The Pacific Northwest
We arrived in Seattle, Washington for the beginning of a two week vacation which included one week through Alaska on the Norwegian Star. Vancouver, British Columbia Our first stop was Fort Langley National Historic Site off Highway 1 near the Fraser River. Fort Langley was a significant trading post west of the Rockies. You’ll have an opportunity to see the original storehouse from 1840 along with a blacksmith and other reconstructed buildings. For a memorable photo, don’t miss the chance for your kids or yourself to pan for gold with staff in their period costumes. Open daily 10 am to 5 pm, a family admission with 2 adults and up to 5 children is less than $20. Our next stop was the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park. Not only can you can spend the day here in the Treetops Adventure, but you must experience the 450 foot long bridge, 230 feet high. It is not for the easily faint as it sways back and forth, don’t look down and keep walking! The bridge is reinforced with steel cables and once you cross it, you can head to the 650 feet cliffside walkway with platforms suspended from trees, a truly stunning view you shouldn’t miss! Entrance fees are $47 for adults with discounts for seniors, students and children, open generally 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, but earlier and later during certain months. |
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Victoria, British Columbia
From Port Townsend we took a ferry to Victoria and walked around the streets and spent time on the grounds of the Empress Hotel. If you have more time, be sure to include Buchart Gardens in your itinerary!
With a 1 day intineray in Vancouver, I would add Chinatown, Vera’s Burger Shack, FlyOver Canada, a tram ride to the peak of Grouse Mountain to get a beavertail and finish the evening at the Yaletown Brewing Company.
From Port Townsend we took a ferry to Victoria and walked around the streets and spent time on the grounds of the Empress Hotel. If you have more time, be sure to include Buchart Gardens in your itinerary!
With a 1 day intineray in Vancouver, I would add Chinatown, Vera’s Burger Shack, FlyOver Canada, a tram ride to the peak of Grouse Mountain to get a beavertail and finish the evening at the Yaletown Brewing Company.
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Washington Mother Nature has blessed the state of Washington. First time visitors should take a ferry to any of the nearby islands, ride to the top of the Space Needle, spend a night and do some hiking around scenic Snoqualmie Falls. On the Pacific Ocean side or for a little added romance, you can spend a few nights at a lodge in Olympic National Forest. No visit can be complete without visiting Mount Rainier. If you’re fortunate enough to make it here, you may be able to take photos of friendly wildlife. Ferries With a little more time, take a ferry to the San Juan Islands, visit the Seattle Aquarium or do an Oktoberfest at the German town, Leavenworth. |
Seattle
After driving through Bainbridge Island and Woodbey Island, we took a ferry spent a few hours in downtown Seattle before boarding our cruise at the port terminal, pier 66. The terminal is about 14 miles from the SEA-TAC airport. There are several hotels located near the port terminal such as the Edgewater or Marriott on Alaskan Way. The Inn at Queen Ann or Sheraton Four Points provide a shuttle to the port for about $7 each. If you want to burn some time, Pike Place Market, open since 1907 and overlooking Elliott Bay, is a popular fish market where you can also purchase crafts or collectibles, sample a variety of gourmet food, artisan chocolates, fruits and pastries. Mornings are least busy and Wifi is available in the atrium of the Economy Market. Across the street from Pike Place you'll also find the original Starbucks. |
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Ketchikan
Our first port was the southernmost city of Alaska called Ketchikan, known as the salmon capital of the world where the majority of the city is built on stilts over the Ketchikan Creek. Creek Street has seen its' share of nefarious history from the days of their red light district. The town has a strong native culture with the Alaska's largest community of Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian people. Their presence can be seen throughout the city by way of cedar totem poles beautifully carved with the symbols of their clan or lineage. Totem Bight State Historical Park, is about 10 miles from the city and offers an excellent model of an actual Tlingit clan house with a display of 14 totem poles. Open daily, the park is free to visit. More totem poles can be viewed at the Saxman Native Village which is closer to town. |
Juneau
Juneau is the state capital of AlaskaWe actually booked a cruise excursion to see Mendenhall Glacier and the Chapel by the Lake. When we arrived at Mendenhall Glacier, about 12 miles way from the port, where we had the opportunity to see the 13 mile glacier close-up from the visitor. You can spend the day here by walking to Nugget Falls, exploring the landscape, hiking a few trails or watching wildlife such as bears and bald eagles. Mendenhall Visitor Center and surrounding areas are open daily from 6:00 am to midnight. The entry fee is $5. In 1958, Chapel by the Lake, Presbyterian, was completed with spruce logs in Auke Bay. Popular for weddings, the setting is picture perfect as the alter is overlooking Auke Lake and Mendenhall Glacier. Other points of interest to see are the State Capital for a free 30 minute tour, old mine ruins, the Alaska State Museum and Glacier Gardens Rainforest Adventure where you'll travel past streams and waterfalls to reach a scenic overlook with a spectacular city of Juneau, Chilkat Mountains and Mendenhall Valley. |
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Carcross
