Valdez, Alaska Cruises

Valdez, Alaska Cruise Port

Located in picturesque Prince William Sound, Valdez is an intimate but lively town in southeast Alaska. Vitalized by its great fishing and spectacular hiking trails, it offers an active but wholesome downtown scene. While Valdez does get more snowfall than anywhere in Alaska, during cruise season the temperature often ranges in the low to high 60s. It was named after Spanish naval officer Antonio Valdés y Fernández Bazán as a ploy to lure prospectors during the Klondike gold rush. While the gold wasn’t plentiful and rumors regarding a glacier trail to the gold fields led to disaster and even deaths, the town was developed in 1898 and a highway between Valdez and Fairbanks was constructed in 1899. Current tourism is fueled by sightseeing through and around the amazing glacier trails, wildlife tours, and adventurous deep sea fishing. There are also plenty of sites for hiking and picnicking, each with access to the water and scenery.

• Reel in that big one with some recreational deep sea fishing. And yes, there truly are some enormous halibut in and around Prince William Sound.
   
• Venture north to Thompson Pass to see glaciers and waterfalls up close, real close. In fact, many are right beside the road you’ll travel to get there.
   
• Learn about the area’s culture, both ancient and modern, at the Valdez Museum and Historical Archive. Of particular interest is the exhibit on the Good Friday earthquake of 1964.
   
• Bask in the wonder of the Columbia Glacier. Like a sea full of risen glass, seeing this giant glacier will truly illustrate better than any picture the extent of Mother Nature’s capabilities.