Prince william sound offers scenic beauty and calmer waters than you will find out of seward, ak or homer, ak. The 10 best things to do in whittier updated 2020 must. Join major marine tours the local whale experts as we search for orcas, distinguishable by their stately dorsal fins and fascinating social behaviors. Whittier, alaska, is a sleepy town on the west side of prince william sound, tucked between picturesque mountains. At the 2010 census the population was 220, up from 182 in 2000. Phillips 26 glacier cruise, out of whittier, will take you to 26 different glaciers in just 5 hours. Hotel suites, restaurant, bar, grocery, museum and more.
Alaska sightseeing, glacier tour and whale watching whittier. Getting to us phillips cruises alaska glacier tours. And major marines vessels, which have cozy heated cabins and an outdoor viewing area, can take you out to see both. How to see whales in alaska the best whale watching spots. Pastor brian hicks leads this church in the small town of whittier, ak.
The big change there since i left has been the tunnel. But you must first go to where the whales are swimming. Whittier was built to provide a safe port for access to central alaska during world war ii, with a tunnel to alow access to the other side of the chugach mountains. When i was there you had to drive your car up onto a railroad flatcar and pay a. We offer both direct shuttles and sightseeing tours with professional guides scheduled to the cruise line. Orca quest cruise in kenai fjords major marine tours. Whale watching in prince william sound whittier, alaska.
This familyrun company operating out of valdez will show you the best glaciers, with great customer service along the way. Our glacier cruises covid19 guest information alaska glacier and wildlife day cruises. We will travel to the outer reaches of prince william sound, where humpback, minke, and orca whales are a common sight. There are no buses or trains that operate tours to whittier in april. Explore internet access for communities within whittier. Whittier is the 5th most connected city in alaska ahead of anchorage, chugiak, eagle river, and seward, but behind girdwood. The city is also a port for the alaska marine highway. Enjoy cozy comforts on the highspeed catamaran and wander its outdoor decks as you come within 300 feet of massive tidewater glaciers. Anchorage tours and transfers provides the highest quality and most reliable transportation service between anchorage, seward, and whittier, alaska. Whittier, alaska is the gateway access point to prince william sound. Cruise prince william sound in alaska for a look at humpback, gray and orca whales. The trail to the falls is very manageable and a great hike, but the real payoff is if you continue past the falls after the trail breaks down and continue to the top 3mi total on the way out. They are curious and have been known to keep up with and even approach ships.
During the early stages of world war ii, general simon buckner commanded the defense of alaska and was concerned they would be attacked by air. Officials with the girdwood fire department and the whittier. Young humpback whale found dead tuesday along turnagain arm. Biologists believe its the same whale that drew spectators, scientists and police to mile 87 of the seward highway on monday. The city of whittier, alaska is at the head of the passage canal on the western edge of prince william sound. For a limited time in early summer, this cruise departs from seward in search of our favorite black and white marine mammal the orca.
Welcome to whittier, alaska, a community under one roof. I would recommend renting a car and driving to whittier. Zillow has 6 homes for sale in whittier ak matching. Alaska whale watching tours best in seward, whittier. Whittier is the wettest city in the united states, receiving an average of 197. Often you will find locals hanging out, workers passing through and catching a meal, or.
Many people requested that we design an alaska kayak tour that begins. Refer a member job postings download photos vic fam opportunities update. For the purposes of this web site, whale will be interpreted as being limited to the larger of the cetacean order of mammals known to the. Countless whales spend the summer near alaska shores feeding, and views of. Orcas live in the waters surrounding coastal alaska including outside seward, near kodiak, in whittiers prince william sound, in glacier bay, icy straight and in alaskas inside passage. Phillips cruises alaska glacier tours whittier prince. You can enjoy it either in your car or onboard the alaska railroad. There are 9 internet providers in whittier with 5 of those offering residential service.
A trained diver with a bit of experience, open eyes and a bright light will see northern ronquils and wolf eels, rockfish and lingcod, tube worms and hermit crabs. Seeing a colossal humpback whale take its deep, sounding dive with flukes flipping up above the surfaceor a killer whale leap in a spectacular, wavecrashing breachcan be one of the most breathtaking moments of your alaska experience. Whale watching is one of the top activities in alaskas prince william sound, where patient visitors are often rewarded with views of active orcas and humpback. Whittier is also a port for the alaska marine highway. Arrive in anchorage, alaskas largest city and the launching point for your kenai. Whittier airfare reservations have recently upturned buy your ticket today. Several videos i took in whittier alaska during a day trip from anchorage. With charter history since 1998, we have more than twice the fishing experience of most competitors. Prince william sound whale watching cruises are available out of valdez and whittier alaska and rate high amongst alaska cruise ship passengers and visitors alike. Travel alaska whittier traveler and vacation information.
