The 10 best things to do in whittier updated 2020 must. We will travel to the outer reaches of prince william sound, where humpback, minke, and orca whales are a common sight. Noaa fisheries and alaska marine mammal stranding network partners responded to reports of the stranded whale monday, speegle said. Phillips cruises alaska glacier tours whittier prince william sound. Arrive in anchorage, alaskas largest city and the launching point for your kenai. Whittier is the conclusion or turnaround port of many alaskan cruises, with easy access to anchorage, 60 miles 96km away. The city of whittier, alaska is at the head of the passage canal on the western edge of prince william sound. The tunnel that connects whittier to the seward highway is a marvel of engineering. An impossibly long, singlelane tunnel is your only way into whittier, and your only way out. Whittier is the 5th most connected city in alaska ahead of anchorage, chugiak, eagle river, and seward, but behind girdwood. Whittier fishing charters, whale watching, glacier tours.
But you must first go to where the whales are swimming. Whale watching in prince william sound whittier, alaska. Young humpback whale found dead tuesday along turnagain arm. Countless whales spend the summer near alaska shores feeding, and views of. On any given day trip youll likely see huge rafts of sea otters, horned and tufted puffins, cormorants, humpback whales, or even bald eagles. See glaciers and wildlife up close from whittier, alaska. Join major marine tours the local whale experts as we search for orcas, distinguishable by their stately dorsal fins and fascinating social behaviors. Whittier real estate whittier ak homes for sale zillow. The fastest zip code in whittier for april 2020 is 99693. Amazing underwater world revealed at smittys cove in whittier. Alaska whale watching tours whalewatching in alaska. Biologists believe its the same whale that drew spectators, scientists and police to mile 87 of the seward highway on monday.
Our glacier cruises covid19 guest information alaska glacier and wildlife day cruises. The city is also a port for the alaska marine highway. Zillow has 6 homes for sale in whittier ak matching. When i was there you had to drive your car up onto a railroad flatcar and pay a. Anchorage tours and transfers provides the highest quality and most reliable transportation service between anchorage, seward, and whittier, alaska. Whittier is an easy 63mile drive south of anchorage on the scenic seward highway or highway 1 on driving maps. Whittier is the wettest city in the united states, receiving an average of 197. To protect the troops, general buckner recommended a facility. 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. Phillips 26 glacier cruise, out of whittier, will take you to 26 different glaciers in just 5 hours. The half and fullday excursions offer an alaska salmon and prime rib buffet. Whittier is also a port for the alaska marine highway.
Getting to us phillips cruises alaska glacier tours. 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. You can enjoy it either in your car or onboard the alaska railroad. Whittier, alaska, is a sleepy town on the west side of prince william sound, tucked between picturesque mountains.
Officials with the girdwood fire department and the whittier. 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. 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. How to see whales in alaska the best whale watching spots. 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. Haha, seriously, i moved to whittier at the age of 2 in 1974 and lived there until 1986. We offer both direct shuttles and sightseeing tours with professional guides scheduled to the cruise line. Alaska sightseeing, glacier tour and whale watching whittier. Whale watching in anchorage starts with the belugas cruising in cook inlet. Porcupines, black bear, mountain goats, salmon, humpback whales, sea otters, orcas, and harbor seals are. Whittier alaska fishing charters whittier alaska fishing. Phillips cruises and tours, llc provides prince william sound glacier cruises to alaska residents and visitors from around the world. Whale watching in prince william sound whittier, ak. 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.
