Guest Author - Shasta Wilson

For many years, Alaska was the last frontier of tourism. Cold, isolated and prone to very inconvenient weather, Alaska remained accessible only to those who could spend the money and time to journey all the way to America’s largest state.

Fortunately for travelers, those days are gone! The advent of the modern cruise ship brought Alaska to the forefront of popular destinations, even though the Alaska cruise season only runs five months. People from all over the world are packing in to ships on every major line to experience the mystery and majesty of Alaska’s rugged wilderness.

Any Alaska itinerary will include at least a few cruising days through the Inside Passage or glacier-filled fjords, and stops at a handful of Alaska’s biggest ports. Daytrips and cruisetours (added on to the beginning or end of a cruise) allow visitors to travel further into the countryside.

For those interested in Alaskan ports-of-call, the following is a brief overview of the most common stops on a cruise.

Ketchikan
Built on an island in the Inside Passage, Ketchikan considers itself Alaska’s first city. Full of small town spirit and a decent number of carved totem poles, visitors can shop in downtown or watch the salmon swim upstream in historic Creek Street, which is built on stilts over the stream. Ketchikan is also a popular port for shore excursions like sea plane flights, hiking, or off-road adventures, and each cruiseline has different activities. Do be aware that Ketchikan gets rain almost all year long, so visitors should be prepared for at least a light drizzle. All variety of salmon goods are available at a number of local stores. Shopping tip: Salmon Etc, located a few blocks from the pier, has a great selection of salmon items, and they ship products.

Juneau
Juneau might be Alaska’s capital, but at times it still feels like an 1880s gold rush town. Accessible only by air or sea, this city is surrounded by breaktaking landscape. Shore excursions like dogsledding on nearby Mendenhall glacier or catamaraning on Auke Bay are available along with lower energy activities like lunch at an Alaska salmon bake or a ride up the Mount Roberts Tramway. Travel agent tip: If people in your party are dead-set on dogsledding, book as soon as possible. This is usually the most coveted shore excursion, and it sells out quickly. And brace yourself for the price – it’s high!

Skagway
A century ago, Skagway was a gold rush boomtown. Today, it’s home to a small group of permanent residents and streets of historic false-front buildings. Nature viewing tours are popular in Skagway due to the flat dirt roads that lead travelers up the Chilkoot Trail into the Klondike. Sights include historic ruins, coastal tidal flats, rain forest, mountain scenery and all variety of wildlife like bald eagles. Visitors can also take a ride on the historic White Pass and Yukon Railroad to experience gold rush camp life circa 1880.

Sitka
The town of Sitka boasts two pasts both as a Tlingit Indian village and the capital of Russian America. History buffs can visit any of Sitka’s local museums like the Isabel Miller Museum, filled with artifacts and photographs from Alaska’s past. Shoppers can peruse the various boutiques stocked with local handicrafts showcasing both Indian and Russian cultural histories.