Petersburg Economic
Development Council
PO Box 750
Petersburg, AK 99833
Liz Cabrera
Director
Phone: 907-772-4042
Fax: 907-772-3759
Email
Travel Story Ideas
Whale Watching (and Listening)
Thanks to the rich marine life, the waters of Frederick Sound and Stephen’s Passage are primary feeding grounds for migratory humpback whales who come here each spring to feed and frolic in preparation for their fall return to Hawaii for the birth of their calves.
Approximately half of the estimated 1,000 humpback whales in Southeast Alaska enter the Frederick Sound area at some point during the summer to feed making it a wonderful place to view these creatures. Most tour operators carry hydrophones so you can hear the whales vocalize underwater.
Ice Sculpture Garden
LeConte Glacier is North America’s southern most tidewater glacier. Enjoy a motorboat ride over to the fjord to view the glacier and then slip into a kayak and paddle around the icebergs that have calved from the glacier.
And, at lower tides, icebergs large and small are stranded on the sandy tide flats at the mouth of LeConte bay creating a sculpture garden of icebergs. It’s a great way to spend the day.
Know Your Fisherman
Each year, millions of pounds of seafood cross the dock in Petersburg. As one of the top seafood ports in the country, commercial fishing is an important part of the Petersburg economy and culture.
A stroll through the harbor will show you a little about the life of a fisherman, the different boats, gear types, and the work of mending nets and preparing boats. It’s an industry and lifestyle that is not often seen in the Lower 48.
Go Local
The Annual Rainforest Festival seeks to bring participants closer to the natural world through education, exploration and the arts.
Past festival events featured a carving workshop with Mastercarver Tommy Joseph, a whale watching field trip, mushroom hunting, edible plant walks, wine-making with local berries , and great kid activities, such as making fish prints and sea creature touch tanks.
Each year brings a new line-up of featured speakers and unique ways to explore the nation's largest temperate rainforest. Learn more: https://www.akrainforestfest.org