Day 10, Thursday, July 28

Seward, Alaska is such an amazing little town.  The main street is basically 4 blocks and there is another “town” area a mile away at the marina.  The marina has a few hotels, tourists’ shops and restaurants and where we will board our ship tomorrow.

We were told by several locals that there was virtually no crime, little drugs and several churches in town.  This is the first town we saw no homeless persons.

Today the weather is 60 to 65 degrees, little wind and no humidity. 

Ed had breakfast in their quaint, little breakfast area and then we took a cab to the shuttle area and a 15-minute shuttle up to the Exit Glacier.   The glacier is part of the National Park Service and we join a Park Ranger in the hike up to the base of the glacier.  The first part of the trail was easy walking; however, the last 100 years was very strenuous but getting to the outlook was well worth it.  Along the way the trail was marked with different years which represented where the glacier was in those years.  It was amazing to see how far the glacier had receded over the last 100 years.  Just the amount that it receded in the last 50 was scary.  If you didn’t believe that the globe is warming, this is proof!!

We took the shuttle back to town and ate a great sandwich at a local restaurant run be 3 couple from the same church.  We had a Halibut sandwich with maple drizzled fries and it was delicious.

We then walked a block to the Sea Life Recuse Center and spent a couple of hours there and even was there when they fed the 3 seals that they have recused.

There is a free shuttle running between and within the two areas of Seward so we took it up to the marina area and walked around before taking the shuttle back to our hotel.

Dinner was in a restaurant that we tried to get into last night and they had a 1 ½ wait at 7pm so we made reservations for tonight.

For dinner we went to a restaurant called The Cookery that we could not get into yesterday.  No question, it was the best restaurant we have eaten at for the entire trip so far.  We would characterize it as a 5-start restaurant with 3-star prices.  

We had a Halibut dish follow up with a strawberry soup both prepared like we have never experienced before.  We were able to get the specific receipts from the waiter and spend some time talking with the owner.  

Then it was time to pack for tomorrow when we finally board our ship, the Celebrity Millennium for 7 nights of cruising.

Night from Seward, Alaska again.

                                                        Part of the hotel lobby

                                                              The breakfast room

                                                                      The Exit Glacier

                                                                Downtown Seward

                                                                 Just posing for the  people

                                                                Feeding time

                                                                Glad its behind the glass

                                                            Part of a huge marina

                                                    Halibut with an amazing Zucchini puree with 

                                                     Ceviche freash vegtibles.

                                                        Strawberry soup with Rice Krispies and 

                                                         shaved white chocolate plus more

                                                The ownner giving us their history

                

Day 9, Wednesday, July 27

Up at 5:45am to check out and take a taxi to the train station for a 6:30am boarding.

Boarding when smoothly and again we had the best seat on the train – the front row with all the windows in front of us.   We had asked several months ago for those seats and they gave them to us.

We sat with a couple from Houston, TX and enjoyed breakfast of reindeer sausage, eggs and biscuits. 

The 4-hour trip went fast and the hotel shuttle was at the station to meet us; however, we could only give them our luggage as we had a boat trip to take for the next 4 hours from 12:30pm – 4:30pm. 

WOW!! What a great 4 hours.  The Captain told us that the odds of seeing a whale was very, very slim and guess what – WE SAW A WHALE!!  We also saw, Puffins, Sea Lions, Seals and Bald Eagles. 

After an exciting trip, we took the shuttle to the hotel to check in.  The Hotel is the Hotel Seward and it has been in existence since 1905 and has only had 4 owners.  They gave us a great room as you can see by the picture.

We went to a local restaurant for dinner and had a fresh caught Halibut dinner.

Back to hotel to take the COVID test and we both tested negative – YEA!!

After another long day, it was to bed for a fun day tomorrow in Seward.

Night from Alaska again.

This is when we saw the Whale - wait till you see the end!

Just sunning themselves on the rocks

                                                            The view from out train

                                                                         A small "town"

                                                        A very small glacier

                                                                  Fun in the sun!!

                                                            Our room at the hotel

                                                      The Hotel Seward at twilight

 

Day 8, Tuesday, July 26

We woke up late to a beautiful day with the skies clear.  The temperature is going to be from 56 to 66 and it is very crisp as there is no humidity.

We went first to the mall to exchange an iPhone power pack and then it was on to a place called Ships Creek to see the Salmon running.  We had been told that low tide was at 1:39pm so it was a perfect time to see the Salmon.  It was amazing to see all the Salmon trying to get upstream. 

Along the way to Ships Creek, we did stop at a store and Barb bought a new coat and Ed bought a hat and gloves.

Lunch was again at a bar that Rick Snow recommended and it was very good.  We ordered Salmon spread and also Alaskan Crab nuggets and there was enough food for 4 people.

After that we had lunch, we walked to the Anchorage Museum where we spend almost 3 hours looking at all the displays in the Museum.  

The early history of the Alaskan people was really interesting.   They were living quite peacefully and each of the islands in the Aleutian change had their own language and customs.  Then the Russians came in the 1800’s and diseases decimated the population.  

