What to Book in Advance for an Alaska Trip: A First-Timer’s Planning Guide

Planning a trip to Alaska can feel surprisingly straightforward at first. You pick your dates, sketch out a route, and assume you can fill in the details later.

Sometimes that works.

But Alaska has a way of rewarding the traveler who books the right things early and leaves the right things flexible. That balance matters more here than in many destinations, especially in summer, when lodging tightens, specialty tours sell out, and transportation options can be less interchangeable than first-time visitors expect.

One of the questions I hear often, whether from friends, family, or people trying to plan their first Alaska trip, is some version of this: what actually needs to be booked in advance, and what can wait?

The answer depends on how you are traveling. But in general, the pieces most worth securing early are the ones tied to limited inventory, geography, fixed departure times, or short seasonal windows.

If you are planning an Alaska trip for the first time, here is where I would focus first.

The short answer: what should you book in advance for an Alaska trip?

For most summer Alaska trips, the things most worth booking in advance are:

• lodging in high-demand places

• rental cars

• Alaska Railroad segments

• Alaska Marine Highway ferry segments

• must-do excursions

• Denali transportation and nearby stays

• bear viewing, flightseeing, and specialty wildlife tours

• pre- and post-cruise hotels

• a few time-sensitive restaurants or add-ons, if they matter to your trip

Not every trip needs every item on that list. But if something is central to the shape of your trip, it should not be left to chance.

Start here: your trip type changes what needs to be booked early

Before booking anything, get clear on what kind of Alaska trip you are taking. This shapes almost every decision that follows.

Cruise trip

If you are visiting Alaska by cruise, many of the basics are already built in. In that case, your key advance bookings are usually:

• the cruise itself

• any shore excursions you truly care about

• pre- or post-cruise hotel stays

• transfers and logistics around embarkation or disembarkation

• a few specialty add-ons that can sell out

Land-based trip

If you are doing a land trip, the booking pressure usually shifts toward:

• lodging

• rental cars

• internal transportation

• trains or ferries

• Denali planning

• activity reservations in high-demand areas

Cruise plus land

This is often the version of Alaska that benefits most from planning ahead. When your trip includes several moving parts, it becomes more important to secure the pieces that shape the overall route.

Book these first: the Alaska trip elements that matter most

1. Lodging in high-demand areas

If your trip includes places like Denali, Seward, Talkeetna, or popular summer towns in Southeast Alaska, lodging is one of the first things I would lock in.

This is especially true if you care about:

• staying in a convenient location

• having a view

• walking access

• finding a place with character

• keeping to a certain budget

• traveling with family or needing a larger room

Alaska is not always a destination where you can assume the best options will still be there later. In many places, they will not.

Mary’s perspective

This is one of the easiest mistakes to make from afar. Alaska can look open-ended on a map, but that does not always translate to abundant, easy lodging once summer demand picks up. If a place is central to your trip, I would rather have the right stay secured early than be left choosing between inconvenient leftovers.

2. Rental cars

For a road-based Alaska trip, rental cars often matter more than first-time visitors expect.

In some destinations, you can build a beautiful trip without one. In others, not having a car changes the experience significantly. And in summer, inventory can tighten fast, especially if you need:

• a car for multiple days

• a larger vehicle

• an SUV

• a one-way rental

• a pickup or return schedule that fits a fixed itinerary

What to know

A rental car is not just transportation. In many parts of Alaska, it is access. If your itinerary depends on road freedom, I would treat the car as an early booking item, not a last-minute detail (rates do go up as the summer months move closer!).

3. Alaska Railroad segments

A lot of travelers think of the Alaska Railroad as something they will add later, once the rest of the trip is set. But if the train is part of the dream, I would book it intentionally.

This matters most on routes connecting places like:

• Anchorage and Seward

• Anchorage and Denali

• Anchorage and Fairbanks

If a rail segment is central to the mood or movement of the trip, it deserves early attention.

Mary’s perspective

The train in Alaska is not only transportation. For many travelers, it is part of the actual experience they are hoping to have. If that is true for you, do not treat it like an afterthought.

4. Alaska Marine Highway ferry segments

If you are planning a Southeast Alaska trip by ferry, book the ferry once your route is firm enough.

This is especially important if you are:

• traveling with a vehicle

• moving between multiple communities

• working with fixed dates

• traveling in peak summer

• relying on the ferry as a structural part of the trip

Mary’s perspective

The Alaska Marine Highway can be one of the most memorable ways to move through Southeast. But if your trip depends on it, I would not leave it loose for too long. Ferry planning in Alaska is not always casual, especially once you add timing or vehicle space into the equation.

5. Must-do excursions

Not every Alaska activity needs to be pre-booked. But the ones that truly matter to you should be.