Alaska railroad whittier shuttle passes stockpiles of stone needed for new track and road. Whittier is a city at the head of the passage canal in the u. Download a pdf copy of this itinerary for personal use. Get the monthly weather forecast for whittier, ak, including daily highlow, historical averages, to help you plan ahead. Whittier is also a port for the ferries on the alaska marine highway. Haha, seriously, i moved to whittier at the age of 2 in 1974 and lived there until 1986. Click the map to download a printable version that you can zoom and save. During the 22 hours of sunlight that bathe whittier, alaska each day in the summertime, the town at the mouth of prince william sound plays host to cruise ships and outdoor tours that bring in.
This whale can be tricky for whale watcher to spot, as. You can enjoy marine wildlife with whale watching from seward in kenai fjords national park. Whittier is an easy drive from anchorage by rental car, although additional time and toll money should be allowed for the tunnel. Phillips cruises alaska glacier tours whittier prince william sound. In 2000, the anton anderson memorial tunnel was overhauled for auto traffic and now is the longest railroadhighway tunnel in north america at 2. Whittier is an easy 63mile drive south of anchorage on the scenic seward highway or highway 1 on driving maps. Another name for the minke whale is the little piked whale. It is a fast swimmer, swimming at 1621 mph, spending very little time on the surface. Alaska whale watching includes where to see whales in alaska. The tunnel that connects whittier to the seward highway is a marvel of engineering. Day cruises out of seward and whittier combine the opportunity to whale. On any given day trip youll likely see huge rafts of sea otters, horned and tufted puffins, cormorants, humpback whales, or even bald eagles. Porcupines, black bear, mountain goats, salmon, humpback whales, sea otters, orcas, and harbor seals are.
Although anchorage itself in on upper cook inlet, the highest tides in the northern america, muddy, fastmoving water offers no use for boating. Plenty of whale tours let you watch the orcas and humpbacks as they breach and spout from the waterbut not many also let you eavesdrop on the big mammals conversations. When to see whales humpbacks can be seen in prince william sound anytime during the summer months, with may, june and july being the top months to catch a glimpse. Phillips cruises and tours, llc provides prince william sound glacier cruises to alaska residents and visitors from around the world. This 3 12hour tour out of juneau is equipped with an amplified hydrophone system so you can listen to the whales underwater, while also enjoying the lush rainforest views. See glaciers and wildlife up close from whittier, alaska. The city also averages 249 inches of snow each winter. The only road access to whittier is via a tunnel through a mountain. Horsetail falls trail whittier 2020 all you need to.
Young humpback whale found dead tuesday along turnagain. Whale watching is one of the top activities in alaska s prince william sound, where patient visitors are often rewarded with views of active orcas and humpback whales. Whittier is anchorages portal to prince william sound. Some of the terrain getting there is steep and not all of the rocks are entirely solid so watch your footing, especially with older folks. This small city where almost everyone lives in the same building can only be reached via north americas longest tunnel. Be sure to check out the local attractions on your drive, from numerous photo stops along scenic turnagain arm to the alaska wildlife conservation center, portage glacier, and the longest tunnel in north america. Whittier to anchorage narrated direct bus transfer for. Amazing underwater world revealed at smittys cove in whittier. Whittier is the closest port to anchorage, a very scenic 60 mile drive south on the seward highway.
For the current tunnel opening schedule and rates, please visit the alaska state whittier tunnel website. Whittierarea historical earthquake activity is above alaska state average. Enjoy cozy comforts on the highspeed catamaran and wander its. Our award winning glacier cruises depart from whittier alaska the gateway to.
In this alaskan town, every resident lives in the same. Whittier fishing charters, whale watching, glacier tours. Whale watching in anchorage starts with the belugas cruising in cook inlet. On april 23, 1943 workers completed the spur, which consisted of a 1mile tunnel through begich peak and a 2. The alaska railroad offers once daily service to whittier from anchorage via the glacier discovery train, and. Resurrection bay and kenai fjords are great places to see wildlife and glaciers. Whittier fishing charters we offer alaska fishing charters, whale watching, glacier tours if youre seeking a professional, experienced whittier fishing charter service in south central alaska, whittier marine charters is your choice. The fastest zip code in whittier for april 2020 is 99693.
If one of the whittier cruises is your final destination you might find following facts interesting. Alaska whale watching tours whalewatching in alaska. An impossibly long, singlelane tunnel is your only way into whittier, and your only way out. Browse photos, see new properties, get open house info, and research neighborhoods on trulia. Noaa fisheries and alaska marine mammal stranding network partners responded to reports of the stranded whale monday, speegle said. Book your tickets online for the top things to do in whittier, alaska on tripadvisor. Whittier is the conclusion or turnaround port of many alaskan cruises, with easy access to anchorage, 60 miles 96km away. Whale watching in prince william sound whittier, ak. Whittier real estate whittier ak homes for sale zillow. To protect the troops, general buckner recommended a facility. The water taxi will drop us off on knight island and return to whittier. The 2018 estimate was 205 people, almost all of whom live in a single building. Avoid the shuffle and crowds on the big buses and get the personal attention you deserve.
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