Day 1 : Vancouver

In Vancouver, you're never out of sight of towering peaks--or of the sea. It is a prosperous city adorned with flowers lining the streets and lush greenery like Stanley Park. Museums offer fine collections of the dramatic Northwest native arts. Vancouver's Chinatown is the second-largest in the world. The waterfront Gastown district recalls the city's colorful past as a premier Pacific port since the days of the Clipper ships.

Day 2 : Inside Passage

Protected from the open sea by forested isles, sheltered from the windy mainland by the tallest coastal mountains in the world, this tranquil 1,000-mile waterway winds from British Columbia to Alaska's Gulf. The deep, calm waters of the passage meander between dense pine forests where wild game and soaring eagles abound, with occasional rustic towns along the way.

Day 3 : Ketchikan

Ketchikan is the salmon capital of the world. The canneries are busy, and the stream below Creek Street's rustic boardwalk bustles with life. Visit the ancient grove of Totem Bight, the largest collection of authentic totem poles anywhere. Make a flight to nearby Misty Fjords--a breathtaking vista of Alaska's unspoiled wilderness and America's newest national monument, or, try a little salmon fishing.

Day 4 : Tracy Arm Fjord

Day 5 : At Sea

Day 6 : Sitka

When Alaska belonged to Russia, Sitka was the capital and center for its fur trading empire. Today, Sitka's Russian heritage and magnificent setting make it an enchanting destination. The city features a harbor studded with islands, a backdrop of mountains, and spectacular Mt. Edgecumbe, a volcano often compared to Japan's Mt. Fuji. Sitka displays its past in such attractions as St. Michael's Cathedral with its striking onion-shaped dome, the Russian Blockhouse, and world famous New Archangel Dancers. Visit the Historic Park, with a ruined Indian fort where Tlingit Indians battled Russian settlers in 1804.

Day 7 : Juneau

Alaska's capital can't be reached by road. You fly or sail here to enjoy its greeting of dockside flags and flowers. It is surprisingly urban and cultured for being so remote. Visit the museum for insights into Inuit culture and crafts. Drive up to Mendenhall, the only glacier inside city limits! Or get an aerial view from a helicopter. Fish for silver salmon, or just enjoy some off the grill--then kick back at the Red Dog Saloon.

Day 8 : Haines

Alaska's heritage comes alive in the handcrafted artistry of the Tlingit (pronounced "Klink-it") Indians and in the lively performances of the Chilkat Dancers, with their brightly painted tribal masks. Take a walking tour of Haines and get a glimpse of the town's gold-rush history in local museums. You can visit the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve-Haines boasts the world's largest concentration of the magnificent birds, drawn to the area by the salmon-rich waters. Other shore excursions include a boat trip on Lake Chilkoot and a glacier country flightseeing trip.

Day 9 : At Sea

Day 10 : Valdez

Valdez is known as the "Switzerland of Alaska," a tribute to the splendid snow-capped mountains that surround this prosperous port. Once the gateway to the gold country, Valdez is now the southern terminus of the famous Alaskan Pipeline that carries "black gold" from the Arctic Ocean to an oil-thirsty world.

Day 11 : Seward

The city of Seward is located in southern coast Alaska in Kenai Peninsula Borough at the top of the Resurrection Bay. The city of Seward was founded back in 1902 as the end of the Alaska Rail Road which was built 1915-1923. The name of Seward was derived by Abraham Lincoln's secretary of state, who arbitrated the purchase of Alaska from Russia in 1867. The city of Seward suffered from 90% of the waterfront industry due to an earthquake in 1964. Due to this earthquake, six feet of the shoreline dropped along with the harbor and fuel docks.