Realize not all of my readers care about my vacation, but figure you can just stop at the title with no harm done. But for those that know me know I take a lot of photos and am always working on my nature photography and may enjoy some of the photos I took in one of the most scenic places on earth-Alaska. Many also may remember my bucket list blog about 6 or 7 years ago where I talked about wanting to revisit many of the places I went while in the military but to see those areas from a better stance and not the worst the world has to offer. Alaska was one of those places though I just wanted to see it in the daylight. My last visit there was early February and I spent the entire time on the ice. It was not pleasant. I knew I wanted to visit during a more hospitable time frame.

This trip first originated as a family trip before Mom’s dementia was bad, but unfortunately COVID stopped us from going on that cruise and we were able to get our money back. Since then I have been saving up miles, points and anything else I could use to go back. I asked my brothers last June if they wanted to go on the trip still and planning started. Unfortunately, issues arose and my brothers have decided to go during a time I could not. I choose not to let that get me down and booked a cruise by myself.

So I booked a one-way cruise (leave from one port and return via a different port) that started in Whittier, Alaska and ended in Vancouver, British Columbia. To get to Whittier you must fly to Anchorage then take a train down to the very small town (a couple hundred people where most live in one of three tower buildings). I decided to add a day in Anchorage and due a bus style tour to a Wildlife Conservation Park. I am glad I did despite the actual Conservation Park being similar to a zoo but just for rescued animals. Our guide took us on several side journeys that were not part of the scheduled journey and they made it worth while. We first stopped along the way seeing mountain goats (Ibex goat types) and got some great scenery, then one waterfall hiking trip and a hiking trip to Byron glacier and a bald eagle nest along the way. You may need to open the image by clicking on it to get the full perspective

At the Conservation Park

Next day was train to Whittier then going through Cruise check in with Norwegian Cruise Line for the Jade cruise ship. A lot of checking in, getting settled when bags arrived then touring the ship. Norwegian has solo rooms (reduces the cost for those of us traveling alone) and therefore has a solo traveler’s meet up where we all get to together and try to make travel friends. It was a diverse group and fun. We ate dinner together some nights and I often would run into them during activities or meals so I had someone to talk to.

Another thing, Norwegian does well are recognizing veterans. While I did not get my veteran credentials checked out in time for a discount I did get to participate in other areas on my actual cruise included a special drop in just for veterans and family with all the senior cruise staff.

The next day was a ship only day as we sailed near the Hubbard Glacier. Just to make sure everyone knows the difference between a glacier and just snow or ice, the glacier is made of snow and ice but it continually is moving in a direction like towards the ocean. It does not move as fast as a river does, but can do the same amount of redecorating or changing the scenery as a river over hundreds of years. So the ice I took pictures of floating most likely has been in motion for hundreds of years before it got to the ocean.

On our second full day with the ship we stopped at Icy Strait Point. This is normally referenced as Hoonah, Alaska. There I took a whale watching and bear search excursion. I was disappointed to find the humpback whales in Alaska tend to spend all their time eating preparing for their six month migration to warmer waters where the mate and calf. So they don’t do a lot of breaching like the brochures show. We mostly get tail flips as they dive for more food. When I went was also mating season for bears but they were shy during my search. I did get some great scenery along the way.

Next up was Juneau and another whale watching day with Mendenhall Glacier trip mixed in. This day of whale watching was better as we started out with a pod of Orca . That evening I took my free specialty restaurant night and used it for Cagney’s Steakhouse on my birthday.

The third day was Skagway which is best known for the starting point to the Yukon gold rush. Now it is most a tourist front and the Skagway train (to the Yukon). I took the shorter train ride and then spent some time in Skagway. I did enjoy a spruce tip blonde beer (made from the spruce tips and claims to have more vitamin C than a glass of orange juice).

The last day of excursions were at Ketchikan, Alaska. Here I did a nature hike with no promise of animals and saw two black bears munching lunch and a bald eagle to fly through. It ended at the lumber mill and totem park. Please note my years of vacationing I have come to understand museums and parks on tours often mean shops. One side note their is a picture on one of the totems say “not made in China”. The artisan’s father used to do that because they were so upset at all the cheap crap totems from China.

After that we spent a day at sea and then landing in Vancouver where no one even looked at my passport as I “immigrated” into Canada. The only form they cared about was how much I might owe them in taxes. I did spend a day in Vancouver before flying home and checked out the town but was not impressed. It was pretty dirty though the transit system was decent priced and worked as expected. Most of the public restrooms were similar to the old Greenville Pickens race way. The park was nice.