A great experience is to drive to the mainland portion of Alaska through Canada (including the Yukon Territory) and explore from Fairbanks to Seward, Homer to Valdez and beyond.  This driving trip had been done twice with several other trips flying up to specific areas.  BUT – never had the southern panhandle, accessible only by sea or air, been explored.  So, a new adventure was embarked upon with friends Linda, Chuck and Linda May via a cruise on Oceania’s Regatta.  Sailing day had finally arrived and the Regatta was waiting for us at Pier 66 in the Seattle Harbor.  Welcome Aboard – –

A surprise to us was that it was Chuck’s 75 birthday the day after sailing.  This was a wonderful reason to celebrate friends – –

A days worth of celebrating got us all the way to Ketchikan, located at the Southern tip of the Inside Passage and the first Alaskan city reached when cruising North.  The town of Ketchikan was founded as a salmon cannery site in 1885.  However the Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian people have lived in Southeastern Alaska for over 10,000 years and their arts and culture can be seen throughout the area.  Many excursions (or wandering on one’s own) can highlight this culture with visits to the Totem Heritage Center and other local museums.  Having explored such heritage in the past, the more radical adventure was chosen – Ziplining!!

Thank goodness that was over!  Juneau, the capital of Alaska, was up next.  It is the only state capital of the United States that can only be reached by airplane or boat.  There is no road access to Juneau.  (Why we never drove here in our trips to Alaska!).  Juneau is also the first city founded after the purchase of Alaska by the United States from Russia, it became the territorial capital in 1906 and its state capital in 1959 upon statehood.  Again, less educational adventures were chosen while in this port – like whale watching and hiking to glaciers! So – off on a three hour tour – –

Now there was a little work involved in the next sight.  About a mile walk through the beautiful Tongass National  Forest (the largest national forest in the US) to one of Juneau’s most iconic sites – the Mendenhall Glacier.  This river of ice flows 12 miles from its source, the Juneau Icefield, and has a face that is 1.5 miles wide!  Unfortunately, it continues to recede, which is aptly demonstrated on the walk through the now existing forest.

The sights in Juneau were TRUE Alaska and one could stay and see them over and over.  But, as always, ships sail away and a new port awaits.  Hello Sitka;-).  An island community – and the only Inside Passage community that fronts the Pacific Ocean – it is known for its Tlingit culture and picturesque remnants of its Russian heritage.  There was a little education here with visits to the Sitka Museum, where many historic Tlingit totem poles are exhibited, and to Saint Michael’s Russian Orthodox Cathedral.  But first, a raptor rehabilitation center where raptors that can be released back into the wild are trained to fly and hunt.  And, those that are too harmed to be released are given a wonderful habitat to live in as these are – –

A beautiful and informative walk through the Sitka Historic National Park took us from the rehabilitation center to the Sitka Museum and Totem Poles – –

The walk took us right into downtown Sitka and Saint Michael’s Russian Orthodox Cathedral – –

Time was winding down and only one stop remained – the capital of British Columbia, Victoria.  The city sits on the southern end of Vancouver Island with abundant parkland, several formal gardens and Victorian architecture from its British colonial past.  Two fabulous examples of this architecture are the Legislative Assembly building and the Empress Hotel (a National Historic Site of Canada).  The time here was quite short which allowed for a quick walk by the Assembly to the Empress for a little afternoon snack.  If time allows and reservations are made well in advance, high tea at the Empress is an experience.  So too, an hour or so trip out to the Butchart Gardens.

A seven day cruise is quite short, but it provides the ability to get a glimpse of the part of Alaska only seen from the sea.  And there is much history and typical Alaska beauty here.  For us – it was the opportunity to spend a wonderful seven days with friends and enjoy their company;-). Thank you to Linda, Chuck and Linda May for joining us and making this trip so special.  Soon its back on terra firma!

E & G – very grateful for friends and the ability to travel