cruise port

Icy Strait Point, Alaska isn't the most well-known cruise port in Alaska, but it is quickly becoming a must-visit destination for cruisers visiting Alaska. In fact, based on what I've been reading since first introduced to it a year ago by our friends at Norwegian Cruise Line, it might just be the destination that draws you back to Alaska after you've checked the state off your travel bucket list.

 Skagway Alaska is one of the most popular cruise ports in Alaska and while it is a town - the area is also a National Park known as the "Skagway: Gateway to the Klondike". This is due to the port's proximity to White Pass where thousands of miners would journey on their way to the gold fields. Today though, the town of Skagway is a fun place to go and explore both the rich - and sordid! - gold rush history as well as the amazing natural beauty offered by the surrounding territory. What makes this all even more unique is that Skagway was one of the original Alaskan cruise ports - dating back to 1923 so there's that history and culture as well!

Unlike some cruise destinations in Alaska, Ketchikan is a destination that is thriving beyond simply cruise tourism. Luckily for cruise visitors, this means that there is a diverse selection of awesome cruise excursion options ranging from exploring Native American culture to hiking and outdoor adventures, as well as obviously fishing for salmon! Ketchikan after all is the "Salmon Capital of the World"!

Juneau is the capital of Alaska and one of the largest cities in South East Alaska. One of the things that makes this city pretty unique is that the Mendenhall Glacier is located not far from downtown and unlike other spots in Alaska, you can actually see it without having to book an expensive excursion. However, there's a lot more to do in the area, so let's take a look at some of our picks for the top things to do in Juneau.

This was my first time visiting the west coast of Mexico so I wasn't really sure what to expect - and frankly all you hear these days about the Pacific coast is about how dangerous it is. While that may be true in spots, during a recent tour of Ensenada Mexico I found it a very fun and unusual, with more to do than a frankly was expecting.

Unlike the Caribbean cruise ports I am used to, Ensenada is a real town with people that lead real lives and aren't just there to look pretty and offer excursions to rich American tourists. However there is some of that too, though it was more like visiting a regular city vs a sanitized "made for tourists" experience.