidewater glaciers, where humpback whales and orcas roam and ribbons of blue carve through a fjordland of astonishing beauty. These moving rivers of ice called glaciers confront you with their majesty and power that is almost physical.

The holiday destination of Skagway, at the northernmost point of the Inside Passage, is the main port of call for cruise ships, and was the trading post serving the Klondike Gold Rush in 1897. Within three months, a tent and shack town of 20,000 people had sprung up and throngs of hopeful gold-seekers stampeded the town, the jumping-off point for the 500-mile (805km) trek to the goldfields in the Yukon. Skagway’s rapid growth brought in its wake disease and violence, and it was notorious for lawless characters as well as its many bars and prostitutes; a place reported to be ‘hell on earth’. After gathering supplies prospectors faced severe hardships on the Chilkoot Trail and the White Pass Trail, two routes over the mountains into Canadian territory. The latter, known as the ‘Dead Horse Trail’ became littered with the bodies of exhausted and beaten packhorses.

Today much of Skagway town lies within the Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park, which includes an excellent Visitor Information Centre offering fascinating exhibits and a film on the Gold Rush days. The heart of Skagway is the historic district where the wooden boardwalks lining the restored buildings, false-fronted shops and saloons, and the original appearance of many of the houses, all enhance the character of a town rich in Gold Rush history. On holiday in Skagway, it is also possible to follow in the footsteps of the Klondike gold seekers along the famous 33-mile (53km) Chilkoot Trail, literally an outdoor museum strewn with reminders of the past, where abandoned pick axes, shovels and old supplies can be found along the way.

Accessible only by sea or air, Alaska’s ‘Gateway to the Glaciers’ is the state’s scenic capital, situated among spectacular mountains on the shores of the Gastineau Channel. The holiday destination of Juneau is, however, not as wild as one might expect of such a remote destination. It affords all the pleasures of a large city, while also offering an abundance of activities and natural escapes for outdoor enthusiasts in its backyard. Although the city is not without appeal and is a popular travel hub and port of call for cruises, it is undoubtedly the natural setting that attracts tourists rather than the urban sightseeing opportunities.

In 1880 the city swarmed with gold prospectors, but today it is the cruise ship passengers who pack the streets every summer, enjoying the shopping, dining and picturesque surroundings. Mendenhall Glacier, Alaska’s most visited glacier due to its easy access and proximity to the city, is a highly worthwhile attraction. Glacier Bay National Park is one of the country’s more dramatic regions and is also accessible from Juneau, by boat or plane. Helicopter rides, fishing, whale-watching, hiking and kayaking are popular activities through which to fully appreciate the vast wilderness surrounding Juneau.

The ‘salmon capital of the world’ started as a summer fish camp on the shores of Ketchikan Creek used by the Tlingit natives, and slowly became a major salmon canning centre. Native Inuit heritage plays a large role in the touristic appeal of Ketchikan, which boasts the largest collection of totem poles in the world in the Ketchikan Totem Bight State Historical Park, Saxman Native Village and the Totem Heritage Center Museum. Ketchikan has more cultural sightseeing opportunities than most cities and towns in Alaska, making it the perfect Alaskan getaway for those keen to experience indigenous culture as well as the stunning natural landscapes of Alaska.
Rustic Creek Street, with its picturesque wooden boardwalks and stilts, was once the town’s red light district, and today the houses have been converted into restaurants, shops and galleries. Ketchikan is located on Revillagigedo Island, 235 miles (378km) south of Juneau. If staying in the capital, Ketchikan is a popular excursion from the city; in fact, the quaint old town feels much more authentic and traditional than the larger city. The town is a popular cruise destination and is the starting point for most Inside Passage tours. Excursions into the surrounding wilderness include air or boat trips to nearby Misty Fjords, an area of pristine, spectacular scenery with soaring cliffs, waterfalls, lakes and glaciers.

Shaped by the carving of massive glaciers millions of years ago, Southeast Alaska is an astounding region of deep fjords, glaciers, majestic mountains and forests. Known as the ‘panhandle’, it epitomises classic Alaskan scenery. Thousands of islands form a pristine protected waterway called the Inside Passage that is lined with many charming towns and small villages rich in history. About half of the tourists who travel to Alaska arrive on cruise ships that wind their way through the islands of the Inside Passage to ports of call such as Ketchikan, Juneau, Sitka and Skagway.

The area is home to the native cultures of the Tlingit, Haida and Tshimshian Indians and the art of totem pole carving, as well as traditional music and dance has been preserved, especially in Ketchikan. Russian settlers have also left their legacy of icons and onion-domed churches, having been drawn to the region in search of fur; the region’s promise of gold, salmon fishing and forests of timber attracted many other profiteers. Today the business of tourism is an additional income-earner for many of the picturesque coastal communities.

The history of the Gold Rush days is especially evident in the town of Skagway at the northern tip of the Inside Passage, once a lawless trading post serving the Klondike Gold Rush pioneers. Juneau is Alaska’s attractive capital, with a bustling waterfront and a scenic mountain backdrop, and is the gateway to one of the country’s most glorious regions, Glacier Bay National Park.

Nicknamed Hollywood North for the ever-present film crews, Canada’s west coast gem of Vancouver is young, thriving and diverse, boasting the perfect combination of wild natural beauty and all the modern conveniences. Named after Royal Navy sea captain George Vancouver, who sailed into the Burrard Inlet on the British Columbian coast in 1792, Vancouver was barely even a town 100 years ago. Today, more than two million people call it home, and the shiny futuristic towers of Yaletown and the downtown core contrast dramatically with the snow-capped mountain backdrop, providing ample beauty among the bustle of Canada’s third biggest city.
Approximately the same size as the downtown area, the city’s green heart is Canada’s largest city park, Stanley Park, covering hundreds of acres filled with lush forest and crystal clear lakes. Visitors can wander the sea wall along the exterior of the park, catch a free trolley bus tour, a horse-drawn carriage ride or visit the Vancouver Aquarium housed within the park. The city’s past is preserved in historic Gastown with its cobblestone streets, steam powered clock and quaint feel, though this is combined with expensive souvenir shops and galleries aimed at tourists. Neighbouring Chinatown, with its weekly market, Dr Sun Yat-Sen classical Chinese gardens and restaurants adds an exotic flair. For some retail therapy or celebrity spotting, there is always the trendy Robson Street.
During the winter months snow sports are the order of the day on nearby Grouse Mountain, perfect for skiing and snowboarding, although the city itself gets more rain than snow. Vancouver’s incredible ethnic diversity and combination of mountains, sea and city, offers visitors an endless supply of things to see and do, no matter the budget.