WHITTIER – A TOWN OF CONTRASTS:
Getting to Whittier is half the fun of the Whittier experience. To access Whittier by vehicle, you must drive through the tunnel that’s shared with trains. The Whittier Tunnel (officially the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel) is the longest combined highway and rail tunnel in North America, as well as the second longest highway tunnel in North America.
Initially, we were concerned about a potential wait, since the tunnel opens only once per hour for traffic going in each direction. We discovered that this wasn’t an inconvenience at all since any wait leaves you right next to the Portage Glacier. There’s no hardship in having to stop and look at these views.
Whittier is a unique and interesting town, with population of less than 300, but annual visitors exceeding 700,000. It’s the hop-off point for excursions into Prince William Sound including glacier tours, cruise ships, and the Alaska State Ferry for transport to Valdez, as well as a railway stop with nonstop service to and from Denali National Park. Prince William Sound is beautiful.
The City of Whittier was actually established by the U.S. Army during WW II. In 1943, the Whittier port became the entrance for U.S. soldiers into Alaska. After WW II, two huge buildings were constructed to house soldiers and government offices. One of these buildings is now a condominium which houses nearly all of Whittier’s residents. The other building, which sits next to the rail area, is now abandoned. The town is a unique combination of ocean and huge mountain beauty and an industrial/military atmosphere.
For full comfort, the Inn at Whittier, an attractive gray building next to the marina, built in 2004, has full hotel, restaurant and bar, all overlooking the harbor.
For more casual dining, there are a few small restaurants with attractive outdoor seating and great clam chowder. Small shops are fun to browse while waiting for a cruise or to drive back through the tunnel.
