Today we sailed into the Wrangell Narrows and tied up at the pier in Petersburg, Alaska. We had a full day to explore this unique small town and its surrounding environs. The economy is driven primarily by fishing, and we saw boats come and go all day long. The patriotic spirit of the residents was evidenced by the holiday festivities in the best American traditions: food booths, hotdog eating contests, and even a dunk booth to support the local Little League team. There were multiple options to explore the forests and muskegs around town, offering a chance to stretch our legs and learn more about the local environment.
- Daily Expedition Reports
- 03 Jul 2023
Petersburg and Kupreanof Island, 7/3/2023, National Geographic Venture
- Aboard the National Geographic Venture
- Alaska
Robert Edwards, Naturalist
Growing up in the Appalachian foothills of the Garden State, Rob instinctively knew it made a lot more sense to head over the hill into the fields, forests, lakes, and streams behind his house, rather than down the road to the shopping mall in front ...
Read MoreShare Report
Alaska's Inside Passage
VIEW ITINERARYRelated Reports
6/2/2025
Read
National Geographic Quest
Alaska
We started our first full day on board by visiting the Dawes Glacier by Zodiac. As we floated among the growlers and bergy bits, we experienced multiple calving events. We observed many harbor seals with cute, brand-new pups relaxing on the ice. While cruising in the afternoon, we came across a few humpback whales. One humpback hung out close to the ship, lunge feeding and solo bubble netting. Another whale had some fun breaching in the distance, and a third showed off by tail slapping. We ended the day with a great view of Five Finger Lighthouse and look forward to our day in Petersburg tomorrow.
5/31/2025
Read
National Geographic Quest
Endicott Arm
Our final day here in Southeast Alaska was filled with steep fjords, awe-inspiring glaciers, fierce polar plungers, a number of humpbacks, and a beautiful sunset. As we spent the last day in Zodiacs, driving and adrift amongst the ice in front of Dawes Glacier, we were reminded of how tiny we are on this blue rock that abounds with natural beauty and ecological wonders. As the harbor seals swam by, we celebrated the journey with our shipmates, some partaking in a polar plunge. Then we turned off into the sunset surrounded by the sounds of humpback exhalations. Alaska has been a wonder, and we have been thoughtful visitors in a place fragile yet vast.