Alaska Panhandle

Juneau makes the most sense as your base camp. Alaska's capital sits beneath Mount Juneau and Mount Roberts, with the Mendenhall Glacier just 13 miles out of town. Book a room at the Alaskan Hotel on South Franklin Street - it's been hosting travelers since 1913 and puts you walking distance from the Red Dog Saloon and the Mount Roberts Tramway. Ketchikan works well if you're flying in from Seattle. The town clings to Revillagigedo Island's steep slopes, connected by a network of wooden staircases and boardwalks. Stay at the Landing Hotel right on Tongass Avenue - you can watch floatplanes take off from your window. Sitka offers the most authentic Alaska experience. The town occupies Baranof Island and mixes Russian colonial history with Tlingit culture. The Westmark Sitka puts you near the Russian Bishop's House and Sitka National Historical Park. But here's the reality: accommodations fill up fast during cruise season(May through September), and prices reflect that demand.