Westworld Alberta
Issue link: http://westworldmagazine.ama.ab.ca/i/40418
glint along the sides of the dark passageway. Back in Skagway, at the northern end of the Alexander Archipelago (our trip's most northern port of call), we explore the restored gold rush town (pop. 850). Brightly painted shops and restaurants line the main street. The Sarah Palin Store, with bags, fridge magnets and books bearing the for- mer Alaska governor's smiling visage, stands out among the jewellery stores that outnum- ber anything else here. After a few peeks at the diamond, tanzanite and alexandrite offerings, we move on to the Skagway Brew- ing Co., where I wash an Alaskan cod sand- wich down with a Spruce Tip Blonde ale. WE AWAKEN ON DAY 5 AT THE DOCK OF Alaska's capital, Juneau (30,000+ pop.). Home to a colourful downtown strip that gives way to a hillside of nondescript brown houses, Juneau is another cruise ship town where many shops cater to passengers from May to September and are shuttered up come win- ter. Close to 30 jewellery stores line Franklin Street, enough of them foreign-owned that local businesses post bright blue signs in their windows: "Owned by an Alaskan fam- ily." Other than lunch at the quirky Red Dog Saloon (sawdust covers the floor; animal heads, guns and black-and-white photos dot the walls), we decide to spend the day check- ing out Juneau's natural attractions. A short bus ride brings us to Allen Marine Tours, where we board the catamaran St. Nicholas for a whale-watching jaunt up Favorite Channel. It's often cloudy and wet in these parts, so we're loving today's sun and maximum visibility. Onboard naturalist (from left) A Dale Chihuly-designed chandelier graces the Disney Wonder lobby; Mendenhall Glacier and Lake near Juneau; the White Pass & Yukon Route railway leaves from the restored gold rush town of Skagway, home to shops and eateries. Daniel Kirkwood tells us that humpback whales are just starting to arrive here from Hawaii. Armed with binoculars, we move about the vessel's two decks. "Sometimes we do more whale-waiting than whale-watching," jokes tour guide Rachel as we gaze out over the water. Our patience is rewarded with three sightings. It amounts to too much waiting and too little watching for Thomas, who gobbles up much of the smoked-salmon-on- crackers tray offered toward the end of our journey. After ogling sea lions lounging on the rocky shoreline and a bald-headed eagle WESTWORLD >> SEPTEMBER 201 1 43