Carcross was originally known as Caribou Crossing by the miners. Today, remnants of the Klondike days can be seen in the town with miners cabins still lined up near the water’s edge at Bennett Lake. Since 1905, the post office in Carcross has been continuously open for business. Don't miss their special Carcross stamp for your passport. Kids will enjoy it! With a few extra days, you can also do recreational activities at Kluane National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site or visit the Carcross Desert, which is known as the smallest desert in the world. Yukon also has many events and festivals throughout the year to enjoy such as gold panning championships, discovery days, sled dog races, a cranberry fair and Christmas lights tour. |
Yukon Territory
In the 1800's fortune seekers and prospectors descended upon the Yukon Territory in search of gold. The Yukon Territory was made famous by more than $100 million in gold mined within a 6 year period between 1892 and 1898. These prospectors battled treacherous journeys through the Chilkoot Pass, climbing mountains along a 33 mile trail from Dyea, Alaska, with supplies heavy on their backs, determined to reach the area near Bennett Lake. When we arrived in Skagway, we rented a car and drove north to Carcross, crossing the border at Fraser, British Columbia into the Yukon Territory. After a beautiful drive, we made a few stops along the way. On the Klondike Highway next to Tagish Lake is the "Yukon" sign welcoming travelers. The lake is named after the Tagish people. This is the perfect place to take some scenic photos where you may even see a bear foraging for berries. Part of the lake was the route to the Klondike used by prospectors during the gold rush years. On the evening of January 18, 2000, a meteorite exploded at Tagish Lake. Witnesses in the area remember seeing a fireball. The meteorite is being held by the University of Alberta as part of their meteorite collection. |
Skagway, Alaska
After spending a few hours driving through the Yukon Territory, we traveled back to Skagway. During the gold rush era, this town grew from one cabin to about 20,000 people and then just as quickly, the settlers moved on when the gold ended leaving behind the current population of 920. Activities in Skagway include gold rush trails, bus excursions to Carcross, hiking trips, Reid Falls and gardens and harbor tours. There's also a Starbucks in town for those that need a break from walking or sightseeing. Open daily, the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park offers a film on the gold rush and walking tours of the gold rush district for free. The White Pass & Yukon Route offers a scenic 3 or 4 hour train ride. The vintage train travels across mountains and rivers on a narrow-gauge track in period parlor cars passing waterfalls and stunning scenery. Travel is one way or round trip to Carcross, Fraser or Lake Bennet, May through September, costing between $125 to $160, depending on the route, for adults with discounts for children. |
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TIPS: Although the cruise ships offer a large variety of tours, we prefer private tours. In our our experience, these provide a more thorough visit without the hassle of waiting for passengers to get back on a bus.
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Prince Rupert, Canada
Located on the waterfront, Prince Rupert is the southernmost port of the Alaskan Ferry System and a popular cruise port. After doing so many activities in previous ports, we chose to relax and walk through the city. Brochures are available for a self-guide tour of the gardens, harbor and downtown area. Many of the ancestors of the Tsimpsean and Haida, who inhabited this area, provided beautiful artwork through their forms of totem poles. The totem poles can be seen in city parks and the Sunken Gardens. Bear Sanctuary If you have several hours to spare and are looking for a once in a lifetime experience, go to Khutzeymateen Provincial Park. The tour cruises through the Chatham Sound with an opportunity of viewing plenty of wildlife to an inlet where you can watch bears in their habitat without disturbing them. The tour is 7 hours long and costs about $250 each. |
Seattle
As we headed back to Seattle, we enjoyed our last night on the ship. The next morning, we had some time to spare before our flight home. We ended up booking a Seattle Underground Tour to see the underground tunnels and areas where the city was built on top of after the great fire in 1889. Because of the fire, the city is actually 20 feet above the original street level. We started our guided walk beneath the sidewalks at Pioneer Place Park. The tour was fun, but creepy. If you don't like confined spaces, this tour is not for you. The cost is less than $25 and for $50 you can include the paranormal experience, if you dare to! If walking under a city is not on your bucket list, you can visit the Museum of Flight, which is rated #4 of 417 things to do on Tripadvisor. What an amazing experience, especially if you enjoy aviation history. Several different adventures are offered daily from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Entrance is less than $25 with several types of discounts available. If you plan your visit on the first Thursday of each month, from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm, your visit is free! |
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Seattle
Despite living in Seattle for a few years, I always wanted to have lunch at the Space Needle with that spectacular view...so for Mother's Day, I found a great deal on airplane tickets and used my Marriott points for free accommodations. We ate our way through the city and the highlight of our trip was of course, eating at the Space Needle, but also visiting the historical town of Snoqualmie Falls. Before visiting old friends near Mt. Rainier, we took a ferry and visited the original Starbucks across the street from Pike Place Market. The next trip to Seattle will include the Museum of Flight :-) |