Meet the Jacobsens: Amazing Alaska

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.