Alaska 2024
We started this adventure in Vancouver. We planned this trip for over year, and the main motivator for the family was a Disney Cruise on the Disney Wonder. This was the first time to Canada and Vancouver was an amazing host for several days before and after the cruise. While on the cruise we stopped at the Daws Glacier, Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan. The trip was amazing and I brought my camera for any wildlife opportunities that came my way.
Daws Glacier
Our first stop was at the Glacier. We had a long slow cruise up the pass to approach the Daws Glacier, but it made for some amazing views, if not very cold. There were shear cliffs with water falls, and conifer covered islands surrounded by gorgeous blue water. We were passed by floating ice recently calved from the glacier face while we sipped hot chocolate and waited for our turn to get pictures with characters. The glacier day was one of the most memorable times of this trip.
Skagway and the rain.
Skagway is the Gateway to the Klondike, and even though the misting rain was constant. The kids still got to explore the area, see a play about the gold rush, pan for gold, and enjoy a salmon bake. Afterwards we explored the area around the port, and enjoyed the old west main street feel to the town, and the side shops. We got ourselves a huge cinnamon frybread from the Klondike Doughboy with a hot coffee and it was very much worth the wait and the warmth was nice with all the wet and cold.
Juneau
Juneau was the first day were I got to find some wildlife, and it checked a big box for Marissa. The town was nice and there was a lot to do in port with a lot of shopping and restaurants. There were plenty of Herring Gulls flying around, and a Sea Lion barking at me when it spotted me watching it. The Sea Lion was enjoying swimming around the ship and the port. The best thing were a group of Orca’s swimming along the coast and out to sea. We had spent the a lot of time looking out the windows hoping to see them, and we finally did.
Ketchikan
Ketchikan was a fun small town at the end of the cruise season. The had an area called Creek St with Salmon along the creek, and Seals hunting and playing. We were by a small dock, and had several boats in and out. We also had several sea planes fly over the area. For the last stop on the trip, Ketchikan was a great place to visit, get some local fish for lunch, and enjoy the Alaska area.