This might include:

• whale watching

• a floatplane trip

• a fishing charter

• a glacier helicopter tour

• a zipline

• a small-group wildlife outing

• a photography-oriented excursion

• a signature shore excursion during a cruise stop

The key is to distinguish between the experiences you would enjoy and the one or two you would be genuinely disappointed to miss.

Mary’s perspective

This is where I would be selective, not maximal. Alaska does not need to be overprogrammed. But if there is one experience that feels central to why you are coming, that is the one to secure early.

6. Denali transportation and logistics

Denali often requires more forethought than people expect.

If Denali is on your itinerary, think ahead about:

• how many nights you want there

• where you are staying

• how you are getting there

• how you plan to experience the park

• whether transportation is part of the structure of your visit

This is one of those parts of Alaska where the trip tends to go better when you make a few key decisions before you arrive.

Mary’s perspective

Denali is iconic, but it is not as simple as many first-time visitors assume. It is one of the clearest examples of a place that rewards a little more planning upfront.

7. Bear viewing, flightseeing, and specialty wildlife experiences

Some Alaska experiences are popular. Others are limited by design.

The ones I would book early include:

• bear viewing trips

• flightseeing tours

• glacier landings

• specialty wildlife charters

• small-capacity outdoor experiences

• anything remote, weather-sensitive, or highly seasonal

These are often the experiences with the least replacement value. If missing one would materially change the trip, it belongs on your early booking list.

8. Pre- and post-cruise hotels

If you are cruising to or from Alaska, do not overlook your hotel nights on either side of the trip.

These stays are often treated like an afterthought, but they can make a real difference in how stressful or smooth your travel days feel.

Book early if you want:

• a well-located hotel

• fewer transfer headaches

• a calmer arrival day

• a better room at a better price

• extra buffer before a cruise departure

Mary’s perspective

This is not the glamorous part of planning, but it is one of the most practical. A well-timed hotel stay before or after a cruise can make the whole trip feel more grounded.

What can usually wait until later?

Not every part of an Alaska trip needs to be locked in months ahead.

In many itineraries, you can leave more flexibility around:

• casual meals

• museums

• shops

• scenic walks

• easy half-day activities

• lower-priority excursions

• weather-dependent decisions

One of the most common planning mistakes I see is booking too much too early. Alaska usually benefits from some breathing room.

Leave room for the trip to unfold

Part of Alaska’s appeal is that it still feels a little less scripted than many destinations. Weather shifts. Wildlife appears when it appears. Some of the best moments are the ones you make space for.

The goal is not to pre-book everything. The goal is to protect the parts of the trip that would be hard to replace.

A practical booking order for first-time Alaska travelers

If you want a simple way to think about it, here is the order I would use.

Book first

Lock in the framework

• travel dates

• cruise or major route

• high-demand lodging

• rental car, if needed

Book next

Secure the trip-shaping pieces

• train or ferry segments

• Denali logistics

• must-do excursions

• specialty wildlife or flightseeing tours

Book later

Leave room for flexibility

• lower-priority activities

• some restaurants

• extra filler items

• weather-based additions

Common mistake: assuming Alaska must be fully booked out to be done well

There is a version of Alaska planning that becomes too rigid too fast.

People worry about missing something, so they reserve every excursion, every meal, every slot, and every day starts to feel pre-decided before the trip even begins.

That is not usually the best version of Alaska.

A better approach is to reserve the pieces that shape the skeleton of the trip, then leave enough openness for weather, energy, and curiosity to guide the rest.

My take: what I would book in advance for an Alaska trip

If I were helping someone plan their first Alaska trip, I would focus first on the pieces tied to:

• access

• limited inventory

• geography

• transportation

• short windows of availability

That usually means lodging, rental cars, ferries, trains, Denali logistics, and the one or two experiences that matter most.

Everything else can be built around that.

Alaska does not usually reward panic-booking every detail. But it does reward booking the right things early.

Frequently asked questions

How far in advance should I book an Alaska trip?

For summer travel, earlier is usually better for lodging, rental cars, ferries, trains, and specialty tours. The exact timing depends on where you are going and whether your itinerary is fixed or flexible.

What sells out first in Alaska?

Often the first things to tighten are well-located lodging, rental cars, vehicle ferry space, specialty wildlife experiences, and popular excursions in high-demand summer destinations.

Do I need to book excursions in advance for Alaska?

Not all of them. But if there is an experience you would be truly disappointed to miss, especially whale watching, bear viewing, flightseeing, or a popular cruise-port excursion, I would book that ahead.

Do I need to book Denali in advance?

Usually yes. Denali often works better when lodging, transportation, and your basic park plan are thought through in advance.

Should I book restaurants in advance in Alaska?

Usually not with the same urgency as lodging or transportation, though a few smaller or more in-demand places may be worth reserving if they are important to your trip.

