An included excursion takes you by train through the heart of Gold Rush country to White Pass Summit and beyond
old Petersburg, discover the well-kept homes and businesses along Sing Lee Alley, many of which are decorated with floral rosemaling, an old Norwegian folk art. Much of the street is built on pilings over Hammer Slough – providing a terrific photo opportunity – including the 1912 Sons of Norway Lodge, on the National Register of Historic Places. There enjoy a dance performance and coffee and pastries before getting to know the local fishing industry on a guided waterfront walk. Use an underwater camera to view undersea harbor life; this afternoon the camera is reserved just for Tauck guests. Meals BLD
5. CRUISING TRACY ARM FJORD Hit the decks with your camera ready for one of the highlights of your Alaska cruise: a day in the Tracy Arm Fjord. The drama of the sheer cliffs and towering waterfalls is rivaled only by the massive chunks of ice scattered across the water, like so many ice sculptures. Calved from the glacier at the head of the fjord, they come in every shade of blue and white – even seemingly fluorescent. Don’t be surprised to find families of seals sunning themselves on the ice – and noting your arrival with interest. Also keep an eye open for orcas and, on the rugged cliffs, mountain goats. Soaking it all in aboard your yacht, get an insider’s view of this special corner of the wilderness from presentations by Tauck’s onboard naturalist. Meals BLD
6. EAGLE REFUGE & ANCIENT KLUKWAN Anchor in Haines, dress warmly, and pack extra socks for a day that starts with a drive along Haines Highway – a National Scenic Byway lined with deep green rainforest and snow-topped mountains – to the Chilkat River. Board a float* for a gentle ride through the Alaska Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve – the largest concentration of bald eagles in the world; the river is filled with salmon, one of their favorite snacks. Dock in remote Klukwan for a visit to the ancient Chilkat Indian Village for a Tlingit tribal performance and insights into local culture and customs. Tour a traditional longhouse; a salmon smokehouse and drying house; and a shed where artists deftly wield a Stone Age tool called an adze to carve totems and canoes. Before Le Soléal cruises on to Skagway, spend an afternoon pursuing your own interests in Haines; you might want to poke around the shops, visit the National Historic Landmark Fort Seward, or check out
Explore Norwegian-Alaskan culture off the beaten track in Petersburg 28
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