Misty Fjord, Alaska Cruise Port

Physically remote, Misty Fjords National Monument, or “the Mistys,” is nature at its finest. Proclaimed a monument in 1978 by U.S. President Jimmy Carter, this land of majestic wilderness became a major stepping stone in the passing of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act of 1980. It’s also a pristine spot to cruise to on the Alaskan panhandle with towering trees and cliffs, as well as deep blue lakes and icy waterfalls. The many glaciers surrounding the monument were formed way back in the last ice age over 11,000 years ago, but continue to calve, break off, and reform to this day. Some of the natural wonders include a volcanic plug called New Eddystone Rock made up of hardened, built-up magma that stretches hundreds of feet into the sea, as well as a wall of cooled lava in Punchbowl Cove known as columnar basalt. When cruising through Misty Fjord, you can also view wildlife such seals, goats, and deer.

• Gaze into the skies to witness the spectacle of the many sea planes, one of the few ways (along with cruising) to get to the fjords.
   
• Experience the breathtaking granite cliffs. The waterfalls that flow down the side of some can plunge down a distance of more than 1,000 feet.
   
• Travel deep into Punchbowl Cove where hardened magma has for hundreds of years formed great walls and columns, each unique in their beauty.
   
• Always be on the lookout for wildlife. Bald eagles rule the skies even more so than the sea planes, and you just might see a family of black bears along the great shores.