Life is a patchwork of experiences
My drive from Salt Lake City to Grand Teton National Park through Utah and Wyoming was quite scenic. Not far from the town of Jacson in Wyoming, I passed this scene and had to stop and take a photo. It seemed so quintessential for the area.
Thanks for visiting.
Rose
Alaska is a popular travel destination, and there is no easier way to see southeast Alaska than on a cruise ship. Use my Alaska cruise excursion tips for Alaska’s most popular cruise ship ports to help you plan your best bucket list Alaska trip.
I love cruising and have sailed all over the globe. But, I think that if you ever only take one cruise in your whole life, it should be to Alaska. This is a huge state with some of the least accessible national parks in the US, including the very popular Glacier Bay National Park which can only be visited by boat. The various ports of call and the many cruise excursion options offered on an Alaskan cruise provide opportunities to easily see more of this incredibly scenic state.
Continue reading “My Many Alaska Cruise Excursion Experiences”
One of my Alaska cruise excursions in Sitka took us to The Fortress of the Bear, a non for profit sanctuary that saves orphaned bears. When a bear mother dies, her orphaned cubs cannot survive without her and would have to be euthanized by state game officials. The Fortress of the Bear organization has converted old, unused water clarifier tanks from a defunct paper mill into large habitats for orphaned Alaskan brown bears and black bears. The sanctuary serves as both a rescue and rehabilitation center and as an educational facility. It’s probably the closest you will ever be able to get to a bear and see them behave as they would in a the wild.
Thanks for visiting.
Rose
I had the chance to visit the Alaska Raptor Center in Sitka, Alaska on a cruise excursion tour. The center’s mission is to heal, rehabilitate and then release the bald eagles and other raptors that come to the facility. Those birds that are too injured to survive in the wild remain at the center and become part of their educational program.
Thanks for visiting.
Rose
A cruise with one of the major cruise lines is certainly the easiest and most economical way to see Glacier Bay National Park in southeast Alaska. But when looking at the glaciers from the top of a huge ship it can be difficult to get a sense of size without something else nearby for perspective. In this case, a kayaker and his very well behaved dog provide the much needed scale to be able to get the true sense for how tall the Margerie Glacier really is.
Thanks for visiting.
Rose
Experience athletics and tradition at the World Eskimo-Indian Olympics, one of the most unique summer events in Fairbanks, Alaska.
This post was recognized by the North America Travel Journalists Association (NATJA) in the 2019 awards competition with a Bronze award in the Sports, Recreation and Adventure – Online Publication category.
Her eyes are closed as she takes in a few deep calming breaths. Like every athlete since the ancient Greeks, she is focused on getting into the zone at this Olympic event. With tool in hand, she is ready as soon as the whistle blows. Her white t-shirt and long sundress are somewhat unusual for an Olympic competition, but it doesn’t seem to get in the way. In 27 seconds, Kelly Lincoln is done while the rest of the field still struggles valiantly with their task. Proudly, she holds her completed salmon fillets up high for the judges and the audience to see. She has just won the the Fish Cutting event at the 2019 World Eskimo-Indian Olympics.
Continue reading “Athletics and Tradition Play Together at the World Eskimo-Indian Olympics”
This post was recognized by the North America Travel Journalists Association (NATJA) in the 2019 awards competition with a Silver award in the Sports, Recreation and Adventure – Online category
Leroy Shangin attempts to win in the finals of the Ear Pull event at the World Eskimo-Indian Olympics (WEIO) in Fairbanks, Alaska. As with all the games at WEIO, this event is rooted in traditional games that tested and prepared the indigenous people for survival in the cold and harsh climate of the region. The Ear Pull tests a contestant’s ability to withstand pain, especially in the extremities due to possible frostbite. The event is played with two opponents looping a length of sinew around their ears and pulling as hard as they can until one of them gives up. A match is best two out of three.
Thanks for visiting.
Rose
Many of the quilt designs that I make are inspired by my travel destinations. In this case, the quilt came first, but I really was not sure what to do with it. Then, when I had plans to go to Fairbanks, Alaska, for the midnight sun season, I knew this was the perfect quilt to take along. Continue reading ““Under the Midnight Sun” – Original Quilt Design”
Explore all the many Fairbanks activities on your next midnight sun adventure in Alaska.
You could say that Fairbanks, Alaska, is a location of extremes. Winters may be cold and dark, but it is exactly those conditions that lead to perfect northern lights viewing. Summers are just the opposite – they are not cold or dark – in fact, I think they are nearly perfect. With average temperatures in the low 70s and low humidity, it is my ideal climate. Good thing that there are two months of constant daylight because it gave me plenty of time to experience the long list of Fairbanks activities under the midnight sun.
During my stay in central Alaska this summer, I saw fireweed blooming everywhere. It is a colorful pink perennial which easily grows in sunny spots along the roads and the shores of lakes and rivers. It is one of the first species to come up after a fire, which is how it got its name. Supposedly it is also a harbinger of winter. I was told that the flower blooms from the bottom up and when the blooms at the top are done, winter will arrive in six weeks. I clearly caught it in mid bloom and mid summer.
Please note that my visit to Fairbanks was hosted by Explore Fairbanks. All content is my own.
Thanks for visiting.
Rose
