Alaskan Adventure

August 5, 2015 2 Comments

Marc and I wanted to explore a completely new and different place on our vacation this summer to celebrate our anniversary. We also wanted to still have some of our beloved Disney magic! Well, we got our cake and ate it too when we set sail on the Disney Wonder for an Alaskan Adventure. It was unlike anything we had ever experienced and so awe inspiring. After a day and a half at sea our first stop was a trip through the fiords of Tracey Arm. The glaciers were spectacular!

Tracy Arm was just incredible. We were bundled against the icy winds off of the glaciers but the crew kept everyone comfortable on deck with blankets, soup and hot cocoa.
Tracy Arm was just incredible. We were bundled against the icy winds off of the glaciers but the crew kept everyone comfortable on deck with blankets, soup and hot cocoa.

The following day we arrived in Skagway, where our Alaskan adventure went equestrian. We took a trail ride on some gorgeous horses through some even more gorgeous terrain. My horse loved the terrain so much that he took me for a bit of a spirited joy ride. He broke into a run to get to some grass he had to have. My fault for being a little too lax on the reins. The last time I had been on a horse was 15 years ago when I used to take lessons!

After 3 hours in the saddle, Marc and I were ready for some quality time at the spa on the ship! I said hello to many leg muscles I never knew I had, ha.
The beauty had me in awe. After 3 hours in the saddle and a walk around the town area near the ship, Marc and I were ready for some quality time at the spa on board! I said hello to many leg muscles I never knew I had, ha.

The next day we got to Juneau and it was time to have fun with sled dogs. We arrived at the sled dog camp there and they were ready to take us for a ride on a dry sled (basically a 6 person cart on wheels). As soon as the bus pulled up they started howling and getting antsy because they wanted to get going already. All of the dogs compete in the Iditarod in the winter so these runs are part of their summer training. They live to run!

We had this amazing team of 16 dogs pulling 4 adults, 2 kids and the musher in the cart. It was amazing how fast they made us go! What a rush. It was fascinating watching the musher communicate with his team and the dogs communicating with each other.
We had this amazing team of 16 dogs pulling 4 adults, 2 kids and the musher in the cart. It was amazing how fast they made us go! What a rush. It was fascinating watching the musher communicate with his team and the dogs communicating with each other.

After the sled run we got to one of my favorite parts of the whole trip…meeting the 9 week old sled dog PUPPIES!!

If I was able to physically melt from cuteness, I would have been an instant puddle.
If I was able to physically melt from cuteness, I would have been an instant puddle.

In Ketchikan the next day we took a trek through the temperate rain forest. It was huge and lush and extraordinary.

This rainforest is the second largest in the world, next to the Amazon!
This rainforest is the second largest in the world, next to the Amazon!

There were lots of bald eagles flying around and then we saw them. The salmon were running in force down in the creek, and the black bears were gone fishing.

I wanted to cry I was so happy about seeing a bear in its natural habitat. It got nerve wracking for a bit though. This is the mama bear of the mama and cub team I showed above. She spotted us and we had to quietly get out of there before she thought of us as a threat!
I wanted to cry I was so happy about seeing a bear in its natural habitat. It got nerve wracking for a second though. This is the mama bear of the mama and cub team I showed above. She spotted us and we had to quietly and quickly get out of there before she thought of us as a threat! Never mess with mama bear.
Ketchikan is also known as the salmon capital of the world. This is a wild salmon fishery near the rain forest. Salmon eggs were brought here to hatch and then they were set free. They now come back to that spot every year to spawn!
Ketchikan is also known as the salmon capital of the world. This is a wild salmon fishery near the rain forest. Salmon eggs were brought here to hatch and then they were set free. They now come back to that spot every year to spawn!

It was a good thing we did a lot of walking, hiking and horseback riding while we were on this Alaskan adventure. There was food, food, and then more food on the ship. Any time of day there were scrumptious delights available. Dinner was always a four course affair. After dinner we would try to walk it off on deck.

On our walks we would get to see spectacular sunsets like this from the deck.
On our walks we would get to see spectacular sunsets like this from the deck.

It was definitely an incredible Alaskan adventure that still had all of the Disney magic we could want. We both had our phones off the entire time and could just focus on the beauty, on celebrating our anniversary and just being with each other with no distractions. Can we go back yet?? Ha! xoxo

Even on an Alaskan adventure, Marc and I are reduced to being children when it comes to seeing Mickey Mouse!
Even on an Alaskan adventure, Marc and I are reduced to being children when it comes to seeing Mickey Mouse!

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