Oh how amazing it was!!!! Matt got to choose where he wanted
to go for his graduation trip. We talked for months about all sorts of places…a
cruise, Europe (which had my vote), Brazil, nowhere because we were feeling
cheap after looking at our student loan balance…after all the talk he kept
coming back to Alaska. He has always LOVED Alaska. His uncle lives there so he
has been a few times. I feel bad saying it wasn't my first choice but figured
we would have a good time no matter where we went and it was a trip for Matt.
Well I was wrong. After spending a week there I completely agree with Matt. It
was AMAZING. I can't wait to go back!!
We flew into Anchorage and spent the first night in Seward,
which was one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. We spend 10 hours
on a ship sight-seeing in the Kenai Fjords National Park. We saw whales, bears,
eagles, puffins, glaciers, seals, porpoise, ice fields, sea otters, and the
most beautiful scenery. I pictures don't do it justice. We then drove down to
Homer (the Halibut capital of the world) to spend the rest of the week in a cabin
just outside of town. It was up on a hill with a perfect view of the ocean the mountains.
Matt’s uncle has a boat there and just got his captains license. They went out fishing
with him the first day. Just as they got back to the dock the power steering
went out on the boat. Matt’s heart was broken. Luckily, Alan got Matt and his
dad on his friend’s charter so the fishing didn’t stop. One of the days in
Homer we went on a day trip to Soldotna, which was across the day from Homer.
Again the scenery and wildlife were sight to see. The last day there we drove
up to the Kasliof river and wend Salmon fishing. We were told the fishing was
really slow but Matt really wanted to go anyway. It was incredible going down
the river in a tiny row boat. The ride alone was worth it. However, Matt did catch
one King Salmon (a little tiny King Salmon, but one none the less). Matt’s
parents watched Charlotte all day so we could go. Speaking of Charlotte that
kid was a trooper on the trip. She was so good on the plane, driving, boat
rides, etc. She couldn’t have been better. I’m glad we got a kid that likes
vacations as much as we do.
One of the crazies things about Alaska (at least
in the summer) was it was light almost all day long. The sun would set about
midnight and then come back up at 3 in the morning. For the 3 hours of “night”
it still never got completely dark. It was more like dusk. You could pack a lot
into one day. Although it was soooo hard to get out of bed in the morning after
we got home. Overall it was fabulous. We are planning the next trip already.
Seward
Mom and baby humpback whale. The baby put on quite a show flipping out of the water for over 30 minutes. We finally had to leave so we could see everything else.
A group of nine humpbacks feeding. One of the coolest things I have ever seen in my life. The ranger said he has only seen it a few times. Glad we picked the right day.
Glaciers
Matt and his uncle on the fishing boat.
The view from the cabin of an active volcano....I don't remember the name.
Sea otters.
Day trip to Soldotna.
At the cabin.
Matt and I Salmon fishing on the Kasilof river.
The biggest King Salmon in the river :) At least we caught one....
We saw this group of grizzle bears (there were four) on the way to the airport.
