As the air gets colder and the days shorter, the Skagway tourism season is coming to a close. Overall, tourism staff says this summer was a success. The last cruise ship of the season has come and gone and shop owners around Skagway are preparing for winter, cleaning up and closing their doors. The streets that were recently busy with visitors are quieting down.
Tourism
Consumer demand for Alaska cruises growing again
A growing consumer demand for Alaska cruises has put the state back in the million-passenger club as it rebounds after a leaner stretch. And next year is expected to be even better with larger capacity ships added to the Far North lineup.
Stormy weather diverts three Sitka cruise ships
Gale-force winds and high seas on the outer coast are keeping about 4,500 cruise ship travelers from seeing Sitka this week.
Two hikers lost and rescued off West Glacier Trail
Troopers identified the hikers as 41-year-old Enrico Solano of Mexico and 28-year-old Lucas Pezzi of Argentina.
Master carver welcomes canoes home from Hoonah
Two canoes returned home to Haines this week, after spending some time in Hoonah, where master carver Wayne Price assisted in the Huna Tlingit homecoming to Glacier Bay. A team of volunteers sing as they bring two canoes off of the LeConte Ferry and onto shore in Haines.
High winds send cruise ship toward Haines, away from Skagway
Thousands of unexpected visitors made a stop in Haines today, when an unscheduled cruise ship docked in town this Tuesday morning. The boat was headed for Skagway, but high winds caused a change of plans. The ferry dock is crowded and the wind is strong. It’s a reminder of why the Crown Princess is stopped in Haines and not Skagway. Some passengers walk back and forth to town. Others wait nearby, while tour operators mingle with the crowd.
Homer tourism reaches all-time high, visitor center coordinator says
Homer, the little town at the “End of The Road,” is becoming an increasingly popular travel destination.
2016 has been a record-breaking year for the Homer tourism industry, said Jan Knutson, the Visitor Center coordinator with the Homer Chamber of Commerce.
Overdue hiker visiting ‘Into the Wild’ bus found safe
The search for an overdue hiker headed to the abandoned bus where Christopher McCandless died, ended Monday morning with the hiker being found. Carlos Castrejon, 45, of Mexico was located walking along the Park Road, Denali National Park spokeswoman Katherine Belcher said.
Skagway residents weigh in on ferry dock closure
Skagway residents are facing a two-and-a-half month disruption in Alaska Marine Highway ferry service sometime in the next year and a half. The municipality held a meeting last week to hear from residents about what they think the best timing would be for the looming closure of the ferry dock.
Search underway for missing cruise passenger
25-year-old woman identified only as a Columbian national disappeared Thursday morning from the Norwegian Pearl.