alaska travel diary

{My Outfit: Helly Hansen ‘Jacket, Ralph Lauren Sweater & Leggings, Herschel Backpack, L.L. Bean Boots}
{Eric’s Outfit: L.L. Bean Rain Jacket & Boots, Uniqlo Hat, Striped Tee & Down Vest, J. Crew Pants}

Last month, Eric and I had one of our most fun and adventurous vacations to date: a 7-day Alaskan cruise, followed by a few days in Denali National Park. Join me over the next few days as I recount those memories and share with you my Alaska Travel Diary.

After embarking on Holland America’s Oosterdam in Vancouver, we spent a relaxing day at sea sailing towards the Inside Passage. After this much needed day of rest, we were super amped and ready to reach our first port of call: Ketchikan, AK!

I knew we were pretty much guaranteed rain in Ketchikan (the average rainfall is 152 inches per year, while the US average overall is 37 inches!), so I happily broke out my new rain jacket and bean boots. It’s hard to believe that just two days earlier, I was in sandals and sundresses! Since Ketchikan is known as the salmon capital of the world, I also thought it would be fun to don my fisherman sweater in honor of the occasion.

We arrived at 6am, and our ship was first in port that day which meant the streets were nearly empty upon our arrival. The town was slowly coming to life as we left the ship, but we enjoyed our first peaceful moments among these tranquil views. The weather was quintessential Ketchikan that day: slightly cool with a gentle mist in the air. Continue Reading

After 3 amazing port days in Alaska, Eric and I were pretty much in heaven and didn’t think that things could get much better. At this point we’d gone crab fishing and whale-watching, taken a helicopter to go dog-sledding on top of a glacier, eaten the most amazing seafood, and trekked through the Yukon Territory. By anyone’s standards, we’d had an amazing journey. But as it turned out, we hadn’t seen anything yet!

The last leg of our cruise included scenic sailing through Glacier Bay National Park. Believe me when I tell you how absolutely stunning and awe-inspiring it was to sail through this natural wonder. The day was picture perfect, and we got a front row seat as we watched these beautiful glaciers groan, shake, and eventually break off into the water right before our eyes (a process known as calving).

Rangers from Glacier Bay boarded our ship that morning to debrief everyone on board about what we were going to see, and they remained with us the entire day to narrate our journey through the park.  It was so much fun to roam around the ship the entire day (in between hot cocoa and soup breaks) to take in the breathtaking views all around us. If you ever take an Alaskan Cruise, definitely make sure you pack the right gear for glacier-cruising days (i.e. a warm jacket, hat, and gloves). It gets COLD out there!

Unfortunately, I saw waaaayyyy too many people who couldn’t take the chill and had to keep running back indoors because they didn’t have on the right gear. You can never predict when glaciers are going to calve, so it’s best to stay outside all day to maximize your chances. We sprung for a room with a balcony (which we thoroughly enjoyed!), but I preferred to walk about the ship while sailing through Glacier Bay to make sure we always had the best view.

Speaking of views… keep scrolling through to soak up the sights we saw that day!

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