About Alaska & The Pacific Northwest
    Sample Alaska & Pacific Northwest Yacht Charter Itineraries
    Alaska & Pacific Northwest Maps
    Complimentary Alaska & Pacific Northwest Charter DVD
    Alaska & Pacific Northwest Charter Yachts

About Alaska & The Pacific Northwest

An Alaska Yacht Charter is an intimate way to experience America 's "Last Frontier." Yachting along the southeast coast of Alaska , and to the famous " Inside Passage ," takes you through a labyrinth of small islands, channels, passages, deep glacier formed fjords, and straits.

The Alaskan coastline is staggering, with pristine, snow-capped mountains, crystal clear water, and forested islands. Over eighty percent of this area belongs to the Tongas National Forest . And with its wet, mild climate, it's a prime habitat for humpback whales, porpoise, sea otters, bald eagles, puffins and other sea mammals and birdlife. The best weather is from April through June, when there is less rain and more sunshine, with May and June being the most reliable and the best for fishing. July and August are warmer, but a bit wetter.

Yachts depart from Sitka by the Sea, and travel up Glacier Bay to the outer coast of Baranof and Chichagof Islands , through Ogden Passage, Cross Sound, Key Strait and Chatham Strait . Frederick Sound takes you through the Tidewater Glaciers of the ice-strewn Tracy Arm National Wilderness Area, which is filled with small to medium size glaciers. Admiralty Island, just off the coast of Juneau , has the world's largest community of brown bears, where many can be spotted from aboard your yacht. Though not as popular, there are also yacht charters as far up as Seward , Alaska , near Anchorage along Prince William Sound .

Pacific Northwest yacht charters take on a life of their own while visiting an area where natural landscapes are more abundant than man-made counterparts. In the United States , this region generally encompasses the coast areas of states Washington and Oregon . Enjoy the unique plant life in the Pacific Northwest area.

Main yacht charters of Washington are focused around Puget Sound, the United States ' second largest estuary, with 2,355 miles of shoreline. In the northern part of the Sound, the San Juan Islands cluster provides a spectacular getaway, with less rain and more sun than other areas in the Pacific Northwest .

San Juan Islands Marine State Parks can be visited only by private or chartered vessel. Anacortes is a common departure point for the San Juan Islands charters. In the south part of Puget Sound lies the major city of Seattle , with a waterfront area filled with nighttime and daytime attractions, including a sensational view of the Olympic Mountains from the Shilshole Bay Marina and multiple trails/bike paths. Oregon has a number of yacht charters from the inland city of Portland . In the North Coast area of Oregon , historic Astoria/Warrenton, at the end of the Lewis and Clark trail offers yacht charters. The city of Garibaldi presents a wealth of fishing charters. Depoe Bay 's charters feature the natural stop on the California gray whale migration path, with enjoyment of whale watching and sport-fishing. May to October is the prevailing yacht season of this region.

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Sample Alaska & Pacific Northwest Yacht Charter Itineraries

Sample Yacht Charter Itinerary - Alaska

Day 1:
Leave Juneau, Alaska's capital, and cruise to Taku Harbor, the home of an abandoned cannery. We will drop the crab pots and tie to the dock.

Day 2:
Tracy Arm has the North and South Sawyer glaciers at its head, 26 miles from our anchorage in No Name Bay. Both of these are calving glaciers. We will wind our way (carefully) through the ice flows and icebergs scooping up glacier ice for the ice chest. The scenery is beautiful with steep rocky walls and waterfalls on both sides of the arm.

Day 3:
Snug Cove located in Gambier Bay is another favorite. It is well protected from winds and is perfect for kayaking as well as bear watching. Gambier Bay has many small coves among the islets and reefs and is worth exploring.

Day 4:
Cannery Cove, located on the east side of Admiralty Island, was the site of a cannery in the 1920s.
It is a beautiful setting where we will crab and watch for bear feeding along the shore at low tide.

Day 5:
Red Bluff Bay has probably the most spectacular combination of mountains, waterfalls and ice fields. We will anchor near a drying mud flat, known as Bear Meadow.

