Where Are We Going?
Wednesday, July 5 - ANCHORAGE (SEWARD,) ALASKA
Seward was founded in 1903 as the southern terminus for the Alaska Railroad, a distinction that still holds today. The picturesque harbor with its colorful wood-frame houses and background of soaring cliffs looks out on Resurrection Bay, so named by a band of Russian explorers who found this calm spot along the storm-tossed Gulf of Alaska on Easter Sunday. You can view two active volcanoes from downtown Anchorage, the highest point on the continent of North America (Mount McKinley), and six major mountain ranges.
Thursday, July 6 - CRUISING HUBBARD GLACIER
Friday, July 7 - SITKA, ALASKA
Founded by Russian fur traders as New Archangel in 1799, Sitka was the Historic center of Russia's Alaskan empire. The Russian flag was replaced, by the Stars and Stripes, when the United States purchased the Alaska territory in 1867. Today, picturesque Sitka is known for its fishing industry, an annual summer classical music festival, and, of course, its many historic visitor attractions. On a clear day, Sitka, the only city in southeast Alaska that fronts the Pacific Ocean, rivals Juneau for the sheer beauty of its surroundings.
Saturday, July 8 - SKAGWAY, ALASKA
Skagua, as it is known by the Tlingit means "windy place." Skagway, a place of many names and much history is the northern terminus of the Alaska Marine Highway. It was known to thousands of hopeful gold rushers as the gateway to the gold fields. Skagway retains the flavor of the gold rush era and the character of such colorful inhabitants as Soapy Smith's "Kin of the frontier Con Men"; especially on Broadway, with its false-front buildings, and in the Trail of '98 Museum, with its outstanding collection of gold fever memorabilia.
Sunday, July 9 - JUNEAU, ALASKA
In 1880, Joe Juneau and Richard Harris were prospecting for gold with the help of Indian guides. Here they discovered nuggets "as large as beans" at the mouth of the aptly named Gold Creek. Out of their discoveries came three of the largest gold digs in the world, where more than $150 million in gold was mined. Juneau's surrounding beauty and natural wonders have attracted cruise ship travelers for over a century, with steamship companies bringing tourists here since the early 1880s.
Monday, July 10 - KETCHIKAN, ALASKA
Ketchikan, on the southwest side of Revillagigedo Island, grew up around salmon canneries and sawmills. Ketchikan's name supposedly comes from the native term "Katch Kanna," which roughly translates: "spread wings of a thundering eagle." At one time, Ketchikan has proclaimed the "Salmon Capital of the World." An outstanding collection of totem poles make a visit to Ketchikan essential for anyone interested in Native art. Travelers flock to Ketchikan for their first look at the North Country and are rarely disappointed.
Tuesday, July 11 - CRUISING THE INSIDE PASSAGE
Wednesday, July 12 - VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA
"Gassy Jack" Deighton saw a chance to make money from the miners on their way to the Yukon, and the saloon he built became the focus of the shanty town known as Gas Town. From here, modern Vancouver was born - Canada's third largest city. The government persuaded the settlers to change the town name to Vancouver after Captain George Vancouver sailed the area's waters in 1792. Today Vancouver offers travelers tram rides to the top of Grouse Mountain, the lovely Ming Dynasty Gardens, historic Gas Town, and picturesque Stanley Park.