|
 The
community nestled at the head of
Passage Canal
is the closest place to Anchorage
for residents or visitors wanting to access the waters of
Prince William Sound. Every year during the
summer, cruise ships carrying thousands of passengers visit
Whittier
regularly.
Visitors also come to enjoy the day-cruises with boats that
visit the glaciers in Prince William Sound. Additionally, sea kayakers enjoy the
Sound's beautiful shoreline while anglers on many of the
charters leaving from the
Whittier
harbor search for halibut and salmon.
"Most
visitors are here to access Prince
William Sound; we understand that," said
Whittier Mayor Lester Lunceford. "But Whittier has more going
for it. We've got a museum, a couple hiking trails, some
very good restaurants." The Prince
William Sound Museum opened last year and features information about
Whittier's connection to the military
and World War II. Whittier owes much of its history to the
military presence, and the town served as a supply port. The
museum shares space with the Anchor Inn. Admission is $3 for
adults and $1 for children.
"There
was no cultural center whatsoever in
Whittier," said Sue Cogswell,
director of the Prince William Sound Economic Development
District. "We thought it desperately needed a museum. This
is a small museum, but it relates to
Whittier's history. "It's mainly
about the military presence -- why the place was founded in
the first place. It also includes information about the Cold
War." Also included are exhibits about the Alaska Railroad
during World War II and the construction of the Anton
Anderson Memorial Tunnel.
 The
tunnel was originally constructed for train travel, but it
was converted in 2000 to handle both trains and auto
traffic. The tunnel is opened at regular intervals daily to
allow vehicles access to Whittier. For some, the
tunnel journey itself is a highlight. The 2.5-mile tunnel is
the longest highway tunnel in North
America.
"Whittier is just another small Alaska town," Lunceford said. "Until the
tunnel opened up, we were really a small rural town with no
easy access. "Now
people will comment on driving through the longest tunnel in
North America. It's a bit of novelty." The
novelty gets even more unique on June 11, when the tunnel is
opened for walkers. The Walk to Whittier continues to gain
in popularity. After walkers arrive in town, food and
entertainment are available.
But,
as Lunceford said, Whittier
is still mostly a springboard for people who want to
experience Prince William Sound
-- for either a few hours or a few days. Several day-trip
cruise ships take visitors into the fjords surrounding Whittier where glaciers are
the stars.
The
city also is served by the
Alaska Marine Highway. The larger
cruise operations include Major Marine Tours, Phillips'
Cruises and Tours
and Prince William Sound Cruises and
Tours. The cruises are similar but
have individual specialties. Cruises are generally four to
six hours and cost from about $90 to $140. Some cruise
prices include lunch, while others offer lunch at an
additional charge. Many companies offer transportation from
Anchorage
via motor coach or train.
"You'll see all styles of glaciers -- alpine glaciers to the
popular tidewater glaciers," said Eric Bilyou, sales and
customer service supervisor for Major Marine Tours. "We stop
to spend some time with the glaciers, and hopefully the
guests will see a glacier calve. "Additionally,
Prince William Sound has an abundance of
beautiful waterfalls, snowcapped peaks and bits of wildlife,
mostly sea lions, sea otters and bird rookeries."
There
are also several smaller charter operators in
Whittier. They offer specialized
trips or water-taxi service. New this year, Honey Charters
is offering a six-hour trip from Whittier to Columbia
Glacier -- Alaska's second-largest tidewater glacier and a
massive sheet of ice that annually calves about two cubic
miles of ice into the ocean. The glacier's face is
frequently surrounded by icebergs.
"No
one is going to Columbia from Whittier, and we thought it would be something
different and fun," said Marilynn Heddell, co-owner of Honey
Charters. "It's one of the most well-known glaciers, and it
has bigger icebergs. "It's a really big glacier, and people
like to see all that ice. There is a little more adventure
in trying to get up to the glacier. Plus, we hope to visit
an oyster farm on the way back to Whittier." Heddell said the company doesn't
have a set schedule for its trips to Columbia Glacier but
they should cost about $150. The trip requires 12 people to
sign up.
 Kayak
companies offer guided tours and rentals in Whittier, allowing visitors to get a more personal
attachment to Prince William Sound.
Operators in Whittier include
Alaska
Sea Kayakers and Prince William Sound Kayak
Center. The companies
offer short trips just outside Whittier
for a couple of hours as well as longer trips, like one to Blackstone Bay
where visitors kayak near actively calving glaciers and
among icebergs and harbor seals. Silver salmon return to the
area in late August. The Greater Whittier Chamber of
Commerce has halibut and salmon derbies during summer.
|
