Vancouver toTokyo

Discover the vibrancy of this British Columbia cosmopolitan. Vancouver has eclectic neighbors to explore, exquisite seafood, and the largest natural park in North America.

Paddle a kayak on sheltered waters, take a floatplane to a remote mountain lake or try your hand at sportfishing in Ketchikan, salmon capital of the world and a paradise for fishermen and nature-lovers alike. A quiet city with rich Indian heritage, it hosts the world’s largest collection of authentic totem poles at Totem Bight as well as a rustic boardwalk, quaint restaurants perched on stilts above the water, and scores of fascinating shops and spectacular views from every vantage point.

This island high in the Russian Far East has been home to giant Arctic mammals for millennia, known as one of the last stomping grounds of the woolly mammoth. Scientists have found astonishing fossil evidence of the extinct beasts here, where polar bears, musk oxen, Arctic foxes and the world’s largest population of Pacific walrus now roam. As wildlife still far outnumbers human presence on the island, opportunities for observing the many magnificent species here abound.

Discover the flavor of the gold rush era in Skagway. In its heyday, this atmospheric frontier town was the largest in Alaska. During the height of the gold boom, Skagway was known as the gateway to the goldfields, and its population went from 2 to 10,000 in a single year. At one time it boasted 80 saloons and was known as the “roughest town on earth.” Although its population is now less than 1,000, its rip-roaring past will come alive as you stroll along Broadway or browse through the Trail of ’98 Museum’s outstanding collection of memorabilia.

Hubbard Glacier is a glacier located in eastern Alaska and part of Yukon, Canada, and named after Gardiner Hubbard.

Kenai Fjords National Park, Resurrection Bay, the SeaLife Center research aquarium, not to mention the charm of the town itself, all conspire to make Seward one of the most appealing destinations in Alaska. Seward began inconspicuously enough as a fishing village and point of arrival for those visiting Alaska. Now locals and visitors alike have discovered that there is enough to see and do here to merit a multi-day, if not indefinite, stay. You might paddle a kayak on the lookout for sea otters, hike one of the many beautiful hiking trails near town, embark on a fishing expedition or ride a wheeled sled pulled by a team of 12 spry and intelligent dogs. In town, visit the aforementioned SeaLife Center, where you can hold starfish and view puffins, seabirds, harbor seals and sea lions. Also investigate the Iditarod Trailhead and explore the quaint Seward Museum where you will learn the history of Seward as told by bits of memorabilia.

Snow-capped mountains reaching thousands of feet skyward and glistening glaciers combine to create a dramatic backdrop for Homer on the southern Kenai Peninsula. Take a cruise to one of Alaska’s largest marine sanctuaries where thousands of seabirds come to nest. Paddle among the sea otters at Otter Cove. There’s halibut fishing, of course, along with galleries of local artists, interpretive hiking with a naturalist … even a world-famous Alaskan cooking school. Name your flavor, it’s all here in Homer.

Often called “Alaska’s Emerald Isle,” Kodiak Island is indeed magnificently green thanks to plentiful summer rains. It is also one of North America’s largest commercial fishing ports; both fish and wildlife are abundant in the area. Hikers will find the area a paradise as well, with a choice of splendid trails inside Kodiak’s National Wildlife Refuge. Several fascinating museums exist here, including the Alutiiq Museum, which illuminates the cultural traditions of the indigenous Alutiiq people.

Nature’s splendor is on full display in this vibrant fishing port on the Japanese island of Hokkaido. Among its most famous natural attractions is Kushiro Marsh, an expansive wetlands area where you might spot deer, sea eagles and red-crowned cranes. Along the coast, a host of eateries at Fisherman’s Wharf offers the chance to savor freshly caught seafood. For an appreciation of the works of local artists and photographers, check out the Kushiro City Museum of Art.

Whether you reach the spectacular summit of Mt. Hakodate by gondola or invigorating hike, sprawling vistas of the town below offer a beautiful reward. Venture further into the rich natural wonders to Lake Onuma Park, where trails in every direction lead to adventure and tiny lake islands are just a canoe quest away. In town, the local fish market, modern Motomachi neighborhood and Russian Orthodox Church express the storied past and varied present-day culture of Hakodate.

Aomori is the capital city of Aomori Prefecture, in the Tōhoku region of Japan. As of 1 April 2020, the city had an estimated population of 278,964 in 136,457 households, and a population density of 340 people per square kilometer spread over the city

From the timeless beauty of the Meiji Shrine to the glittering Ginza District and impressive Tokyo Tower, Tokyo is a complex blend of East and West where houses of wood and paper stand beside soaring steel skyscrapers while kimono-clad women stroll along trendy teenagers. Here in this city of more than 11 million people, the timeless Imperial Palace bears testament to Japan’s enduring traditions, existing in a verdant parkland of isolation.