At the heart of Prince William Sound sits Cordova, an offbeat fishing community and nature lover's paradise.
Nestled between glaciers and in the Copper River Delta, Cordova is an ideal place to spot wildlife and experience serene surroundings.
Shorebirds and tourists alike flock to the Copper River Delta during the spring to watch the 5 million shorebirds rest in the largest contiguous wetland on the Pacific coast during their migration.
"The bottom line is that we have in a tiny little spot so much to offer of the Alaskan experience," said Martin Moe, executive director of the Cordova Chamber of Commerce. There's hiking, river rafting, fishing, camping and flightseeing, just to name a few of the possibilities.
Cordova is only reachable by plane or ferry, and visitors will find it less crowded with tourists than some other Alaska destinations. Chain stores and restaurants have not made it to the town of 2,500, and most locals like it that way.
"It's accessible yet off the beaten track .... it's what Alaska was like 30 years ago," Moe said.
Kelley Weaverling, the owner of the independent Orca Books, describes Cordova as a genuine place, a sequestered area that maintains its individuality.
"We haven't got those icons of mainstream American monoculture," he said. "What you see is what it is."
Other places with industrialized tourism tend to become caricatures of themselves, Weaverling said. But not Cordova. It's not kitschy. You won't find any cancan girls or sourdoughs reciting Robert Service here.
What you will find, however, are natural gems in and around a friendly place.
Two of the biggest attractions are the Childs Glacier and the Million Dollar Bridge.
At the end of the gravelly Copper River Highway some 40 miles outside of town is the mesmerizing Childs Glacier. Locals bring lawn chairs and coolers out to watch it calve into the Copper River.
"To see the glacier itself -- it's like a bright blue. It's just gorgeous. And then a chunk will come down and go into the river. It's hard to relate the size of that chunk to what you're looking at," said Frances Mallory, attendant at the Cordova Historical Museum. "It's a beautiful thing to observe."
The Million Dollar Bridge is past the Childs Glacier recreation area. Built in the early 1900s so trains could transport copper from the Kennecott Mine to Cordova, the four-span bridge got its name from the $1.4-million price tag. This amount was humble compared to the $200 million in copper that was transported across it and the $18 million spent in 2004 to restore it.
"It was like an eighth wonder of the world," Mallory said of the bridge.
To learn more about the history of the railroad in the area, visit the Cordova Historical Museum.
For more of an artistic experience, check out the Ilanka Cultural Center, dedicated to the preservation of Native Alaskan tradition. Inside, there's a gift gallery, a small art museum with a "shame pole" expressing grief over the Exxon Valdez oil spill and a killer whale skeleton.
Down at the harbor in summer, a fleet of about 400 gill-netter and seine boats are perpetually delivering world-famous Copper River salmon to the cannery. Commercial fishing is the main industry of Cordova and, as a result, there's hardly a pleasure boat in a slip.
Cordova gets an average of 180 inches of rainfall a year, so bring some gear if you're interested in exploring the more than 35 miles of hiking trails that are accessible from the roads.
Though Cordova is out of the way, the variety of its natural beauty is enticing.
"We're not like a roadside attraction," Weaverling said. "We're more like a destination."
Copper River Delta Shorebird Festival
Birders celebrate and observe the millions of shorebirds that gather on the wetlands during spring migration. The festival includes speakers, seminars, field trips and workshops.
Where: Cordova and surrounding areas
When: May 6-9
Cost: Free
Phone: 424-7260
Web: cordovachamber.com
Copper River Wild! Salmon Festival
This festival aims to celebrate the salmon season and promote the sustainability of local salmon runs. It's usually a wild weekend of music, art, road races and other events.
Where: Cordova
When: July 7-10
Cost: Free
Phone: 424-3334
Web: copperriverwild.org
Million Dollar Bridge Centennial Celebration
Celebrate the 100th anniversary of the completion of the bridge with a community remembrance at the bridge, including a salmon BBQ
Where: At the Million Dollar Bridge
When: June 19
Cost: Free
Phone: 424-7260
Web: cordovachamber.com
Cordova Historical Museum
The museum displays artifacts from the town's early history, including the railroad, fishing and copper mining. Check out the lens from the Cape St. Elias lighthouse and the old sealskin kayak known as a bidarka.
Where: 622 First St.
When: 10 a.m to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday
Cost: By donation
Phone: 424-6665
Web: cordovamuseum.org
Ilanka Cultural Center Museum
The Ilanka Cultural Center honors the full heritage and culture of the Eyak, Alutiiq, Ahtna and Tlingit peoples. The center includes native art, artifacts, an orca skeleton and a gift gallery.
Where: 110 Nicholoff Way
When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday
Cost: Free
Phone: 424-7903
Web: ilankacenter.org
