Alaska for a vacation in the sun? We live in Vancouver, home port for summer Alaskan cruises and have hosted many visitors in advance of their ship boarding. Everyone gives themselves the same pep talk - it's not a sun vacation, hopefully there will be enough lifting of the fog to view the glaciers and mountain tops.
We've been twice, another advantage of living in a home port, those last minute and resident-only deals. Six years ago to within a day, cancellations as the result of the SARS scare gave us our first opportunity. Six cool, sunny and one cloudy day produced the perfect trip. So this time, with an even better deal, we gave ourselves the familiar talk. Even if it rains every day, it won't matter as we've already seen the sights, and the price was well worth the opportunity to sit back and relax.
Who'd have thought? The weather was better than in Hawaii. Six days with 18 hours of sunshine. The onboard naturalist said it was the best weather week he had experienced in ten years of cruise ship lecturing.
Sitka:
Hubbard Glacier:
Ketchikan:
My new happy place:
thank you thank you thank you for the Ketchikan photo.... god I miss it! 2 trips to Alaska and I miss it so much!
PC and I are hoping in 2 years to be able to go... :)
How were the whales in Sitka? One humpback rose up under our flatbottomed boat and damn near flipped us! And only 5 meters from the shore!!!!
Posted by: Kate | June 08, 2009 at 12:10 PM
Your third picture is one and a half block from where I caught the school bus every day. And it just down the walk from where we watched the bears fish every morning. (Also where I bought garbage pail kids cards without my mom knowing. Don't tell okay.) =)
Posted by: Liberty | June 08, 2009 at 12:13 PM
Wow! Love the pictures.
Posted by: Suzanne (Yarnhog) | June 08, 2009 at 03:18 PM
A flash back to our trip ! looking foward to Mom'a 80th birthday trip to the DC area with you guys . : )
Posted by: Jane Toumpas | June 08, 2009 at 05:44 PM
Beautiful! You certainly lucked out.
Posted by: Kristen | June 08, 2009 at 06:44 PM
Breathtaking!
I've not been to Alaska, but hope to one day.
Your photos make it so tempting to run off and hop on-board.
Your last photo is just too cute!
Posted by: Lacy | June 08, 2009 at 08:44 PM
That looks fantastic. I'm glad you had good weather. You deserve some positive vacation karma!
Posted by: Carole | June 09, 2009 at 03:50 AM
Wow, those are breathtaking pictures.
Posted by: Rebekah | June 09, 2009 at 07:01 AM
Welcome Back!
We have a friend visiting all next week who is moving back to Alaska. Maybe she'll be able to get us there one day. The following week... YVR, here I come. 'Can't wait.
Posted by: Ellen | June 09, 2009 at 07:50 AM
Oh man. We are going in a little over two weeks. Took advantage of one of those "home port" deals also. I can't wait. Hopefully the weather will be that nice. What cruise line? We're going on Holland.
Posted by: Lorette | June 09, 2009 at 11:37 AM
You sure make it sound tempting- and accessible. Maybe I'll try to go on a knitting cruise!
Posted by: Angie | June 09, 2009 at 12:16 PM
Oh my, what a lovely vacation. Actually, the husband and I are thinking of taking an Alaska cruise after the Sock Summit. Now I want to even more.
Posted by: Jane | June 09, 2009 at 03:49 PM
Li: I love the little port towns. Did you use a polarizing filter on your camera or is that just natural overcast glaze to make your photos perfect?
Posted by: Rosie | June 10, 2009 at 08:54 AM
Gorgeous photos! Isn't it a treat to go on vacation and have lovely weather there when it so is not at home?
Posted by: Robby | June 10, 2009 at 05:43 PM
AWESOME pictures!!! This has always been my DREAM vacation!! Lucky you!!
Posted by: crazy for yarn in alabama | June 11, 2009 at 08:06 AM