Alaska Cruise sites.

Ok so although I should update on what is not going on in my life 😛  I rather write about the stops that I know of for different ports of call in Alaska on the Alaskan cruises since so many have been on them, will be on them and hope to be on them.  So from me, an Alaskan, I will tell you what I know about some of the places.

Anchorage – Pretty much my home since I use to live 45 miles north of Anchorage.  Anchorage is the largest city in Alaska.  It is the unofficial capital of the State.  Anchorage is the only city in the state that is over 100,000 people. There are many different sites to see here.  If you want some Native culture there is the Native Heritage Center.  I haven’t been there myself but everyone says that it is really great.  For food there are a few different choices.  The two that I most recommend are Humpy’s and The Sourdough Mining Company.  Humpy’s is mostly really good fish.  In the Summertime it tends to be what is running during the season.  Since you will only be doing the cruise in the Summertime you don’t need to worry about the non-fishing season 🙂  I love SDMC.  You have to go there if you get a chance.  Most ships that stop in Anchorage (or have a train from Whittier) will take you there for a meal.  You HAVE to have the corn fritters.  Every meal comes with self serve soft ice cream too.  The atmosphere is laid back, the food is really good and at dinner time they have a Gold Rush story going on outside.  Right across the parking lot is the Alaska Wildberry Products store.  Chocolates made in Alaska.  The largest Chocolate Fountain in the USA.  Great gifts for yourself and family and friends that aren’t there with you.  You can Enjoy free samples and many different kinds of candies.  If you like don’t mind fruit and chocolate mixing, try some of the alaska flavors.  The Jelly center ones have some local flavors like Fireweed.  It is a fun place to check out and there is a little park, ice cream stand, picture area and reindeer.  They make you pay to see the reindeer which is STUPID.  You would be smart, if you have time, to drive out to Palmer and go to the Reindeer farm.  You can go into the pen,feed and pet the reindeer.  They have a few orphan moose and deer.  They also have horse rides that you can go on too.  Also, if you have a lot of time go to the Valley. The Valley in Palmer and Wasilla.  I’m from Wasilla.  You need to go out to Hatcher’s Pass.  There is an old Gold mine up there and so much history.  There are SO many picture ops there.  You have to check it out if you have the time and the weather is nice.

Denali –  Most cruises will have a train trip option to go to Denali National park for the day.  The park is very nice.  It is iffy on if you will get to see many animals though since the park is so large.  The best way to see the park is to take a hrelicopter ride over the park.  Era Helicopters is located in Lynx Creek right outside of the park entrance.  The train stops here and buses will take you to the park and vans will pick you up for rafting or the helicopters if you have chosen to do these options.  Era has two options that I know of.  You can take the flight over the park and then there is another option of walking on the glacier.  Both are good.  My sister works there in the summer too so I know what’s going on there.  If you are on a Princess cruise they have a huge hotel there too that I think that cruises will let you stay at for the night since I believe that they are in Anchorage for more than one day.  There is some good pizza there too at a small pizza place right in the middle of town.  There is also the choice of taking a guided trail ride around the area too.  The town is small, growing more each year but it does pretty much shut down in the wintertime.

Seward – This is a Tourist town.  People live there all year but 80% of the profit is made during the tourist season.  The main attraction here is the Sealife center.  You can check more information about it online.  It isn’t seaworld but they do really help the animals get better and send them back out into the wild.  The animals that you see in the pens, most of them will not go back but there are health reasons for that.  There are many little tourist shops here and some good Alaskan food as well.

Homer –  The Homer spit is a wonderful place to visit.  There are many tourist shops and many shops that sell items made in Alaska by Alaskans.  The food there is killer too.  At the beginning of the boardwalk is a really wonderful small fish place.  All of the food is caught that day.  I recommend that you tour the whole boardwalk. 

Haines – Haines another small town.  The main drag is food and tourist shops.  The Bamboo room is where I recommend that you grab something to eat but then again that is the only place that my family eats at while we are waiting for the ferry.  Not too much going on here but it you have time and a car you can tour some local scenes.

Juneau – This is home.  While the cruise ships down in downtown, the ferries come in on the other end of Juneau.  I love the smell of the place and when I get off the ferry it is usually aorund midnight and we drive through the forest.  It is the smell, the sights, the everything of that moment that makes me feel like I am home no matter where I am living.  I grew up in the "valley" but pretty much everything is downtown.  All the tourist shops are downtown as well at the capital building.  I do recommend that you go to the Library that is the big building to the right of the dock.  If you look around at the art and alaskan books they showcase you will see many pictures that my grandfather took.  My grandpa was the first mechanic for the airlines that became Alaska Airlines.  Another great place to check out his pictures would be to go to the Hanger and have lunch there.  I recommend that you stop by the Fudge shop downtown too.  There are many alaskan stores here that are great to checkout.  Stop by the Brewhouse where the Alaskan Amber ale is made.  The main thing to do here is to go to the Glacier.  I grew up here with the glacier in my backyard.  The place is great to visit and you will get some great pictures here.  Take the trails and explore the area.  You will love the pictures that you will get from Juneau.  If you have the option I suggest that you get a ride out to the Shrine as the views are killer.  Beautiful sights and the chapel is wonderful to visit and there is a little gift shop that is usually on the honor system so no credit cards here 🙂  Go take a drive out to the college and visit the rainforest.  That is right folks, the rainforest.  Juneau is a rainforest.  Growing up there you do everything in the rain but keep in mind that it is usually is a light rain, not bad drenching rains.  Just eplore the place and it will draw you in.  I was born here and will always have a special place in my heart for it.

Valdez – There is not much here.  I say

that only because the one time I was here I didn’t see anything.  I suppose there has to be something…well the pipeline but aside from that there is just a lot of history here.

 So there you go.  I f you want to know more or about different places in Alaska, let me know and I will do what I can in giving you the info.