18 Nights Alaska

Dramatic mountains and soaring skyscrapers kiss the sea in this booming British Columbian metropolis. Known as the "Hollywood of the North," Vancouver is stunningly beautiful and richly diverse - highlighted by dense forests, verdant parks, intimate coffeehouses and seaside markets.

This 1,000-mile long Alaskan seaway is a photographer's paradise. Calm, protected waters play host to sea lions, sea otters and migrating whales, and beaches and coves provide sanctuaries for moose, deer and bears. Bald eagles soar the skies overhead.

Sitka's past is a unique blend of Tlingit culture and Russian history. It lies at the heart of the largest temperate rain forest in the world, the Tongass National Forest. Island-studded waters and stately spruce forests make Sitka perhaps the most beautiful seaside town in Alaska.

Enjoy Anchorage's fine restaurants, frontier saloons, museums and art galleries. Visit the Alaska Zoo and Potter's Marsh. Head north to Eklutna Village Historical Park and the St. Nicholas Russian Church. Take an excursion to flightsee Columbia Glacier; fly to a lodge for salmon and trout fishing; visit Lake Clark Wilderness Preserve in bear country; or pan for gold nuggets at Crow Creek Mine.

Enjoy Anchorage's fine restaurants, frontier saloons, museums and art galleries. Visit the Alaska Zoo and Potter's Marsh. Head north to Eklutna Village Historical Park and the St. Nicholas Russian Church. Take an excursion to flightsee Columbia Glacier; fly to a lodge for salmon and trout fishing; visit Lake Clark Wilderness Preserve in bear country; or pan for gold nuggets at Crow Creek Mine.

Homer is a nature lovers nirvana where common sights can include moose grazing, a black bear crossing the road or porpoises playing in the surf. The charming seaside city, overlooking Kachemak Bay and the Kenai Mountains, can be the starting point for a multitude of exciting adventures, including glacier skiing and viewing and guided kayak tours. Naturally splendid Kachemak State Park offers even more outdoor fun, with miles of excellent backcountry hiking trails. Explore nearby Halibut Cove, a unique fishing and artists enclave where the roads are made of water. Or head to downtown Homer to sample delicious seafood, art galleries, museums and shops that sell locally made crafts. A trip to Homer would not be complete without casting a rod for salmon or halibut, the areas major catches. Head to the Homer Spit and try your luck from the shore or join a chartered fishing boat excursion. No matter which activities you choose, a weekend in Homer is sure to be an unforgettable experienc

Kodiak is one of seven communities and the main city on Kodiak Island, Kodiak Island Borough, in the U.S. state of Alaska.

Valdez is located on the north shore of Port Valdez, a deepwater fjord in Prince William Sound. It originated as a disembarkation point for men seeking a route to the Klondike gold fields. Known as "Alaska's Little Switzerland", Valdez's frosted mountains, towering glaciers and pristine lakes, rivers and inlets are a photographer's paradise.

This massive glacier sprawls over 1,300 square miles, and it is the longest river of ice in North America. Intimate inlets, mysterious ice caves and blue ice slabs are some of the incredible natural wonders of this gargantuan formation. Also known as the "Galloping Glacier", it once advanced 47 feet in a single day.

Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve contains some of the world's most impressive tidewater glaciers. For centuries, it laid buried beneath a mile-thick ice sheet. This ice has retreated over the last two centuries, exhuming a raw, misty realm of steep-sided fjords.

Alaska's capital city features luring scenery that often seems surreal. Tracy Arm Fjord, Mendenhall Glacier, the Juneau Icefield and Glacier Bay National Park offer unparalleled glacier viewing, and The Tongass Rainforest climate boasts lush terrain and captivating wildlife.

Nestled on an island at the mouth of the mighty Stikine River, this veiled Alaskan frontier port offers encounters with sea lions, calving glaciers, bald eagles and snow-dusted peaks. Its mysterious petroglyphs offer insight into thousands of years of fascinating tribal life.

Located in the Tongass National Forest and close to Misty Fjords National Monument, Ketchikan is the "Salmon Capital of the World" and Alaska's 1st City. The town's colourful past is evident in the Indian villages and totem poles that grace its land.

Situated off the shores of continental British Columbia on secluded Kaien Island, Prince Rupert is steeped in the history of the Pacific Northwest. The area is the heart of Tsimshian Nation and is home also to other First Nations, including Haida, Gitksan and Nisgaa people. Visitors can learn more about the lands original inhabitants at the First Nations Carving Shed or by taking a guided tour of Prince Ruperts impressive Totem Pole collection, featuring both Tsimshian and Haida works.

This 1,000-mile long Alaskan seaway is a photographer's paradise. Calm, protected waters play host to sea lions, sea otters and migrating whales, and beaches and coves provide sanctuaries for moose, deer and bears. Bald eagles soar the skies overhead.

Dramatic mountains and soaring skyscrapers kiss the sea in this booming British Columbian metropolis. Known as the "Hollywood of the North," Vancouver is stunningly beautiful and richly diverse - highlighted by dense forests, verdant parks, intimate coffeehouses and seaside markets.