Valdez (pronounced valDEEZ) is located in picturesque Prince William Sound and surrounded by the Chugach Mountains. Valdez was named after Spanish naval officer Antonio Valdez y Basan, and is described by many as "the Switzerland of Alaska."

In 1897 the Port of Valdez was a jumping off point for many gold seekers heading into the interior of Alaska. During the 1970's, the Port of Valdez became a vital link for the TransAlaska Pipeline, providing a 1,000 acre site for its marine terminal. It is the northernmost ice-free harbor in the U.S.

Valdez is well known for its excellent halibut and salmon fishing during the summer months and an abundance of snowfall in the winter. The average seasonal snowfall is 320 inches compared to McCarthy's average of 63.

Be sure to stop by the Valdez Visitor Information Center for local information and the Valdez Museum and Historical Archives. Both buildings are located in downtown Valdez.