ALASKA'S INSIDE PASSAGE
Review by Barb & Ron Kroll
Alaska's Inside Passage
(Fodor's Compass American Guides) ISBN 1-400014808
Alaska Inside Passage cruises are offered by several cruise lines. In 1897, gold rush stampeders traversed it to Skagway on route to The Chilkoot Pass Trail and the Klondike.
Ann Chandonner tells readers to "Get set for a sensory immersion in nature's splendor." Alaska's Inside Passage helps you plan your trip, with maps, frequently asked questions (FAQs), Kids Stuff, Walking Tours, Brief Excursions and Longer Outings sections.
Route maps
This practical, well-written, guidebook features good photos. It includes many tips and information for planning an Alaska cruise.
Images and detailed color maps illustrate this Alaska cruise guide.
Shore excursions
Chandonnet outlines a cruise through the Inside Passage, starting at Ketchikan and going north to Wrangell, Juneau, Skagway, Haines, Glacier Bay National Park and Sitka. She recommends exploring rain forests, glaciers and fjords along the route.
Short essays describe B.C. and Alaska west coast shore excursions to see totem poles, glaciers, native masks, gold mining and wildlife. Plentiful FAQs include Alaska shore excursion suggestions for children.
Skagway (Tlingit term meaning "place where the north wind blows"), features essays on history and current attractions. Alaska cruise shore excursions include the ghost town Dyea, touring Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park, Skagway historic district section, White Pass & Yukon Railway excursions to White Pass and hiking The Chilkoot Pass Trail.
Contents
- Introduction
- The land and the people
- A rare rain forest
- The glaciers
- Native Alaskans
- Native Traditions
- The explorers' impact
- New claims to southeast Alaska
- Ketchikan
- Wrangell
- Petersburg
- Juneau
- Skagway
- Haines
- Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve
- Sitka
- Practical information
- Animal and bird watching
- Animal safety
- Antiquities laws
- Boating
- Climate
- Clothing
- Festivals and annual events
- Fishing
- Flightseeing
- Food
- Getting around
- Gold panning
- Lodging & camping
- Shopping
- Survival
- Time
- Useful contacts
- Recommended reading
- Index
Author
Ann Chandonnet is the author of more than a dozen books, including Gold Rush Grub, The Alaska Heritage Seafood Cookbook and Alaska's Arts, Crafts & Collectibles. She has lived more than 30 years in Alaska, exploring it by foot, snowshoe, air and water.