Seward (Anchorage to Vancouver Cruise on Silver Nova from Seward (Alaska)

Seward (Alaska)

Seward is a small port city located at the head of Resurrection Bay on the Kenai Peninsula in Southcentral Alaska and was named in honor of William H. Seward, President Abraham Lincoln´s Secretary of State, who was responsible for negotiating the purchase of Alaska from Russia in 1867. Seward is known for its scenic views, numerous visitor attractions, and as the gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park. Exit Glacier is the only part of Kenai Fjords National Park accessible by road. It is a place where you can witness up close how glaciers re-shape a landscape and learn how plant life reclaims the barren rocky land exposed by a glacier´s retreat. . Seward has over 3,000 year round residents, however that number swells considerably during the summer visitor season. The town is famous in Alaska for its Fourth of July celebration that features a grueling foot race to the top of the 3,000 foot Mt. Marathon. You won’t be disappointed with Seward’s fine selection of shops, restaurants and lodging choices.

Hubbard Glacier (Alaska)

Hubbard Glacier is a glacier located in eastern Alaska and part of Canada and it is North America’s largest tidewater glacier. The ice you see at the terminal face is ap­proximately 450 years old and is over 2000 feet thick at some locations. The glacier was named in 1890 for Gardiner Hubbard, the first president of the National Geographic Society. The Hubbard Glacier is currently ad­vancing while most glaciers are retreating worldwide. The Hubbard Glacier will and does react in an opposite fashion to most glaciers in a warming climate. This is not in contradiction with current global tempera­ture increases.

Juneau (Alaska)

Juneau is Alaska´s capital, however you can´t get there by road, only by air or by sea. Juneau is a main port for the Alaska Marine Highway, Alaska´s ferry system. Downtown Juneau is compact and highly walkable, The most popular activities in Juneau for visitors are flight seeing, charter fishing, visiting the Mendendhall Glacier, hiking and shopping. Look for local shop with a sign on the window that says "This store is owned by an Alaskan family", that sell awesome pins, beads, carving arts, all done by local artists or customizable gifts for travelers who don´t want a boring, touristy-looking T-shirt. Highlights in Juneau include Mount Roberts Tramway, the Red Dog Saloon, the Alaska State Museum, the Gastineau Salmon Hatchery, the Governor´s Mansion, the Alaska Gastineau Mill, and the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center.

Haines, Alaska

Set atop the mainland approximately 70 miles north of Juneau, Haines is a small port community of 2400 aproximately, characterized by its place in gold rush history and as the first Army post in Alaska.. It is located on the shores of the Lynn Canal, the state´s longest fjord, and surrounded by glacier-covered mountains of the Coast Range. The first thing you´ll notice when you arrive is how scenically beautiful it is. Haines is blessed with surrounding natural areas and wildlife in what is known as the "Valley of the Eagles." The area is a magnet for bald eagles, drawn by the warm open water and abundant supply of salmon. More than 3,500 of the birds visit from October to February. Each year, Haines hosts numerous annual events including the Southeast Alaska State Fair, the King Salmon Derby, and the Alaska Bald Eagle Festival

Sitka, Alaska

Sitka is thought to be the most beautiful of southeast Alaska cities. Nestled on the west side of Baranof Island, it is flanked on the east by majestic snow-capped mountains, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean. Their most valuable natural resource is, without a doubt, the people of Sitka, who share a pride in their home and a love of life in all its small-town splendor. The natural splendor of Sitka along with its diverse history and cultural heritage make Sitka a wonderful place to visit and explore. With views of island-studded waters and stately spruce forests reaching to the water´s edge, Sitka is considered Alaska´s most beautiful seaside town.  Sitka has the distinctive character of a place that has been settled for thousands of years.  These ancient lands, home to the Tlingit Indians, celebrated their life and culture long before Russians or Americans walked on the rocky shores and today Tlingit living culture is deeply rooted in this small seaside city.

Wrangell, Alaska

Wrangell, in Alaska, is a tourism destination full of adventure and nature with a great variety of native cultures. In Wrangell we can find the Observatory of Wild Life, where we will discover the plant and animal kingdom. Also the Petroglyph Beach State Historic Park, in the amazing natural setting of River Stikine and the glaciars as background. In this park you can watch some of the native artistic expressions of all times, the petroglyphs. There are about forty petroglyphs on the beach that you can get from the promenade with a terrace with sea views, the river Stikene and the Zimovia Strait. The Interpretation Centre and Petroglyph Beach, are other interests that you have to visit in Wrangell.

Vancouver (Canada)

Vancouver is the third largest city in British Columbia and is considered to be one of the most attractive cities to live in the world. Its location by the sea and nearby mountains is popular for tourists and is often compared to Sydney and Rio de Janeiro. It is a cosmopolitan city with the flashing skyscrapers and tourist centers. Places to visit in Vancouver: the Anthropological Museum and its surroundings, Gastown, Granville Island, Chinatown, Waterfront Canada Place, World Science Centre, North Vancouver, West Vancouver, Stanley Park, Vancouver Aquarium, University of British Columbia (UBC), Mountains and Beaches.