Haines is a small port town on the Lynn Canal in Southeast Alaska, surrounded by steep mountains, tidal water, and river valleys. It has road access to the Yukon, ferry links to Juneau and Skagway, and far fewer cruise calls than most Inside Passage towns of similar beauty.
The town's best quality is that it still feels like a place people live in. Fort William H. Seward preserves the old military post above town, while the Sheldon Museum gives the local Tlingit, mission, military, and fishing stories some needed depth.
Nature is close and not subtle. The Chilkat Valley is famous for bald eagles, especially in late autumn and winter, and Haines has enough trails, wildlife centres, and flightseeing options to fill several spare days. It is a better stop than its size suggests, especially if you want Alaska without the heavy port crowds.