Inside Passage Activity Guide: Exploring Major Ports of Call in Southeast Alaska [Paperback]

Nancy Thalia Reynolds (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 29, 2005

Because of their isolation from one another, each of Alaska’s Inside Passage communities is unique, with a personality and ambience all its own. Russian-accented Sitka has little in common with the busy, working city of Ketchikan. State capitol Juneau has both metropolitan amenities and easy access to the glorious outdoors. Skagway flaunts its vibrant Klondike past, while Haines offers charms in a lower key. This informative guide covers these and all the other major destinations along this popular route, including native culture spots in the Alaska panhandle. Reliable recommendations for where to stay and dine include both haute and rustic while activities span a variety of adventures: a historical walking tour, a whale-watching cruise, fishing, or flight-seeing to name just a few. Sidebar essays feature topics such as “Ferry Breaks” — sightseeing options for visitors with only a two- or three-hour layover — and “Good Buys,” showcasing items created and sold only at that destination. Easy-to-follow walking tours keyed to detailed town maps let visitors stay on track or veer off the beaten path.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Nancy Thalia Reynolds is the author of Going Places: Alaska and The Yukon for Families and the coauthor of Going Places: Family Getaways in the Pacific Northwest. She lives in Shoreline, WA.

Product Details

• Paperback: 264 pages
• Publisher: Sasquatch Books (November 29, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1570614490
• ISBN-13: 978-1570614491
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 4.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #659,351 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just What A Cruiser Needs for an Inside Passage Experience, April 15, 2007

By 

Jennifer StAntoine "ladyjadegd" (Escondido, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Inside Passage Activity Guide: Exploring Major Ports of Call in Southeast Alaska (Paperback)

I have not yet taken my Alaska cruise, but I am so happy that I discovered this book. Each Port of Call is listed and then suggestions are made for different lengths of time that you might be there. As an example, for Ketchikan, the reader gets a slice of the local history and facts (climate, etc)with a map of the town. Next, recommendations of things to do in four hours are listed. This includes a suggested walking tour of the city, if you just want to be sure to hit all of the main sites within walking distance of the ship.

Both sights and tours are discussed, including listing several tour companies that provide different options for travelers (again, using Ketchikan tours by bus, classic car or horse drawn carriages are available - details are provided). The next section gives recommendations for travelers who will be at the Port for a full day and then there is a section on visiting for two or more days.

Be warned that this is not a picture book. While there are a few pictures, you will find much more details than pictures. This book is designed to help the cruiser plan what sights they want to visit and provides excellent detail of the different sights, tours and shows that are available.

I am very excited about this book and have started planning what I'll be doing once I hit each stop on my cruise next September. I highly recommend this book if you want to know as much as possible about the area and the options, rather than just taking cruise sponsored tours or shopping.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Inside the Inside Passage, April 28, 2006

By 

William Moreau (Colorado) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Inside Passage Activity Guide: Exploring Major Ports of Call in Southeast Alaska (Paperback)

This 250-page book contains factual information regarding many activities at the ports of Ketchikan, Sitka, Juneau, Haines and Skagway. The ports activities are divided up by the amount of time you have to participate in the activity. This is a text heavy book without many images. The descriptions are short and concise including addresses and contact numbers for the activities. The problem is that there is not enough of a description or recommendation to allow the reader to pre-plan which activities they really would like to do.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great guide!, September 6, 2010

By 

CrazyEye - See all my reviews

This review is from: Inside Passage Activity Guide: Exploring Major Ports of Call in Southeast Alaska (Paperback)

This is one of the few cruise-centric guides I found that doesn't waste half of the book discussing how to choose your cruise line. Instead, it focuses on how to spend your time wisely in each port (Ketchikan, Sitka, Juneau, Haines, and Skagway). For each port there is a concise introduction, then suggestions for activities that can be done in <4 hour, 1 day, and 2+ days. It covers more of the less-touristy activities than other books I've seen. I highly recommend this book.