Alaksa Day 5- Skagway

Tuesday morning we arrived in Skagway.  We did not have an excursion until the afternoon so we were able to relax and hang out in the morning.  We hit the hot tub and hung out on the ship! Sitting in a hot tub starring at the mountains.  It was awesome! 

We were able to do our shopping for souvenirs and explore the city a little while before our afternoon of fun!  Both girls got necklaces and a journal from Skagway.  I got a picture frame....but I just can't decide which picture to put in it!  We have so many beautiful pictures.  

Lauren grabbed my small camera and took several of her own pictures in Skagway.  

Our ship was one of 4 docked for the day with tourist exploring Skagway.  

The surroundings were amazing!  

Our day in Skagway included puppies, gold and a train ride.  

The first  half of our excursion was here.  While we were waiting to get started our tour guide offered to take pictures.  He also mentioned that there was a brewery on site, so Mark was able to enjoy some Alaskan beer! 

We learned so much about Iditarod. It is the Alaskan dog race!  These dogs are trained to compete in this race.  The elements and details that go into planning and training for this event are incredible.  There was a presentation from a guy who has competed and finished this race several times.  It takes a huge commitment to compete in such an event. 

The highlight of this were the puppies of course!  

There were 5 puppies passed around to all of us, patiently waiting to hold them and love on them! 

Then it was time to pan for gold!  It actually takes some skill to find the gold, but we were all successful! 

The 2nd half of the excursion was a train ride through Skagway.  Again, pictures do not do justice to the beauty that surrounded us.  I took tons of pictures!  Are you surprised?  We were on the train for about 3 hours.  We went all the way to Canada and then turned around a came back.  Everyone on the train was able to see from both side of the train since the route back was the same as the route up.  

We were able to get out of the train and stand outside.  It felt so great to get some fresh air and cool off.  It was a hot day in Skagway with no AC on the train.  It was a little uncomfortable at times, but we all survived!  We were given some snacks and bottled water while on the train ride so that made it better! 

When we returned to the ship, Mark was not feeling well, so he skipped dinner and went to bed.  The girls and I had dinner and Addison and I did some exploring.  Lauren must have been off with her cousins because I can't remember what she was doing...and I only have pictures of Addison from the night...This is one of many selfies of Addison.  

As we sailed out of Skagway we saw some of the most beautiful snow covered mountain caps. It was light until almost 1130 this evening.  I sat outside, enjoyed the scenery and did some reading on the balcony while everyone else was asleep!  Next up: Glacier Bay.  

Day 4 Juneau, Alaska, Part 2

The 2nd part of our excursion in Juneau was a visit to the Mendenhall Glacier.  We were only able to spend 1 hour at the glacier and it went so fast.  I wish we could have stayed longer to really soak in all the beauty that surrounded us.  

When we got off the bus and walked towards the trail and visitors center we say this. 

Then when we hiked down to get closer to the glacier we saw this.  Nugget Falls.  It was so worth the hike down there.  As we got closer and closer you could hear the sound of the waterfall.  

This is probably my favorite picture from vacation.  Something different and out of the ordinary.  I love it! 

While it looks like we were the only ones at the waterfall, we were not.  It was a large area, swarming with other visitors.  But, plenty of room for Addison to throw some rocks.  

The girls loved climbing on the rocks.  Lauren just told me this week she saw a sign that said "No climbing on the rocks" after she was done climbing of course.  I never once saw that sign....we all laughed about it.  

It was very relaxing just listening to the sound of the waterfall and looking at the glacier.  

Yes, Lauren's boots ended up soaked as she went as far out into the water/rocks as she could.  

When I turned around Addison was gone...and half way up the rocks with her cousin Eve.  

Both girls really loved climbing and exploring. I think next summer in Colorado where we plan on hiking is going to be a blast! 

Mark really wanted to go into the famous Reg Dog Saloon for some Alaskan beer, but it was packed.  So he grudgingly settled for a picture outside.  

We hit the shops to grab some souvenirs before getting back on the ship.  It was an amazing day in Juneau.  

This view from the top deck of our ship was even more amazing.  

Day 4- Juneau, Alaska- Part 1

We made it to Alaska!  Juneau to be exact!  We traveled North for about 1 1/2 days and enjoyed exploring the ship.  Everyone was excited to get off the boat and tour the city.  Lauren felt fine when she woke up and we were all so happy!  

We spent some time walking around the ship and enjoying the view.  Since we had been sailing in the middle of the ocean all this time, we had not really seen a lot of mountains yet.  It really was breathtaking. 

The whole family signed up for the whale watching excursion today!  We took a short bus ride and then got on a catamaran to head out into a canal to look for whales.  

It was windy a lot, and at first it was chilly.  

But the beauty was breathtaking.  If you look really close you will see sea lions on the red and green thing (it's late...can't think of the name of it...lol) and 2 little sea lion heads next to it! 

Everywhere you looked this is what you saw!  

Then there was this.  Killer whales, also known as Orcas.  The driver of the boat spotted these about 3 miles out, but didn't say anything until we got up close.  The individual commentating the tour said they only see Orcas about 10% of the time on these tours.  You could tell the workers on the boat loved it and were very passionate about what they do.  

See the big one in the back with the messed up fin...that is the daddy of the pack! 

They were so close it was was so scary because they would disappear for several minutes and reappear again over and over.  How do you know where they went?  Can they be right under the boat?  Who knows, but every time we lost them, we found them again.   Everyone on the tour loved it! 

We also saw several humpback whales.  However, there were several boats around watching the whales when our boat was there too, so we did not get nearly as close to these whales.  This one kept jumping out of the water and back in.  Over and over again. 

Eve must have been a little chilly? These 2 had a ton of fun this week. 

Emma was awesome with all the cousins this week.  Do you remember those older cousins you looked up to when you were a kid.  Those cousins were the coolest ever.  

Rae Ann too.  Look at Addison looking at her!  Nathan might be asleep next to Pat there...He was not the only one asleep. 

Crazy Uncle Jeff was having fun. 

We did a lot of this.  All of us.  

It was fun.  We had a great time whale watching. 

Sorry Mark. Had to do it.  He was not the only one asleep on the ride back to shore. 

If you were asleep, you missed these views.  How could anyone fall asleep? Oh, and blue skies!  It rains 270 days a year in Juneau.  We had blue skies! 

And you missed this little island.  

And this.  Beauty everywhere.  I know I have said it over and over again, but it was so relaxing just to stare at the nature and beauty that surrounded us. 

The whale watching was just the first part of the excursion.  Next up was Mendenhall Glacier and Nugget Falls. 

This.  Beautiful.  Loved the hike down to this waterfall....More to come on Part 2 of our excursion in Juneau.