Amazing Alaska Part 2

 

 There's nothing like waking up to a beautiful glacier in Tracy Arm fjord Alaska in the morning!  I took this photo from the balcony of our cabin, we even witnessed the glacier calving, truly a once in a lifetime experience!

  Our next port was Alaska's capital Juneau. With Juneau being the capital of Alaska, I expected I to be a "big city" but it much more quaint, had more of a small town feel.

 

While my brother and dad explored a few bars and shops in Juneau, my mom and I boarded a bus for an expedition to the Mendenhall glacier in Mendenhall Valley, besides seeing the glacier, we both really wanted to see bears.  We had been told by people in town that we were there at the perfect time to see bears due to the salmon spawning and the bears preparing for hibernation.  My mom and I got as close to the glacier as we were permitted and took a few shots.

 

We did see two bear cubs, but they ran across the road too fast to get a picture.  I got a couple of shots of this cute little porcupine though!  So sweet!

 

 

With our sight seeing in Juneau done we headed back to our ship for a great dinner, wonderful entertainment, a good night sleep and on to Skagway!

Amazing Alaska Part 1!

  Last August my parents took my older brother and I on a "once in a lifetime trip" on a 7 day cruise to Alaska!  Yes, my brother and left our significant others behind to spend an awesome week with our parents.  There hadn't been a vacation with just the four of us in over 30 years.  
  I flew from Ohio to Seattle Washington on August 17th, I got very excited when I saw  cruise ships from my airline seat window.

View of cruise ships from my window seat.

 

I spent a relaxing night at a hotel near the airport, the next morning I met my family, and we took an airport shuttle to the cruise ship!  Once we got on board our ship none of us could resist taking in the Seattle skyline.

 

The view on our way out to sea was just as amazing!

Our first full day on the cruise was spent at sea, we passed the time by going to the on board spa, walking around the ship, dining and enjoying the entertainment offered.  The first port we visited was Ketchikan, Alaska.  I awoke to the sight of pontoon planes landing on the water not far from our balcony, I couldn't stop watching them take off and land.  After watching the pontoon planes and eating breakfast, we set out to see Ketchikan.  My first order of business was to get a picture of my family with our cruise ship in the background.

 

I loved the character and feeling of the city of Ketchikan, and the beauty that surrounds it.

 

 

 And of course we had to get in a little zip lining while in Ketchikan!

 My 72 year old dad zip lining!

There goes my mom!

 

All four of us loved Ketchikan, and we definitely want to return for another visit.