My fondest memory of Alaska is the feeling of endless skies of the Last Frontier. The beauty and the majesty of a continent of extremes is magnificent, from dense green forests to towering snow-capped fjords, where you can sometimes see wildlife like eagles along the shore. A cruise itinerary including close proximity to glaciers, seeing humpback whales, dogsledding in Juneau, or riding a jet-powered catamaran in Ketchikan.
Day 1, Seattle, Washington
The exciting cosmopolitan city of Seattle sits between Lake Washington and Puget Sound, with the Cascade and Olympic Mountains as a rugged and majestic backdrop. From the 1962’s World Fair icon of the futuristic Space Needle or the hundred year old Smith Tower you get breathtaking views.
Day 2, Sea Day
Day 3, Ketchikan, Alaska
Kach Khanna, meaning “spread wings of the eagle” in Tlingit Indian, hints that you may see one of these magnificent birds perched in a Sitka tree. Surrounded by some of the world’s most lush wilderness due to the rain or “liquid sunshine,” Ketchikan is known as Alaska’s “first city” as it is located at the tip of the Inside Passage.
I took the Native Village and Lumberjack excursion, combining the rich culture of Southeast Alaska’s Native Americans with the rip-roaring lumberjack competition. When I first arrived at the Saxman Native Village, I was struck by how generations of the Tlingit villages have maintained their traditions, tribal elders and their community work keeping their culture alive. In the traditional Beaver Clan House I was treated to a welcome song and dance with tribespeople in native costumes. Some of the ships passengers joined in the final dance, it was very entertaining. After spending some time looking at the intricately beaded handcrafts I walked around the Saxman Totem Park, a collection of preserved totem poles each with their own amazing history.
Then on to the Great Alaska Lumberjack Show. After a short wait in the shop the hardy lumberjacks bring to life Alaska’s colourful forest history with a fun filled and action packed competition. They are highly athletic men and women chopping, sawing, tree climbing, log rolling with friendly (competitive) rivalry.
Day 4, Juneau, Alaska,
Juneau has unparalleled glacier viewing with Glacier Bay Nation Park, the Juneau Icefields and Tracy Arm Fjord. Cruise excursions allow you to kayak protected waterways, pan for gold, visit the picturesque downtown, taste Alaskan King Crab, smoked salmon, locally brewed beer or go flightseeing (yes from the air). I could not go past the majestic Mendenhall Glacier and Salmon Hatchery itinerary. The moving river of ice, Mendenhall Glacier has an amazing blue colour which the Forest Service Ranger can explain at the glaciology displays at the Visitor Centre.
A visit to the Macaulay Salmon Hatchery was an eye-opening experience, seeing the manmade salmon-run(steps) for the wild salmon. On a visit to Juneau you cannot miss the Upside Down Forest, where upturned trees or “flower towers” are made into flower pots at Glacier Garden Rainforest Adventure by Steve ad Cindy Bowhay.
Cruise Tracy Arm
Day 5, Skagway, Alaska,
Skagway, which is native for “Windy Place”, saw the Klondike Gold Rush around 1896. The Inside Passage grew to a city of 20,000 gold seekers looking to make their fortune. It is fun to experience the yesteryear along Skagway’s charming boardwalk lined with buildings that give the feel of the Gold Rush days. I chose the White Pass & Yukon Route narrow gauge railroad excursion. This unforgettable train journey in vintage rail cars took me to the summit of White Pass, a 2,865 foot elevation. The 64 kilometre round-trip retraced the original route to White Pass Summit passing Bridal Veil Falls, Inspiration Point and Dead Horse Gulch. The breathtaking panoramic views of mountains, gorges, waterfalls, tunnels, and trestles are amazing. You can see the original Klondike Trail of ’98 snaking it’s way in the unforgiving landscape, a heart wrenching tribute to the thousands who came to seek their fortune.
I then spent some time exploring the town. Eating at the Bites on Broadway
Day 6, Sea Day
Day 7, Victoria, British Columbia.
Victoria, the capital of British Columbia, exudes old world charm with a distinctively British feel, it is also called the “City of Gardens”. I chose to explore on my own, after an enjoyable walk along the boardwalk of the Inner Harbour I took the Hop-On-Hop-Off bus around the whole loop. I saw Chinatown, the famous Fairmont Empress Hotel, the Royal British Columbia Museum, residential neighbourhoods with beautiful flowers and manicured lawns, and the Terry Fox Marathon for Hope statue in Beacon Hill Park.
Other passengers took the opportunity to roam the spacious lawns of the stunning Butchart Gardens with its topiary, exotic flora, and exquisite fountains. From Ogden Point there are views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Olympic Mountain range. Victoria is the gateway to Puget Sound, the Gulf Islands and San Juan Islands, which is home to three resident pods of Orcas.
Day 8 Seattle
Disembarkation
Let’s find another cruise to book!
