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North to Alaska 2018

In Late June 2018 we celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary by taking a cruise and land tour to Alaska. It was the first time for either of us to visit our northernmost state. It was a truly amazing journey! We first flew into Seattle. After a couple days exploring that area we took the train to Vancouver, British Columbia. We sailed from Vancouver, disembarking in Seward. We took a train to Anchorage, then another train to Denali, and finally a motor coach to Fairbanks. Along the way we saw incredible beauty and lots of wildlife
Since we had a very early flight, we arrived in Seattle in time to drive down to Mt. Rainier National Park
Since we had a very early flight, we arrived in Seattle in time to drive down to Mt. Rainier National Park		 We were fortunate that the mountain was out as they say and we could see it
We were fortunate that the mountain was "out" as they say and we could see it		 Another range in the National Park
Another range in the National Park		 Narda Falls, Mt. Rainier National Park
Narda Falls, Mt. Rainier National Park
View from Henry M. Jackson Memorial Visitor Center
View from Henry M. Jackson Memorial Visitor Center		 Better view of Rainier
Better view of Rainier 		Rainier over partially frozen Mirror Lake
Rainier over partially frozen Mirror Lake		 Roadside falls in Mt. Rainier National Park
Roadside falls in Mt. Rainier National Park
Leaving the National Park we drove to Snoqualmie Falls, a 270 foot waterfall used to generate hydroelectric power
Leaving the National Park we drove to Snoqualmie Falls, a 270 foot waterfall used to generate hydroelectric power 		The next morning our first stop was of course Pike Place Market, a Seattle icon
The next morning our first stop was of course Pike Place Market, a Seattle icon 		What an amazing collection of seafood
What an amazing collection of seafood		 And people ....
And people ....
View of the Bay side of the market
View of the Bay side of the market 		Elliot Bay from Pike Place Market
Elliot Bay from Pike Place Market		 The Space Needle, built for the 1962 World's Fair
The Space Needle, built for the 1962 World's Fair 		View of Lake Union
View of Lake Union
Downtown
Downtown		 Towards Elliot Bay and Puget Sound
Towards Elliot Bay and Puget Sound 		Seattle in glass
Seattle in glass		 Another must visit for us was the Chihuly Gallery
Another must visit for us was the Chihuly Gallery
We saw some of his work at Crystal Bridges in Arkansas, and knew we had to visit when in Seattle
We saw some of his work at Crystal Bridges in Arkansas, and knew we had to visit when in Seattle		 Really breathtaking work
Really breathtaking work		 I was very happy with my Lensball pics in the gallery
I was very happy with my Lensball pics in the gallery		 Such vibrant colors
Such vibrant colors
More Chihuly in my Lensball
More Chihuly in my Lensball		 Glass boat
Glass boat		 Sunset from Kerry Park. If you look above the Ferris wheel you can faintly see the top of Mt. Rainier in the far distance
Sunset from Kerry Park. If you look above the Ferris wheel you can faintly see the top of Mt. Rainier in the far distance		 Caught a plane streak as it got dark
Caught a plane streak as it got dark
And finally the shot I was hoping for
And finally the shot I was hoping for		 Next morning took the Amtrak to Vancouver, B.C. My first train trip
Next morning took the Amtrak to Vancouver, B.C. My first train trip		 Street in front of our Vancouver hotel
Street in front of our Vancouver hotel		 Street in front of our Vancouver hotel #2
Street in front of our Vancouver hotel #2
The next day we took a City Tour, starting in Stanley Park
The next day we took a City Tour, starting in Stanley Park		 An area known for its Totem Pole Garden
An area known for its Totem Pole Garden		 Impressive artwork
Impressive artwork		 So intricate
So intricate
We stopped at the Prospect Point Overlook with views of English Bay
We stopped at the Prospect Point Overlook with views of English Bay 		Next stop was Granville Island
Next stop was Granville Island		 Where of course we found a brewery
Where of course we found a brewery 		Final stop was at The Lookout Tower, Vancouver's version of the Space Needle
Final stop was at The Lookout Tower, Vancouver's version of the Space Needle
The Vancouver cruise port, where we sailed from the next day
The Vancouver cruise port, where we sailed from the next day		 Downtown from the Lookout Tower
Downtown from the Lookout Tower		 We finished the day with dinner along the waterfront
We finished the day with dinner along the waterfront		 Sunday arrived, and it was time to board the Westerdam for our cruise
Sunday arrived, and it was time to board the Westerdam for our cruise
As we sailed under The Lions Gate Bridge, I was surprised to see Mt. Baker in the distance. It is located in northern Washington
As we sailed under The Lions Gate Bridge, I was surprised to see Mt. Baker in the distance. It is located in northern Washington		 Mt. Baker over Vancouver skyline
Mt. Baker over Vancouver skyline		 Settled back, put my feet up and enjoyed our balcony
Settled back, put my feet up and enjoyed our balcony 		Soon we popped our complimentary bottle of champagne. I could get used to this!
