Wrangell
Practical Travel Advice for Seniors: Wrangell, Alaska
Wrangell is one of the oldest settlements in Alaska, the only Alaskan town to have been ruled by four nations: Lingít, Russia, Great Britain and the United States. It is part of the islands of the Alexander Archipelago and is encompassed by the Tongass National Forest. It is off the radar of larger ships so is a great place to discover on your own at your own pace.
Like most Alaskan settlements, it has a rich Tlingit heritage and a stop by the Wrangell Museum is a must. The museum is located inside the James & Elsie Nolan Center. It is nicely laid out and though not very big, has nice informational exhibits and is fully accessible. Don’t miss the Chief Shakes house posts and spend some time reading up on the Gold Rush and pioneer history of the area. It may be crowded depending on how many ships are in port.
The in-town visit probably takes an hour or two if you stretch it out and take your time at the Museum.
There are also plenty of other sights to see in the area of Wrangell including the Anan Bear Observatory, Petroglyph Beach and Stikine River.
A note on Alaskan tours: Alaska is rightfully concerned about their biosecurity and take protection from invasive species very seriously. No food or drink can be taken from your ship into town. Also general security is high here and you will need to present your ID as well as your ship ID to get back on the ship. Anything brought back on the ship has to go through security x-ray, including hand bags and backpacks. At least this was protocol on our ship.
Our ship stopped in Wrangell but other ships go on to Ketchikan, arguably “The Salmon Capital of the World”, which may offer more activities including trips to Misty Fjords, native villages, flightseeing, fishing, wildlife cruises, zipline and ATV forest trails.
Would I go back to Wrangell if I had a choice? I’d probably go on to Ketchikan where there are more excursion options.
Where we stayed: On board a small cruise ship. Limited accessibility: Wide aisles and elevators, but only some penthouses have accessible restrooms. Also, in rough seas mobility in the aisleways can be tricky.
How we got there: Flight from US to Vancouver, then sailing through the Inside Passage and up to Seward. This was part of an eleven-day Inside Passage cruise followed by a seven-day land tour from Seward to Denali National Park and Fairbanks.
General Accessibility Information: Alaska is in the US, so most sights, hotels, shops, restaurants and infrastructure are accessible. But it is still best to call in advance to verify and make specialty arrangements. Some of the towns, sights and excursions may have uneven ground and some of the conveyances (small planes, kayaks, etc.) may not be accessible. Larger cities will have curb cuts, etc, but some smaller towns may not. See our sections on specialty apps and accessible travel for more on accessibility assistance.
