Anchorage Daily News

It's time to burn some of your Alaska Airlines miles and take a trip to Southeast Alaska.

I just returned from Wrangell, which has great access to the Stikine River and Anan Creek (for bear viewing). If I had paid for the ticket, it would have cost $600. But the mileage ticket was just 15,000 miles!

I stayed at the Stikine Inn, which is right on the water. Alaska Waters has an office in the hotel -- where they book jetboat tours up the Stikine River and over to Anan Creek to see the bears. Owner Jim Leslie said it's not uncommon to see the whales swim right by the dock outside. "Oh, the eagles are everywhere too," he added.

From Wrangell, you can catch the Interisland Ferry Authority to either Petersburg or Prince of Wales Island. Or you can take the Alaska Marine Highway to Ketchikan or Juneau (via Petersburg).

In Ketchikan, take a flightseeing trip into Misty Fjords, or take a kayak trip in the protected waters of the Inside Passage. Southeast Sea Kayaks has a tour that includes a flightseeing tour and a chance to paddle around in Misty Fjords National Monument.

In Juneau, you can go whale watching with Four Seasons Marine. They've picked out a stretch of water where there almost always are whales. Or head up the Mount Roberts Tram to go on a hike all the way to the top of the mountain. The views are great. Also, you can drive out to Mendenhall Glacier. There are all sorts of trails for hiking and exploring. Gardening enthusiasts will enjoy a visit to Glacier Gardens -- in the middle of the rain forest. You'll see a mix of beautiful flowers, landscaping and the natural beauty of the rain forest.

Take the Alaska Marine Highway ferry from Juneau to Sitka. In addition to all the sights around town, such as the Raptor Center and St. Michael's Cathedral, there are plenty of unique activities, including Island Fever Diving. If you're a certified scuba diver, they'll take you on a great dive trip. If you just want to snorkel, there are plenty of opportunities to see a completely different side of Alaska: underwater!

Instead of flying, you can drive to Haines from Anchorage. It's 787 miles. Take two days and plan on spending the night on the way. From Haines, you can catch the ferry and drive your own car around the region. It's crucial to make ferry reservations well in advance, since the car deck fills up quickly.

You also can catch a fast ferry from Haines to Skagway (just 35 minutes). Much of Skagway is a big park -- redone to mimic the Gold Rush of 1898. Take the White Pass Railroad to the top of the pass and into Canada. Take one of the Skagway Streetcar Tours and learn about the history of the town. Have a drink in the Red Onion Saloon and learn about all the nighttime antics of this boomtown.

Of course, there's no shortage of great sportfishing in Southeast Alaska -- wherever you go!

Remember, Alaska's tickets for intra-Alaska travel are just 15,000 miles for the saver award tickets. In addition to Southeast, you can fly to Barrow, Nome, Kotzebue or other Alaska Airlines jet cities in the state.

Scott McMurren is an Anchorage-based travel marketing consultant. Contact him via his travel blog at www.alaskatravelgram.com.

Scott's tips

• SOUTHEAST SEA KAYAKS. Combine a flightseeing tour with a kayak trip inside Misty Fjords National Monument. www.kayakketchikan.com

• SKAGWAY STREETCAR COMPANY. Get a great tour of Skagway and the surrounding countryside! www.skagwaystreetcar.com

• ALASKA MARINE HIGHWAY. Check schedules and rates for the ferry. www.ferryalaska.com

• ALASKA WATERS. Based in Wrangell, they offer jetboat tours on the Stikine River and to the Anan Creek bear observatory. www.alaskawaters.com

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