If you’re deciding between Skagway or Ketchikan, both offer unforgettable Alaskan experiences — but each has its own personality. Skagway is best for mountain views, historic railways, and sweeping alpine photography, while Ketchikanshines with rainforest trails, totem culture, and wildlife encounters. Whether you crave the drama of the White Pass train or the calm of Misty Fjords, this guide compares tours, weather tips, and photo highlights to help you choose the perfect port for your Alaska cruise day.

There’s something about Juneau that never loses its wonder. Even after years of living here, I can step outside and be reminded that Alaska doesn’t just ask you to look—it asks you to feel.

This past week, I wandered out toward Mendenhall Glacier and Nugget Falls, two of Juneau’s most iconic spots. They’ve been photographed thousands of times, yet each visit is a little different. The air feels new, the water crashes a bit louder, and the trails hold fresh surprises.

Colder air, still water, fog through trees—here’s how fall arrives in Southeast Alaska, plus a 10-minute field guide to slow down.

Autumn in Alaska doesn’t drift in slowly. It arrives almost overnight—swift, certain, and unafraid to change the landscape with its touch. One moment, the trees hold onto the fullness of summer; the next, fog clings to the evergreens and the air tastes of woodsmoke and damp moss.

Discover Alaska by floatplane. From the Taku Lodge and stunning views of a glaciers to remote wilderness lodges, experience awe-inspiring flightseeing adventures.

Explore: Ford’s Terror, Southeast Alaska
There are places in Alaska where time slows, where the landscape itself feels alive. Ford’s Terror is one of them — a narrow fjord tucked deep in Southeast Alaska, shrouded in mist, carved by glaciers, and alive with the constant rhythm of falling water.

Wild Within is a space for those craving depth, nature, and meaning. Rooted in Alaska’s beauty and seasonal rhythms, it blends mindful living, travel, tea rituals, and photography into a journey inward. Come explore what it means to live wildly within.

Alaska is a photographer’s dream - at least from my POV! The ever-changing weather, bold mountains, incredible wildlife and the rawness of the untouched land makes Alaska an evergreen location for raw beauty. Whether you’re capturing glacier reflections at golden hour or pastel houses nestled in the fog, there’s something almost otherworldly about the way light plays on this land.

After years of living, photographing, and traveling through Alaska, I’ve found that some towns are especially photogenic — not just for their scenery, but for their soul.

If you’re planning a trip and want your camera (or phone!) to come home full of stunning shots, here are my top picks for the most photogenic towns in Alaska — plus the best seasons to visit each one, what to bring, and how to fully immerse yourself in the photographic rhythm of the place.

If you’re dreaming of an Alaska trip that feels personal, unrushed, and full of raw, photogenic moments—you might want to try traveling by ferry instead. As someone who calls Southeast Alaska home, I’ve taken these routes a few times and the experience was way better than I had imagined. Not only were the views spectacular, but the ship itself was quite enjoyable.

This post is your go-to planning guide: how to book, what it costs, where to stop, what to pack, and where to point your camera.

Photographer Mary Jacquel shares what Alaska has taught her about slowing down, mindful living, and seeing the world through a more intentional lens.