Tag: Anchorage

Alaska: last Day

Today is my last day in Alaska. I have a flight scheduled this evening in Anchorage. I planned on doing an entire day of sightseeing before my flight but I am exhausted. I don’t leave super early but I do have to check out of the hotel so I load the car and say goodbye to Seward where I have spent the last few days. I will definitely be back to visit.

I stop at this lovely spot of purple flowers.

Plans this morning include a wildlife conservation and then lunch on the way to the airport.

I stop at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, an animal sanctuary. Anything in the wild I was unable to see during my last few weeks I can see here at this rehabilitation center.

Porcupine
Fox

I see a black bear playing with his stick.

It’s feeding time.

Muskox

I am tired and it is raining so I start the journey back to anchorage. I still have some time to kill so I stop at the Lake Hood Seaplane base to watch sea planes take off and land. There is surprisingly little security there so I am free to drive around to get a good view as long as I don’t pull out in front of a plane.

It is time for the airport so I return the rental car and eat dinner at the airport since I don’t return home until late.

Visiting Alaska is a once in a lifetime adventure that I hope to repeat again someday.

Alaska: College Fjord & Seward

Today is the last day of cruising. Luckily there is no early start. I start my morning with a causal breakfast and a rest on the upper deck.

I have no plans until the afternoon so I sign up for a wine tasting. I try many wines and snack on some cheese.

We arrive in College Fjord and it is time for the on deck observation. I see more beautiful vistas and glaciers. What we see here are tidewater glaciers -glaciers that are fed by the snow and break off into the sea.

It is the last night on the ship so the main dining room has its napkin swirling music celebration.

Leaving the Fjord

I try to stay out a little my last night but I don’t make it a late night.

The next morning we depart early.

The cruise port is Whittier but it is actually 60 miles from Anchorage. Transportation options are limited so we hop on a bus to take us to the Anchorage airport. From there I am picking up a rental car but I will spend a couple hours with family in town while they wait for their flight. The bus ride to Anchorage is scenic and the driver plays theme music as we travel through the long tunnels. There is some commentary on the way, so you aren’t just getting a quiet and boring bus ride.

Today is no Kings protest so I briefly participate in the protest by honking while I drive by in my rental car.

My cousin and I stop for lunch. He splurges on King Crab once again and I try a Yak burger.

I drop him off at the airport and start my drive to Seward where I am spending my next few days. During my initial planning I wanted to take the coastal trains to Seward because I read the views on the journey are unforgettable but the I am unable to fit the train times into my schedule. I rent an expensive rental car instead. I am rewarded with a beautiful drive of my own where I stop occasionally to enjoy the views during the two plus hour drive.

When I arrive my motel room is ready. Accommodations in Seward are not fancy and they are not cheap but the room is clean and convenient to town. Hotels tend to be pricey here because there aren’t many of them and the official tourist season is fairly short.

I check into my room and walk into town to see if they have tables at the highly rated Cookery restaurant and they do. I sit at the bar and eat the most delicious meal. The service is friendly and they actually cook salmon correctly. I could have eaten here multiple times since the menu looks fantastic.

It’s still early and due to the sun setting very late this time of year it appears I have so much day left so I walk around town and along the water. I pass by a campsite that is lively. It seems like many drive their campers out here for the summer and enjoy the mild temperatures. (Or I am just really lucky because I have terrific weather during my entire Alaska adventures.

Tomorrow I have a nature cruise and I hope it leaves as scheduled in the morning. In the past I’ve had bad luck with those types of cruises but I feel like my luck is changing.