Haines

Haines sits on a narrow spit where the Lynn Canal meets the Chilkat River, a small Alaskan town that feels more like an artists' colony than a cruise stop. Snow-capped peaks frame the waterfront, and bald eagles are everywhere. The Chilkat Valley hosts the largest gathering of bald eagles in the world each fall. Most ships dock at Port Chilkoot, and a short walk uphill (or a free shuttle) gets you into town. The Fort William H. Seward area has galleries, a restored officers' quarters, and a couple of craft breweries. Haines is also the starting point for rafting trips on the Chilkat River and flightseeing over Glacier Bay. The town is small enough that you can walk the main strip in 20 minutes. Stop for coffee at one of the waterfront places and keep an eye on the trees above you, because the eagles tend to perch in plain sight.