Petersburg, Alaska

Located on Frederick Sound near the humpback whales' summer feeding grounds, Petersburg, Alaska, still cherishes its Norwegian history, and you may even hear local residents speaking Norwegian as they walk down the street. In recent years, its low tourist traffic and natural beauty have made the Petersburg, Alaska, area a popular stop for celebrities on vacation, including Brad Pitt and Nicholas Cage. Locals say Bill Gates once stopped by, mooring a boat offshore that was, by some accounts, almost as big as the town.

Because it's off the main tourist routes, Petersburg feels more like a slice of the real Alaska and less like something created for the tourists. Fishing is the mainstay of the economy in Petersburg, Alaska, and you'll find the marinas full of fishing vessels that together pull in over 50 million pounds of seafood per year. With all those fish around, it's no wonder that flying eagles are a common sight here.

Petersburg, Alaska Sights

• See It Now: Petresburg Photo Tour

• Mitkof Island: Take your own vehicle or rent one to expore the island, home to wolves, black bear, deer, and moose.

• Whale-Watching: Where the waters of Frederick Sound meets Stephens Passage and Chatham Strait (30 miles north of Petersburg by boat), you'll find good humpback-whale viewing.

• Stikine Ice Field: One of the most notable sights here is the LeConte Glacier.

Petersburg, Alaska Events

It seems like there's a festival in Petersburg, Alaska almost every month. Two of the most charming are the Blessing of the Fleet (first Sunday in May) and the Petersburg Little Norway Festival held the third full weekend in May.

Getting to Petersburg, Alaska

Petersburg, Alaska, is located on the Inside Passage on the northern tip of Mitkof Island, and is accessible only by air or water. Alaska Airlines offers daily flights, or your can work with a charter air service. By water, you can get to Petersburg, Alaska by the Alaska Marine Highway ferry.

The large cruise ship companies don't make it into Petersburg, Alaska, but some of the small ones do, including American Safari, Lindblad and Cruise West.