I honestly don’t know what made me open my eyes. Traveling aboard one of Alaska’s state ferries from Juneau to Petersburg, I’d dozed off in the outdoor solarium—enjoying the mix of fresh air, gently thrumming ferry engines, and warming heat lamps.

But something awakened me, and as I sat up from my sleeping bag, the very first thing I saw was a humpback whale breaching off the stern of the boat.

The ensuing SPLASH was the first of many. As I sat there and stared, other whales leapt, spy-hopped, and slapped fins and tails on the surface of the water. That display remains one of the most spectacular things I’ve ever seen.

While there’s no guarantee that you’ll spot whales breaching by the dozens every time you hop on an Alaska state ferry, what you can count on is experiencing a true cross section of Alaska life. On any given ferry ride, you’ll find locals commuting for shopping trips, medical appointments, high school sports, or just a fun day out—plus visitors like yourself who are hip to this fun, boots-on-the-ground means of travel.

Read the full article at: https://www.frommers.com/slideshows/848619-alaska-by-ferry-see-incredible-places-for-a-fraction-of-what-cruises-cost