Southeast Alaska trip on short notice
 

Our son is going to be working in the Haines, Alaska area this summer, and my husband, myself, my sister (all of us in mid-50's) and our college age daughter are planning to visit him in Haines in late June/early July. I'm looking for some guidance for an 8 to 10 day itinerary concentrating on Southeast Alaska. We're considering Sitka, Glacier Bay National Park, Juneau (I imagine that's where we'll fly into; I'm still checking on that), Skagway, and obviously, a day or two in the immediate Haines area. We're interested in any ideas about other places to include (or exclude).

Since we just started our planning, I'm concerned that we're going at the height of tourist season and reservations could be a problem. I'm hoping to get this all settled as quickly as possible since we're doing this on such short notice.

Thanks so much for any advice.

I only did those places on a cruise, but I would like to go back and explore it more thoroughly in the future. I will be curious about your info :-).

Yes, get lodging reservations ASAP. We spent two nights in Skagway after departing the ferry. The hotel was on main street, great location but shared baths and I don't think plumbing had been updated since 1908. More modern hotel a little further out was already full months ahead for a late July date. I think Haines to Juneau via ferry is a day trip. We enjoyed the ferry. It's the way people in that area of AK visit (i.e. doctors appointments in Juneau). Try to avoid Skagway when a cruise boat is in town. It's very crowded. I believe you can visit from Haines via water taxi.

I was in SE Alaska Aug. '06 visiting all the places you mentioned - part traveling solo and part w/ a small cruise ship - Cruise West. Here is what I did; you're have a fabulous time!

1st day - Flight from east coast into Juneau by 1 PM. Reservation at Silverbow Inn B&B right downtown - great location, walking distance everywhere, loved atmosphere, wished I could have spent more time here. Bagel lunch at Silverbow and headed out on ft - Alaska Museum for several hrs and tried to find St. Nicholas Orthodox Church but wrong turn and walked through tourist/shopping areas downtown w/ thousands from cruise ship. Headed back to inn for quick nap before dinner, but slept for several hrs - jet lag - so missed dinner, decided to sleep and get ready for next day.

2nd day - Breakfast at Silverbow and 8 AM reservation on Fairweather ferry - fast ferry to Haines. Fabulous trip in comfortable seat in fw section w/ part of time looking through lg front glass w/ binoculars glued to face-lots of bald eagles but no whales. Arrived in Haines 10:15 and dropped suitcase at Ft. Seward B&B for 3rd nt. Left w/ just backpack (such freedom!) to tour Haines for the day - Ft. Wm. Seward site, AK Indian Arts Center and bought print, Sheldon Museum, and another museum w/ every AK mammal/bird/fish available to preserve done - sound cheesy but interesting film and animals right in your face - cool moose! Delicious salmon lunch on main st., disappointed Tsiku Canning not opened for day, passed on Hammer Museum, cute shops - starting to get some ideas for souvenirs. 5 PM Chilkat Cruise to Skagway - delightful quick trip taking pics outside - lots of bald eagles, waterfalls, but no whales. Arrived Skagway w/ reservation at Historic Skagway Inn - former brothel. Decided to have dinner there and disaster - waited 1 1/2 hrs for 3 appetitizers, 3rd never arrived - had taken off bill and headed to Days of '98 Show. I enjoyed this, back to B&B.

3rd day - Breakfast at B&B much better than dinner. Klondike Gold Rush NP for 2 different ranger walking tours-informative and I love these!, NP movie, lunch on main street - soup/sandwich great! - and 12:45 White Pass & Yukon RR. I couldn't believe how thoroughly I enjoyed this - don't miss it! Wasn't expecting much, but scenery is fabulous, narrator on board very interesting, and spent part of time on outside platform taking pics- absolutely gorgeous! Strolled streets on return, shopped, and mailed everything back home at pkg. store! No time for Klondike Gold Dredge Tour, but great dinner at restaurant near the docks - highly recommend - and 8 PM Chilkat Cruise back to Haines. Walked up hill to B&B where suitcase waited, comfortable rm and slept.