Following that, the US government moved a lot out because of concerns during WW II.  In some villages they went from 10,000 to only a handful of people left!!

We got back to the hotel at 6:00pm, had some snacks in the Concierge Lounge and then went to dinner at 8:00pm.

Dinner was at a highly recommended restaurant called Simon & Seaforts Saloon & Grill and the earliest we could get in was at 8:00pm, which was fine as we ate a late lunch.  The restaurant has been in operation for the last 43 years.  

We ordered a pan seared King Salmon and it was the best meal that we have had on the trip todate!!

Tomorrow, we have to be us at 5:45am so that we can take the 6:45am train to Seward, a 4-hour trip.

Seward will be our last place we visit before boarding the ship on Friday.

Night from Anchorage

                                                  Watching Salmon running on Ships Creek

                                                               Lunch at Humpys

                                                         Salmon Spread and King Crab Nuggets

                                                                        Yes, we enjoyed lunch!!

                                              One of many displays - the white parka was made

                                                             from the guts of seals

                                              Going out for dinner - Barb with her new coat

                                                                Pan-seared King Salmon

                                                                    The cooking line at the restaurant

                                                                   Another view

Day 7, Monday, July 25

 We are in Anchorage for a full day of sightseeing and a surprise for Barb.

Ed first went up to the Lounge for his free breakfast and the quantity and quality of the food was very good for a US Marriott.

After breakfast we left to go the Visitors Center and took the Anchorage Trolly at 10:00am.

The trolly took us on a 1-hour sightseeing ride around the city and it was fun.

One of the major facts about Anchorage was the earthquake that occurred on March 27, 1964 which was the largest in US history (magnitude 9.2 on the Richter scale) and the second largest ever recorded in the world. Only 115 people died because it was a holiday.

The main road downtown in Anchorage was split right down the middle with one side dropping 14 feet!

The driver showed us an area out by the airport that and entire section of houses were destroyed when the earth also dropped there by 14 feet!!

The other amazing site was the airport for private planes.  There were hundreds of them and there were several lakes actually at the airport where the small float planes were docked and could take off and land from.   

After the tour, we went around the corner to have an early lunch at the F Street Station because Rick Snow had recommended it and it was very good.

Then it was time to go to the Anchorage Center for the Performing Arts where we received a private tour by the Stage Manager (who had been there 30 years) of an amazing facility.  They have multiple auditoriums for different sizes of performances.  Back stage we walked down an isle that had posters and signatures of all the performers and staff that had appeared there, including Jan Leno who was the initial performer.

Then Ed stalled until it was 3:00pm and went to Sullivans Steakhouse to meet Lil and Bob Crow who we had met in Puerto Rico a number of years ago way out in the countryside when we were driving about the island.  Barb was really surprised.  There are now living 2 hours north of Anchorage and living on several hundred acres off the grid.  They had amazing stories and we had a fun couple of hours talking about their life in Alaska.

We then went back to the Performing Arts Center to see a movie about the Aurora Borealis and it was very interesting.

Finally, after 13,000 steps we made it back to the hotel and our busy day was finished.

Tomorrow we are still in Anchorage and have some wonderful things to do.

Stay tuned for tomorrow.

Night - Night

                                                            One of the runways at the airport

                                                Flowers are amazing here - everything is 

                                                bigger than back home.  These are 3' tall!!

                                                            Lunch at the F Street Station

                                          The main stage at the Center for the Performing Arts

                                                            Backstage walkway

                                                               Lil and Robert Crow

                                                                   Ahi Tuna for dinner

                                             It's 10:00pm and sunset is at 11:00pm but it be

                                                light out all night!!   This is too weird

                                                It's after 11pm and the sun has set!!

Day 6, Sunday, July 24

 

We slept in as there was nothing we wanted to do except get on the train. We left the hotel at 11:00am because that was the latest the hotel shuttle was available to go to the train station.The train was right on time so we took off at 12:30pm for 8 hour trip to Anchorage.

Soon after we left they called us to breakfast which was very good. We enjoy our lunch sitting with a couple from California.

Then it was just a long train ride for 6 hours when we stopped at the town of Talkeena to left a large group off.

For dinner we were joined by a couple from West Virginia and had a very good meal with a nice couple.
Then we passed be the little town that Rick Snow lives in.


As it is close to Anchorage there were regular houses and stores. Rick lives out of town in a house he built with his own airplane hanger!

We were delayed getting into Anchorage due to the tracks being overheated and the train had to slow down. Then as we were already late, we had to pull of on a siding to let a large freight train pass.


We finally made it into Anchorage about 2 hours late and then we took a Uber to the Downtown Marriott.

We are going to have a fun couple of days in Anchorage.


Night - night

Our Train to Anchorage for the next 10 hours
 

The view from the train as we were on our way

Going over a very long bridge

                                                                Great seat location

More mountains - these are smaller ones then in Denali

Our huge room at the Downtown Marriott until Wednesday

Day 5, Saturday, July 24

This day had been secretly planned for a very long time as a special occasion for Barb.

At 9:30am we left the room and went to the little local airstrip.  It is not an airport as there are no buildings there and it is just a one short landing strip next to the train station.

