Family Cruise to Alaska

Oh my goodness, where do we start? 

I know...go right now over to the right and click on our link to Savannah Smiles,

and then click the Wee Baby Jameson, and then return here.

Our kids have published GREAT posts about this trip,

and you should start there!  Then...

We flew to Seattle a day early, and rode the train

from the airport to downtown,  and the monorail to Spaceneedle Park,

and then walked to our hotel! 

That afternoon we walked to Pikes Market and saw the "flying fish!"


A few bouquets from the flower maket

 This was not even from the same trip, but I like the picture,

and it explains perfectly their relationship!

The view of the Sound, from just outside our dinner cafe.

Next morning we had breakfast and prepared to embark.

Would you trust your suitcase to this guy?

 

Our home away from home,,,

so long Seattle, see ya soon



Yeah, this is how it's gonna be for the next seven days.

Angry Birds?

Every cruise has a dance class, and by now we can totally "bring it"!

Some Shaws in the pool...

And some others of us in one of the hot tubs.

Dinner all together was a highlight of each day,

and this day we celebrated a birthday!

 

First port of call: Ketchikan Alaska!

When the cruise ships dock at Ketchikan (three or four),

we actually double the towns population!



 

I don't even know what we're doing, but it's cool.

I used to make fun of the tourists who go on the"Duck Tours" 

in one of the amphibi-buses, but... here we go!

A salmon ladder, where the fish will swim upstream to spawn...

Wish I could swim like that.

 

Hey, you guys!  We can go anywhere that YOU can go!
(We're in the ocean now, in our Duck car!)

There's a bald eagle nesting on the rocks. Can you spot him?

Ahoy, sailors!



Next morning we sailed through the inner passage known as

the Tracey Arm Fjord!

 

Melting snow created several waterfalls that carried

all the way down the mountains to the ocean.



Just to prove we were here!

Looks like Corey caught some wildlife ...in their PJs.

Here we are at Juneau, but it looks like someone has taken our parking space.

Not to worry, our Captain can thread the needle!

The Shaws took off in a helicopter, and the Winns went whale-watching,

so Linda and Corey took me to see Sarah Palin's old home, the Governor's Mansion!

A stream of melting snow, made from the best stuff on earth! 



Corey wanted a sample in his water bottle, so our tour guide

did the mountain goat thing and filled him up! Man, that was good water!

It made me feel like rasslin' a Kodiak bear!

Our first view of the Mendenhall Glacier!

To the right is a waterfall which pours out tons of water per second! 

Anybody got a boogey board?

A view of Juneau from across the bay!

After our tour, we strolled around downtown. 

The Red Dog Saloon is Alaska's version of a Hard Rock Cafe!

From the shop next door we heard the band singing "North, to Alaska!"

 So we had to go in!  OK, so it was just one guy,

but he had the whole house singing along on every song!



Definitely worth the visit!  Now back to the Grand Princess!

 Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the prettiest of them all?

Whoa...it's a ten-way tie for First Place!

Our waiter made Savannah a mouse out of her napkin,

and she had to show Poppy how it works!

Who wants Ice Cream?!!

After dinner on the deck, as the sun turns in for the night.

 

Next day we stopped at Skagaway, where we all rode the

White Pass Yukon Route train, across Alaska and into Canada!

















She always seems to know when the camera comes out!?? 

Hmmm.. that could be Savannah, but it could be Ashley.. 

 After the train ride we visited this picturesque little town and found lunch,

before heading back to the ship.

 





 



 

 







And back on board! As I've said, one of the best times of each day was dinner,

because we had a standing reservation for dinner at our Table for Ten.

You talking to me?...

 And after dinner, perhaps a little dancing in one of the venues!

 Next stop, Vancouver, BC.
This is the Inner Harbour, which is a real collecting place
on weekends! An open air market, lots of booths,

and tourists galore! 

Here's a friendly couple from... uh, southeast Asia?

 This is a beautiful city, and we arrived at twilight,

so we were able to enjoy the sights in daylight,

 and after dark!

A little souvenir from Victoria...

And happily, they let us all back into the United States
when we docked in Seattle the next day!  Since it was not far
from our hotel, we hit Pikes Market again before naps!

  While the little ones took naps, Linda and I went for a walk,

and were directed (by a friendly stranger) to this weekend festival!

It was the last day of an annual three day Folk Festival,

thrown in the gigantic park area at the foot of the Seattle Space Needle!

 

We didn't want the kids to miss this,

so Linda texted them this picture, which says

"I'm going to run down into that fountain like those teenagers are doing!"

And then, "Anyone want some curly fries?"

Well, the answer to that was "YES!" Everybody joined in!

Aww look.  It's the three we started with, and they ain't fightin'.



One last group picture before we dry off and head for home.

Hey kids, Thanks for letting Mimi and me play too!