I always love to hear about everyone's trips. Alaska was our last trip without kids, boy have vacations changed
. We were kayaking and had 2 changes of clothes, I can't imagine a trip like that.
Lisa
Well for starters I was tagging along with my mom on her NAAN (Native American Alaskan N?) business conference. So that meant free hotel
My plane ticket was almost $1,000. I had never flown to the west coast before and my back was hurting so bad from the 10hr flight on Alaska Airlines. We (my mom and I) laid over for an hour in Seattle. Luckily I rented a digeplayer to wtach movies during the first leg of my flight. A digeplayer is a dvd like device which Alaska air rents for $10 that has pre-loaded movies, shows, music, music videos, destination facts-history-local things to do, on them.
Day 1 - We we finally arrived at Ted Stevens airport in Anchorage I took some pics of a stuffed bear and muskox. The muskox is HUGE!
Anyway we arrived at out hotel the Hilton. Gov't doesn't spare expense when putting up employees. We settled in and got a bite to eat. The weather was between 55-60 degrees most every day.
Day 2 - My mom when to her conference at 7am. I stayed in bed until 9:30, to catch up on sleep and the 4 hour time est difference. During the conference lunch break we went to a little deli around the corner and I had reindeer stew (like beef stew). It was just okay. The meat taste just like beef. I didn't enjoy the liquid of the stew though and I later was a little nauseated by it. I didn't eat dinner that day at all. I took this inside the Hilton.
Days 3-5 - My mom continued with her conference and during lunch breaks we'd go to the gifts shops, walk up to the mall, take a cab all the way to 1 of 2 Walmarts in AK for cold cream, cause I forgot to bring the big jar. Her conference president invite me to join in conference and participate in the awards ceremony and banquet. Below My mom and me.
Day 4 - Went to the Native American Alaskan Heritage Center for a guided tour of how early and current natives live. It was really nice and very informative. Our guides names was Rayne (sounds like rain). He could have been no more than 19 and was so adorable, funny, and articulate. Wished I'd gotten a pic of him. I learned that Russians had alot of influence in Alaskan culture. That would explain all of the Russian dolls I saw in the mall and gift shops. Russians would trade guns for furs. Today there are Russians that live up in Homer Alaska and have a very different way of living in respect to our way. Later for dinner a group of us went to the Sourdough Mining Co and the food was yum!
BBQ is their specialty along with corn fritters and I ordered spare ribs that were huge! I couldn't eat all my food and most went into the trash
Day 5 - My mom and I along with two others from the conference went on a whale watching tour. The bus picked us 4 up a 7:30 am along with others to take the 4 hr drive into Seward AK where the cruise would launch. Our driver was very knowledgeable of the land and towns. She kept us very entertained.....maybe too much. We were a sleepy group that morning and she wouldn't shutup. Anyway she pulled off road once to let us look at the Dahl sheep up on the mountain side. You could barley see them because they were so far up. All you could make out was 3 white specks on the dark colored mountain. We continued on and go into Seward and boared the cruise ship. The cabin was mostly an in-door vessel and was very warm. On this day the temp had dropped alot so you did need a heavy winter coat, scarf, gloves and hat
. Below is a pic of me on the ship.
Pit stop along the way to Seward at a resort
Included in the fee of the cruise was food and roundtrip ride from our hotel. We were given ceaser sald wraps, fruit cup, chips, soda, carrot paks, and fresh baked chocolate chip cookies. Well needless to say no more than 20 min after I ate I began to feel ill
and it was downhill from there. During my illness I did get a few pics and video. I saw a seal, some sea lions, more sheep and eagles. Astime pass during the 4 hour long cruise I just got sicker by the minute and went below where the ship wasn't so rocky. You see the ships captain was getting very dissappointed that we hadn't seeen a whale for about 3 hours now and he took us much farther out of the arm than he should have and the waters were rocking
Well you know what happened next, I hurled up everything. The entire crew took really great care of me. They were always checking om me, getting me ginger ale and saltines. I didn't even want that cookie at this point and couldn't wait to get back to the dock. BTW we did see whales finally, well not me but the others. All I saw way a tale going back in the water from where I sat. The driver stopped at the only major grocery chain the town of Seward had and my mom got off to get me more ginger ale and saltines to take back to the hotel. I had been on ship, boats many times before but never gotten sick. Some others were complaining about feeling sick too. As we drove back our driver informed us that out of no where it had snowed over a foot in Anchorage. As we drove back into town it was a total white out. The last tally I had was over 2 and half feet had come down and it wasn't even finished. I was so glad to be back at the hotel to pack and get some rest. I was scared I was gonna be snowed in. I wanted to leave AK so badly since I didn't really have the greatest time there.
Video
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Day 6 - So the next morning I was feeling slightly better and called the airlines to make sure my flight was still leaving and to my delight it was. Even though I felt bad I was still happy to be going home at last. See can't you tell
When people asked me about my trip I start off by reminding them of the phrase "When H*ll Freezes over" I tell them I've been there and it's called Alaska!
In conclusion Alaska is a beautiful state with great snow-capped mountains, friendly people, bears and moose galore, good salmon eats. It is a placed most enjoyed by those who like living off the land, canoeing, hiking, fishing, whale watching, bear hunting, moose hunting.......you get my point. But it ain't for me!
But I am glad to have seen it once in my lifetime. Well thanks for allowing me to share my trip with you all. This is my firt trip report and I'm getting practice for my Disney trip report.
so I am sure he will get along just fine with your daughter.
My kids are so excited to decorate our door. So count us in. I feel like it is Christmas in July when I start to think how quick it will be here
so I got my on ebay 
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I would save up for that one. I could see DCL making a stop at all the islands and retuning to California or maybe to the Big Island.
