topic Re: My trip to Alaska in Community Chat

My trip to Alaska

haddon9 — Sun, 31 May 2026 17:20:40 GMT

For those of you interested in my trip to Alaska....

I went for two weeks to Alaska with my brother since DH can no longer travel. Our son works from home and stayed with his dad. A travel agent who lives in my brother's over 55 community organized the trip.

There were 16 of us all together and we hung out a lot with several of our new friends. The group even sang happy birthday to me at our gate waiting for our connecting flight from Chicago to Philly at midnight on the way home!

While there were pros & cons we had a great time! It was mostly cold & it rained a lot. We went to three different hotels & lodges before getting on our ship, the Discovery Princess. It was a lot of packing & unpacking....exhausting for me! I turned 72 on the last day of the trip.

We went to Fairbanks first and stayed over. We went on a steamboat ride and saw a native American village along the way among other things. We also saw a dog sled demonstration by the daughter of Susan Butcher who was the first woman to win the Iditarod.

We then went to the Denali Wilderness Lodge. It's a rustic looking lodge with beautiful snow capped mountains surrounding it.

I'm adding a few photos....

Here's one from the lodge.

After our stay we took the clear topped train to Anchorage. It was gorgeous scenery! The train has a dining car and we had lunch there.

I took a lot of photos from the train. Here are just a few:

We went to an animal rescue just outside of Anchorage then took a coach to the ship. Once on the ship it was so cold I rarely went out on deck but we did go on several excursions. One was whale watching. It felt like it was going to start snowing but fortunately it didn't!

While I did see a few whales, each time I tried to get a photo they went underwater before I could snap the picture.

Here is a picture of the ship from our whale watching boat..

We also went to a salmon bake, Lumber Jack show, Crab feast and to the Mendenhall Glacier. I didn't go on the glacier but took a few photos..

The food on the ship was excellent in all of the restaurants. Here I am about to enjoy dinner in their Italian restaurant.

Most of the time we had dinner with several other people from our group. Since the last day was the day before my birthday we sat at a table for six at the seafood restaurant. They gave me an extra dessert but I was so full I could only take a bite of each.

Finally on our way home after a three hour delay in Chicago (we got home around 4:30 am!), I had the whole row of seats to myself since it wasn't a full flight!....That is rare today to me. I sat by the window to get a few photos taking off.

It was a fun trip but I needed several days once at home to get caught up with sleep & laundry!

Re: My trip to Alaska

Luvitorleaveit1 — Sun, 31 May 2026 17:43:43 GMT

Glad you enjoyed Alaska. My hubby and I went there in 2019 I think August. We had a balcony so the scenery, glaciers and all the surroundings were breathtaking. The ship Norwegian Bliss was beautiful and the food was delicious. I wished we had done the train excursion, that would have been the icing on the cake.

Your pictures are beautiful, great memories.

Re: My trip to Alaska

beach-mom — Sun, 31 May 2026 17:43:44 GMT

@haddon9 - TY SO much for sharing your experiences and your AMAZING pictures! You are a good photographer!

It sounds like you had an wonderful time, and because your DH couldn't make the trip, how great your brother could and you could enjoy some special times together. It sounds like you had the perfect itinerary too, visiting some places I've heard about.

I would love to go someday! DH has always wanted to go too, especially to whale watch. He has been around whales, because for a while he was the backup veterinarian on call to Sea World!

I've heard Denali is beautiful. Growing up, my brother had a close friend whose parents met in Alaska. Her mom was a native. They were so welcoming to everyone.

I also had a teacher friend who had taught there for a while. She was young when she went there and kind of overwhelmed, so she didn't stay.

The only problem for me would be my intense dislike of cold weather! LOL!

I'm sure you were glad to get home to your DH, and you will always have memories of a special time.

Re: My trip to Alaska

santorini — Sun, 31 May 2026 18:03:45 GMT

Beautiful photos! Thank you for sharing your awesome trip experience with us!

Re: My trip to Alaska

Estellee — Sun, 31 May 2026 18:11:45 GMT

What a wonderful well deserved vacation. Alaska is on my bucket list,such a beautiful trip by ship. Thanks for the photos @haddon9

Re: My trip to Alaska

San Antonio Gal — Sun, 31 May 2026 18:17:44 GMT

@haddon9 - Wow - what a fantastic trip! So glad you had a great time. I appreciate you sharing the beautiful pics. The scenery is awesome. I bet it was breathtaking!