Day 6:
Baranof Warm Springs is a must. It has a huge, beautiful 100-foot waterfall and natural hot springs. We will take the boardwalk and trail to the lake and sit in the hot springs next to the falls. There is a 250-foot public float where we can tie.

Day 7:
Baby Bear Bay is one of the most sheltered anchorages around. Once inside through the narrow entrance, it seems totally landlocked. This is also a really protected bay where we can kayak.

Day 8:
Sitka , the oldest and, what most people consider to be, the most beautiful city in Southeast Alaska . See the city and visit the National Historic Park , which is the site of a Tlingit Indian Fort and has a large collection of Haida and Tlinget totem poles.

Itinerary courtesy of Yacht Jamal

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Sample Yacht Charter Itinerary - Pacific Northwest

The San Juan Islands are made up of many islands of which 172 have names. There are 17 state parks within the islands. All of the islands are within two to three hours of cruising. The four main islands are Orcas, San Juan , Lopez and Shaw. It is a day's cruise from the Seattle area to the San Juans. From Bellingham it is two to three hours. There are so many bays, harbors and anchorages that you could spend several summers cruising the entire area.

A typical ten-day cruise in the San Juan Islands would be:

Day 1- Leave Bellingham Harbor and cruise to Sucia Islands . Drop anchor in Echo Bay . Sucia Islands are a cluster of 11 islands and inlets. Fossils can be found in one of the bays as well as oysters, clams & crabs. Hiking trails are abundant throughout the Islands . Sucia was known in the early days as the base for smuggling and rum running.

Day 2 - Cruise to Stuart Island . There are two main anchorages on this island: Reid and Prevost Harbors . Anchor in one of these areas to explore the island on one of the hiking trails. There are picnic sites, docks and floats. A typical hike would be to Turn Point lighthouse, which has a sweeping view of the Canadian Gulf Islands and Vancouver Island . Both harbors are good places to practice your kayaking.

Day 3 - Cruise to San Juan Island and Roche Harbor Resort, which is the famous home of the Roche Harbor Lime & Cement Company. This historical island provides many fun and interesting places to explore. The formal garden in front of the Hotel de Haro is quite beautiful. Besides a restaurant, bar, and shops, there is also an Olympic size swimming pool and tennis courts. The hike to the mausoleum is not to be missed. At sunset each night, we enjoy the traditional flag ceremony.

Day 4 - Cruise to Westcott and Garrison Bays . Here we will crab, tour an oyster farm and visit the British Camp, which was established in the 1860s and remained active until 1872 after the Pig War. The blockhouse, commissary and barracks are still standing.

Day 5 - Cruise to the town of Friday Harbor, the largest in the islands, which also serves as the county seat. There are all types of shopping available only a short walk from where the boat is anchored. Visit the Whale Museum or the University of Washington Marine Laboratories , located right in the harbor.

Day 6 - Cruise to Spencer Spit State Park on Lopez Island . This beautiful sandy finger of land is perfect for picnics and hiking. Also, it is a great place to catch crab.

Day 7 - Cruise the islands, looking for pods of Orca Whales (also known as killer whales) and do some exciting whale watching. Spend the evening in one of the dozens of lovely bays. Day 7 is not shown on the map because its location can vary.

Day 8 - Cruise to the beautiful and charming city of Victoria , British Columbia . Clear customs, sightsee, shop, enjoy high tea at the Empress Hotel and visit the Maritime Museum . Victoria is not to be missed.

Day 9 - Cruise to Sidney Harbor and visit the famed and internationally known Butchart Gardens . Cruise to Sidney Spit Marine Park and enjoy a barbeque picnic on the beach. Hike around the island and see wild sheep, deer, pheasants and peacocks.

Day 10 - Return to Bellingham .

Itinerary courtesy of Yacht Jamal

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Alaska & Pacific Northwest Maps

     Pacific Northwest
                   

       Map of Alaska
           

Complimentary Alaska & Pacific N.W. Yacht Charter DVD

To obtain your complimentary Alaska & Pacific Northwest yacht charter dvd or additional information about yacht charters in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest and around the world, please call us on
1-877-3YACHTS (392-2487) or (202) 882-2127.

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