A Vacation in Southeast Alaska By Michelle Theall It’s the end of April as I type this, and it’s snowing outside my window. Big, heavy, cement spring flakes that melt as soon as they hit the pavement. But June is around the corner, which means adventure is too! Instead of sending our 13-year-old son to camp this year, we rented a place in Haines for two weeks and another in Sitka for two weeks to explore Southeast. I found both places on VRBO, and they both overlook the water, and in truth, they are about three times as expensive as summer camp typically costs us. I confessed this a week or so ago, after booking flights and ferries and a rental car. Funny how things spiral out of control once you put them into motion. We’ll be eating ramen noodles the rest of the summer, but it will be worth…

Access great steelhead and salmon fishing Alaska is often touted as a bucket-list destination for anglers, and for good reasons. From the trophy rainbows of Bristol Bay to the giant king salmon of the Kenai River and many species and locations in between, much has been written about the bountiful angling opportunities of the northern part of our great country. Anglers from the world over flock to these destination fisheries year after year, and if they fly to Alaska from the Lower 48, many unknowingly fly over some of the best (and least-crowded) sportfishing opportunities Alaska has to offer. Southeast Alaska is made up of a small slice of mainland, a dozen or so large islands and hundreds of smaller islands along the Inside Passage. With more than 18,000 miles of salmon-bearing streams, rivers and lakes, it is a veritable angler’s paradise. The heart of Southeast is the Tongass National…

Hikers navigate the trail to Eagle and Symphony Lakes. Photo by Scott Banks. Whether you live in Anchorage or are visiting the city with time allotted for outdoor adventures, you’ll find a variety of day or overnight backpacking trips in Chugach State Park, less than an hour’s drive away. With some route tweaking, you can elevate those excursions from awesome to epic. Either way, you’ll be happy you took the time to explore the area’s mountain playground. Williwaw Lakes 5.9 miles one way This gradually ascending hike leads to a stunning series of lakes strung like rosary beads along a u-shaped, glacially sculpted valley. Level tent sites abound surrounding the lakes, all with views of the 5,445-foot Mount Williwaw, which towers over the end of the valley. If you hike to the last lake, a 500-foot climb up the north side lands you at Walrus Lake, above and out of…