Ketchikan Cruise Port Guide: Downtown Berths vs. Ward Cove, Shuttles, Walking, and What to Expect

Ketchikan can be one of the easiest ports in Alaska - or one of the more frustrating ones.

A lot depends on one detail people do not always think about until the day they arrive: where your ship is actually docked.

• If your ship berths downtown, Ketchikan is wonderfully simple. You can step off the ship and start walking almost right away.

• If you ships docks at Ward Cove, the day becomes more logistical.

It is still doable, still worth enjoying, but it asks for more planning, more time awareness, and a little less ambition (at least from my point of view!).

This is why I created this guide: to help you understand the difference before you arrive, so your day in Ketchikan feels calmer, easier, and more realistic.

First: know there are two very different Ketchikan cruise experiences

When people say they are “stopping in Ketchikan,” it can sound like one standard port setup.

It is not.

For cruise passengers, there are generally two versions of Ketchikan:

• Downtown berths, where you are close to the historic center of town (walk off the ship and you’re in Ketchikan)

• Ward Cove, which is north of downtown and requires transportation into town (walk off the ship, you’re put into a holding area, then take transportation into Ketchikan).

After many conversations with people, this distinction matters more than people expect.

Downtown Ketchikan is compact, walkable, and easy to enjoy on foot. Ward Cove changes that rhythm. Instead of stepping directly into town, you begin with a transfer and build your day around that extra movement.

Neither is inherently “bad.” They are simply different. But if you plan for them the same way, you may end up feeling rushed, disappointed, or strangely stressed in a port that can otherwise be very pleasant.

If your ship docks downtown

This is the easier version of a Ketchikan day.

Downtown berths place you near the part of town most visitors want to see anyway: the historic waterfront, Creek Street, shops, restaurants, and a few strong cultural stops. If your ship docks here, Ketchikan can genuinely be one of the best Alaska ports for independent wandering.

A downtown berth is especially good for:

• first-time visitors who want a simple day

• travelers who prefer exploring on foot

• shorter port calls

• people who do not want to depend on shuttle timing

• anyone hoping for a lower-friction, more relaxed stop

If you dock downtown, you usually have more freedom to improvise a little. You can stroll the waterfront, visit Creek Street, add a museum, browse shops, stop for coffee, and still feel like the day has room to breathe.

If your ship docks at Ward Cove

Ward Cove is the version of Ketchikan that tends to surprise people.

Here are a few photos and a video that I took in hopes of showing you what the Ward Cove experience is like (to help set your expectations).

a short video that shows what the Ward Cove experience is like in Ketchikan

Not because it is impossible. Not because you cannot still have a good day. But because it is not the same thing as docking in town, and it helps to accept that upfront.

Ward Cove is north of downtown Ketchikan, so getting into town requires a shuttle transfer. The ride itself may sound short on paper, but the larger issue is that your day now includes multiple moving pieces:

• getting off the ship

• locating the shuttle area

• riding into town

• accounting for return timing

• leaving enough margin to get back comfortably

That changes the feel of the port day.

What might have been a casual “we’ll just pop into town” stop becomes something you should structure a little more deliberately.

My honest advice: if you are docked at Ward Cove, do not try to make Ketchikan a big checklist day. You will usually enjoy it more if you pick one lane and let the day stay smaller.

How the Ward Cove shuttle affects your day

This is where expectations matter. In the photo below, you can see on the right hand side the sign that says: “Downtown Shuttle”. Once disembarking, passengers can walk through the giant warehouse and make their way to a shuttle. The shuttle takes about 20 minutes to get from Ward Cove to the Ketchikan port area.

The biggest mistake people make with Ward Cove is not understanding how shuttle time changes what is realistic. Even if the ride itself is manageable, it still adds layers to the day. You are no longer just deciding what to do in Ketchikan. You are deciding what is worth doing once transportation is part of the equation.

That means:

• a short port call feels shorter

• lunch takes a bigger share of your schedule

• weather disruptions feel more annoying

• “one more stop” can turn into a rushed decision

• returning late starts to feel more stressful than it should

If you are coming from Ward Cove, build more buffer than you think you need.

And once you reach town, resist the temptation to scatter yourself across multiple attractions. Ketchikan is better when you choose a shape for the day instead of trying to prove you made the most of every minute.

Is Ketchikan walkable from the cruise port?

If you dock downtown: yes, very much so.

This is one of the best parts of Ketchikan. The town center is compact, and a number of the places most first-time visitors want to see are naturally connected by walking. Creek Street, the historic waterfront, small shops, and a few museums can all fit into a pedestrian-friendly day.

If you dock at Ward Cove: no, not in the same way.

Ward Cove is not the kind of setup where you simply step off the ship and stroll into central Ketchikan. It is a transportation-based port day, not a walk-off-town port day.

