Alaskan Cruise: Ketchikan

   I was so excited for our day in Ketchikan! We had decided before going on our trip that the one big excursion we wanted to do was zip-lining. I LOVE zip-lining. My husband and I actually met while working at a camp. We had a zip-line at this camp and I fell in love with it! I'm scared of falling from heights, but something about knowing just how strong those ropes are keeps the fear away! Of course, taking a whole ropes course class in college helps too... When we arrived in Ketchikan it was barely sprinkling. Ketchikan is known for it's rain (they even have a liquid sunshine gauge!) so I wasn't surprised. We hopped on our bus that was taking us to the zip-line course and started driving. Then the rain hit! I've never seen rain like that! Buckets and buckets of rain were pouring down! We got off the bus at our destination and ran for cover. We all climbed into the All-Terrain that was taking us to the top of the course. It was a really bumpy ride! (I'll have to upload the video later!)     We ran into the lodge at the top of the course and got our instructions and equipment. Lucky for those of us without rain jackets, they provided the nice red ones you'll see in the pictures. They didn't allow us to take our big fancy cameras on the course (and really, who would want to anyways?), so all the pictures you see of us on the zip line and rope bridges were taken with my little trusty point and shoot!       The rain had stopped and the sun came out by the time we got back into town. It was so nice to be able to experience both types of weather in the rainiest city in Alaska! Ketchikan is such a cute town, we almost didn't want to leave!     The people in this town call this statue the "Mooning Eagle". Any guesses why? ;)   

Up next: We head home and stop by Victoria, BC!

Alaskan Cruise: Glacier Bay

We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day. The sun was shining, there was barely a cloud in the sky, and by Alaskan terms, it was warm! It was the perfect day to cruise Glacier Bay.

We started our morning walking into the buffet, forgetting how packed it would be because the Park Rangers, who had boarded our boat first thing in the morning, were giving a commentary that was being broadcast only to that room. As soon as we stepped in the Ranger went over the microphone and said, "Orca! Starboard! Killer Whale!". Almost everyone in the room ran to the windows on right side of the boat to try and see these whales. That's when we decided it was such a beautiful day, why eat inside?

Glacier Bay was nothing like I had pictured. I thought the whole thing would be covered in snow and ice, with giant icebergs floating around. Needless to say, I was totally wrong! It was beautiful and green!

We finally arrived at the Margerie Glacier right before lunchtime. The Margerie Glacier is the one you see in all the advertisements for Alaskan Cruises. Our boat pulled up (what felt like) right next to the Glacier. We thought the boat was going to be spinning so we hung out on the far side of the boat so we would have a good view when the boat turned. Unfortunately, we missed the 2nd largest calving our boat had ever seen! The whole boat rocked back and forth and the water in the pool sloshed around. We ended up moving after that so we wouldn't miss another one. There were a few smaller ones that happened while we were there, but none as big as that first one! After spending about an hour at the Margerie Glacier we headed back towards the park entrance, passing by many other glaciers on our way out. 

On our way out of the park, we heard that there could be some good whale watching. We never saw one close up, but we did get a few tales and fins! 


Up Next: Ketchikan & our zip-lining adventure!