daily slice-of-life photo blog of a Gen-X dad
Today was a “sea day” where we didn’t stop at any ports, but just made our way towards Vancouver. It was a day of enjoying the scenery, eating and drinking lots, and an evening magic show. Nice and relaxing!
Today’s shore excursion was a ride on the White Pass Railway in Skagway. Even though the weather was misty and rainy, the journey through the mountains was still incredible. I was blown away by how the railway was built along the sides of such rugged terrain. It’s hard to imagine the amount of effort and determination it took to complete.
After the train ride and a quick stop in the touristy part of town, we made our way back to the ship and continued on. I loved taking in the stunning Alaskan scenery and scanning the landscape for whales and bears with the binoculars. It was such a fun way to pass the time.
One thing I really enjoy about cruising is the nonstop food. I couldn’t resist going for a classic burger and fries. Sometimes that’s exactly what hits the spot.
This morning we woke up in Juneau and set out on a hike to Mendenhall Glacier. It turned out to be a pretty good workout, with some light rock scrambling along the way. It wasn’t too difficult, but it was still a nice challenge. At the end, we were treated to a view of the glacier. I had expected to get a lot closer, but it was still a rewarding sight. The fresh air, beautiful nature, and insights from our guide made it a great experience overall.
Back in town, we headed to Twisted Fish for some King Crab. It was incredibly delicious – super sweet and impressively big. I really enjoyed it.
After dinner, we returned to the ship to clean up and relax before sailing off again.
This morning we boarded the tender boats that took us to the town of Hoonah for our whale-watching excursion. To get to the meeting point, we walked along a trail through a lush forest. It felt like stepping back in time, with huge ferns, unfamiliar plants, and towering trees all around us. While we were walking, we spotted our first bald eagle. It was such a cool surprise!
After we came out of the forest, we waited in a small restaurant and gift shop area set up for cruise ship guests. I think there were three ships in port that day. While we were there, we saw a few more bald eagles. I had no idea there were so many in the area.
Soon it was time to meet our guides and board the whale-watching boat. I was surprised when the guide told us there’s a 100% chance of seeing whales and that they’ve spotted them every single day for years. It sounded too good to be true, but just a minute after leaving the pier we saw a group of humpback whales. It was amazing!
For the next hour or so we followed the group, watching them come up for air and dive again. Then we cruised off to see some otters, puffins, and seals. Toward the end, the captain got a tip that bears had been spotted on a distant shoreline, so we headed that way. Unfortunately, they were gone by the time we arrived. But we did make a stop at a naval buoy to say hello to a group of noisy sea lions. They were adorable and a fun way to end our excursion in the Icy Strait.
FYI, we booked our excursion from Icy Strait Whale Adventures. I recommend them!
