Kenai Fjords NP
July 20, 2021
We checked out of our hotel at 5:30am because we needed to be at the train station an hour before our 6:45am departure. The scenery of course was incredible, and what better way to enjoy it than with a special hot chocolate topped with piped whipped cream, peanut M&Ms, and a Kit-Kat bar.
The landscape is very different but equally beautiful going south from Anchorage as it is going north towards Seward. On our way we went through tunnels and saw glaciers and floating ice from a glacier, eagles, fresh water as well as glacial water, and so much more.
We checked out of our hotel at 5:30am because we needed to be at the train station an hour before our 6:45am departure. The scenery of course was incredible, and what better way to enjoy it than with a special hot chocolate topped with piped whipped cream, peanut M&Ms, and a Kit-Kat bar.
The landscape is very different but equally beautiful going south from Anchorage as it is going north towards Seward. On our way we went through tunnels and saw glaciers and floating ice from a glacier, eagles, fresh water as well as glacial water, and so much more.
After the train ride to Seward we caught the Kenai Fjords National Park Cruise from Major Marine Tours. Their description of the tour: “Enjoy a 6 hour fully-narrated trip on a smooth-sailing Catamaran cruise in the Kenai Fjords National Park as well as the Chiswell Islands, which is part of the National Wildlife Refuge. A uniformed National Park Ranger will point out and discuss the abundant wildlife and the massive Holgate Glacier and all its surroundings. You will be astounded by the sound of the massive walls of ice collapsing into the ocean. This tour provides the greatest opportunity for wildlife and glacier viewing. It is approximately 110 miles roundtrip.”
Highlights included:
- Resurrection Bay
- Bear Glacier
- Kenai Fjords National Park
- Gulf of Alaska
- Aialik Bay
- Holgate Glacier (tidewater glacier)
- Chiswell Islands / AK Maritime Nat'l Wildlife Refuge
- Bird Rookeries
- Steller Sea Lion Haul Outs
During the trip we saw:
- Dall’s porpoises (playing in the wake of our boat)
- A circus of puffins
- Orcas
- Sea otters
- Humpback whale
- Sea Lions
- Fin whales
- Small humpback whale and two stellar sea lions along the shore line (trying to scrape off barnacles?) which the captain said he’d never seen before.
After the catamaran ride we returned to Seward for the night. Dinner was at the Breeze Inn (and Sports Bar) where the 7th game of the NBA finals was showing. We enjoyed the local atmosphere and the game along with our dinner. And, we ran into the couple from Lancaster, CA that we shared the shuttle ride with in Talkeetna! We topped the night off with ice cream at the cute Harbor Street Creamery and then spent the night at the brand new Seward Gateway Hotel.
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