Soon we popped our complimentary bottle of champagne. I could get used to this!
View as we cruised the Inner Passage
View as we cruised the Inner Passage		 Panoramic view of the Inner Passage
Panoramic view of the Inner Passage		 Sunset in the Inner Passage
Sunset in the Inner Passage 		Our first Alaskan port was Ketchikan
Our first Alaskan port was Ketchikan
The southeastern most city in Alaska
The southeastern most city in Alaska		 Ketchikan in glass
Ketchikan in glass		 Main street
Main street		 The Rock a history of the city
"The Rock" a history of the city
Located along the Tongass National Forest, which is a rain forest
Located along the Tongass National Forest, which is a rain forest 		Being a Deadliest Catch fan I had to do the crab fishing tour!
Being a Deadliest Catch fan I had to do the crab fishing tour!		 A king crab trying to escape
A king crab trying to escape		 A crab pot
A crab pot
Bringing in a pot of smaller crabs
Bringing in a pot of smaller crabs		 Displaying a king crab
Displaying a king crab		 A squid!
A squid!		 One of the highlights of this tour is the feeding of bald eagles
One of the highlights of this tour is the feeding of bald eagles
Have never seen anything like it
Have never seen anything like it		 Such majestic birds
Such majestic birds		 All diving for their fish
All diving for their fish		 Sailing away from Ketchikan
Sailing away from Ketchikan
Early the next morning we arrived in the capital city of Alaska
Early the next morning we arrived in the capital city of Alaska		 Juneau is the only state capital not reachable by road
Juneau is the only state capital not reachable by road 		View from the ship
View from the ship		 There we took a whale watching tour. Saw our first spout
There we took a whale watching tour. Saw our first spout
Later a breach [that's the head of a humpback whale]
Later a breach [that's the head of a humpback whale]		 Back and spout
Back and spout		 Diving humpback
Diving humpback		 And finally a tail!
And finally a tail!
As we headed back to shore, we spotted sea lions sunning themselves
As we headed back to shore, we spotted sea lions sunning themselves		 From the boat we could see the Mendenhall Glacier
From the boat we could see the Mendenhall Glacier		 Much closer view of the Glacier
Much closer view of the Glacier		 and the glacier melt falls
and the glacier melt falls
Downtown Juneau
Downtown Juneau 		At 4:30 a.m. local time I took this shot. Something about a Midnight Sun
At 4:30 a.m. local time I took this shot. Something about a Midnight Sun 		We arrived in Skagway, Alaska, where we took a bus tour to the Canadian Yukon
We arrived in Skagway, Alaska, where we took a bus tour to the Canadian Yukon		 Falls along the highway
Falls along the highway
Alaskan tarn
Alaskan tarn		 Alaskan Tarn #2
Alaskan Tarn #2		 We finally reached the Yukon where we posed for a rare picture of us
We finally reached the Yukon where we posed for a rare picture of us		 Silt from the glaciers cause this incredible color
Silt from the glaciers cause this incredible color
We stopped at the Carcross desert , said to be the smallest in the world
We stopped at the Carcross "desert" , said to be the smallest in the world		 Soon after we encountered a polar bear! Fortunately we escaped with our lives
Soon after we encountered a polar bear! Fortunately we escaped with our lives		 We did visit a sled dog training site
We did visit a sled dog training site 		Emerald Lake, Yukon, Canada
Emerald Lake, Yukon, Canada
Yukon highway
Yukon highway		 Entering back into Alaska
Entering back into Alaska		 Downtown Skagway, home of two very nice breweries
Downtown Skagway, home of two very nice breweries 		Next morning it was in the upper 40's and raining when we entered Glacier Bay National Park
Next morning it was in the upper 40's and raining when we entered Glacier Bay National Park
Soon we saw ice chunks floating by
Soon we saw ice chunks floating by		 A bald eagle hunting the ice
A bald eagle hunting the ice		 Our first stop was the Margerie Glacier
Our first stop was the Margerie Glacier		 where we heard and saw it calve, i.e. chunks break off into the sea
where we heard and saw it calve, i.e. chunks break off into the sea
Glacier in glass
Glacier in glass		 Panoramic of the glacier
Panoramic of the glacier		 As we sailed away, you could see the ice that had fallen away
As we sailed away, you could see the ice that had fallen away		 Next was the John Hopkins Glacier
Next was the John Hopkins Glacier
Finally the Lamplugh Glacier; note the fishing boat to get a sense of scale
Finally the Lamplugh Glacier; note the fishing boat to get a sense of scale		 As we sailed out of Glacier Bay, of course the sun made an appearance
As we sailed out of Glacier Bay, of course the sun made an appearance		 Our final day was cruising the Gulf of Alaska where I shot this 11 p.m. sunset
Our final day was cruising the Gulf of Alaska where I shot this 11 p.m. sunset 		We left the ship in Seward Alaska
We left the ship in Seward Alaska
Boarding the Cruise Train to Anchorage
Boarding the Cruise Train to Anchorage 		I was blown away by the scenery, spending much of my time on the viewing platform
I was blown away by the scenery, spending much of my time on the viewing platform		 Reflection in the side of the train
Reflection in the side of the train		 Mountain reflections everywhere you looked
Mountain reflections everywhere you looked
Breathtaking!
