Petersburg is a quintessential Southeast Alaskan fishing town. The only way to visit this charming community is by boat or by airplane—there are no roads that connect it to the mainland. National Geographic Venture docked in the Petersburg marina this morning, among dozens of small family-owned fishing vessels.

After a hearty brunch, our guests began heading down the gangway to walk into town. We offered many activity options for the day. Some people chose to wander the small town to poke into the shops and soak in the maritime vibe. Others rode bikes to get some exercise.

A brave handful of guests joined our wellness specialist on a strenuous hike up the local mountain. Other guided activities included dock walks to look at fishing boats, a photo walk, and two pleasant hikes through muskeg, which is an Alaskan bog ecosystem. We were able to see and learn about the special plants that grow only in the acidic waters of the muskeg.

Many of our guests opted to take a flightseeing tour on a small floatplane. This exciting tour took them over the mountains to get spectacular views of the LeConte Glacier and the Stikine Icefield that feeds the glacier.

We topped the day off with a raucous and delicious feast of local Dungeness crab in the dining hall.