Whittier, at the head of Prince William Sound, is a great base for Alaska's wild beauty. Boat or kayak through icy fjords for glaciated inlets and possible sea otters, seals, and whales. Hike to nearby mountains and waterfalls. The Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel, one of North America's longest, links the rugged wilderness to Whittier's harbor. The Prince William Sound Museum tells the town's history as a military outpost, naval port, rail terminal, and its role in WWII and the Cold War.

Icy Strait Point, built by Alaska Natives to welcome visitors to Chichagof Island, offers Tlingit culture in nearby Hoonah through music and dance. A restored cannery on the waterfront now has a museum, shops, and seafood restaurants. Enjoy fishing, ATV rainforest tours, or one of the world's longest, highest ziplines. See brown bears and birds with a guide, or watch humpbacks, orcas, and sea lions by boat, kayak, or ocean raft.

Sitka blends Alaska Native and Russian heritage. At Sitka National Historical Park, see the restored 19th-century Russian Bishop's House and a coastal trail lined with Tlingit and Haida totem poles. Other highlights include St. Michael's Cathedral and Baranof Castle, where Alaska was transferred from Russia to the U.S. in 1867. Beyond town, explore Tongass National Forest by hiking, kayaking, flightseeing, or boat trips to spot whales, sea otters, sea lions, bears, deer, and to fish Sitka Sound.

Wrangell, on its namesake island, is a historic town in Alaska's Inside Passage, ringed by Tongass National Forest. Home to the Tlingit for thousands of years, its culture shows in local art, traditions, and shoreline petroglyphs. Its past includes Russian and British outposts and a Gold Rush boom, preserved at the Wrangell Museum. Visitors come for bears at Anan Wildlife Observatory, Stikine River jet boat trips, LeConte Glacier icebergs, Rainbow Falls, and Mount Dewey.

Klawock, on Prince of Wales Island's rugged west coast, offers a glimpse of remote Alaskan wilderness and local Tlingit culture. Visit Klawock Totem Park for its totem poles and possible master carver demos. See black bears and eagles at Dog Salmon Fish Pass, fish for salmon or halibut, and enjoy whale-watching, rainforest hikes, or kayaking on Klawock Lake.

Vancouver, between the Pacific and Coast Mountains, blends urban sophistication with outdoor adventure. One of Canada's most diverse cities, it reflects Asian, Latin American and Aboriginal traditions. Highlights include historic Gastown, Granville Island, and Stanley Park's trails, totem poles and waterfront views. Nearby, Grouse Mountain offers hiking or a tram ride, and Capilano Suspension Bridge Park showcases rainforest walkways and cliffside views.