One of the prime benefits of traveling with Virtuoso is getting expert advise from true insiders. Case in point: Our Alaskan connections live and work across the Great Land, so they can guide you away from the trampled track and let you live Alaska like a local. Here's the inside scoop on the Inside Passage.
Skagway
Eat at: For a light lunch, try Sabrosa's (off Broadway near 6th). Tucked into a tiny alleyway, this cozy cafe serves tasty, inexpensive Alaskan-Tex-Mex fare and has a nice (albeit small) outdoor courtyard. * Or, save your appetite for the Stowaway Cafe (205 Congress Way), known for its wonderfully "Alaskan-eclectic" ambiance, succulent seafood and inviting deck overlooking the harbor. The blackened pepper prawns are so good, you'll want to lick the plate.
Shop at: Rosemary, the owner of Lynch & Kennedy (3rd and Broadway), has a great eye and a soft spot for local artisans. Look for interesting jewelry, carved ivory pieces, and original paintings and sculptures. * Also, stop by Skagway Artworks (555 Broadway #C), a small gallery owned and operted by local artists Ralf Gorichanaz and Tina Cyr. Ralf carves Alaskan fossil ivories, while Tina specializes in watercolors and beaded jewelry.
Visit: Stretch your legs and escape the crowds with the one-mile roundtrip Lower Dewey Lake Hike. The beginning is challenging, but the trek quickly levels out and skirts a pretty alpine lake.
Juneau
Eat at: The funky little Silverbow Bakery (120 Second St) makes bagels that would impress any New yorker, along with daily lunch and bread specials. (The bakery is connected to The Back Room Theatre, the only cinema along the Inside Passage that serves cocktails and dinner). * Another good choice for lunch or dinner is Wild Spice Cafe (140 Seward St), an upscale Mongolian grill-style restaurant with straight-from-the-water-fresh Alaskan seafood and amazing sauces.
Shop at: Relatively off the tourist route, the gift shop at the Alaska State Museum (394 Whittier St) sells an interesting array of authentic native masks, baskets, bentwood boxes, and other original artwork. * The unconventional Annie Kaill's Gallery (244 Front St) highlights Alaskan artists whose works actually hang in locals' homes.
Visit: About 10 miles beyond the city center lies the mysteriously serene Shrine of St Therese, located on a tiny island accessible by a foot-trail causeway. It also offers great views of the marine life-filled Lynn Canal.
Sitka
Eat at: Hands down, the choice here is Ludvig's Bistro (256 Katlian Dr), one of the best restaurants in Southeast Alaska. Named for the owner's beloved dog, this fun, festive venue features imaginative decor and afternoon tapas, perfect for a break from sightseeing. If you're overnighting in Sitka, dinner is a must.
Shop at: The Sitka Rose Gallery (419 Lincoln St), located in a charming old house, is filled with Alaskan art in all price ranges, from wonderful wood block prints to significant bronze sculptures. * Another smart choice: The Goldsmith Gallery (407 Lincoln St), which offers the same quality of art pieces available at the original Skagway gallery.
Visit: Spend some time wandering the Sheldon Jackson Museum (104 College Dr). With more than 5,000 pieces of Native artworks and everyday objects, it is undoubtedly the finest collection in all of Alaska.
Ketchikan
Eat at: Get great food and even better views at the WestCoast Cape Fox Lodge (800 Venetia Way). The lodge sits on a hill overlooking the town; if you're arriving by cruise ship, you can take the funicular from the waterfront. * Tasty treats from KetchiCandles (315 Mission St) always make a nice gift to take home (if you don't eat them first). * Near the candy store, Salmon, Etc. (322 Mission St) sells great smoked salmon.
Shop at: The Scanlon Gallery (318 Mission St) offers fine artworks from a wide variety of Alaskan artists. * And make sure to stop by The Soho Coho (5 Creek St), a gallery in the historic Star Building where beloved Alaskan artist Ray Troll offers his witty and satirical pop imagery.
Visit: Your kids will never forget their visit to the Deer Mountain Tribal Hatchery and Eagle Center (1158 Salmon Rd), where they can actually feed the tiny salmon and see the bald eagles up close.
Information on Alaska cruises can be found here:
http://www.celebritycruisedestinations.com/celebrity-cruises-alaska.html
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