Glaciers to Timeless Japan

Head to the top of the famed Space Needle, enjoy the performers in Pioneer Square, watch fish-tossing in legendary Pike Place Market or spend the afternoon in the impressive Seattle Art Museum. Take in the groovy Experience Music Project or the fascinating Pacific Science Center. Dive into the sea at the Seattle Aquarium or take to the skies at the Museum of Flight.

Totem poles are one of Ketchikan’s chief attractions, and the best places to view them are Saxman Village and Totem Bight State Park. Drop by the Southeast Alaska Discovery Center to learn about the local cultures and ecosystems.

Called “Shee Atika” by the Tlingit Indians, then “New Archangel” by the Russians who ousted them, Sitka boasts a multicultural heritage. Two dozen of its attractions are on the National Register of Historic Places, including Castle Hill and Building 29, a structure built by the Russians in 1835. The Sheldon Jackson Museum exhibits one of Alaska’s oldest native culture collections.

Hoonah means “where the north wind doesn’t blow” in the language of the Tlingit Indians, who make up about 70% of the population of this village on the lee side of Chichagof Island. However, wildlife outnumbers everyone, so watch for bears, eagles and humpback whales, which migrate here in the summer.

With a population of only about 200, the small and quirky hamlet of Whittier is the gateway to beautiful Prince William Sound as well as Anchorage, which is only 60 miles away. Established as a secret military outpost during World War II, Whittier now attracts visitors for its unspoiled glaciers and wilderness. Glacier cruises along Prince William Sound make for a memorable afternoon – think sheer fjords, seaside mountains and calving tidal glaciers. A picturesque train journey to Anchorage along the Alaska Railroad is another fantastic diversion; you’ll enjoy awe-inspiring views of Turnagain Arm Fjord and Portage Valley. Chugach State Park is also nearby and excellent kayaking and hiking opportunities abound.

The tiny village of Kodiak clings to the “Emerald Isle” of Kodiak, which is known for its breathtaking natural beauty. In summer the island is a mosaic of flora that includes wildflowers, moss-laden spruce, Pacific red elder, and blueberries, which the brown bears feast on. You may also spot puffins, red foxes and killer whales.

Located on Amaknak Island and linked via bridge to Unalaska Island, Dutch Harbor is a place of historical significance, stunning natural beauty and resilient people. Walk in the footsteps of the indigenous Aleut, or Unangan, people by following trails established thousands of years ago. The paths take you through swaths of wildflowers dotting green valleys from which rise volcanic peaks surrounded by the sea, a windswept land so pristine you will forget that signs of civilization are nearby. Even so, Russian fur traders and American armed forces did make their marks here. The U.S established a naval base in 1940, and Dutch Harbor became a theater for World War II when the Japanese bombed it in 1942. While intriguing museums recall a turbulent past, today Dutch Harbor embraces the peaceful nature of its scenic surroundings and thrives as a fishing “village” that brings in the largest catch in the country.

Hakodate is one of the main cities on Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost island. Looming over the town is 334m-high Mount Hakodate. The mountain’s summit, reachable by aerial ropeway gondola, offers dramatic nighttime views. At its base is Motomachi, a neighborhood of steep streets with Western-style, early-20th-century buildings. A city landmark is the grand Old Public Hall of Hakodate Ward, built in 1910.

Miyako is a city located in Iwate Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 April 2020, the city had an estimated population of 51,150, and a population density of 41 persons per km². The total area of the city is 1,259.15 square kilometers.