Alaska.com: Alaska's Travel Website

When the big cruise ships pull up to the dock in Whittier and disgorge passengers, visitors outnumber residents about 10-to-1.

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Most often, ship passengers embark or disembark quickly. They don't spend a lot of time in town. And it doesn't take too much time to see all of Whittier. But if they sprint out of the 200-resident town, they miss some great things.

The small, isolated community is the perfect launching point to enjoy some of the best that Prince William Sound has to offer. Whether it's fishing, kayaking, sightseeing or hiking, Whittier has it in spades.

For many visitors, the list of advantages starts with glacier cruises. While there are a number of smaller boats that can be rented for glacier cruising, most people hop aboard one of the larger ships designed specifically for that assignment.

The day-cruise ships take guests into the fjords surrounding Whittier, where dozens of glaciers fill valley after valley. Several tidewater glaciers treat visitors to ice crashing into the ocean.

The larger cruise operations include Major Marine Tours (1-800-764-7300, majormarine.com), Prince William Sound Cruises and Tours (1-877-777-4054, princewilliamsound.com) and Phillips' Cruises and Tours (1-800-544-0529, 26glaciers.com). The cruises are similar but have individual specialties. Cruises are generally four to six hours and cost from about $100 to $140 for adults. Some cruise prices include lunch, while others offer lunch at an additional charge. Many companies offer transportation from Anchorage via motor coach or train.

Some of the smaller operators include Sound Eco Adventures (1-888-471-2312, soundecoadventure.com), Honey Charters (1-907-472-2493, honeycharters.com) and Prince William Sound Eco-Charters (pwseco.com, 472-2581). They offer specialized trips or water-taxi service.

Honey Charters offers a special six-hour trip from Whittier to Columbia Glacier -- Alaska's second-largest tidewater glacier and a massive sheet of ice that annually calves about two cubic miles of ice into the ocean. The glacier's face is frequently surrounded by icebergs. The trip requires 12 guests.

There are a number of fishing charter operators in Whittier, specializing in halibut, ling cod, salmon and salmon shark. The Whittier Halibut Derby is Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend. There also is a Silver Salmon Derby in September. More information is available at whittieralaskachamber.org.

For visitors looking for an even more intimate on-water experience, sea kayaking is the best bet.

Kayak companies offer a number of paddling options from Whittier. Prince William Sound Kayak Center (pwskayakcenter.com, 1-877-472-2452) and Alaska Sea Kayakers (alaskaseakayakers.com, 1-877-472-2534) offer a variety of trips. Alaska Sea Kayakers has four day-trips: the three-hour Kittiwake tour ($79), the five-hour Passage Canal tour ($120), the five-hour Shotgun Cove tour ($175) and the all-day Blackstone Bay trip ($300), which includes kayaking among icebergs.

"Western Prince William Sound is a world-renowned kayaking destination," said Peter Denmark, co-owner of Alaska Sea Kayakers. "Paddling the fjords and bays of the Sound offer protected waters that are relatively benign. The western Sound offers access to magnificent scenery -- mountains, glaciers and wildlife on an almost daily basis."

Back in Whittier, the Prince William Sound Museum features information about Whittier's connection to the military and World War II. Whittier owes much of its history to the military presence, and the town served as a supply port.

The museum shares space with the Anchor Inn. Admission is $3 for adults and $1 for children.

Also included are exhibits about the Alaska Railroad during World War II and the construction of the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel.

The tunnel was originally constructed for train travel, but it was converted in 2000 to handle both trains and auto traffic. The tunnel is opened at regular intervals daily to allow vehicles access to Whittier.

For some, the tunnel journey itself is a highlight. The 2.5-mile tunnel is the longest highway tunnel in North America.

The town has several easily accessible, unmarked hiking trails, including the short hump up Portage Pass that starts outside the tunnel, and several others that begin near the Buckner Building.

• Enjoy the Sound: Kayaking from Whittier is one of the most rewarding trips you can take. Do it either as a day trip or as a multiday adventure. Public-use cabins make longer trips enjoyable. • Order up: I have been to Whittier several times, but I have yet to drive there specifically for the halibut and chips at Varly's Swiftwater Seafood Cafe, but I've talked about it. It is the best fish and chips I've had. • Time for ice: Whittier is the best place in Southcentral to enjoy glaciers. Several companies offer day cruises. You can also kayak near the glaciers. Editor's picks