Travel Stories - February 2025
Fair Winds and Following Seas
It was embarkation day for Debra and me - the day we set sail on our grand voyage along the coast of Alaska. It was a low-key day for us - a day on which we mostly acquainted ourselves with Crystal Serenity, our luxurious home for the next two weeks.
Juneau: On a Photo Safari by Land and by Sea
Debra and I booked a photo safari in Juneau, our first port of call. We hiked to Mendenhall Glacier, then boarded a safari vessel to look for whales. We had a grant time!
Juneau: Mendenhall Glacier
Debra and I hiked through a rainforest on the Trail of Time to Mendenhall Glacier. The rainforest was stunning, and the glacier was, well, a truly fascinating sight to behold!
Juneau: Whale Watching
Debra and I boarded a safari vessel in Auke Bay, a haven for wildlife, to look for whales. It didn't take long to spot the first spout...and then a dorsal fin...and finally the fluke of a whale. By the end of our watch, we had seen more whales than on any watch we had been on! 
Skagway: In the Footsteps of Gold Rush Pioneers
​Debra and I were in Skagway - a one-day port stop on our grand voyage along the coast of Alaska. While Debra chilled on the Serenity, I walked in the footsteps of gold rush pioneers along the Chilkoot Trail and down the Taiya River.  It was a blast!  
Skagway: Hiking the Chilkoot Trail
My hike wasn't strenuous nor dangerous, but what a thrill it was to walk the Chilkoot Trail - even if for just a short distance - as the Stampeders did during the Klondike Gold Rush!
Skagway: Rafting Down the Taiya River
I rafted a river used by many a Stampeder during the Klondike Gold Rush. I had an easier time of it, of course...and I left the river with better memories of it than they did. My rafting adventure was awesome!
Icy Strait Point: My Walkabout
I made the most of a dreary day with a walkabout at Icy Strait Point, the port for Hoonah, Alaska. On my stroll - totally lowkey - I learned about an ocean predator and an able seaman. 
Sitka: The Best of Sitka
Debra and I hit the trifecta - three great stops on our half-day tour, 'Best of Sitka.' Wildlife, history, and Native culture. Outstanding!
Hubbard Glacier: A Scenic Cruise
​Debra and I were topside for a scenic cruise in Disenchantment Bay, where we stood in awe as we gazed at the towering ice formations and blue hues of Hubbard Glacier. It was a breathtaking experience!
Seward: On Foot in Downtown Seward
​I went on a self-guided tour - a half-day of discovery - in downtown Seward. Nature, history, culture, and good food. The highlight? It had to be the puffins!
Hubbard Glacier: It Creaked, It Groaned & Then…Boom! 
​Debra and I had hoped to see Hubbard Glacier calve on this picture-perfect day. And guess what? It did!! It was sudden and dramatic...and a treat to witness!!