Up early to board the White Pass-Yukon Route Railroad from Skagway, Alaska to Whitehorse, Yukon Territory in Canada.

The trip is approximately 2 hours with breathtaking views. As we move along we climb to White Pass Summit (2,888 ft) past continental divide.

After crossing into Canada and going through customs, we disembark train for our waiting bus to head to Whitehorse. Before arriving at Whitehorse, we stop at several scenic overviews. Scenery gets better and better.

After checking into hotel, Skip and I took a walk around town. Whitehorse is the capital of the Yukon Territory. Temperatures were warm. Shorts were the order of the day and into evening. As the Klondike Gold Rush brought many to make their fortunes in gold, copper was discovered in the hills of Whitehorse and the first copper claims were staked in 1899.Today McDonalds and Subway are part of the city. 
  We had dinner at the Klondike Rib and Salmon. Terry and Chuck from our group joined us. I had the appetizer called "Sticky Balls" - consisting of elk, bison and wild boar.

Very good!! Skip and I both had the elk stroganoff ! Another great meal!!
  Afterwards the four of us took a walk down by the Yukon River.

  Since this was just an overnight stay, early to bed and early to rise!! I am still having trouble adjusting to not only the time change but to the "midnight sun". In summer, it does not get dark here!

During the night, our ship pulled into the Town of Skagway.  Skagway is a popular port of call for the cruise ship lines. After leaving our luggage outside our stateroom door, we headed to breakfast. Afterwards, we met our Tour Journey Host, Leah Lipka, for the land portion of our excursion (Leah calls it the adventure part of our journey).  Our bus  driver took us for a tour of Skagway which was  a small hamlet until 1896, when gold was discovered and the Klondile gold rush changed everything increasing the population. After dropping Skip and I at the Westmark Hotel, we were taken to get our helicopter tour to the glacier.

  After being outfitted with boots and vests, we are then taken to the helicopters. This is one of the few times in your life, you have to give your weight, so they can balance out the helicopter. After getting in and putting on the earphones, off we go!!!  Our pilot heads out over the waterfront, viewing the high peaks over the Chilkat Glacier, and cascading waterfalls before landing one of the glaciers. Guides are there to help up walk around and view the cravasses, discuss the damage due to climate change, and enjoy a piece of glacier ice while taking in the views!
  On the return flight, we fly into a valley before following the coastline back to heliport. This is totally breathtaking beauty!  

  After we got back into Skagway, we headed to Bonanza Grill for late lunch. Fun place - part of the walls are covered in dollar bills. Both had hamburgers - and they were delicious!!!

Walked around town and did some shopping.
  When we went out for dinner around 7:00 p.m. most of the shops had closed down. Went to the Red Onion.  Our waitress informed us they were out of all greens (would have shipped some up from my garden), so pizza sounded good to us!!! It was around 9:00 p.m. and looked like daylight - also temps were in the 70's.
   After a good night's sleep and breakfast at the hotel, we were heading off to go dog sledding - We were picked up and taken to Skagway Sled Dog and Musher camp. Our van takes up to base camp in Dyea. On arrival we climb into a Unimog up to the top of the mountain (approx 800 ft per guide).

At top we disembark and head to various sleds. Our driver Marybeth, guides us through beautiful terrain. She talks about the dogs and their training.

After petting her dogs, we are back on Unimog and heading back down the mountain to base camp where we listen to a seminar on the 1,100 mile Iditarod Race,

and then get to handle the future stars of the camp - puppies!

Absolutely adorable. We were all trying to figure how to sneak one home!!!! Awesome experience!!!
 
  

Up early, get shuttle to cruise line and board Holland America - Nieuw Amsterdam; able to board early due to another cruise line also boarding.

Easy for us. After a lunch (Lido Market - buffet style), we found our room, and headed out to explore. Think there were 11 to 12 levels on this liner. Three additional dining rooms. Lots of passengers from the U.S., and all over the world.   Outside of the main food level (indoor pool also on this level), we spent most of our time in the aft of the ship - smoking allowed - drinks, smoking and great conversations (of which politics always pops up).  Lots of fun, fun, fun!!!!!

   Holland America pulled out of Vancouver later afternoon and started heading for the inner passage to Alaska.

  So rest of Saturday, and all day Sunday - enjoying the views while heading north.

  Sunday night at 7:00 p.m., our captain announced we arrived in Alaska.
  After lunch with delightful couple from New Zealand, we left ship to enjoy the sights of Juneau, capital of Alaska.

