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.
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.
Today our cruise ship arrived at Hubbard Glacier, and it was absolutely spectacular. I’ve never seen anything like it before – it reminded me of the feeling you get when seeing the Grand Canyon for the first time. We were lucky to have clear skies, which made the view even more stunning.
Aside from the glacier itself, we had fun scanning the shoreline with our binoculars and were excited to spot a few bears. That was such a cool moment!
Today is cruise day! We started the morning with a partial view of Mount Denali. Since it stays light all night, I kept waking up to check if the clouds had cleared enough to reveal the mountain. By morning, we could see a bit of the base, but the summit was still hidden. Maybe next time.
After leaving Talkeetna, we visited a nature preserve and rescue center where we saw bears, moose, foxes, and wolves. It was a fun stop, even though we were only there for about 30 minutes before getting back on the road.
We had a quick lunch in Anchorage, then continued on to Whittier, where our cruise ship, the Norwegian Jade, was waiting for us. Now it’s time to settle in and enjoy cruise life!
Today we traveled to Talkeetna, but our first stop was at a dog mushing organization where we learned about the sport and how the dogs are cared for. We even got to hold some puppies, which helps with their socialization. It was such a fun experience, and now I’m really interested in following the Iditarod this year.
The rest of the day was spent in Talkeetna, where we shopped, ate, had a few drinks, and soaked in the local vibe. It was a great time all around!
