TravelAlaska.com

We flew to Anchorage with another couple and rented a car and did our own agenda. Drove to Denali Nat'l Pk (237 miles) and stayed at "Salmon Bake" (cabins). Their food was terrific, we ate lots of salmon and halibut. We took bus tour into park, 95 miles in and saw Mt McKinney. Pictures cannot describe the beauty of Alaska. Drove 117 miles to Fairbanks and went on "Riverboat Discovery", stopped at a native village (was impressed with native girls that worked there in summer showing us their ancestors way of life and then attending the University of Anchorage in the fall, they are very ambitious).  Left Fairbanks and started to Valdez, followed the pipeline all way to Valdez. Went on "Prince William Sound" 6 1/2 hr cruise - saw sea lions, whale, variety of birds and glacier.  I would recommend this cruise to anyone.  We met an "oldtimer", a man of 82 yrs, said he moved to Alaska to get away from people, and now "people" were coming to him.  We had to laugh to ourselves, because he sure was friendly to us. Personally, I think he enjoyed "people".  Enjoyed the climate, (nice change) since we live in Houston and we liked the uniqueness of having daylite so many hours of the day.  We also enjoyed being on the highway and driving for miles and not having to deal with traffic, crowds, etc, just looking at beautiful Alaska.  I  would recommend to anyone that has the privilege, to go to Alaska and you will not be disappointed, whether you go on a cruise or fly there and rent a car like we did.  The trip left me feeling very rested, peaceful and with a special feeling towards Alaska plus the desire to go back someday.

I took an eight day, seven night cruise on the Celebrity Summit north bound, that was fantastic, beautiful, serene, the scenery along the Inland Passage was outstanding, waterfalls everywhere, humpback whales, eagles and other wild life to always look at.

Then I rented a car and drove for two weeks starting in Seward, I took a six hour catamaran boat and we saw humpback whales and two shools of ORCA whales, seals, eagles and numerous glaciers. The noise from the glacier is unbelieveable, sounds like cannon shots or hatfields and the mccoys shooting at each other. Unreal would be the word to describe sitting there by the glacier.

In Seward just behind the sea aquariaum was a waterfall where I watched three ravens attacking an eagle that had taken over their next, I assume trying to eat the ravens eggs, awesome natural beauty at its best.

There are no words to describe the Seward-Anchorage highway with mountains, the lake, the sheer beauty of the highway. I like how they built numerous turn-outs and the rest areas for visitors that is a plus.

From there I visited Anchorage for the day moving on up to Wasilla and spent the evening. From there I went to Talkeetna where I stayed in the Alaskan Lodge, outstanding lodge, rooms were great, food was delicious and view is awesome. It took almost all day for the fog to lift to where I could get picture of Denali mountain. Had a moose run out in the road in front of me. I just sat there in the middle of the road and watched its beauty and grace cross the road.

Denali park was the next stop, I took the full, 12 hour wilderness bus trip, saw eight bears, twenty moose, 150 plus carabou in a herd. Two wolves and a red fox. The trip never got boring, the bus stops whenever a passenger sees an animal and will stay until the last person views the animal. There were enough rest stops so that none became uncomfortable, very nice day trip.

Drove up...to Fairbanks where I visited with my niece at Fort Wainwright, got to tour Fairbanks and the surrounding area for three days. Went to the North Pole, everyone must go there and send notes back to their children or grandchildren as I did.

What a drive along the highway from Fairbanks past Fort Greely, saw numerous moose and other wildlife, glaciers, great scenic highway.

I am ready to visit again, there is so much more to see and just not enough time nor money.