Alaska Travel Guide

Alaska, United States — Resorts

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Skagway

The vacation 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 the excellent Visitor Information Center offering fascinating exhibits and a film on the Gold Rush days. The heart of Skagway is the historic district and the wooden boardwalks lining the restored buildings, false-fronted shops and saloons, and the original appearance of many of the houses, enhances 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. For more information see www.skagway.com

Juneau

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 vacation destination of Juneau is however not as wild and uncultured as one would 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. 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. Juneau's attractions include the Mt Roberts Tram and the Mendenhall Glacier, Alaska's most visited glacier due to its easy access and proximity to the city. 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 in which to fully appreciate the vast wilderness surrounding Juneau. For more information see www.traveljuneau.com

Ketchikan

The 'salmon capital of the world' started as a summer fish camp on the shores of Ketchikan Creek used by the Tlingit natives, and became a major salmon canning center. Native heritage plays a large role in the tourist destination of Ketchikan's culture today with the largest collection of totem poles in the world found in Ketchikan Totem Bight State Historical Park, Saxman Native Village and the Totem Heritage Center Museum. Rustic Creek Street with its wooden boardwalks and stilts was once the town's red light district, and today the houses have been converted into restaurants, shops and galleries. 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. For more information see www.visit-ketchikan.com

Sitka

Widely regarded as Alaska's most beautiful seaside vacation town, Sitka sits on the wild Baranof Island at the foot of the Mount Edgecumbe volcano, its harbor dotted with islets and surrounded by forests. Its position on the Inside Passage means it is a popular destination for cruise ships, offering a combination of Tlingit culture, Russian history and a wide variety of Alaskan wildlife. Museums, historical parks and old churches are reminders of Sitka's past, while its natural heritage can be enjoyed on mountain trails, on the surrounding calm waters in a boat or kayak, and in festivals like the annual Whale Festival in November. For more information see www.sitka.org