Cruising through the Last Frontier.

Alaska was the last state added to the United States and is vast in area but dense in population. It is full of beautiful scenery and wildlife. This summer I had the pleasure to hop aboard a cruise ship and explore this amazing state. I will be sharing the things I did on and off the boat including tips and tricks.

Glacier Bay National Park

After spending three nights in Port Angeles, Washington and Olympic National Park, I hopped onto the Holland America ship called the Eurodam. Holland America has a hard working and very friendly staff which made the getaway way more enjoyable.

Day 1: The first day was spent on the boat so check out my blog about cruising tips and what to pack.

Day 2, Juneau, Alaska: As the capital, Juneau was the largest Alaskan city we visited. Having in mind that we were in Alaska, my southern family and I bundled up in layers prepared for the cold weather without even thinking we were in southern Alaska and it was the summer time. So here I am looking like Randy from A Christmas Story just to shortly realize that my local taxi driver is wearing short sleeves. Morale of the story is check the weather, never assume.

Menenhal Glacier: Warning: tourist trap. It was about a 10 minute taxi ride to the Glacier and round trip ended up costing a family of six over $100. This famous attraction was not worth my time and my dad's money since we later cruised through Glacier Bay where we got a much closer and cooler look at a giant glacier. Menenhal Glacier Park is a hike to a small peninsula with distant views of the glacier and Nugget Falls.

View from Tramway

Mount Roberts Tramway: This tram ride ascends up the side of a mountain with breathtaking views of the city. At the top, the are many hiking trails and gift shops. There is though a very long line for the ride back down so do not do this right before your boat is about to leave or else you will be stranded. I enjoyed this tram ride and it was favorite thing I did in Juneau but do not suggest if you are afraid of heights.

Exploring the City: After the Glacier we walked around the city visiting the Russian Orthodox Church and Wickersham State Historical Site. These two buildings are cool to see if you have the time but I could take it or leave it. Keep in mind they are a long walk uphill.

Shopping: Juneau is a great city to get your souvenir shopping done, for the whole main stretch of the city is all stores. If you have the patience, the jewelry stores give out free charms and necklaces, but they will try to convince you to buy rings and jewels bigger and shinnier than my forehead (if that's possible). Fellas, don't do what my dad did and say yes to a free charm then make your wife go in and get it so she has to listen to the greasy haired salesmen. She will not be happy.

Eating: We ate at a place called Pier 49. It is located outside right on the water, has a great atmosphere including corn hole, and delicious sea food that comes out fast. I highly suggest.

If you are looking for more of a sit down, try the Red Dog Saloon. I do not know about the food, but it has a great atmosphere with live music and old western swinging doors out front.

Day 3, Sitka Alaska: If you like history than this city is for you. It used to be the capital of Alaska and it has a rich Russian history.

Fortress of the Bear: We took a taxi out to Fortress of the Bear which is a bear rescue center. It is not like a huge zoo, and they work to save bears and make their environment as much like the wild as possible. There are a total number of 5 bears and countless numbers of bald eagles sitting in the trees. Sitka National Historical Park: We had the driver drop us back off here so we could see some totem poles. There is a hike through totem pole replicas and real ones are located inside.

Russian Cemetery

Russian Cemetery: This is located uphill right outside the main downtown area. It is hard to find and took my family and I a lot of lurking through a neighborhood to finally find it. Try asking a local how to get there before beginning the trek. When you do get there it is totally worth it . It has a very eerie vibe with overgrown plants and broken grave stones.

Walking Around: Sitka also has a lot of shopping so if you don't find anything in Juneau, have no fear. There also some cool buildings to see in this city. Located in the middle of the city square is the St. Michael's Cathedral. It is small and admission is about $5. It's pretty and cool to see and the money goes towards the church's upkeep. Another cool building is the Russian Bishop's house. It is located right outside downtown and it is now a small museum. These two buildings are interesting to go inside if you have the time but it is not a must do.

Eating: We didn't sit down and eat in Sitka, but they did have a few food trucks parked on the street and we ate at one called Ashmo's. It was very good.

Day 4, Glacier Bay National Park: When cruising through Glacier Bay, you never leave the boat. Glacier Bay is beautiful with bright blue water, snowcapped mountains, and of course glaciers (see picture at top). This is where the ship's decks will get crowded so be sure to claim your territory early. Bring a jacket because the wind here is harsh. Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife. There is usually a nature guide that boards the boat so you could ask them about good spots to look out for animals. If they do spot an animal, the boat usually announces it on an intercom, but be warned, the boat is full of hard core tourists who will run you over without thought to get a good picture. And no you are not at all safe even if they are elderly. This park is where having a balcony comes in handy because you can sit and enjoy the gorgeous scenery without the crowds and evil tourists.

Day 5, Ketchikan, Alaska: Ketchikan's downtown is probably the smallest out of the other ports so this is where my family decided to do our excursions.

Excursions are adventures or tours you can do that cost extra. Be sure when booking an excursion, do it through your cruise line. My excursion was late getting back to the boat, but since we booked through the cruise line, the boat waited on us to get back. You can book an excursion at any of the ports, so be sure you choose one in a port you have a lot of time in. The excursion I choose was the Treetop Zip-line Adventure. This was so much fun so if you are a thrill seeker, I highly suggest this one. It is high up so those who are afraid of heights might want to sit it out, but if you want to face your fears, there is no better place. The forest is very peaceful and the views are amazing. It feels very safe and sturdy and the guides are a lot of fun and put you at ease if you are a little scared.

Walking Around the City: If you choose to stay in the city and walk around, Ketchikan is very cute and colorful. It is small so there is not much to see except, you guessed it, more shopping. There was also a Lumberjack show if you're into that. I don't exactly now what goes on in there but, it looked like a bunch of twenty-year old guys cutting wood. One thing I wish I got the chance to do was walk down Creek Street. Dating back to the early 1900's, this historic street is actually completely on a boardwalk hovering the water.

Day 6, Victoria, Canada: Victoria Canada is beautiful and everything is picture perfect. We didn't have a lot of time in this city so I don't have a lot to offer as far as tips. It is probably the biggest city out of the ports so there are a lot of cool places to walk around.

Fisherman's Wharf: It is kind of a long walk here, but the walk is right on the water so it is enjoyable. It is very colorful and a good place to grab a quick bite to eat. It is not big so it will not take up a lot of your time.

Water Taxi: We took a water taxi from Fisherman's Wharf to China Town. This was a fun mode of transportation and was quicker than walking.

Walking around: We spent the rest of the time walking around the city starting with China Town then making our way through the historic district and back out to the beautiful buildings of the Empress Hotel and Parliament. We then got the best ice cream I've ever had at a place called Chocolats Favors the delicious ice cream is covered in a chocolate shell. Keep is mind that this line does get long.

Parliament building