I would recommend renting a car and driving to whittier. And major marines vessels, which have cozy heated cabins and an outdoor viewing area, can take you out to see both. They are curious and have been known to keep up with and even approach ships. Our award winning glacier cruises depart from whittier alaska the gateway to. Alaska whale watching includes where to see whales in alaska. Whittier airfare reservations have recently upturned buy your ticket today. At the 2010 census the population was 220, up from 182 in 2000. Prince william sound offers scenic beauty and calmer waters than you will find out of seward, ak or homer, ak. Enjoy cozy comforts on the highspeed catamaran and wander its. The city also averages 249 inches of snow each winter. Avoid the shuffle and crowds on the big buses and get the personal attention you deserve. On april 23, 1943 workers completed the spur, which consisted of a 1mile tunnel through begich peak and a 2. The water taxi will drop us off on knight island and return to whittier. Based on data reported by over 4,000 weather stations.
Refer a member job postings download photos vic fam opportunities update. Enjoy cozy comforts on the highspeed catamaran and wander its outdoor decks as you come within 300 feet of massive tidewater glaciers. 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. There are no buses or trains that operate tours to whittier in april. Whittier, alaska is the gateway access point to prince william sound. Often you will find locals hanging out, workers passing through and catching a meal, or. Pastor brian hicks leads this church in the small town of whittier, ak. This familyrun company operating out of valdez will show you the best glaciers, with great customer service along the way. Phillips cruises alaska glacier tours whittier prince.
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. Whittier is also a port for the ferries on the alaska marine highway. There are 9 internet providers in whittier with 5 of those offering residential service. Alaska whale watching tours best in seward, whittier. Cruise prince william sound in alaska for a look at humpback, gray and orca whales. For a limited time in early summer, this cruise departs from seward in search of our favorite black and white marine mammal the orca. In 2000, the anton anderson memorial tunnel was overhauled for auto traffic and now is the longest railroadhighway tunnel in north america at 2. Welcome to whittier, alaska, a community under one roof. The alaska railroad offers once daily service to whittier from anchorage via the glacier discovery train, and. 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.
Whittier is a city at the head of the passage canal in the u. Hotel suites, restaurant, bar, grocery, museum and more. Several videos i took in whittier alaska during a day trip from anchorage. Get the monthly weather forecast for whittier, ak, including daily highlow, historical averages, to help you plan ahead. Whittier is the closest port to anchorage, a very scenic 60 mile drive south on the seward highway. 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.
You can enjoy marine wildlife with whale watching from seward in kenai fjords national park. Explore internet access for communities within whittier. With charter history since 1998, we have more than twice the fishing experience of most competitors. Browse photos, see new properties, get open house info, and research neighborhoods on trulia. Day cruises out of seward and whittier combine the opportunity to whale. Whittier to anchorage narrated direct bus transfer for. Horsetail falls trail whittier 2020 all you need to. 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. Resurrection bay and kenai fjords are great places to see wildlife and glaciers. It is a fast swimmer, swimming at 1621 mph, spending very little time on the surface. Whittierarea historical earthquake activity is above alaska state average.
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. 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. This small city where almost everyone lives in the same building can only be reached via north americas longest tunnel. The 2018 estimate was 205 people, almost all of whom live in a single building.
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. Travel alaska whittier traveler and vacation information. Download a pdf copy of this itinerary for personal use. If one of the whittier cruises is your final destination you might find following facts interesting. 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. Orca quest cruise in kenai fjords major marine tours. The big change there since i left has been the tunnel.
The tunnel was built for rail use only, and is now a onewayatatime tunnel that is still shared by. Click the map to download a printable version that you can zoom and save. Many people requested that we design an alaska kayak tour that begins. For the current tunnel opening schedule and rates, please visit the alaska state whittier tunnel website. Alaska railroad whittier shuttle passes stockpiles of stone needed for new track and road. The only road access to whittier is via a tunnel through a mountain. 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. In this alaskan town, every resident lives in the same. Whittier is anchorages portal to prince william sound. Another name for the minke whale is the little piked whale. Book your tickets online for the top things to do in whittier, alaska on tripadvisor. Young humpback whale found dead tuesday along turnagain. 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. Although anchorage itself in on upper cook inlet, the highest tides in the northern america, muddy, fastmoving water offers no use for boating.
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