Haines downtown begins at the small boat harbor and runs along Main Street toward the Hammer Museum and Haines Brewing Company. Walk the waterfront, pause for photos at the museum, then continue past cafés and galleries, ducking into side streets to uncover handmade crafts, Native art, and other hidden finds. 

Haines receives fewer cruise travelers than neighboring Skagway, so you should have plenty of space to explore.

Haines welcomes you whether you have a single day or a whole month to explore. Use the town as your basecamp for kayaking, biking, hiking, fishing, backcountry skiing, and even hunting in the surrounding valleys and fjords. 

With healthy salmon runs, world‑class heli skiing, and thousands of bald eagles gathering each November, there is always something new to add to your list of things to do in Haines. Stay long enough and you just might decide to call it home. 

Planning a trip during the May Beer Fest or just craving a quick take‑out pizza? Haines satisfies food and drink lovers year‑round with tasty local fare, small‑batch craft beer, and even an award‑winning distillery pouring spirits made on site. 

Haines is in the Chilkat Valley, a region first settled by the Tlingit people, who followed the Northwest Coast and chose this spot for its mild climate and plentiful salmon, berries, and game. 

The town’s modern story begins in 1903 when the U.S. Army built Fort William H. Seward, a garrison that operated through World War I and World War II before closing in 1940. The historic parade ground and officers’ quarters still overlook Lynn Canal.

Today, Haines blends a rich Native heritage with an energetic outdoor lifestyle. The calendar is full of year‑round activities, so you will always find fresh things to do in Haines, whether you visit in summer sunshine or winter snow.