Why an Alaska Honeymoon Is Perfect for Newlyweds

If you board your Alaska honeymoon cruise in Vancouver, your first port of call will be Ketchikan, one of Alaska's southernmost cities. As you disembark the ship onto the historic Creek Street boardwalk, make a reservation at one of the waterfront restaurants for a romantic dinner with breathtaking views.

Before you wine and dine on the seaside, head onshore to work up an appetite with a hike along the Rainbird Trail, a 1.3-mile out-and-back jaunt that’s temporarily closed but offers stunning views of downtown Ketchikan with the mountains of Tongass Narrows rising above the cruise terminal. Or, if you married a history buff, admire the Totem Poles of the Ketchikan area's indigenous Tlingit people and hear stories from the talented wood carvers who show off their skills proudly.

Where to honeymoon in Alaska, you ask? Another mesmerizing place you can find adventure on your honeymoon in Alaska is Sitka. It's not far from Ketchikan and offers plenty of experiences and excursions to diversify your time in southern Alaska.

If you and your spouse share a love of animals, take a walk or flight on the wild side at Alaska Raptor Center, a sanctuary that cares for injured American bald eagles and other native birds. You can also make memories at Sitka's Fortress of the Bear, a refuge that allows you to get relatively close to orphaned black and brown bears being prepped for life in the wild.

Speaking of life in the wild, you can experience that in Sitka, too. Catch a whale-watching cruise off the coast of Baranof Island, or hike Sitka National Historical Park's cultural Totem Trail. You can even experience Alaska's wild with your taste buds, with a romantic meal spotlighting Alaskan reindeer, king crab or salmon at any number of restaurants in downtown Sitka. It's no wonder so many Alaska honeymoon packages include exciting adventures in Sitka!

Alaska's capital city of Juneau might not be the first place you think to visit on your honeymoon in Alaska. If you're seeking a romantic adventure that doesn't require a long trek from civilization, you're in the right place with an Alaskan glacier cruise. Take a bus from downtown to Mendenhall Glacier. Enjoy bonding with a hike of the 3.5-mile West Glacier trail or working together on a tandem kayak in the Tracy Arm Fjord.

If you do decide to hike to Mendenhall Glacier, keep an eye out for signs guiding you to Nugget Falls, whose bridal veil-style flow is the perfect place for newlyweds to share a spontaneous kiss after working up a sweat thanks to the scenic walk.

If you take a longer Alaska honeymoon cruise, or start up north in Anchorage instead of embarking from south of the border, Skagway is a place you're sure to stop. Strike relationship gold when you ride the White Pass Railway, which follows the same route as the gold miners during the Klondike Gold Rush of 1898. If the stunning Yukon scenery doesn't make you want to hold hands, the cozy train speeding around the bend above century-old mines is sure to do the trick.

Of course, you can hit the trails instead of the rails if you prefer. The Dewey Lakes and Skagway River Bridge Trails are both less than a mile from downtown; they take you into scenic spruce forests with enchanting hemlock underbrush. Spend the day in nature, enjoying each other's company in the peaceful forests. Then, dine by candlelight in one of the quaint bistros in historic downtown, collecting the day's memories over hearty Alaskan cuisine.

If your honeymoon in Alaska takes you all the way north to the Kenai Fjords near Seward, be sure to stop to take in their beauty. Get in a kayak and paddle out into the fjord, assuming you didn't get your fill of Arctic scenery as the ship passed the Hubbard Glacier en route. Hand in hand, admire the breathtaking scenery and diverse animal life, including puffins, sea otters, whales and sea lions.

Add another dimension to your adventure by taking one of the many tours centered on the professional dog sledding competition that takes place here every winter. End your day with a meal or cocktail in Seward's cute town center. Don't be shy about staying up late afterwards, especially if you cruise in June or July. Seward, due to its far northern latitude, is one of the best places for taking in the famous Alaskan midnight sun.