Icy Strait Point
Practical Travel Advice for Seniors: Icy Strait Point, Alaska
Second stop on our Inside Passage cruise, was Icy Strait Point, a re-created fishing village by the town of Hoonah, a Tlingit community. The the old 1912 restored canning factory is now a museum with a look into the salmon and fishing industries of the area.
Located on Chichagof island, the stop features many wonderful things to see and do: We chose to go to the Spasski River Valley to check if any bears were about yet. It was a little early for salmon spawning, but we did see a a brown coastal bear looking for lunch. The river area is set up with viewing stations and is well known for a high density of bears. There are also plenty of bald eagles and black tailed deer in the area. It was a pretty easy hike with fairly level pathways and wasn’t too crowded.
This is also a good area to go kayaking or go on a whale watching cruise. Fishing for halibut is also popular. Another popular thing to do here is to take the ZipRider down (1300 feet!) Hoonah Mountain or take the SkyGlider gondola for a scenic view.
It was interesting to note that a lot of the tour guides in Alaska come from all over the United States. Apparently, they sign up on a software platform and just come for tourist season (May – September). Most of the guides we had were college students earning a few bucks over the summer. Some do stay over the winter, but winters are difficult in Alaska, with little sunlight and intense cold.
Also, remember when you travel to specific locations, you must prepare for good weather and bad, as you only get one shot to see the sights and the tours usually go rain or shine. It’s wise to look at the trending temperatures before you leave on holiday to pack appropriately and always be prepared for an unusually chilly or rainy day…and we always bring bathing suits, just in case a spa opportunity appears! Finally, be sure to bring some bug spray if you are going into the forest and sun screen, no matter the weather, is always a must include.
It was an exciting excursion for us – first time to see the Alaskan bears! There would’ve been more bear activity had we waited a week or two when salmon spawning was in full swing, but then it would’ve been more crowded with tourists as well. Trade offs….
We enjoyed the stop at Icy Strait Point, but primarily because of the Spasski River excursion. Do take a good look at the “included” (free) excursions when you are booking and make sure that you are seeing what you want to see at each stop. You don’t want to get to the end of your trip and find you should’ve done this or that. Sometimes you can add excursions as you go, but you will find the popular ones sell out quickly and only the ones at odd times remain, if at all.
We did our research before we left and talked to a friend who had been to Alaska many times to find out what is worthwhile to book and where and what is not. You may want to visit chat groups, ask around or hey…read our posts! To make sure you get the full picture and are able to budget for the excursions that make your trip memorable! Many of us will only do this trip once, so make sure you soak it all in!
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 aisle ways can be tricky.
How we got there: Flight from US to Vancouver. This was part of an eleven-day Inside Passage cruise followed by a seven-day land tour to Denali National Park.
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. See our sections on specialty apps and accessible travel for more on accessibility assistance.
