North to Alaska, North, the rush is onâŚ
Two of my brothers and their wives embarked on an Alaskan inter-coastal voyage with a multi-faceted agenda. Their starting point: Anchorage. Many Alaska cruises either start or end here. As a starting point, some proceed south via the inter-coastal waterway while others optionally add a leg north up to Denali and then back to Anchorage. They decided to skip Denali and spend time elsewhere.
Crossing the swinging bridge at Butchart Gardens, a 55-acre garden inside an old quarry. (Photos provided)
The first night was spent at a hotel in Anchorage with an early rise (4:30 a.m.) for the train ride to Seward. In hindsight, they decided the train ride was one of the best parts of the trip; there was fantastic scenery and plenty of windows for photos. Each car had a guide and an ongoing overhead commentary pointed out sights, which included moose and bears, along the way to the ship. The train would also stop at points if there were large groups of animals so everyone could get photos.
Note: tag your luggageat the hotel to identify which ship you are boarding. The shipâs crew will be picking it up and taking it there. Otherwise, who knows where your luggage might end up!
Upon arrival at the ship, whatâs the first thing you would expect? A buffet of course: food, food, and more food. They also offered a tour of Seward with a stop at a native life conservation site and one at an aquatic wildlife center.
Seems everything starts early, the next morning at 4:30 a.m. the manager explained about visiting the Hubbard Glacier. There are trails, but there are also moose and bears, so beware. One moose constantly stayed around a fire pit in the area and while it appeared friendly, appearances can be deceiving!
Ever see an ocean liner do a 360? Well, at the glacier, the captain spun the boat so everyone, all 4,000+, could get a great view of the glacier. The blue of the ice was brilliant and amazed everyone. Since it was summer, parts of the ice were caving and created great splashes as chunks fell into the sea. You could actually hear the cracking of the ice as the day heated up.
Other notes: The average age of this cruise was 40 and over, and since everything is essentially âextra,â it may benefit you to get the drink package to forego added expenses.
Another highlight of the trip was Skagway and the Grizzly Zip line that includes 12 towers. The Safari Bus took everyone out into the backcountry for more wildlife photo opportunities.
Next Stop â Icy Straight Point and you guessed it, another zip line; this one over a mile long. Ok, there are zip lines everywhere, but this one set a speed record â 65 mph! Hang on to your hat cause once itâs gone, itâs gone. This also proved to be the best point on the trip to purchase gifts; greater variety and better prices.
Hubbard Glacier attracts more than just tourists. Moose and bears are readily seen trekking along the blue landscape.
What trip would be complete without a Lumberjack show? The Ketchikan stop provided this entertainment. Next stop Vancouver, but not the end of the trip. Once anchored, passengers were ferried to Victoria Island. First stop, the Butchart Gardens, a 55-acre garden showcase inside an old quarry. Constantly changing due to the season and variety of plant life, the gardens have been a favorite since its inception in 1904. At one and a half hours, many thought the tour should have been longer, too much to see. For a little excitement, everyone had to cross a swinging bridge to complete the tour.
My group wanted to visit Seattle so whatâs the best way to get there? You could rent a car, or fly or possibly take a train, but why not sail there on a clipper ship? What a way to top off the trip, but wait, there is more considering youâre in Seattle. Everyone has to visit the Space Needle, built in 1962 for the Worldâs Fair, it stands over 500 feet tall and at one time was the tallest structure west of the Mississippi.
After lunch in the Needle, go next door to the Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum. Rated #1 in places to visit in Seattle, the glass designs are unbelievable with shapes, colors, and designs that will marvel. Most walk away totally amazed at the display and creativity.
And so our journey to the Northwest ends. Whether you go north from Vancouver or south from Anchorage, Iâm sure you will see sights that will amaze and excite you. Enjoy.