That is why this distinction matters so much. Saying Ketchikan is “easy to do on your own” is true for downtown berths. It becomes more conditional from Ward Cove.

Best things to do near the Ketchikan cruise port

If you are docked downtown, these are the easiest places to prioritize:

1. Creek Street

It is popular for a reason. Yes, it is photographed constantly. Yes, it can feel touristy. But it is also one of the most atmospheric parts of town and very easy to include in a first visit.

2. The historic waterfront

A simple walk here gives you a feel for Ketchikan without asking much of you. It is one of the best ways to start the day before deciding whether you want to add more structure.

3. Tongass Historical Museum

A strong choice if you want context, especially if you like understanding a place beyond its postcard version.

4. Totem Heritage Center

One of the most meaningful cultural stops in town, and well worth prioritizing if you want to deepen the day beyond shopping and waterfront views.

5. Southeast Alaska Discovery Center

An especially good option when the weather is wet or you want a stronger understanding of the broader landscape and Tongass context.

How I would plan the day from each dock

If you are docked downtown

I would plan one of these:

• a relaxed walking day with Creek Street and a museum

• a cultural day focused on history and totems

• a mixed day with wandering, one indoor stop, and a meal

This version of Ketchikan allows for more spontaneity.

If you are docked at Ward Cove

I would plan one of these:

• shuttle downtown, do one compact walking area, return with buffer

• choose one museum-centered day and keep the rest simple

• stay close to the port setup and avoid forcing a bigger town day if the timing feels tight

This version rewards realism more than ambition.

My honest take on whether Ketchikan is worth getting off the ship for

Yes — but with a caveat.

Ketchikan is worth your time when you understand what kind of port day you are actually having.

If you are downtown, it can be easy and charming. If you are at Ward Cove, it can still be worthwhile, but it asks more of you. The frustration people sometimes feel is not because Ketchikan has nothing to offer. It is because the day they imagined and the logistics they got were not the same.

Once you adjust for that, the port often feels much better.

Final thought

The best Ketchikan cruise day is not necessarily the fullest one.

It is the one built around the reality of your dock, your energy, the weather, and the amount of effort you actually want to spend on a port call.

If you berth downtown, enjoy the ease of it.

If you berth at Ward Cove, plan smaller and smarter.

Ketchikan does not need to be conquered to feel worthwhile.

Alaska’s Grandeur and Magnificence: Tiny Humans in a Vast, Wild Place

There are days in Alaska when the land feels almost reasonable in size.

You walk a familiar trail, sip your tea, watch the clouds move over the ridge you know by heart. The scale feels…manageable.

And then there are days when Alaska reminds you who’s really in charge.

A glacier looms larger than the mind can hold. A mountain range stacks itself into layer after layer until it fades into air. A small cabin disappears beneath peaks that have been here longer than any of us can remember.

Those are the moments that live inside this new fine art print collection: Alaska’s Grandeur and Magnificence — nine Alaska landscape photographs where humans, cabins, and seals become tiny markers inside something impossibly vast.

This is the kind of Alaska wall art I reach for when I need to remember my size in the best way.

Why I Photograph Tiny Humans in Big Places

As an Alaska photographer, I spend a lot of time pointing my lens at what most people would call “the main event” — the glacier face, the mountain, the waterfall, the whale.

But the frames I come back to again and again have something else in them:
a single person in a yellow coat, a small cabin under a massive peak, two seals on a drifting piece of ice.

Those smaller shapes do two things at once:

• They reveal the true scale of glaciers and mountains in a way our minds can finally measure.

• They remind us how small we are — not in a diminishing way, but in a freeing, perspective-giving way.

When I look at these Alaska landscape photos, I feel the same thing in my body that I feel standing on the shoreline: awe, humility, and a little bit of quiet relief. The world is big. I don’t have to hold it all.

That feeling is what I wanted to gather on paper.

A Few Moments Inside the Collection

Each print in Alaska’s Grandeur and Magnificence was chosen because it tells a slightly different story about scale. Here are three of them.

Tiny on the Mendenhall

Image: people standing on Mendenhall Glacier

In this photograph, four tiny figures stand on Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau, Alaska. At first glance you might miss them, swallowed by blue and white. Once you see them, the glacier suddenly grows to its actual size in your mind.

This is one of my favorite glacier wall art images because it pulls the viewer in twice: first for the ice, then for the humans. It feels like standing there all over again — a brief moment of being held by something ancient.

Cabin Under Giants

Image: small cabin with mountains rising behind it

Far below the ridgeline, a small cabin tucks itself into the forest. If you cropped the mountains out, the cabin would look solid and self-contained. But with those peaks behind it, you see the truth: this is a tiny, cozy place in a very big world.

This is the Alaska mountain print I imagine hanging in a living room or office where someone needs a reminder that it’s okay to retreat and be small, even when life feels huge.

