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Whittier
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Shoehorned into a narrow strip of land along Passage Canal, tiny Whittier (pop. 300) is where many cruise ship trips to Alaska start or end. The landscape part of Chugach National Forest is dramatic, with glaciers and steep mountains dropping into a deep fjord. A unique auto-and-railroad tunnel cuts through the mountains, linking Whittier with Anchorage; it's open for cars some of the time, and trains from the Alaska Railroad at other periods. On the west end of the tunnel, Portage Glacier has an interesting visitor center and summertime boat tours to the glacier. Whittier's setting is pretty, but the town itself is very basic, consisting primarily of two concrete buildings built during the Cold War for the military. One was abandoned after the 1964 earthquake, while the other now provides 14 stories of apartment living. Whittier is served by the state ferry system, and several companies lead boat tours to the glaciers of Prince William Sound. The Forest Service rents cozy cabins that are perfect for kayakers looking for a rustic wilderness adventure.
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Don Pitcher has written or photographed 10 travel guidebooks to Alaska, Wyoming, Yellowstone-Grand Teton, and the San Juan Islands for Avalon Travel Publishing, Random House, and Sasquatch Books.
Don Pitcher has written or photographed 10 travel guidebooks to Alaska, Wyoming, Yellowstone-Grand Teton, and the San Juan Islands for Avalon Travel Publishing, Random House, and Sasquatch Books.
Interests
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Activities
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Whittier Must See/Do
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Whittier See It Next Time
- Widely regarded as Alaska's ugliest town ? though Wasilla and Soldotna provide stiff competition
- Be prepared for rain and wind
When to Visit Whittier
Summer
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Whittier Videos
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Whittier Maps
Whittier Events
- June-July: Fourth of July Celebration, Annual Walk to Whittier
- February-March: St Patricks Day
- August-September: Salmon Silver Derby & Small Fry Derby
- April-May: Halibut Derby, Easter
- October-November: Halloween, Thanksgiving
- December-January: Christmas, New Years Eve
More Whittier Info
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Today's Travel Deals
- $559+: 7-day Alaska sail from Vancouver to Whittier
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More Destinations
- In Alaska:
Alaska's Inside Passage, Denali National Park, Glacier Bay National Park, Katmai National Park, Kenai Peninsula, Kodiak Island, Nome & Kotzebue, Prudhoe Bay, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, Anchorage, College Fjord, Fairbanks, Haines, Homer, Juneau, Ketchikan, Seward, Sitka, Skagway, Talkeetna, Valdez
- Similar Destinations:
Valdez, Alaska, Cordova, Alaska, Seward, Alaska
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