Cruises from Haines

Haines, a port, located along the Alaskan Inside Passage, is surrounded by sightseeing musts. To the north is the gold rush blessed town of Skagway, to the southeast is Juneau, the capital city of Alaska and to the southwest is the beautiful Glacier Bay National Park, home to unique flora and fauna and wildlife.

Set in the Chilkat peninsula, along the Chilkat River, Haines enjoys a warmer and drier climate compared to the rest of the southeast Alaska. The spring and summer temperatures can range from 60-80 degrees F, making Haines the warmest place along the Inside Passage and also more hospitable to tourists from spring to fall.

Accessible by air, water and road, Haines is located where the ferry system of Alaska meets the road system. You can enter Alaska in Haines by taking a ferry from Bellingham, Washington and take the Alaskan Highway to go to central or south-central Alaska to go to cities like Fairbanks or Anchorage or take the ferry service to go to Skagway or travel further along the Inside Passage.

The main attraction of Haines is the majestic bald eagles. In October and November, they gather in thousands along the Chilkat River to prey off the salmon. This is the largest gathering of these once endangered species, which has made a come back from near extinction thanks to the efforts of the government and environment agencies. This year the bald eagle festival is going to be held from November 5th to November 8th in Haines. Visit the Alaska Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve, set up by the Alaskan government in 1982 near Haines to protect the bald eagles, see the gathering of these raptors and attend workshops, tours and live presentations. Daily shuttles can take you to the preserve from Haines. You will be able to see bald eagles in and around Haines if you take a wild life tour even in summer.

Before Haines became a booming mining town during the gold rush of the late 19th century, it was the site of a Chilkat Indian village. As a result today Haines still retains the arts and crafts of its past. If you are a lover of the arts, do not miss visiting the Centre of Arts, which has a display of native cultural artefacts like fringed blankets and weavings made out of yarn spun from the hair of mountain goats. Also if you are a fan of the quirky, visit the Hammer museum in Haines. With over 1400 hammers on display, this quaint museum takes stock of the man’s past through his progression in the use of tools.

Alaska’s staple activities like kayaking and fishing can also be done in Haines. Kayaks can be rented for half a day or full day. To fish in the Haines’ waters, you need a fishing license, which can be acquired from a local sports shop. In the summer, as the snow melts away, Haines also presents beautiful biking trails.