Drifters on the Blue

Image: two seals on ice with mountains in the distance

On a quiet day, two seals rest on a floating chunk of glacier ice, carried along by cold water and hidden currents. The mountains behind them, the depth of the channel below, the history locked inside that ice — all of it dwarfs their little resting place.

This is one of those Alaska wildlife moments that doesn’t shout. It’s not a breach or a dramatic splash. It’s a soft exhale on a drifting platform, a small pause inside an enormous system.

How I Hope These Prints Feel in Your Space

When I imagine these pieces hanging in someone’s home, I don’t imagine a gallery or a perfectly styled room.

I imagine:

• A mug of tea on the table beneath a glacier print.

• A child asking, “Are those people really that small?”

• Someone working through a full, loud day and glancing up at a cabin tucked under mountains, remembering that they can set down what they’re carrying for a moment.

These limited-edition Alaska fine art prints are meant to be daily reminders of perspective:

• That there is a world outside the to-do list.

• That we are small in the best way.

• That wild places still exist and are worth paying attention to.

Each image in the Alaska’s Grandeur and Magnificence collection is printed on archival fine art paper, signed and numbered in limited editions, and available in two sizes so you can choose the scale that fits your space — whether it’s a small corner or a statement wall.

Explore the Alaska’s Grandeur and Magnificence Collection

If you’ve ever stood on the deck of a ship, a shoreline, or a trail in Alaska and felt yourself shrink (in that good, grounding way), this collection was made with you in mind.

You can see all nine images — glaciers, mountains, cabins, waterfalls, and those tiny markers of human and animal life inside them — here:

Explore Alaska’s Grandeur and Magnificence – Limited Edition Alaska Prints

Whether one of these scenes ends up on your wall or you simply pause for a quiet moment with them on the screen, I hope they give you what Alaska always gives me: a deep breath, a sense of awe, and the reminder that you are part of something vast and beautiful.

Alaska Cruise Photography Guide: 12 Shots To Consider (And How to Capture Them)

Hi, I’m Mary — a photographer living in Juneau, Alaska, who spends a lot of time watching ships glide into port, listening for whale blows, and chasing light around mountains, harbors, and rain-soaked streets.

From my deck, I can almost always tell who’s “ready” for Alaska and who isn’t. Not because of gear, but because of attention. The people who come home with photos they truly love aren’t always the ones with the nicest camera. They’re the ones who are paying attention when the light shifts, when the fog lifts, when a whale’s tail appears where there was just empty water a second ago.

This guide is your simple, stress-free shot list: 12 photos you’ll be glad you captured on your Alaska cruise — plus easy tips for getting them, whether you’re using a phone or a camera.

The 12 Photos You Don’t Want to Miss

Here’s the quick list. If you capture nothing else, aim for these:

1. Your ship sailing into Southeast Alaska in soft morning or evening light

2. A wide shot of glacier ice with something for scale (your ship, a boat, or a person)

3. A whale’s tail or breach from deck or a small-boat tour

4. A bald eagle — in flight, perched, or silhouetted against mountains

5. Rainy-day reflections in a port town street (Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka, etc.)

6. A working harbor scene: boats, docks, mist, and all

7. A “tiny human, big landscape” shot at a waterfall or viewpoint

8. A quiet moment on deck: you, a blanket, and the horizon

9. Layers of mountains and islands in the Inside Passage at dusk

10. A night shot from the ship: city lights, harbor, or stars

11. A detail that feels uniquely yours (boots, journal, tea, map, hands on the railing)

12. A farewell shot to your favorite port or your final sea day

The rest of this post walks you through where, when, and how to capture each one — without turning your vacation into a full-time photo shoot.

Your Ship Sailing Into Alaska Light

Why it matters:

There’s a quiet magic to the way your ship slips into Southeast Alaska — low clouds, soft light on the water, maybe a single fishing boat passing by. It sets the tone for your whole trip.

Where / when:

• Early morning or early evening as you approach Alaska or sail through narrow channels

• Look for gentle color in the sky — blues, pinks, soft grays

How to capture it:

• Phone: Wipe your lens (ship decks get misty), tap to focus on the horizon, and slightly lower your exposure if the sky feels too bright.

• Camera: Use a wider lens (24–35mm range) and keep your shutter speed fast enough to handle ship movement (1/250 or faster).

Extra tip:

Include the ship’s railing or a bit of deck in the frame so you remember what it felt like to stand there, not just what it looked like.

2. Glacier Ice With a Sense of Scale

Why it matters:

Glaciers are enormous, but photos can flatten them. Adding scale helps you remember just how massive that wall of ice really was.

Where / when:

• Glacier days: places like Glacier Bay or Tracy Arm, or a glacier-viewing excursion

• When the captain slows the ship or turns for viewing

How to capture it:

• Look for something small against the glacier:

• A tiny sightseeing boat

• The bow of your own ship

• A person on a viewing deck or trail

• Compose wide first, then grab a few closer shots of details (cracks, blue ice, calving if you’re lucky).