Breathtaking!		 Such unexpected beauty
Such unexpected beauty 		Unlike anything I had ever seen
Unlike anything I had ever seen		 Even some blue skies
Even some blue skies
Another reflection in the side of the train
Another reflection in the side of the train		 So much water and mountains
So much water and mountains		 I was in complete awe
I was in complete awe		 We spent the night in Anchorage
We spent the night in Anchorage
View from the balcony of our hotel
View from the balcony of our hotel		 Next morning we boarded the Mckinley Explorer for the trip to Denali
Next morning we boarded the Mckinley Explorer for the trip to Denali		 We rode in a glass domed double decker rail car
We rode in a glass domed double decker rail car		 Distant mountain range
Distant mountain range
Talkeetna, just outside Denali
Talkeetna, just outside Denali		 More stunning views
More stunning views		 Only available from the railroad
Only available from the railroad		 Another train reflection
Another train reflection
Finally we arrived at the Denali Depot, inside Denali National Park
Finally we arrived at the Denali Depot, inside Denali National Park		 Before we even reached our lodge, we were greeted by moose
Before we even reached our lodge, we were greeted by moose		 We spent 3 nights at the McKinely Chalet Resort. Our room was at the top left
We spent 3 nights at the McKinely Chalet Resort. Our room was at the top left		 The Nenana River. We could hear it from our room
The Nenana River. We could hear it from our room
Another shot from the grounds
Another shot from the grounds		 Common area at the Lodge
Common area at the Lodge		 Visitors Center Denali National Park
Visitors Center Denali National Park 		We took an 8-hour Wilderness Tundra tour on this bus
We took an 8-hour Wilderness Tundra tour on this bus
More beautiful vistas
More beautiful vistas		 We were part of the 30% that get to see Mt. Denali!!
We were part of the 30% that get to see Mt. Denali!!		 We saw Caribou
We saw Caribou 		And an Arctic Ground Squirrel
And an Arctic Ground Squirrel
The Denali road
The Denali road		 Just a mamma grizzly snoozing
Just a mamma grizzly snoozing		 Those 2 dark brown lumps behind are her very young cubs
Those 2 dark brown lumps behind are her very young cubs		 Standing grizzly
Standing grizzly
Clouded in Mt. Denali
Clouded in Mt. Denali		 Shallow river running through Denali
Shallow river running through Denali 		A rather important sign
A rather important sign		 We spent the 4th of July in Denali. Seemed appropriate
We spent the 4th of July in Denali. Seemed appropriate
The next day we traveled to Fairbanks for a River Cruise
The next day we traveled to Fairbanks for a River Cruise		 Aboard the Discovery III
Aboard the Discovery III 		We saw a seaplane demonstration
We saw a seaplane demonstration		 A sled dog training school
A sled dog training school
Sled dogs cooling in the river
Sled dogs cooling in the river		 We visited an Athabascan Indian village
We visited an Athabascan Indian village		 Where we saw reindeer!
Where we saw reindeer! 		Cruising the Chena River
Cruising the Chena River
Inside the Riverboat
Inside the Riverboat 		Our final day in Alaska we rented a car
Our final day in Alaska we rented a car		 Visiting the antler arch
Visiting the antler arch		 Made of moose and caribou antlers
Made of moose and caribou antlers
Then we drove to the North Pole! No not that one. North Pole, Alaska
Then we drove to the North Pole! No not that one. North Pole, Alaska		 We saw a giant Santa
We saw a giant Santa		 An amazing collection of Christmas kitsch
An amazing collection of Christmas kitsch 		A reminder that Christmas is never far away
A reminder that Christmas is never far away
And look who was working even in July!
And look who was working even in July!		 This town is serious about Christmas
This town is serious about Christmas		 Even McDonald's gets in on the act
Even McDonald's gets in on the act		 We strolled around a Waterfowl Rescue
We strolled around a Waterfowl Rescue
Seeing and hearing a lot of songbirds
Seeing and hearing a lot of songbirds		 And soon after ran across
And soon after ran across		 The Alaskan Pipeline. Alas our trip was over as we then boarded our flight home
The Alaskan Pipeline. Alas our trip was over as we then boarded our flight home

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