Southeast Alaska features breathtaking mountain landscapes and incredible wilderness that are best explored on a multi-day trip to the 49th State. You can start out your adventure from the capital city, Juneau, and work your way from visiting local attractions to venturing out into the area’s vast outback.

We had the privilege of visiting Petersburg in partnership with the Southeast Alaska Tourism Council. Petersburg is a small town and a large commercial fishing hub on Mitkof Island. It is the hometown of the Tlingit People and you will find a strong Norwegian and Tlingit culture in the area. To help you plan your trip, we’ve come up with a list of the best things to do, where to eat, and where to stay in Petersburg, Southeast Alaska.

 

Where To Stay

Tide’s Inn

For cozy rooms and friendly staff in Petersburg, stay at the Tides Inn which overlooks the town’s North Harbor. We stayed here and I love how it’s centrally located. Just a short walk to all the restaurants and shops in town and a short five minute drive to the airport. They also rent cars so we rented our car from them and I highly recommend doing so. It makes exploring much better. The Inn has excellent ratings on TripAdvisor, offers affordable rates, and features a number of amenities, including free continental breakfast, free email access, in-room kitchenettes, and on-site laundry facilities. For more information and bookings, go to www.tidesinnalaska.net

Other places to stay are the Scandia House and Beachcomber Lodge There are also several Airbnb’s in Petersburg. Make sure you pay attention to where you are booking and think about the things that you would want to do. Staying in town is your best bet if you want to be walking distance to all the shops and restaurants.

What To Do/See

With so many beautiful things to see in the area, it can be hard to narrow down the best places. Regardless of your itinerary, do not miss out on the following:

Clausen Memorial Museum

Dedicated to preserving, interpreting, and sharing the diverse histories of those who have lived and worked in Petersburg and the surrounding area, the Clausen Memorial Museum features an art collection that includes 5,000 artifacts, 45,000 photographs and negatives, and 200 archival collections that span the history and prehistory of Petersburg and the surrounding area. Find out more here: https://clausenmuseum.com

The Tlingit Indians have fished in the Petersburg area for thousands of years. When the US acquired Alaska from Russia, it opened the area to people from all parts of the world and hundreds of fishermen and laborers flocked to Petersburg to make their fortune.

Raven Trail

We hiked Raven Trail with Petersburg local, Marissa, and it was a great way to start our trip. The trail starts at Sandy Beach and is 4.2 miles long. There’s usually a very beautiful view of the city once you reach the top but it was so foggy when we went that we couldn’t see it. But we still enjoyed this trail and were rewarded with smoked salmon made by Marissa’s dad, with some bagels and cream cheese. It was the best smoked salmon I ever had!

Totem Park

Don’t miss the impressive Totem Poles that can be found Totem Park. Totem Poles are important  component of Northwest Coast cultural traditions. They are often positioned in front of clan houses and displayed the family crests, told stories about events and honored the passing of an individual.

 

Petersburg Town

Located on Frederick Sound near the summer feeding grounds of hundreds of humpback whales, the island community of Petersburg has three beautiful harbors which usually attract smaller cruise ships, private yachts, and pleasure boats. Its thriving fishing village has a strong Norwegian heritage and is worth a visit to meet the town’s hardworking and friendly residents and learn about their abundant marine life. Just a short boat ride away, you can view the Stikine-LeConte Wilderness Area, which boasts the spectacular LeConte Glacier with incredible bright blue Alaska icebergs. For more information, check out: https://www.petersburg.org

Sons of Norway Hall and The Bojer Wikan FishermansMemorial Park

 

Triple Lakes

Considered a moderate hiking trail that is best used from April to September, the Triple Lakes Trail, composed of Sand Lake, Hill Lake, and Crane Lake, is 29.8 km long and located in Tongass National Forest. While the trail is primarily used for hiking and running, dogs can also use this trail if kept on a leash. You can start out at Crane Lake which is the most southern of all three lakes and even go fishing along the way.

 

Glacier Adventure with Seek Alaska

Because nearly all glaciers in Southeast Alaska are not accessible by road, the best way to see these thousand-year-old ice formations is with Seek Alaska’s Glacier Adventure, which starts at $200 for a half-day tour of the spectacular LeConte Glacier. Soak in the magnificence of the tidewater Alaska glaciers backdropped by soaring peaks and Alaska’s shimmering waters on Seek’s Point Retreat Tours or Zeus Excursion multi-day tours. Learn more here: ​​https://www.seekak.com

Petroglyphs that were discovered in a mountain on our way to LeConte Glacier

Beautiful ice formations on our way to LeConte Glacier

One of my most favorite parts of the trip!

 

The Cedar Box

Looking for gifts and souvenirs to bring home from your Alaskan adventure? Then stop by The Cedar Box, an Alaska Native Art and Gift store located in Petersburg. Since their opening in 2018, they have been sharing breathtaking works of indigenous people from all over Alaska. The store carries a variety of local and regional unique artwork, apparel, fur, lifestyle, and home products. More information can be found at akcedarbox.com

Blind River Rapids

A great place for Petersburg Wildlife viewings, the Blind River Rapids Trail is a flat, 0.25-mile boardwalk and ideal to view salmon runs, Chinooks in June and July, Pinks in July and August, and Coho between August and October. Aside from fish, the area also features beautiful deer, eagles, moose, and black bears in the summer.

 

Sandy Beach Picnic Area

Historically important to Alaska Natives, the Sandy Beach Recreation Area is located on Sandy Beach Loop Road and is 1.6 miles from downtown. V-shaped wooden stakes and rocks are remains of a 2,000-year-old fish trap that can be viewed in the mudflats during low tides. Discover the area’s petroglyphs, the Chamber of Commerce, or Forest Service visitors centers, and the three enclosed picnic shelters that can be rented.

Where To Eat

 For the best places to eat in Southeast Alaska, check out the following places:

• The Beachcomber – Enjoy tasty local eats and handcrafted cocktails at The Beachcomber, which specializes in fish and offers nightly specials. It comes highly recommended in Petersburg so we went for an early dinner and was able to sit without a reservation.

• The Salty Pantry – The Salty Pantry is a quaint Harbor Way bakery that offers mouthwatering sweet and savory baked goods.

• Inga’s Galley – A fish restaurant in Petersburg, the menu at Inga’s Galley features burgers, sushi, and other comfort foods.

• Glacier Express Cafe – For your daily coffee fix, head over to the Glacier Express Cafe, which also offers full meals.

• Papa Bear’s Pizza – Looking for the best pizza in town? Then go to the family-owned Papa Bear’s Pizza, which has pizza, salads, burgers, wraps, and more on its menu.

• Joan Mei Restaurant – Serving authentic Chinese and American cuisine since 1987, Joan Mei Restaurant offers delicious food and quaint interiors.

It goes without saying that Southeast Alaska is worth a visit with its beautiful landscapes and rugged wilderness and our travel guide should make it a breeze for you to plan an exciting trip that will help you make memories of a lifetime.

 

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