Adventure Guide to the Inside Passage & Coastal Alaska (Hunter Travel Guides)

The focus of this book is the Alaska Marine Highway, which serves as a lifeline for many coastal communities in Alaska. This ferry system - a total of nine boats - links tiny coastal communities and large cities alike. It runs from Washington, up the Inside Passage, all the way to the Aleitians in the far north, a total of 3,500 miles. The Adventure Guide to The Inside Passage & Coastal Alaska follows this route, telling you everything you need to know about the ships themselves, the sights and the towns. Tours on land - flightseeing, kayaking, canoeing, boating - are covered. The book is targeted at anyone traveling in this region, not just those taking the ferry, and has full information on what to see and do in each town, where to stay and eat and how to get out of town. Extensive details about wildlife, including the best places to see some, and how to be an eco-conscious traveler. Contents......Page 8 Introduction......Page 18 The Land......Page 20 The Cultures......Page 22 Wildlife......Page 33 Marine Life......Page 35 Land Animals......Page 56 Tongass National Forest......Page 72 Claciers......Page 82 The Aurora Borealis......Page 85 Traveler's Information......Page 86 When to Go, For How Long......Page 87 Climate Concerns......Page 90 Health......Page 92 Boating......Page 95 Wilderness Hiking & Camping......Page 98 Charters......Page 101 Expeditions & Outfitters......Page 102 Fishing & Hunting......Page 104 Photography......Page 105 Shopping......Page 108 Independent vs. Cruise Ship Travel......Page 110 The Good Traveler......Page 113 Suggested Reading......Page 115 The Best of Alaska......Page 117 The Alaska Marine Highway......Page 122 Cruise Ships......Page 134 Southeast Alaska & the Inside Passage......Page 140 Bellingham......Page 141 Bellingham to Ketchikan......Page 150 Prince Rupert......Page 155 Prince Rupert to Ketchikan......Page 161 Ketchikan......Page 162 Stewart-Hyder......Page 184 Prince of Wales Island......Page 187 Metlakatla......Page 196 Wrangell......Page 200 The Wrangell Narrows......Page 227 Petersburg......Page 228 Kake......Page 239 Juneau......Page 240 Hoonah......Page 264 Tenakee......Page 267 Angoon & Admiralty Island......Page 270 Pelican......Page 274 Gustavus......Page 276 Glacier Bay......Page 281 Sitka......Page 289 Haines......Page 309 Skagway......Page 321 The Spill......Page 336 Cruising Southcentral......Page 343 Yakutat......Page 344 Cordova......Page 348 Valdez......Page 357 Whittier & Prince William Sound......Page 368 Seward......Page 374 Homer......Page 386 Seldovia......Page 398 Kodiak......Page 401 The Aleutians & the Alaska Peninsula......Page 418 Chignik......Page 426 Sand Point......Page 428 King Cove......Page 430 Cold Bay......Page 431 False Pass......Page 432 Akutan......Page 433 Dutch Harbor/Unalaska......Page 435 The Alaska Highway......Page 444 Canadian Ports & BC Ferries......Page 448 Legalities & Customs......Page 450 Index......Page 454 Contents 8 Introduction 18 The Land 20 The Cultures 22 Wildlife 33 Marine Life 35 Land Animals 56 Tongass National Forest 72 Claciers 82 The Aurora Borealis 85 Basics 86 Traveler's Information 86 When to Go, For How Long 87 Climate Concerns 90 Health 92 Boating 95 Wilderness Hiking & Camping 98 Charters 101 Expeditions & Outfitters 102 Fishing & Hunting 104 Photography 105 Shopping 108 Independent vs. Cruise Ship Travel 110 The Good Traveler 113 Suggested Reading 115 The Best of Alaska 117 Transportation 122 The Alaska Marine Highway 122 Cruise Ships 134 Southeast Alaska & the Inside Passage 140 Bellingham 141 Bellingham to Ketchikan 150 Prince Rupert 155 Prince Rupert to Ketchikan 161 Ketchikan 162 Stewart-Hyder 184 Prince of Wales Island 187 Metlakatla 196 Wrangell 200 The Wrangell Narrows 227 Petersburg 228 Kake 239 Juneau 240 Hoonah 264 Tenakee 267 Angoon & Admiralty Island 270 Pelican 274 Gustavus 276 Glacier Bay 281 Sitka 289 Haines 309 Skagway 321 Southcentral 336 The Spill 336 Cruising Southcentral 343 Yakutat 344 Cordova 348 Valdez 357 Whittier & Prince William Sound 368 Seward 374 Homer 386 Seldovia 398 Kodiak 401 Southwest 418 The Aleutians & the Alaska Peninsula 418 Chignik 426 Sand Point 428 King Cove 430 Cold Bay 431 False Pass 432 Akutan 433 Dutch Harbor/Unalaska 435 Connections 444 The Alaska Highway 444 Canadian Ports & BC Ferries 448 Legalities & Customs 450 Index 454 Alaska has one of the best-developed tourist programs in the U.S. Nearly every city has an information office of some kind.