Guests aboard National Geographic Sea Bird awoke to the perfect weather for exploring Haines. Typical Southeast Alaska weather is cool, cloudy, and usually accompanied by a slight drizzle—at times, an extreme downpour! Our day started with neither drizzle nor downpour, but nice, cool temperatures and beautiful clouds. As the sun rose, its rays occasionally span down through the clouds, seeming to intentionally light the landscape and targeted subjects, of which our own ship was at times a luminous recipient.
Guests had the opportunity to explore this area in numerous ways. Some chose to put themselves on bikes and ride out to Chilkoot Lake; others rafted down the Chilkat River; some wanted to try their hands at fly-fishing for the infamous Alaskan salmon. Hiking options ranged from a casual walk through the temperate rainforest to a more strenuous hike up Mount Riley. For those who wanted to taste the beauty of the tundra, the Chuck Creek trail in the high country was their option. As if this were not enough, some chose to fly over all this grandeur in a small, six-passenger plane, partaking in an activity known as flightseeing. It’s no wonder Haines is dubbed the adventure capital of Alaska.
After the activities, guests took advantage of some free time to explore the town. No visit to Haines would be complete without a tour of the local Hammer Museum. You might laugh, or think this a joke, but it’s truly an incredible display of art, history, and practicality. For those with a slant toward cultural history, the Sheldon Jackson Museum didn’t disappoint. And of course, there were options to visit a local brewery and distillery for a taste of the locally crafted beverages. The Lindblad nametag got us entry to the museums or a free drink.
To top off a great day, the galley cooked up a feast of ribs and Dungeness crab for dinner. Over the noise of laughter and heartfelt conversation, National Geographic Sea Bird set sail for our next incredible adventure: Endicott Arm and the Dawes Glacier!
