Expert: Michael Donaldson - 4/25/2004

Question
We will be travelling for a 14 day cruise from Vancouver through Ketchikan,Juneau, Skagway, Seward,and Sitka. We will have plenty of time for almost any type of tour that is offered.  The only problem is expense.  They are rather expensive. Therefore, we would like your opinion on which tours or whatever you think are important tours or excursions we should definitely take part in.

Thanks for your help.  

Answer
Hello Milford!

Sounds like a great cruise you're about to embark on. I hope I can offer a little help with your question.  I will mainly cover three of the places I'VE spent time in, since I can speak from personal experiences.

Juneau: is a beautiful, clean, and unsually quiet city for its size.  Besides just walking around downtown and along the boardwalk areas, I would definitely head to the visitor information centers (Davis Log Cabin or Centennial Hall) and inquire about any shuttle bus service that will head 14 miles north to Mendenhall Glacier.  It's a spectacular glacier and you'll be able to get an up-close view of it. There's a nice visitor center there and easy-to-walk hiking paths to give you various viewpoints of this very picturesque glacier. If you need more detailed info about Juneau or Mendenhall Galcier, I would call 1-888-581-2201 or go to www.traveljuneau.com.

Skagway: is a quaint and historical town, rich with gold mining memorabilia and a genuine "feel" of the 1890's.  The best part is just walking down Broadway Street and seeing all the old and famous buildings that Skagway is known for.  You can even take a nice walk right outside town to the old cemetery and grave sites where the infamous "Soapy Smith" and good guy "Frank Reid" are both buried. (they both died in a gunfight with each other in July 1898).  But again, definitely take some time out to get OUT of town by taking the 3-hour round-trip “White Pass & Yukon Route” train along the Klondike Gold Rush trail from Skagway to White Pass Summit. You will never forget THAT experience! For more info on this train ride, go to www.whitepassrailroad.com and see what it has to offer.

Seward: is another quaint fishing town with mountains in its back yard and a beautiful bay in its front yard. This beautiful little town is full of great restaurants, cafes, gift shops, and parks.  There is one main excusion I highly recommend taking from here -- a boat tour of the spectacular "Kenai Fjords National Park".  You will get a slow going and close-up view of all its resident wildlife (puffins, humpback whales, sea otters, etc) and some vivid beauty of blue-blue glaciers calving into the bay. By all means, bring your camera!  For more info go to www.kenaifjords.com and I'm sure it'll explain more.

That's about all I have for you right now.  I hope that helps in giving you some ideas and options to work with during your cruise.  If you have any other questions or concerns, please write me again here or at my personal e-mail address LASKANWLF@aol.com and I'd be happy to help out where I possibly can.

Have a wonderful cruise, a great time, be safe, and start stocking up on film now!

  Michael Donaldson