Page 53 - flyak
P. 53

®


















                                             SEE VIDEO   Jet Boat, Leaving Wrangell           Anan Wildlife Observatory



                                                                                                        SEE VIDEO





                       Iceberg, LeConte Glacier

      and  a  coastal  city  with  a  vibrant  art  scene   the Fjord, make your way to the back of the   uphill ride to the hotel.
      and rich in Native  American history.  There   boat  and  watch  as  Mendenhall  comes  into   A  thriving  arts  community,  Haines  offers
      are four welcome centers around town that   view, allowing you to observe the enormous   visitors museums, galleries, and local
      offer  walking  tour  maps  of  the  waterfront   scale of this glacier. There is no need to rent a   restaurants. This town is also a photographer’s
      and historical sites.  Thirteen minutes from   car as all attractions are close by to enjoy the   dream, as it is one of the sunniest spots
      downtown is Mendenhall Glacier, one of the   historic streets of Skagway. As in many other   along the famously rainy Inside Passage.
      most accessible glaciers in North  America.   places around the world, attractions may be   For local art, The Sea Wolf Gallery is not to
      Drive to Mendenhall Visitor Center and watch   limited again this year due to Covid. Take in   be missed.  Artist  Tresham Gregg enchants
      a brief film about the half-mile wide glacier,   a  delightful  show  at  the  Days  of  ’98, which   visitors  with  his  multi-media  creations,
      then take a small trail to Photo Point for   chronicles  the  wild  heyday  of  the  Alaskan   including  paintings,  metal  works,  silkscreen
      Instagram-worthy glacier scenery. If you have   Gold Rush. Stop into Lynch and Kennedy, a   prints, wood carvings, and puppetry. He has
      more time, there are plenty of trails around   family owned business that specializes in a   a  unique  and  imaginative  take  on  Native
      the glacier for all levels of hiking enthusiasts.   unique  selection  of  Alaskan  made  jewelry   American legend and lore. Visit with friendly
      For  another  unique  experience,  take  the   and  native  art and gifts.  The  half-day  train   Fred at the Wild Iris, an accomplished jeweler
      Goldbelt Tram from downtown Juneau to the   ride on the White Pass and Yukon Railway is   and collector of local art.
      top of Mount Roberts. At 1800 feet high, you   an excursion that shouldn’t be missed. Built   Millions of birds make  Alaska their
      will be spellbound by spectacular panoramic   in  1898  during  the  Klondike  Gold  Rush,  the   summer  home  as  they  fish  and  raise  their
      views.  Hike  alpine  trails,  visit  the  live  bald   route is an example of engineering wonder as   young, taking advantage of the extended
      eagle display, or enjoy a cup of coffee at the   you ascend 3,000 feet in just 20 miles. Along   summer daylight. The American Bald Eagle
      Mountain House.                      the way the beauty of Alaska will be on full   Foundation is part history museum and part
         Day 4 Juneau/Skagway              display  as  you  witness  glaciers,  mountains,   educational  center.  Twelve  resident  avian
         In the morning, return the rental to the   tunnels,  gorges,  and  waterfalls. After  a  day   ambassadors help educate the public about
      airport. Take a $12 taxi ride from the airport to   of sightseeing, feast on a seafood dinner at   the many species that call Alaska home. With
      Shelter Harbor to pick up the Fjord Express   Olivia’s in the Historic Skagway Inn.  some time left in the day thanks to the never
      to Skagway.                             Day 5 Skagway/Haines              setting sun, take a short 15-minute drive out of
         The Fjord Express is a 3.5-hour narrated   Catch the 30-minute Fjord Express from   Haines to the Chilkoot Lake State Recreation
      sightseeing  and  wildlife  cruise.  Whales,   Skagway to Haines, a city which sits on the   Site. With four salmon runs beginning in mid-
      dolphins, and seals are often seen on this   northern end of the Inside Passage and is   June and ending in October, this popular site
      voyage as you travel through the most scenic   connected by road to both Canada and the   is the go-to spot for fishing and bear viewing.
      stretch  of Alaska’s  Inside  Passage. A hearty   Alaska Highway. Stay at the Captain’s Choice   Day 6 Juneau/Sitka
      bowl of seafood chowder is also included in   hotel,  which  also  has  car  rentals.  They  will   In the morning, take the Fjord Express
      the price of the ferry. As you leave Juneau on   pick you up at the harbor for your short but   ferry back to Juneau. The Fjord Express bus
                                                                                                                  275
   48   49   50   51   52   53   54   55   56   57   58