Like last year our family vacation took us to Washington state but instead of the high octane version of climbing Mount Rainier, this time we went to Seattle to go on an Alaskan cruise. This was something Lisa's parents wanted to do with the whole family to celebrate their 50th anniversary.
Our launch date was scheduled for June 25th. Instead of flying we decided to drive because after the cruise we planned on driving to Montana to visit Bob's side of the family to celebrate his Dad's 80th birthday.
We left on our trip about 3:00 a.m. on the morning of June 23rd so we could make a lot of miles. As it turns out, the 23rd was also our 20th anniversary and so we exchanged cards in the dark in the car. As it turned out, we drove over 700 miles the first day and made it to Baker Oregon. Along the way we got to drive through some beautiful country and enjoy the sights. One of the things the kids really enjoyed was being able to check out this very nicely restored Peterbuilt that was stopped in front of us while waiting in line for road construction just outside of Jackpot Nevada. The lady who was driving it was very nice. She let them get sit inside and blow the air horn, it was pretty fun.
If you want to see all the pictures from this trip, CLICK HERE.
Our launch date was scheduled for June 25th. Instead of flying we decided to drive because after the cruise we planned on driving to Montana to visit Bob's side of the family to celebrate his Dad's 80th birthday.
We left on our trip about 3:00 a.m. on the morning of June 23rd so we could make a lot of miles. As it turns out, the 23rd was also our 20th anniversary and so we exchanged cards in the dark in the car. As it turned out, we drove over 700 miles the first day and made it to Baker Oregon. Along the way we got to drive through some beautiful country and enjoy the sights. One of the things the kids really enjoyed was being able to check out this very nicely restored Peterbuilt that was stopped in front of us while waiting in line for road construction just outside of Jackpot Nevada. The lady who was driving it was very nice. She let them get sit inside and blow the air horn, it was pretty fun.
If you want to see all the pictures from this trip, CLICK HERE.
Getting on board our Celebrity Cruise ship, the Infinity.
Leaving Seattle.
Our beautiful daughter Hannah on her first cruise.
Hannah and her favorite cousin Luke all dressed up for dinner.
Caleb and his favorite cousin Ben did a great job of keeping each other entertained during the nightly five course meals.
Our first stop was Ketchikan. It is a beautiful little town that is famous for its salmon fishing and totem poles.
While in Ketchikan we did a little hike called the Married Man's Trail. It is a very scenic hike that winds through town with salmonberries like these everywhere.
The next day we made our way through the Tracy Arm Fjord on our way to Juneau. I got up early in the morning to run on the top deck and was there in time to see the ship steer into this spectacular, glacier carved valley.
Lisa and I on deck in the Tracy Arm Fjord.
More views in the Tracy Arm Fjord.
Lisa and her Dad, Ken Boobar.
The terminus of the Sawyer glacier as it spills into the head of the Tracy Arm Fjord
After making it to Juneau we went on a bus tour to see the Mendenhall glacier, pictured above, and then continued on to go whale watching with Allen Marine Tours.
This is a picture of the tail of one of the 30-40 humpback whales we saw on our tour. It was great!
Another humpback exhales in the distance on our whale watching tour.
One of the beautiful scenes of a lighthouse we saw in the Inside Passage.
Some of the sea lions we saw hanging out on a buoy while on our whale watching tour.
A beautiful bald eagle.
This boat was similar to the one we were on while on our tour.
We also got to see a pod of Orca which we were told didn't happen very often. Included in this group was a newborn making this a really special sighting.
Also known as Killer Whales, we learned that they really aren't killers and that the name whale only refers to their size. They are the largest of the dolphin family and the only time they are a threat to humans is when they are confined in a theme park. Apparently the close quarters of confinement really confuse their ability to communicate and use their sonar. Then they can become unpredictable and dangerous.
Also known as Killer Whales, we learned that they really aren't killers and that the name whale only refers to their size. They are the largest of the dolphin family and the only time they are a threat to humans is when they are confined in a theme park. Apparently the close quarters of confinement really confuse their ability to communicate and use their sonar. Then they can become unpredictable and dangerous.
The next stop on our trip was Skagway. Like the other ports we visited in Alaska, Skagway is perched on the side of a mountain that drops steeply into the sea. Apparently the part of town that is built on level ground is actually built on the remnant mine tailings from all the gold mining that started the town.
While in Skagway we went on another tour with the White Pass and Yukon Route railroad. This tour was a wonderful, 40 mile rail ride to White Pass and back. White Pass was one of the two main passes used by prospectors during the Klondike Gold Rush.
This is a picture I took from the platform of our passenger car as the train is about to pass over a fairly exposed trestle and then immediately enter a tunnel. The rail route to White Pass was truly an engineering feat through some very wild and rugged country.
Looking down Skagway's main street (actually Broadway Street) to our cruise ship the Infinity in the distance.
Our extended family on Lisa's side.
Hannah and her cousin Luke really had a great time together. One of there favorite things to do was play board games.
After returning to Seattle at the end of a very enjoyable Inside Passage cruise, we headed east through Washington state, the panhandle of Idaho, and on to Bozeman, Montana to visit with Bob's side of the family to celebrate his Dad's 80th birthday.
While in the Gallatin Valley, we did get out on a couple of hikes including a very scenic hike in the Bridger range to the summit of Baldy. The weather had been very wet up to this point and everything was so green it almost hurt your eyes. The wildflowers were also spectacular as spring had just hit the 8,000+ foot elevation we were hiking at.
While in the Gallatin Valley, we did get out on a couple of hikes including a very scenic hike in the Bridger range to the summit of Baldy. The weather had been very wet up to this point and everything was so green it almost hurt your eyes. The wildflowers were also spectacular as spring had just hit the 8,000+ foot elevation we were hiking at.
Lisa in the Montana wildflowers.
Looking north down the Bridger ridge from what most consider the summit of Baldy, a false summit, to the true summit of Baldy. In truth there's really little difference between the 4 or 5 "summits" of Baldy because they're all about the same elevation with similar, spectacular views.
Looking to the southwest from the Bridger Ridge trail, across the Gallatin Valley, to the mouth of the Gallatin Canyon and the Spanish Peaks beyond.
Dad and Uncle Jim toasting his 80th birthday.
Celebrating Dad's 80th with friends and family in their front yard.
It's hard to tell who's enjoying the tractor ride more, Caleb or Grandpa.
The way it was meant to be.