I just recently went on a cruise up the pacific coast from Seattle, Washington, to Alaska and back down through Victoria, Canada, to Seattle. Let me tell you that it was definitely an adventure and a half. Of course it was a delight to say the least with the gorgeous locations and the stories of family craziness. Some of the greatest moments while on vacation are with the people you meet along the way. I met some of the nicest and fun people on the ship. When you cruise anywhere it is a whole new travelling experience all together, which I highly recommend since I have cruised since I was six years old and enjoyed my experience every time. Any who, the people were so friendly in Juneau, Skagway and Victoria, British Columbia. So not only were the citizens of the cities wonderful, but the cities were absolutely gorgeous as well.
If you are looking for adventure in Alaska, something my family did was the helicopter glacier tours. It was a bit pricey and for anyone who is terrified of heights like I am it was a bit of a challenge, but the experience was priceless. For me I didn't go on the helicopter, but my younger brother did and he loved it. Luckily, it was a clear day with a bright sky. He said that the glaciers are something everyone needs to see. We did see the glaciers later from the boat, but nothing could compare to walking on top of a glacier. On our second Alaskan stop we went to Skagway and took an amazing tour. We went on a bus to see how dogs are trained for the Iditarod Race and even got to held cute puppies! Then we took the same bus up the into the mountains and crossed the border into Canada for about 10 minutes before boarding a train. Let me preface this saying that the train was in the sun and it was one of the hottest days that Skagway has had this year, coming to a temperature of bout 80 degrees Fahrenheit. So on that note, it was miserable because we dressed for cool weather and we were sweating in Alaska! Which is crazy! Other than the heat of the old train car the view was beautiful and all the scenery through the mountain side made it worth it in the end. Victoria, British Columbia was a beautiful city with rich history and gorgeous architecture. I really wish I could've stayed longer there but we were only there for a few hours. I would love to go back sometime in the near future.
The adventures are amazing and the experiences are once-in-a-lifetime, but what I think is the best part of cruising is the fact you have no choice but to disconnect. It is a good way of reconnecting with family and with loved ones. All in all, Alaska and Canada was a wonderful journey and it is worth looking into for your next travel vacation! Remember to travel and experience the life around you as it is happening!
