Alaska, a Northern Wilderness

A summer trip that started in Vancouver, B.C., visiting the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, the Grizzly Bears on Grouse Mountain, Stanley Park and the Vancouver Overlook. After two hectic days of touring we boarded the Princess Line's Star Princess to cruise to Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway, taking side excursions to search for Humpback Whales, Sea Lions, Bald Eagles and other local wildlife. After many sightings we visited the Mendenhall Glacier Center for an up close visit before we cruised through Glacier Bay National Park and the breath-taking Glaciers in College Fjord. After enjoying those amazing sights we docked and departed the ship in Whittier, Alaska, taking a motor coach to the Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge. While there we visited Cooper's Landing and had a sled dog mushing demonstration. From Kenai we moved to the Copper River area with a short visit to Anchorage before moving on to Denali National Park. In Denali we were able to see many varieties of wildlife up close including Bears, Moose, Deer, Caribou, Eagles, Wolves, Dall Sheep, Alaskan Snowshoe Hares, Rock Squirrels and many other varieties of local wild life, as well as have a fabulous look at both peaks of Denali, formerly Mount McKinley. After several days in Denali we rode a domed rail car to Fairbanks where we experienced Alaskan Gold Rush History. In Fairbanks we panned for gold at the Gold Dredge 8 site, visited the Alaskan Pipeline, Pioneer Park, the History Museum and other historical and current offerings. It was near the middle of June and three days prior to the equinox so it was light out all day and all night. A really fun trip.