First you have to realize, the only way to get to Juneau is by cruise ship, state run ferry or small jets. There are no roads leading to Juneau!  Everything is shipped in - so you can imagine the prices.
  After walking around the city (lots of jewelry shops, gift shops, etc),

headed back to ship to unload purchases and wait for ride to Salmon Bake which we had previously signed up. Van picked us up and took us. Had started to rain when we arrived, but eating was under canopies. Lots of visitors from all the cruise ships. Salmon was excellent!  Met a couple from Jacksonville, FL (originally from Long Island).

  After dinner, we took a walk up the trail to a waterfall. Gentleman showed Skip salmon swimming. He told Skip this were "dog Salmon" not for eating, good for chum for fishing.

After dinner, bus picked us up and took us back to cruise ship. Packed our bags - tomorrow we meet our tour guide and leave ship to start the land portion of our trip! Pic of Juneau at night!  More to follow!!

OUrALASKA - 49th state in the U.S. - commonly referred to as The Last Frontier and also the Land of the Midnight Sun (can attest to that!!!!). Since our 50th anniversary is in December (and really didn't want to go to Alaska in December), decided July was great time to go! Since over the past few years,we spend more time traveling in our motor home, and getting somewhat lazier, I called our travel agent to book it all - sea and land destinations. Instead of flying into Seattle, where many get on cruise ships, we decided to embark in Vancouver. We have never been to Vancouver, so thought this would be a good time for a couple of days exploration before embarking on Holland-America Cruise line.
   So after arranging for care of Thumper (he was not coming this trip) with our family and a friend of a friend's son, early July 11th we were picked up by our driver to take us to LaGuardia Airport

for our flight to Toronto, and then on to Vancouver on West Jet. Flights were good. Arrived in Vancouver, early afternoon.  We were booked into the Hampton Suites downtown (right near soccer stadium).  Since we were hungry, headed to nearest restaurant to hotel - Hobarts for lunch. Nice place and crowded. Lucky to get a seat - with world cup soccer playing every bar and restaurant with a TV was packed. After lunch, we walked around area for awhile.

  Dinner was at Original Joe's - up the street. Sport's bar restaurant - food was very good and our waitress was fun. Up early to start exploring Vancouver. Temps in the high 80's. It was hot! You can buy a transit pass that lets you "Hop On and Hop Off)

certain buses and trolley cars. Easy way to get around town.
  Our first stop was Chinatown.  The Chinese Garden - was our moment of Zen!!!!

After browsing a couple of shops, we hopped on a bus and got off in Gastown area. More shops and restaurants. Also a lot of filming was being done in this area. Cameras, lights, wires all over the ground, and baskets of flower baskets being placed all around the area.

Lots of filming for TV and movies, goes on in Vancouver.
  We had stopped at local restaurant called Neighbor. This is organic, healthy food!  Lots of salads, etc. Unfortunately, with the bout of diaverticulitis that I was getting over - healthy eating was a no-no, so we ended up the Old Spaghetti Factory for lunch - pasta and bread worked for me. Skip was happy with the pasta with white clam sauce.
  Back on our Hop On-Hop Off bus, and next stop was the Harbor Area.

This is where cruise ships come in, where some of the upscale hotels and shops are located. Also where you can get ferries to go across to North Vancouver, Vancouver Island, etc. Also where you can get a seaplane to take a ride,

or to take you to a destination. Great area.

   Dinner was back at Original Joe's and the Italian Gelato shop for dessert. Busy day!!
   Friday - up early and headed to Harbor area again to take the SeaBus over to North Vancouver. You had to get tickets at the kiosk. Had trouble figuring it out, (Ship inadvertently gave an $11,000.00 tip for ride - which he immediately cancelled!!). Thank God for a few guys from Ohio who helped  figure out the kiosk. Waiting for the ferry, is like waiting for the subway in New York.
Ride over was about 15 minutes.

  North Vancouver has a market area and shops. Had lunch at the Crepe Bakery. Also some high hills to climb if you wish to leave the harbor area. On the way back to hotel, went through a residential area where the locals have their own garden growing on a corner plot.

  The bus driver was very nice and made a slight deter dropping us off in front of our hotel. We immediately stopped at coffee shop on premises.

Really great coffee and also prosecco cooler!  Fun day.  Tomorrow we head to harbor to board cruise ship and start heading to Alaska!!!!
 

Our biggest dilemma is which restaurant to eat at! Food and it is good is everywhere.

 We love Crazy Bout Crawfish;

Prejeans

in Carancro,
Pat's on the Levee in Henderson  (gator and catfish)         

; Chez Jacqueline's

in Breaux Bridge, Pont Breaux in Breaux Bridge

and Crawfish Town

 Crawish and catfish rule in this area!!!Breaux Bridge is known as the Crawfish Capital!!These are only the few restaurants in the area - their are plenty more!