Explore the journey — one trail, museum, meal, and memory at a time.
Dutch Harbor, Amaknak Island, Unalaska
After arriving in Dutch Harbor, I walked from Amaknak Island across the Iliuliuk Bridge into the City of Unalaska. Along the way I photographed bald eagles, explored World War II history, visited one of North America's oldest Russian Orthodox churches, and spent time with a local family harvesting salmon.
Valdez Old Town
Rain turned out to be the perfect excuse to explore the Old Town Museum and the site of the original Valdez. Survivor interviews, recreated buildings, and a driving tour of Old Valdez transformed the 1964 Good Friday Earthquake from history into something deeply personal, revealing how an entire community was rebuilt just a few miles away.
Skagway to Whitehorse
Before leaving Skagway, I explored the Gold Rush Cemetery and Reid Falls, learning about Martin Itjen, Soapy Smith, and Frank Reid while photographing one of the town's most visited historic sites. The drive north on the Klondike Highway offered rain-soaked mountain views, a stop at the historic Venus Mine near Carcross, and a return to Whitehorse to end the day.
Skagway, AK
An early morning ferry ride carried me from Juneau to Skagway through the mountains and waterways of Southeast Alaska. Along the way I reflected on my time in Juneau, photographed coastal scenery, and listened to a colorful family announce wildlife sightings from across the ferry. After arriving in Skagway, I spent the afternoon walking through town, reading historic plaques about Captain William Moore, the Klondike Gold Rush, the SS Princess Sophia disaster, and the transformation of the town from frontier gateway to cruise ship destination. The day ended with Thai curry from a food truck, quiet streets beneath bright evening skies, and an unexpected encounter with hundreds of crows gathering for the night.
Alaska State Museum
After another rainy morning in Juneau, I set out in search of coffee and ended up spending most of the day at the Alaska State Museum. Exhibits on Alaska Native cultures, Russian settlement, mining, whaling, the Exxon Valdez disaster, and the Japanese invasion of the Aleutian Islands offered a deeper understanding of Alaska's history. An unexpected highlight was a collection of clothing by Haida designer Dorothy Grant, whose work blended Indigenous art with contemporary fashion.
A Day in Juneau, AK
My first full day in Juneau began with a visit to the Alaska State Capitol and ended photographing Celebration 2026, the largest gathering of Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian people in the world. Along the way I explored Alaska history, discovered the story behind the territory's Liberty Bell, wandered the waterfront, and met locals who made the city feel far more personal than the cruise ships and souvenir shops would suggest.
Signpost Forest
I arrived in Watson Lake, Yukon without realizing how much history was packed into one small stop along the Alaska Highway. From the massive Sign Post Forest and the Northern Lights Centre to the wartime history of the Alaska Highway and a quiet walk through the local cemetery, the day turned into something far more interesting and reflective than I expected.
Lamoille Canyon and Wells Nevada
On a clear March morning I drove into Lamoille Canyon in the Ruby Mountains of northeastern Nevada hoping to reach the top of the scenic road at more than 8,000 feet. Snow stopped me halfway up the canyon, so I turned toward the small town of Wells and later visited the California Trail Interpretive Center along Interstate 80 to learn about the wagon routes emigrants once followed across Nevada on their long journey to California.