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Anchorage is a modern-day boom town, growing from a circle of railroad tents back in
1914 to the largest city in Alaska. Today Anchorage has a big city skyline and enviable
cultural offerings, including the outstanding Museum of Art and History. Yet many
side-streets are still unpaved, and the locals have the unpolished charm of the frontier.
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The stunning amphitheater of glaciers and granite peaks is best viewed from the sea.
The ice in Glacier Bay fe ll as snow centuries ago, on the mountains that ring the bay.
Compressed by its own tremendous weight it flows seaward, producing some of the
fastest-moving glaciers known. In the summer, rare Humpback whales come here to feed -
with luck you'll see one of these gentle giants.
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75 miles long and covering over 1,350 square miles in area, the Hubbard Glacier is the
largest tide-water glacier in North America. It is also one of the most impressive, a
300-foot wall of ice rising sheer and jagged from the ocean. You may hear the rumble and
see the monumental splash as the glacier breaks off in great ice chunks, known, as
"calves."
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Protected from the open sea by forested isles, sheltered from windy mainland by the
tallest coastal mountains in the world, this 1,000 mile waterway seems custom made by
nature for a cruise. The deep, calm waters of the passage meander between dense pine
forests where wild game abounds, with occasional rustic towns along the way.
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Alaska's capital can only be reached by air or sea, but it is well worth the effort to
enjoy the cosmopolitan atmosphere of the city, and its spectacular natural setting between
towering mountains and the sea. Visit the Mendenhall, the only glacier inside the city
limits, then return to the glory days of the Gold Rush at the historic Red Dog Saloon.
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Ketchikan is the salmon capital of the world, and a paradise for fishermen and nature
lovers alike. The canneries bustle the year 'round, while the rustic boardwalk on Creek
Street and the stilt buildings in the harbor preserve a distinct pioneer feel. Nearby is
Totem Bight, the world's largest collection of authentic totem poles.
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This is the heart of the Alaskan wilderness, a two million acre expanse of crystalline
lakes, thousand foot waterfalls, and towering mountains. Following the deep sea channels
that wind their way back into this natural wonderland, you will experience the eternal
beauty and serene silence of Misty Fjord, and unforgettable adventure.
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Queen of the Pacific Northwest, Seattle grew rich as the gateway to Alaska and the
Orient. Today it is among the world's most flourishing seaports, with nearly 50 miles of
wharves, as well as a trend setter of American Culture. Its natural attributes are no less
impressive, with the snow capped Cascades inland, and the gorgeous island strewn Puget
Sound out to sea.
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Guarded by the blunt volcanic dome of Mount Edgecumbe, Sitka has the richest history in
Alaska. Founded by Russian fur magnate Alexander Baronof in 1799, it celebrates it
heritage in distinctive architecture, like onion-domed St. Michael's cathedral. Visit the
Historic Park, with a ruined Indian fort where Tlingit Indians battled Russian settlers in
1804.
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Located at the northern end of the Inside Passage, Skagway is also the beginning of the
Chilkoot Trail, which led prospectors to the rich goldfields of the Klondike and the
Yukon. Once "the roughest town on earth," its Gold Rush Cemetery is full of
historic headstones. Skagway still has lively saloons, and townsfolk who love to dress up
in gold-rush garb.
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These showcases of glacial evolution are also art galleries of Nature, graced with
stunning ice sculptures in white and blue. The vast "Arms cut deep into the Coast
Mountains, branching in smaller fjords covered with virgin spruce and hemlock. With luck
you could see brown bear fishing for salmon, a porpoise, and orca, even a Humpback whale.
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The Most northerly all-year port in North America, Valdez" prized harbor was
discovered by Spanish explorers om 1790. The town itself didn't appear until 1898, when it
became a gold rush center. In the 1970's Valdez hosted a second rush, this time for
"black gold," becoming the southern terminus ofthe trans-Alaskan pipeline that
starts in Prudhoe Bay.
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Flower-clad Vancouver is one of Canada's most charming cities. Visit the excellent
museums and historic Gastown district, or admire the natural setting of the city, tucked
between a sheltered cove and the majestic British Columbia mountains. Ties with the Orient
give Vancouver an Asian mystique, and make it China Town one of North America's largest,.
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Victoria, British Columbia
An oasis of greenery and order at the tip of Vancouver Island, Victoria is almost as
British as the queen for whom it was named. After a sumptuous High Tea at the Empress
Hotel, take a scarlet double-decker bus to the Victorian houses of Parliament, then lose
yourself in Butchart Gardens, where the British green thumb is raised to dazzling heights.
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