Extra tip:

Stay patient. The scene changes every few seconds as the ship turns. Sometimes the best angle is two minutes after everyone else went back inside.

3. Whale Tail or Breach

Why it matters:

If you see whales on your trip, those moments will live in your memory long after your suitcase is unpacked. The goal isn’t a perfect magazine shot — it’s a photo that brings you back to the feeling.

Where / when:

• On deck in calm waters

• Dedicated whale-watching excursions out of ports like Juneau or Icy Strait

How to capture it:

• Phone: Shoot video when whales are active. You can pull still frames later.

• Camera: Use your longest lens and a fast shutter (1/1000 or faster). Continuous focus and burst mode help.

• Keep both eyes open when you can; whales often surface where people aren’t pointing.

Extra tip:

Take one photo of your surroundings too — the boat, the mountains, the people watching. That context is part of the story.

Photographing eagle in Alaska

4. Bald Eagle in Its Element

Why it matters:

Eagles are woven into the everyday here. Capturing one in a tree, on a lamppost, or cruising over a harbor gives your gallery a sense of place.

Where / when:

• Harbor areas, light poles by the ship, tall trees near town

• Early morning or late day when they’re often more active

How to capture it:

• Start with a wider shot: eagle plus its surroundings. Then zoom or crop in.

• Don’t stress about perfection. Even a slightly distant eagle feels special when you know you were really there.

Extra tip:

Look up when you hear gulls calling loudly in one spot — often an eagle is nearby.

5. Rainy-Day Reflections in Port

Why it matters:

Alaska isn’t just blue skies and postcard sunsets. The rain is part of the experience — and it can make beautiful, moody photos.

Where / when:

• Any rainy port day (Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka, etc.)

• Puddles, wet boardwalks, reflections in shop windows

How to capture it:

• Aim your camera or phone down: reflections of neon signs, colorful buildings, umbrellas.

• Look for one bright color (a jacket, a storefront) against all the grays and greens.

Extra tip:

Use your hood or hand to shield your lens from raindrops. One drop on the lens can soften the whole frame.

6. Working Harbor Scenes

Why it matters:

The working side of Alaska — fishing boats, tugs, docks, gear — tells as much of the story as the mountains do.

Where / when:

• Harbors near the cruise docks or a short walk away

• Early morning or later evening when boats are coming and going

How to capture it:

• Step back and look for layers: boats, docks, water, forest, clouds.

• Let lines lead the eye: docks, ropes, rails.

• Don’t be afraid of “busy” scenes; that’s the point.

Extra tip:

Take one frame that’s a little wider than you think you need. You’ll appreciate the extra breathing room when you look back later.

7. Tiny Human, Big Landscape

Why it matters:

Having a person in the frame lets you feel just how big Alaska really is. It also makes the photo deeply personal: you were there.

Where / when:

• Waterfall trails (like Nugget Falls at Mendenhall)

• Viewpoints, shoreline stops, train overlooks, and pullouts on excursions

How to capture it:

• Ask a travel partner to stand still for a few seconds at a safe spot.

• Compose so the person is relatively small in the frame compared to the landscape.

• Use a wider lens or step farther back.

Extra tip:

If you’re traveling solo, use a railing, rock, or backpack as a tripod and turn on the timer. You deserve to be in your own story.

8. Quiet Moment on Deck: Tea, Blanket, Horizon

Why it matters:

Some of the most powerful images aren’t the grandest. It might be you wrapped in a blanket watching the shoreline with a mug of something warm. That’s Alaska too.

Where / when:

• Early mornings when the decks are quiet

• Late evenings when the sky softens and the ship hums

How to capture it:

• Set your drink, journal, or hands on a table or railing and compose around that.

• Include a hint of sea or coastline so you remember where you were.

Extra tip:

If you’re a tea person, pack a favorite Alaska-inspired tea and give yourself one “slow photo moment” like this each day. The photo becomes a visual anchor for how you wanted this trip to feel.

9. Inside Passage Layers at Dusk

Why it matters:

The Inside Passage often shows up as overlapping layers of mountains and islands fading into the distance. It’s one of the most quietly beautiful scenes of the cruise.

Where / when:

• Evenings on sea days as you sail between ports

• Look out toward the land where the mountains stack on each other

How to capture it:

• Use a slightly longer focal length if you have it (50–70mm) to compress the layers.

• Slightly lower your exposure so the sky doesn’t wash out.

Extra tip:

These scenes change every minute. Stay outside a little longer than you think you need; the best frame might be five minutes after you were ready to go in.

