DIAMOND PRINCESS SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 10, 2011
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hubbard Glacier (Scenic Cruising)
Hubbard is one of Alaska's few advancing glaciers. Ever on the move, previous activity earned it a nickname — the "Galloping Glacier." Your cruise will capture its explosive power as you linger along its shimmering five-mile-long face.
Glacier
Bay National Park
(Scenic Cruising)
This spectacular national
park and preserve displays
massive glaciers that
stretch 3.3 million acres
from the St. Elias and
Fairweather mountain ranges
to the ends of the fjords.
It is home to an amazing
world of marine life,
including humpback whales,
sea otters, porpoises and
harbor seals. It also
possesses the highest
concentration of tidewater
glaciers on the planet. And
access is extremely limited.
Juneau, Alaska
From massive scenic mountains to historic buildings, this gorgeous capital city has something for everyone.
Perched on
a thin strip of land at the
mouth of Gold Creek, Juneau
is arguably one of America's
most beautiful state
capitals, with the looming
summits of Mt. Juneau and
Mt. Roberts providing a
gorgeous backdrop.
Admiralty Island
Scenic Admiralty Island has
the world's highest
concentration of brown
bears. If you are lucky
enough to see one, it is a
memory of a lifetime.
Mendenhall Glacier
This amazing glacier is 12
miles long and 1.5 miles
wide, and worth the view
from a cruise ship. There
are hiking trails into the
area, and the Mendenhall
Visitor Center is a wealth
of information.
Mt. Roberts Tramway
For a bird's-eye view, the
Mt. Roberts Tramway offers a
short, six-minute trek to
the top of Mt. Roberts,
1,800 feet above the city.
Skagway, Alaska
Relive Alaska's Gold Rush days in this "Gateway to the Klondike," and home of the famed Chilkoot Trail.
Few
one-time boomtowns retain
the flavor of the gold rush
days like Skagway. This
gateway to the Klondike is
preserved as a national
historic park with its
rustic boardwalk and
frontier-style storefronts.
Due to its geographic
location, Skagway enjoys a
drier climate compared to
the rest of southeastern
Alaska, with an average
annual precipitation of only
22 inches.
Historic Railroad
Possessing one of the oldest
narrow-gauge railroads in
the world, Skagway retains
the flavor of days gone by
and remains an important
link to Alaska's rich
history.
Downtown Broadway
The Arctic Brotherhood Hall
is the only remaining
example of
turn-of-the-century Alaskan
driftwood architecture.
Other buildings like the
Trail of '98 Museum,
Corrington's Museum of
Alaskan History and the
Alaskan Wildlife Adventure
and Museum present different
facets of prospecting times.
Lower Dewey Lake
Before hitting the famous
Chilkoot Trail, there are
other well-marked trails to
try. Hiking to Lower Dewey
Lake is an easy, 20-minute
climb to break in your sea
legs.
Ketchikan, Alaska
The salmon capital of the world also has the world's largest collection of totem poles.
This
southern-most Alaskan port
city is known as Alaska's
First City because it was
the first major community
travelers came to heading
north. Founded as a fishing
camp, Ketchikan is built on
steep hillsides and is
billed as the salmon capital
of the world. A quaint
village, the town is just
three miles long and three
blocks wide.
Totem Bight State Historical
Park
With the world's largest
collection of totem poles,
these wood-carved creations
portray colorful, intricate
tales, often showing a
family's history or
depicting a local legend.
Creek Street Boardwalk
With its historic cable car
and quaint boutiques, Creek
Street is Ketchikan's most
famous and photographed
section, as well as a great
place to spend a relaxing
afternoon.
Misty Fjords National
Monument
Seaplanes provide the most
breathtaking vantage point
for an exploration of the
majestic Misty Fjords
National Monument.