4th day - Breakfast at B&B OK, but interesting owner to talk w/. 10:45 Fairweather ferry back to Juneau - repeat of great trip w/ lots of eagles, no whales, wonderful ferry system. Taxi to Budget to pick up rental day for day - couldn't find reservation, but finally worked out. Returned to bakery for lunch and then to Mendelhall glacier - "OH MY GOSH" I said out loud as I drove up the rd. So glad I had own transportation so could take time at museum, walking around and lots of pics. Hoped to see bears on boardwalk by stream but none - no whales and no bears so far! Headed to St. Theresa Shrine at end of road - beautiful site and very peaceful, only person around. Back to Macauley Salmon Hatchery and again amazed by all the salmon - never seen anything like it. Cked into Goldbelt Hotel, dinner at fabulous restaurant across from bakery I meant to go 1st nt (King Crab legs too much to eat and no place for doggie bag!). Back to Mendenhall Glacier to watch for bears on boardwalk - tourists and locals out and evidence of bear activity but no bears. Needed to do laundry so spent couple of hrs doing this and sudoku.

5th day - Up early to look for bears again at Mendenhall Glacier boardwalk. Again evidence of bear activity, no bears now, and no people - didn't feel safe all alone from people or bears so headed out disappointed - but how disappointed can you be when you're in AK! Helicopter flight to tour glaciers and walk on one - please do this! I couldn't believe I was actually walking on a glacier! Flight so smooth, pilot informative; I'ld go again in a minute. Clear day so headed to Mt. Roberts tram - enjoyed this too w/ time on top, then back down to souvenir shop, return rental car, and back to Goldbelt to ck in w/ Cruise West.

Days 5-12 Cruise West AK Wilderness Inside Passage. I won't go into details here, but I loved this cruise. However, I would not recommend it for teenagers or people wanting glitsy of big cruise ships. I wanted the opposite, but accommodations fine, food absolutely delicious, naturalist so knowledgeable and informative, talks in evenings. Exactly what I wanted, but my boys so glad they weren't w/ me. They toured SE AK on a mega-ship w/ Dad. Visited Tracy Arm, Frederick Sound, Sitka, Glacier Bay NP, Icy Strait. Lots of time wildlife viewing and finally saw LOTs of whales and bears! Sitka (enjoyed museum and dancing program, totem pole park, orthodox church, and cute shops, but glad rest of time - other than stop at Glacier Bay for museum/talk and walk around - spent on water looking for wildlife, headed ashore once for nature walk, and another time to ck icebergs out in person - different icebergs even taste different!

Day 12 - Return to Juneau and flight to Ketchikan, water taxi from airport to town, and reservation at New York Hotel & Cafe. Taxi to Saxman Native Village Totem Pole Park for dancing program, and fabulous totem poles. Learned lots about them and wonderful examples. Wanted to do more but no time. Dinner on main street by water after strolling along houses/shops built over stream.

Day 13 - Flight back to east coast carrying fabulous memories of AK and the desire to return!

What I know I missed (and sure of others I can't remember): St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Juneau, Tsirku Canning Company in Haines, renting a car and heading out of Skagway into the Yukon, bear fishing for salmon, kayaking in Glacier Bay NP or anywhere for that matter, a little more time in Ketchikan. However, I saw and did lots since don't know when will return but I will one day!

I used to live in Juneau but it's been 25 years, so I won't give you recommendations other than it's great to just travel by ferry.

I thought it might to have the cruise ship schedule so you'll know the heavy tourist days.

Juneau's calendar is: http://www.traveljuneau.com/download...seSchedule.pdf

Skagways: www.skagway.com/cruiseshipcalendar.html

I can't find one for Haines but your son will know.

Thanks so much to each of you for all of the very helpful information. We really appreciate it!