10. Night Shot: Harbor, City Lights, or Stars

Why it matters:

Nights on a ship are a whole different mood — the quiet of the decks, city lights reflecting on the water, or a dark sky far from shore.

Where / when:

• Evenings in port (city lights and harbor)

• Sea days when the sky is clear enough for stars

How to capture it:

• Phone: Use night mode and brace your elbows on the railing or a solid surface. Hold still as your phone gathers light.

• Camera: Use a slower shutter and higher ISO, and brace against something solid or use a mini tripod.

Extra tip:

Even if you don’t get a “perfect” pin-sharp shot, the atmosphere itself — a bit of blur, a little grain — can feel exactly like the memory.

11. Your Personal Detail: The Story Only You Can Tell

Why it matters:

Not every meaningful photo has a mountain in it. Sometimes it’s your rain boots by the door, your partner’s hand around a mug, your journal open next to a map.

Where / when:

• In your cabin

• On a bench in port

• On deck while you wait for sailaway

How to capture it:

• Look down: boots, hands, teacup, notebook, a pressed leaf, a ticket stub.

• Compose simply. Let that one detail fill most of the frame.

Extra tip:

Try taking one “detail photo” every day of your cruise. Later, those are often the images that unlock the feelings you can’t quite put into words.

Juneau Cruise Dock

12. Farewell Shot: Last Port or Final Sea Day

Why it matters:

The end of a trip can feel bittersweet. A farewell photo is a way of saying “thank you” to the place that held you for a week.

Where / when:

• As your ship pulls away from your last Alaska port

• During your final sea day in the Inside Passage

How to capture it:

• Turn back toward the land and take one last wide shot.

• Or photograph your own feet on deck, with the wake trailing off behind you.

Extra tip:

Think of this as closing the visual loop — the last image in the story you started when you first sailed into Alaska light.

Simple Gear Tips (Even If You’re Only Using a Phone)

You don’t need a huge camera bag to come home with photos you love. A few simple choices go a long way.

If you’re using a phone:

• Wipe the lens often

• Learn how to:

• Tap to focus

• Adjust exposure slightly darker for bright skies and ice

• Use video for fast-moving moments (whales, eagles) and pull still frames later

If you’re bringing a camera:

• One wide-to-mid zoom (something like 24–70mm or 24–105mm)

• One longer lens if you care about whales and eagles

• Extra battery and memory card

• A soft cloth to deal with mist and spray

For everyone:

• Small daypack or dry bag

• Lightweight gloves you can still use to press buttons

• A way to keep your gear dry when it rains (plastic bag, rain cover, or even a spare buff)

Photographing moose in Denali National Park

How to Stay Present While Still Getting Great Photos

The biggest mistake I hear from travelers is their frustration when they are trying to capture everything and missing how it feels to be here.

A few gentle rules you might try:

• Give yourself one or two “photo goals” per day from this list instead of chasing all twelve at once.

• When you arrive somewhere beautiful, look for 30 seconds before you lift your camera. Let your senses arrive first.

• After you’ve taken a few frames, put your camera away and just be in the moment. You’ll remember more that way — and your photos will feel less frantic.

Want Help Planning Your Alaska Days?

If you’re in the early stages of planning, or you’ve already booked your cruise and are figuring out what to do in each port, you might also like:

• A one-day guide to Juneau on a cruise call

• Practical tips for getting around town without a car

• Ideas for where to find quieter corners, peaceful views, and local spots

You can explore more Alaska travel and photography posts on my site, or join my email list if you’d like occasional letters from Juneau with trip-planning ideas, photo tips, and little rituals to bring the feeling of Alaska home with you.

However you choose to photograph your cruise, I hope you come home with images that feel like you — a mix of awe, quiet, weather, and all the small moments in between.

If you want to remember this feeling long after your trip, I created a limited edition Alaska fine art print collection called Alaska’s Grandeur and Magnificence. Glaciers, mountains, cabins and tiny humans that show just how big this place really is.

Alaska Photography Tips | Photographing Orcas in Southeast Alaska

It is always exciting to see Orcas while cruising through the waters of Southeast Alaska. Since they move so quickly and the lighting isn’t always the best, I thought I’d share my top 3 pieces of advice for photographing Orcas.

1. Fast Shutter: Orcas can swim up to 35 mph. Make sure your shutter speed is fast enough to capture the Orca when it comes up for air.

2. High(er) ISO: In Southeast Alaska, it can be rainy and dreary. Make sure your ISO is set properly and high enough to ensure a fast enough shutter speed (but keep it as low as you can to help reduce noise).

3. Lower focus point: I usually keep my focus point lower than the center of my camera frame since often times, the orcas will be lower in the water (I try to get as level with the water as possible).

Tips For Photographing Orcas

I had the chance to catch up with Captain Andrew to learn more about his photography tips and techniques for photographing Orcas near the San Juan Islands. Check out his thoughts here:

Do you have any tips for photographing Orcas that you would like to share? Drop us a comment if so!

