TravelingbeebryantRN & Flicks_withNick

Whittier is one of Alaska’s top destinations in the Summer. Key word, Summer. Nick and I visited Whittier in February? because we went on an adventure nearby. We decided what better time to stop by Whittier because it was so close. Boy…we were wrong. It was too cold, and nothing was open. This past weekend we visited Whittier in May, and it was a whole new experience.  Whittier is home to jet ski glacier tours, wildlife tours, cute shops, and good seafood. We visited a few things around town, but opted out of any of the tours this time. Let’s talk a little more about Whittier.

Getting to Whittier

Whittier is conveniently located an hour and fifteen minutes away from Anchorage. It’s also about a half hour away from Girdwood, making it a great destination even for a day trip. At 2.7 miles, the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel is the longest combined vehicle and railroad tunnel in North America.  This is the only way to get to Whittier by land.  This one-way tunnel operates on a private schedule every half hour. This tunnel was created in World War two, with a way to deliver goods from the port via railroad. This historic tunnel is a great way to start out your day in Whittier. Make sure to check out the tunnel schedule before going to Whittier. Your time is valuable. 

Things to Do In Whittier 

William Sound Cruises

Home to 150 glaciers, wildlife, and beautiful mountain scenery, Prince William Sound is a great place to explore. Typically, it’s best explored by boat, so you can experience everything. Whittier offers half day and full day cruise excursions throughout Prince William Sound. Nick and I haven’t had the opportunity to do this yet, but I hear it’s a treat. From what I’ve read, the 26 glacier boat tour is a popular tour to choose!

Explore Portage Glacier

Portage Glacier is easily accessible from the Portage Highway on the Portage side of the tunnel. It is not visible from Whittier. It is only visible by boat or by hiking the Portage Pass Trail. Nick and I have not seen Portage Glacier, but plan on hiking the Portage Pass trail in the future. Most of the tours of Portage glacier start at Boggs Visitor Center. The visitor center offers education on the glaciers, and makes for a great meeting spot. From the visitors center, tour guides give hiking  tours of the Byron glacier, hiking or boat cruises to the Portage Glacier. Byron Glacier is also worth seeing, and I’ll discuss this in a future blog!

Learn about Whittier’s history. Check out the Buckner Building and Begich Tower 

Whittier is home to 315 people currently. Whittier was incorporated in World War II by a secret military installation. It’s mostly known for the tunnel that was created by dynamite. It is also historically known for the Buckner Building. The Buckner Building was completed in 1959 and was known as the “city under one roof”. The building is now abandoned, and unstable due to a tsunami in 1964. They created a new “city under one roof” called the Begich Tower. Most of the community, and its services are in that building, including the homes of the majority of Whittier residents.

Check out the quant shops and downtown

The charming historic downtown whittier is so cute and quant. They have a lot of  great restaurants, coffee, and  gift shops. 

Kayak around Prince William Sound

Like the bike tours, a lot of the kayaking tours of Prince William Sound go out of  Boggs Visitor Center. The calm waters are so enjoyable to kayak with the mountains in the background. Watch out for any friends nearby!

Go on a short hike

There are so many good hikes in Whittier. Portage Pass Trail is definitely the most popular and most scenic. The Portage Pass Trail is a two mile long family friendly hike with the best views of the glacier on foot. Definitely worth checking out in whittier.

Visit the Prince William Sound Museum

The Prince William Sound Museum is located in the Anchor Inn in downtown  Whittier. This small museum gives some great historical education about Whittier’s history.

Fishing Exhibition 

The fishing trips out of Whittier typically take you down the cook inlet. Halibut and salmon are  the most caught fish in this area. Check out the fishing prime season in Whittier.

Nom…Nom…Nom

Whittier has a great range of food, ranging from seafood to Alaska’s greatest comfort food. Dining in Whittier will have all your senses going. The taste of the delicious food,  mountain views, and the smell of the water. Let’s touch on a few good spots in Whittier.

Varly’s Swiftwater Seafood Cafe

The Swiftwater is known for its fish and chips. Nick and I stopped here this weekend to split something small for lunch. We got an order of fish and chips. Honestly… I wasn’t too impressed with it. They are very tender and flavorful, but weren’t the best I’ve had. I’m wondering if it’s the best for the area. 

Address: Harbor Rd, Whittier, Alaska

Yelp rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.4/5.0

TravelingbeebryantRN rating: ⭐⭐⭐ 3.5/5.0

Flicks_withNick rating: ⭐⭐2.7/5.0

Lazy Otter Charters Inc

Take a seat by the window and enjoy this family run cafe. They have delicious coffee, but are also known for their world famous “salmon spread” and baked goods.

Address: Lot,2, Whittier, Alaska

Yelp rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.7/5.0

TravelingbeebryantRN rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.0/5.0

Flicks_withNick rating: ⭐⭐ 2.5/5.0

Whittier Ice Cream and Pizza

An Alaskan original serving hot subs, ice cream, and pizza. Just hope it’s open when you go to Whittier. Most of the time, it unfortunately is not!

Address: Harbor Triangle, Harbor Rd, Whittier, Alaska 

Yelp rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.3/5.0

TravelingbeebryantRN rating: haven’t tried

Flicks_withNick rating: haven’t tried

Start planning your day trip to Whittier. Definitely have a toasted marshmallow late at Lazy Otter’s… you won’t regret it. Stay up to date with all things travel, nursing, and of course Flicks_withNick’s movie reviews. Give us a follow on instagram or subscribe to this blog.