There we were first fortunate to see a mother Moose and her two babies come out of the bushes between the airstrip and the train tracks and walk right towards us.  It was amazing to see something that close just walking around.

Then Barb went into the train terminal and Ed waited for an old friend of Barbs family who used to live just north of us to arrive in his plane.

At 10:00am Rick landed and walked over to the train station while Barb was still inside.  Ed went in and told her there was another Moose and she came out and was totally, totally surprised to see Rick standing there.  It was an amazing moment.

After catching up for a few minutes, Rick, in his two-seater Piper Cub took Barb up for her first small plane ride for an hour or so and Barb loved the ride and the experience of seeing Denali Park and the Mountain from the air.  The Rick took Ed up and both of us had amazing flights around Denali.

When the flights were done, we took a cab into town, had a late lunch and spend a lot of time talking about the time when Rick and his family were in Merna.  They lived just north of us and Barb has known them since they were little kids.  Rick is now 71!!

We then took Rick back to the airstrip and he flew home, which was abut 2 hours away.  We make plans to hopefully meet Rick and his daughter Allison in Anchorage Monday or Tuesday for dinner.

We walked across the road from the train station to a bus stop within Denali Park where we bought tickets for a 4 ½ hour round trip into the park as far as the road will let you.

We boarded the bus at 4:30pm and since it was one of the last busses for the evening, there were only 2 other people on this big bus with us.  So, it was almost like hiring your own personal tour guide. 

During the trip, we saw some Mountain Goats, Cariboo and a couple of Wolverines so it was eventful.

The view however was the real attraction, including Denali which is the highest mountain in North America.  We were told that there have only been 5% of the people visiting the park have seen the entire Denali Mountain without any clouds and we were so trilled to see the mountain several times in all its beauty!

We arrived back at the hotel at 9:30pm, packed for tomorrow’s trip to Anchorage on the train and finally went to sleep.

Night from Denali and tomorrow is Anchorage.

                                                        Barb meeting Rick Snow in Denali

Momma and her babies

Barb and Rick - ready to take off

Rick Snow flying Ed in Denali

Rick Snow flying Ed low in Denali

 

The three of us - what a great day!!
 

                                    Denali Mountain - actually Mt. McKinley from 60 miles away

Day 4, Friday, July 23

Train Time!!

We were at the hotel shuttle at 6:45am for the trip to the train station.

Our train trip for the 3 train trips is the Alaskan Railroad and on their Gold Star Service.  This means we will be one of only 2 cars on the train that will have seating in the dome as well as in each of the 2 cars, its own dining room and kitchen on the lower.  In addition, each of the 2 cars has its own bar and bartender.  We get unlimited soda, water and 2 drinks per person on the trip.

We left the station at 8:ooam, right on time and spent the next 4 ½ hours on the train.

Immediately after the train left the station, they asked us to go down for breakfast.  We each had a biscuit, scrambled eggs, potatoes and rain deer sausage and it was pretty good.      

For the first 3 hours it was just a lot of pretty scenery; however, Barb did see a Bear and a Moose while Ed saw a Mountain Goat high up one of the big hills.

The last hour+ the train followed a stream and we were able to get some great pictures to share with all.

We arrived in Damali at Noon and were picked up by our hotels shuttle and taken to our cabin in a place called The Crows Next.   The cabins go up the mountain in 4 levels and we originally had a king cabin on the 4^th level which would have been impossible for us to climb the steep drive so they moved us to the lobby level and into the only room available, a twin but the room is a perfect little cabin.

We took the hotel shuttle to the Denali Visitor’ Center and then a park bus to the dog sled area for a chance to see their dogs and listen to a speaker on how they train the dogs.  At the end of the presentation, they brought down 5 brand new puppies that were just starting their training and attempted to get them to run back to their kennel area – it was hilarious!!

When we came to the dog’s area, it started to rain and it continued to rain gently for the next hour.  We were able to be under a shelter as we watched the dog demonstration.

Then we watched two short movies about the park and its 6 million acres as well as a movie about the dogs.  It is amazing how they train the dogs and because of environmental impacts, most of the part is only accessible by dog sled.  We spent some time with a Ranger and they take the dogs our in 3 person teams for 3 to 4 weeks at a time when the temperatures are 20 to 40 below zero!!  Fortunately, they have cabins that they stay in each night.  The cabins are stocked by dog sleds also.  The longest they go is to the far reaches, which is 90 miles from their home in the park – all by dog sled.

Then it was back to the hotel and we ate our best meal of the trips at the hotel’s restaurant called The Outlook. 

For a lot of these days, we will post videos at the end of the entire trip on one blog page.

Tomorrow is going to be a fun day as no rain is predicted.

You will not believe what we are going to do.

Stay tuned – night from the side of a big hill in Denali

Breakfast on the train

Our car

Just great views

 

One of the Sled Dogs on his house

They live in these year around, even at 40 below!!

At least it keeps the rain out!

5 pupies in training - there will be a video at the end of the entire blog

Our cabin

 

Finishing a wonderful dinner with a Baked Alaskan