Vancouver, Alaska & the Pacific Northwest

Vancouver is one of North America’s most liveable cities and a superb place to begin your Alaska voyage. Explore the Museum of Anthropology and the Vancouver Art Museum for culture. History flourishes in the Gastown district, which borders vibrant Chinatown. Or take a break from the bustle in Stanley Park, one of the continent’s largest urban parks.

Totem poles are one of Ketchikan’s chief attractions, and the best places to view them are Saxman Village and Totem Bight State Park. Drop by the Southeast Alaska Discovery Center to learn about the local cultures and ecosystems.

Called “Shee Atika” by the Tlingit Indians, then “New Archangel” by the Russians who ousted them, Sitka boasts a multicultural heritage. Two dozen of its attractions are on the National Register of Historic Places, including Castle Hill and Building 29, a structure built by the Russians in 1835. The Sheldon Jackson Museum exhibits one of Alaska’s oldest native culture collections.

Once the chaotic gateway to the Klondike Gold Rush, Skagway has traded the frenzy of 1898 for one of Alaska’s best-preserved historic streetscapes. Walk the wooden boardwalks of Broadway Street, lined with saloons and storefronts straight from the gold rush era, now protected as a National Historic Park. For the best views of the surrounding mountains and fjords, board the White Pass & Yukon Route railway — a narrow-gauge line that climbs to nearly 900 metres through some of the most dramatic scenery in the north.

For a state capital, Juneau maintains a surprising small-town charm, in part because it can only be reached by sea or air due to the surrounding wilderness. Collections from the indigenous people are displayed in the Alaska State Museum. Visit Mendenhall Glacier for outdoor adventure.

Once a Tlingit Indian stronghold, then a Russian outpost, and finally an American settlement in 1867, Wrangell has endured dramatic change and honors it. See a preserved tribal house on Chief Shakes Island. Learn about the three gold rushes that transformed the area in the Wrangell Museum. Behold the ancient petroglyphs carved into the rocks on the nearby beaches.

Western Canada’s oldest city, Victoria proudly displays its British heritage. Explore lavish Craigdarroch Castle, built in the late 1800s for a Scottish coal baron. Trace the area’s early British seafarers in the Marine Museum of British Columbia. There’s even a Royal London Wax Museum with likenesses of King Henry VIII and Winston Churchill.

Head to the top of the famed Space Needle, enjoy the performers in Pioneer Square, watch fish-tossing in legendary Pike Place Market or spend the afternoon in the impressive Seattle Art Museum. Take in the groovy Experience Music Project or the fascinating Pacific Science Center. Dive into the sea at the Seattle Aquarium or take to the skies at the Museum of Flight.

Your holiday comes to an end today. Interested in extending you stay? Ask us about our amazing range of packages available or speak with a Cruise Travel Advisor who will be able to customise your holiday with you.