Connie and Hewitt Adventure to Alaska June 26-July 14 , 2010. Seven days on the land touring and seven days at sea on the Island Princess.


I. Fly from Ft Myers to Seattle then by Coach to Vancouver 2 days in
Vancouver June 26-June 29, 2010













Vancouver is the eighth largest city in Canada with a population of 578,000 (2006 census)
and has one of the mildest climates in Alaska in July. It covers 44.3 sq miles and is part of
Metro Vancouver. The percentage of Vancouver residents who's first language is English is
49.1 % and and who's first language is Chinese is 25.3 %.

II. We took a trolley ride and went to Vancouver Island, Victoria to
experience the Butchart Gardens. They are truly amazing.
















It took us over three hours to get to Butchart Gardens. We took a bus to the ferry. We
took a very large 400 vehicle ferry to Vancouver Island and then a taxi to the gardens.






























The gardens are full of wonderful plants and trees. Lots of Hosta, which are Hewitt's and
mine favorite. The rose gardens were colorful and growing well. The Japanese garden
were organized and formal. And the sunken gardens were just magnificent.

III Vancouver to Anchorage via plane, then by coach to Princess Mt McKinley
Lodge June 29-June 30














Mt McKinley is the highest mountain on the North American continent. The summit is
20,320 feet high. Permanent snow fields cover more than 75% of the mountain. To see the
mountain is a difficult feet. Most of the times it is covered in clouds and fog. It is only
visible about 15% of the time.



















I was unable to see the entire mountain even when I flew over the area.



















But it was amazing. To think that my Dad flew over this over 60 years ago. Wow.














Why is the ice blue? When light hits highly compacted ice, long wavelengths colors (reds)
are absorbed, while short wavelength colors (blues) reflect back through the ice to your
eyes.

IV. Coach to railroad in Talkeetna then to Denali National Park July 1-July 3

















Denali National Park is vast and wild. It is 6 million areas (larger than Mass) with few
trails and one ribbon road to see caribou, bear, wolves, Dali sheep and moose.




























Denali, the High One, is the name the Athabaskan native people gave to this massive
peak. It can be confusing as the mountain is also called Mt McKinley as well as Denali.

V. Coach from Denali to Cooper River July 3-5, 2010































Wrangell-St Elias National Park, and Preserve has 13.2 million acres and was made a
National Park in 1980. Very beautiful

VI. Catamaran Ferry from Valdez to Whitter to pick up the Island Princess Ship
July 5, 2010





VII. Hubbard Glacier at Yakatat Bay July 6, 2010.







Yakutat Bay is a 18 mile wide bay in Alaska extending Southwest from Disenchantment
Bay to the Gulf of Alaska

VIII. Glacier Bay July 7, 2010








Glacier Bay is over 3.3 million acre of forest, inlets, shore line and mountain peaks rising
15,000 feet. The Great rivers of ice stretch over and between mountains ridges to the
tide water. The bay boast 12 tidewater glaciers, including the famous Margerie Glacier.

















The calving of a glacier is when pieces are broken off and fall into the water.
Unfortunately, we did not view this.

IX. Skagway, Alaska July 8, 2010






Skagway was known to thousands of hopeful gold rushers as the gateway to the gold fields.
Although it boasted the shortest route to the Klondike, it was far from being the easiest.
Over a hundred years ago, the White Pass route through the Coast Mountains and the
shorter, but steeper trail.













The gold rush was a boom to Skagway and in 1898 it was Alaska's largest town with a
population of about 20,00.

X. Juneau, Alaska July 9, 2010








In 1880 Joe Juneau and Richard Harris after climbing mountains, forging streams and
facing countless difficulties, found gold nuggets as large as beans.

































Juneau became the capital of Alaska and the business of gold was replaced by the
business of government.








The glaciers are so large and the sail boat is so small in comparison

XI. Ketchikan, Alaska, July 10, 2010

Ketchikan is known by many names. Born and raised on the salmon industry, the town has
earned the title of Salmon Capital of the World. Many people know Ketchikan as the state's
Rain Capital as it gets around 162 inches of precipitation annually.

















































XII At Sea July 11, 2010 Traveling along the coast to Vancouver



XIII Vancouver to Coach to Seattle July 12, 2010

XIV. Seattle July 12-14

Seattle is a port city and has fishing and shipping industry. Seattle is the coffee mecca
because it is the home of Starbucks and Seattle Coffee. Starbucks has purchased Seattle
Coffee. Seattle is also the home of Nordstrom department store and Boeing air craft.


















XV. Fly back to Fort Myers, on July 14, Welcome Home!