Alaska - Places

We took over 2,500 photo’s while in Alaska.  Far too many to do a day by day blog so instead we’ll focus on themes and group things together.  First up is some of the places we have been to.  

For background;
How did we end up in Alaska as many of you noted it was never on the agenda?  Well it started on the way to Hawaii - when we flew from San Diego to Honolulu with Alaskan Air.  The in-flight magazine looked amazing and this trip is all about amazing places. About 6 weeks ago, in Coos Bay, when we were planning the next stage of our trip we looked at Alaska again - cruise prices were reasonable for last minute deals so we decided to go for it and booked a week long cruise to get from Vancouver to Anchorage.

Once off the ship our itinerary was something like;
Day 1. Portage Glacier then Anchorage
Day 2. Anchorage
Day 3. Day trip to Katmai National Park
Day 4. Drive 400 miles north to Fairbanks
Day 5. Fly over the Arctic Circle to Coldfoot
Day 6. Fairbanks then drive 100 miles south to Denali
Day 7&8. Denali National Park
Day 9. Drive back to anchorage to pick up Cruise ship back to Vancouver

The port stops on the cruises were similar; Ketchikan (aka, ketchup can), Skagway (aka Skaggers - twinned with Skegness) and Juneau (the State capital).  Although on the way up the ship sailed into Glacier Bay National Park so we could look at the Grand Pacific Glacier and on the way back to Icy Strait Point, Hubbard Glacier and Sawyer Glacier.

 

Ketchup Can;

 

The most ‘famous’ street in Ketchikan is Creek Street – not sure if it was named for the watery creek running under it…

 

or the noises from its nocturnal activities;

 

Ketchikan also has a Salmon ladder – to make it easier for the migrating Salmon to return to their spawning grounds;

 

Some ducks that didn’t make it back to their spawning grounds.  Every year there is a competition to see whose duck can get to the bottom first.  Yes, there isn’t much else going on in town so this is what locals do for entertainment

 

Totem Bight;

Just outside Ketchikan is Totem Bight State Park which displays a number of traditional Totems. 

 

 

 

 

Juneau;

Note the sunshine.  It rains (or snows) more than 260 days a year in Juneau.  When the sun comes out the locals stop what they’re doing and go outside, they call it ‘a sighting’…  On the way up we had sunshine, on the way back more traditional rain.

 

As we’re in Alaska we had to try the crab – so we stopped at Tracy’s King Crab Shack.  Anyone recognize this fisherman?

 

Much better than the food on the boat up to Anchorage.

 

Skaggers;

On the right is the runway for Skagway international airport.  Yes, it really is an international airport as the Canadian border is only 40 miles north.  You’ll notice security isn’t as high as at some other airports you have flown from.

 

The main beach at Skagway.  What you can’t see in this picture is that 1. it’s raining and 2. there are thousands of fly's and bugs and mosquitoes buzzing round me.  Oh, what a lovely place to be – Skaggers in summer.

 

Skagway is famous for being the main port for the Klondike gold rush and much of the town is the same now as it was then – see the pic below with the wooden side-walk. 

 

When walking round we couldn’t be sure if it hadn’t been changed as much for the tourist’s benefit or if it was just that no one could be bothered…

 

The town is home to less than 2,000 people who’s numbers are multiplied by the daily arrival of cruise ships.  Up to 4 arrive each day bringing in at least 3,000 passengers and crew per ship.  The only way to get to Skagway is by air or by ship.  So along with the cruise liners the Alaska state ferry visits once a week;

 

Still not as bad as the next place, King Salmon.

 

King Salmon.

We passed through King Salmon on our way to Katmai National Park.  We flew into the main airport (pic of whole terminal building below) and then out on a float plane (see later post).  If you thought security at Skagway was limited you should check this place out.

 

Unfortunately our return flight was delayed by 3 hours, so we had to amuse ourselves in King Salmon shopping mall (pic below);

 

For the rest of the 2hrs 59 minute delay we managed to find the only bar in town.  You’ll be pleased to know artisan breweries are popping up all over Alaska so we had a good choice of local beers.

 

Fairbanks;

Fairbanks is probably the last bit of civilisation south of the Arctic Circle.  We were somewhat surprised to find a Texas style BBQ so far north.  It was good, real good…  The trouble with visiting Fairbanks in the middle of summer is it never really gets dark.  Now we understood this on a theoretical level but to actually experience it is weird.  Sunset is around 11.30 (but still isn’t dark) and sunrise is 4am…..

 

Denali;

We stayed just outside the main Gate of Denali National Park and took this pic for our SA blog followers;

It’s odd to think that we’re closer to Tokyo than to London and Honolulu actually isn’t that far away.  More to follow on Denali in a separate post

 

 

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