We've had two more amazing days since last I wrote. Yesterday we took a 9 hour boat tour from the Kenai Fjords Company of the waters around Seward, Resurrection Bay through the Northwestern Fjords. To say it was incredible is an understatement. The weather was, as it has been until tonight, chilly and rainy. The captain assured us that while people don't like that kind of weather it would be great for seeing wildlife, and it was. We weren't out on the boat 20 minutes when 3 porpoises swam right by us and within a half hour, we saw our first humpback whale! And we saw 3 more during the day...and dozens stellar sea lions, harbor seals, puffins (!), and an amazing array of birds, my favorite being the common murr, a bird that looks like ... read more

No better way to start the day than with a great breakfast, soft music, a fire in the fireplace and a great view. That was this morning at Copper Whale Inn, and lots of interesting conversation with other guests from different parts of the US. Of course, I got up early and had lots of time for all of the above. Cool, rainy weather didn't hold us back. After a leisurely start of the day, we spent time at the Anchorage Museum. There was an exhibit from the Smithsonian on Native Cultures in the Arctic Circle that was amazing. We all loved it. We left there in time to see the 4th of July parade...a true highlight of local warmth....from the Welcome Home Mommy sign on one of the military 'floats' to the midwives marching, and ... read more

We made the plane reservations for this trip almost 8 months ago. Who's 'we'? Barry and I are traveling with Marcy, Steve, Beth and Ira. Marcy, Beth, and I have been friends since high school (OK, I'll be honest, that means more than 45 years!). Barry, Ira and Steve became friends after dating and then marrying one of us...more than 30 years ago. We've been friends for that time but never traveled together. So this trip will be the true test of our very long friendship! Marcy and I worked on figuring out the itinerary back in January, with the help of Tripadvisor, Mr. Frommer, and other travel experts (and reading other people's blogs, of course). After a few after-work diner meetings, and lots of e-mails with Ira, we came up with the route and booked ... read more