That sure was a trip of a lifetime. That's great that you were able to go with your brother.

Love the picture of you. You look so pretty!

Re: My trip to Alaska

JeanLouiseFinch — Sun, 31 May 2026 18:23:24 GMT

What a tremendous experience, @haddon9, and so many special memories. My DH and I really want to go, almost thought we would be this summer, but God had other plans. Maybe one day. Thanks so much for sharing your pictures and review.

Re: My trip to Alaska

haddon9 — Sun, 31 May 2026 18:24:34 GMT

@santorini Thank you!

Re: My trip to Alaska

Coastalcarolina — Sun, 31 May 2026 18:28:30 GMT

So nice to "meet" you @haddon9! So beautiful there! You look great and what a memorable birthday that must have been! Thank you for sharing, as for many, only a dream to go there.

I am more of a Bahamas type of girl😁. The cold and dreary makes me sad.

Re: My trip to Alaska

haddon9 — Sun, 31 May 2026 18:28:43 GMT

@beach-mom Thank you! I just used my iphone and tried to get some good photos. I'm hoping that my son who has become a good water color artist will be inspired to paint some pictures!

It was nice to travel with my brother but I wish DH was well enough to go. I am grateful that i could go though!

I hope you get to go someday.....it was cold in May and they say that there is less rain that time of year but warmer in the summer. There are also more and large mosquitoes in the summer as well!

Re: My trip to Alaska

haddon9 — Sun, 31 May 2026 18:29:18 GMT

@Luvitorleaveit1 Yes great memeories!

Re: My trip to Alaska

haddon9 — Sun, 31 May 2026 18:30:16 GMT

@Estellee I hope you get to go!

Re: My trip to Alaska

haddon9 — Sun, 31 May 2026 18:30:52 GMT

@San Antonio Gal Thank you! You are very kind.

Re: My trip to Alaska

haddon9 — Sun, 31 May 2026 18:31:42 GMT

@JeanLouiseFinch I hope you get to go someday!! Maybe next year?

Re: My trip to Alaska

haddon9 — Sun, 31 May 2026 18:34:30 GMT

@Coastalcarolina Haha! We signed up for the trip last year sometime and at that point it seemed like a great idea! Over the winter here in PA it was so cold and dreary, I thought, what have I gotten myself into going to Alaska in May when it's finally getting warm here.

I am so glad that I went but I hear you! My next trip will be at a warmer location!

Re: My trip to Alaska

drizzellla — Sun, 31 May 2026 18:59:55 GMT

@haddon9 Thanks for sharing your trip adventure.

We took an 8 day cruise through Alaska, several years ago. And it was the last week of May and a few days in June.

The Philadelphia area this year, the weather was cold and rainy. Guess we all had chilly and rainy weather.

Glad you went. There is so much to see and glad you were able to visit and experience as much as you did. And more important - you had a great time.

We flew home by way of Chicago too.

Re: My trip to Alaska

walker — Sun, 31 May 2026 19:02:29 GMT

@haddon9 ..... belated Happy Birthday to you 🥳 and thank you for sharing your travel story to Alaska. DH and I are thinking of traveling there this summer. We have a nephew who lives in Fairbanks. DH's brother and sister-in-law are there for summer also. Good time for us to visit. They want us to come in August. Your information comes at a good time. More for us to think about.

Re: My trip to Alaska

beach-mom — Sun, 31 May 2026 19:05:47 GMT

@haddon9 wrote:
@beach-mom Thank you! I just used my iphone and tried to get some good photos. I'm hoping that my son who has become a good water color artist will be inspired to paint some pictures!

It was nice to travel with my brother but I wish DH was well enough to go. I am grateful that i could go though!

I hope you get to go someday.....it was cold in May and they say that there is less rain that time of year but warmer in the summer. There are also more and large mosquitoes in the summer as well!

@haddon9 - OK. I'll take the cold weather over mosquitoes any time!

Re: My trip to Alaska

rockygems123 — Sun, 31 May 2026 19:11:12 GMT

@haddon9

Beautiful!! Thank you for sharing

Re: My trip to Alaska

RetRN — Sun, 31 May 2026 19:21:11 GMT

Beautiful trip for a beautiful lady. I am so happy that you were blessed to enjoy such a wonderful experience.