Oceania Alaska & California Treasures

By far the largest port on Regatta’s Alaska cruises, Vancouver offers every imaginable big-city attraction. Explore the Museum of Anthropology and the Vancouver Art Museum for culture. History flourishes in the Gastown district, which borders vibrant Chinatown. Or enjoy a break from the bustle in Stanley Park, one of North America’s largest urban parks.

Totem poles are one of Ketchikan’s chief attractions, and the best places to view them are Saxman Village and Totem Bight State Park. Drop by the Southeast Alaska Discovery Center to learn about the local cultures and ecosystems.

For a state capital, Juneau maintains a surprising small-town charm, in part because it can only be reached by sea or air due to the surrounding wilderness. Collections from the indigenous people are displayed in the Alaska State Museum. Visit Mendenhall Glacier for outdoor adventure.

Skagway’s spectacular natural setting encourages a walking tour of this well-preserved gold rush town. See the Moore House, built in 1897, a year before the gold rush, and the Gold Rush Cemetery, where famed Old West desperado Soapy Smith is buried. Visit the Trail of ’98 Museum for a more in-depth look at Skagway’s freewheeling history. Or take a ride on the White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad and see the trail the gold rushers etched into the high mountain pass.

Hoonah means “where the north wind doesn’t blow” in the language of the Tlingit Indians, who make up about 70% of the population of this village on the lee side of Chichagof Island. However, wildlife outnumbers everyone, so watch for bears, eagles and humpback whales, which migrate here in the summer.

Called “Shee Atika” by the Tlingit Indians, then “New Archangel” by the Russians who ousted them, Sitka boasts a multicultural heritage. Two dozen of its attractions are on the National Register of Historic Places, including Castle Hill and Building 29, a structure built by the Russians in 1835. The Sheldon Jackson Museum exhibits one of Alaska’s oldest native culture collections.

British Columbia’s most northern coastal city, Prince Rupert sits on the very edge of the wilderness. The majority of its attractions revolve around the outdoors, such as sport fishing or a walking tour of the bonsai-like forest at Oliver Lake. Wildlife abounds, including bears, mountain goats and a variety of migrating whales.

Western Canada’s oldest city, Victoria proudly displays its British heritage. Explore lavish Craigdarroch Castle, built in the late 1800s for a Scottish coal baron. Trace the area’s early British seafarers in the Marine Museum of British Columbia. There’s even a Royal London Wax Museum with likenesses of King Henry VIII and Winston Churchill.

The oldest American settlement west of the Rockies, Astoria was established in 1811 on the Columbia River. The city is known as the “Little San Francisco of the Pacific Northwest” because of the colorful Victorian homes clinging to its steep hills. A fine example of that late 1800s architecture is the Flavel House, now a museum with period furnishings.

Bask on the sun-kissed beaches of Malibu or shop along Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. Ride a bike through Griffith Park and visit the observatory, just below the Hollywood sign. Visit the stunning Getty Museum and maybe take in a special concert at the Disney Concert Hall, designed by Frank Gehry.

Just off the coast of Southern California, lovely Catalina Island offers endless adventures on both land and sea. Snorkel the clear waters or venture out on a glass-bottom boat tour to view the colorful marine life and sunken shipwrecks. Equally scenic vistas await you on a hiking, biking or zip-lining excursion through the island’s grasslands and woodlands. Be sure to take a behind-the-scenes tour of the Catalina Casino. Perched along the harbor, this spectacular entertainment venue has been the center of the island’s cultural scene since it opened in 1929.

With icons like the orange-colored Golden Gate Bridge, clanging streetcars, rolling fog and impossibly steep hills, scenic San Francisco never fails to capture your heart. While the setting is dramatic, the atmosphere is positively laissez-faire, so feel free to do whatever you wish. Tour notorious Alcatraz. See predators like the sharks that live in the surrounding waters at the Aquarium of the Bay. Observe the bonsai in the Japanese Tea Garden in emerald-green Golden Gate Park. Go up mural-covered Coit Tower atop Telegraph Hill for an amazing view of the city, which looks even more dynamic at night.

Located on the west coast of Baja California, Ensenada is a sportsman’s paradise with popular pursuits including surfing, sport fishing, sea kayaking, horseback riding and mountain biking. If you prefer more leisurely activities, take a scenic coastal drive to the Punta Banda Peninsula to see La Bufadora. This marine geyser that shoots from the sea toward the clifftops is one of the largest blowholes in North America. Back in town, pop into famous Hussong’s Cantina and sip a margarita in the bar where the cocktail was reputedly invented.

Bask on the sun-kissed beaches of Malibu or shop along Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. Ride a bike through Griffith Park and visit the observatory, just below the Hollywood sign. Visit the stunning Getty Museum and maybe take in a special concert at the Disney Concert Hall, designed by Frank Gehry.