Alaska Eagle Photography | 4 places to photograph eagles in Juneau, Alaska

Mary Parkhill photographing wildlife in Juneau, Alaska

If you have visited Juneau, Alaska, then you have probably spotted a few Bald Eagles flying overhead or sitting on lamp posts and have heard their distinctive cries. Their massive wing spans, powerful jaws and impressive talons all add to this bird’s allure.

I often receive the question of “where should I go to photograph bald eagles?” To see the most amount of eagles in the shortest amount of time (to give yourself as many opportunities to photograph these majestic eagles), then continue reading.

Based on spending my summers in Juneau, Alaska, below is a list of the best areas to photograph Bald Eagles.

Where to photograph Bald Eagles in Juneau, Alaska?

1. Shores of the Gastineau Channel: During low tide, Bald Eagles flock to the sides of the channel in search for treats that the sea has left behind. As the salmon runs start and as the summer season progresses, the volume of eagles increases.

2. Statter Harbor: In an area known as Auke Bay (north of the city of Juneau), Statter Harbor is one of the more prominent harbors. It’s home to commercial fishermen, fishing charters, whale watching and personal boats. In this area, you will often see Bald Eagles hanging around the docks and in the nearby pine trees.

3. Around Humpback Whales: When Humpback Whales feed, often times they churn the ocean waters and bait fish (ex. herring) will swim/float closer to the surface. Eagles will swoop in and snatch up the fish in their talons making for great action shots!

4. DIPAC Hatchery: When the salmon begin to run, Eagles can be found waiting around DIPAC salmon hatchery (even in the trees across the road). This area offers unique opportunities to catch eagles eating salmon along the shore - just watch-out for the anglers in the area! While in the area, at a low tide check out Salmon Creek just a few hundred yards north of DIPAC for a great vantage point of eagles preying on incoming salmon.

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Bald Eagle Photographs Taken in Juneau, Alaska

Two eagles fighting each other during a feeding frenzy in Juneau, Alaska

Bald Eagle’s spread wings as it takes flight with a herring in it’s talons

I captured this photo as the Bald Eagle flew directly overhead

Want to learn more about Eagles and Alaska?

• Shop Eagle Prints

• Read about things to do in Juneau, Alaska

• Learn about which port town makes sense for you (from a photographer’s POV)

• Learn about how to bring the Alaska Lifestyle home with you

Photographing Southeast Alaska: Wildlife, Glaciers and Landscapes

Orca Whale Nature Photography

Photographing Orca Whales and Alaska Landscapes

Orca Photograph taken in Southeast Alaska

Over the last few years, I have been fortunate enough to travel through Southeast Alaska and set eyes on beautiful vistas! The air always has a refreshing crisp to it and the scenery is grand and powerful. It’s one place in the world that feels raw and untouched. If you’ve ever cruised through Alaska or have had the opportunity to travel there, you know what I mean. If you haven’t, hopefully my photographs below will help show you what I mean.

One thing that I love about Alaska is that it is ever-changing. The environment changes rapidly under the extended summer sun and the wildlife is constantly moving. It’s exciting to see a whale fluke, an eagle in a tree or a bear scrambling up a stream for a salmon. However, as a photographer, it can also be extremely challenging.

Often times, you get one shot (no pun intended). As fast as you see a whale fluke breech the water line, it disappears below the surface. A seal that was once laying on a chunk of ice is now just a tiny head bobbing above the water. A beautiful mountain range disappears under a thick cloud of fog. For all of these reasons and more, Alaska can be a tough place to photograph but if you are up for the challenge, you will have an adventure of a lifetime.

Interested in recommendations of where to photograph during your Alaskan vacation? Send me a message here and I’ll send you a few tips and locations! Happy photographing!

Humpback Whale Nature Photography

Whale Fluke, Alaska

Southeast Alaska Nature and Wildlife Photography

Mature Bald Eagle sitting in a tree

Orca breeching in Alaska

Crab Pot Buoy

Alaska Forest & Fog

Juneau Alaska Landscape Photography

Snow capped Mountains in Alaska

Glacier Photography

Glacier

Alaska Landscape Photography Equipment

In addition to the normal camera gear I tow along with me on each trip, I decided to take two weatherproofing items to Alaska. It rained almost everyday when I was there so I’m extremely happy that I had these two items. One item was for my camera and the second item was for my backpack (I didn’t want the rest of my gear getting wet while I was hiking around). Below are the two lifesaving pieces I had with me:

OUTAD Waterproof Backpack Rucksack Pack Rain Cover Bag Rainproof for Camping Hiking (Black, Middle) Buy on Amazon

Altura Photo Professional Rain Cover for Large Canon Nikon DSLR Cameras Buy on Amazon

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