Author Archives: Brittany

• Humbled and Thankful

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on January 3, 2018

  In my last post I briefly shared about an unexpected emergency surgery my cat was undergoing, as well as my impromptu decision to create a GoFundMe account. Within less than 24 hours I was given hundreds of dollars towards a lofty goal, more than I ever expected when I created the account. Friends and strangers donated in multiple increments coming together proving that no amount was too small.

  

  Each donation I received brought tears to my eyes, some from friends, some from strangers. This process happened so quickly, and has permanently changed a piece of my heart in a way I never imagined possible in such a short period of time. The generosity of giving and helping with my cat, while unplanned and not ideal, has shown me how powerful we as a species can be when we come together.

  This season is known for gifts and giving, but when the gifts are this monumental, they can change hearts.

  

  I spent a lot of 2017 with my focus inward. I continued to struggle with my health, and with finding my voice in the world. I spent far too many days with my arrows pointing in when they should have been pointing out. What we focus on continues to manifest, and I can guarantee that my focus on healing while helpful at times, caused more mental turmoil than necessary.

  What if I had spent more time stopping to smell the roses?

  

  I don’t claim to be perfect, but I don’t feel that I’m selfish. With the recent events regarding my cat I am inspired to turn this situation into something good. The inspiration I feel from the love and support I’ve been given has been humbling in so many ways, and while I am not a fan of new year resolutions, I can tell you I have an unexpected outlook on 2018.

  This year it’s time to make a plan that focuses on other people.

  

  This year I plan to spend less time focusing on myself, and more time focusing on others. So much of my life has passed me by the last three years because my obsessions and thoughts were elsewhere when I should have been present in the moment. How sad would it be to come face to face with death, and regret living a life where most of your time was spent inside the bubble of your own mind.

  Dark thought, but necessary thought. 

  

  How many times do we read story after story about the healing power of helping others? How many times do we experience these healing moments, and quickly forget about them when problems arise? In the past I escaped to the woods when times got hard, or I would isolate myself, but what would happen if I challenged myself to help someone else when I was feeling low?

  This can be as simple as giving someone my time, and being truly present in the moment.

  

  My cat was given 12 hours to live if he didn’t make it to a specialist. The total cost for the procedure and multiple emergency rooms he visited was thousands of dollars. If we chose not to pay, he would have needed to be euthanized. I could never place a price tag on my family members, and my pets are my family.

  The emotional scar I would have been given if I took his life prematurely was a burden I chose not to carry.

  It’s been six months since I said goodbye to my 20 yr old cat, I wasn’t ready to say another goodbye. I spent a good amount of money on my last cat before we had to send him over the rainbow bridge, but we did all that we could and I don’t regret a single penny spent. Having a pet is a commitment I feel should not be taken lightly, and not doing all that I can is never an option.

   I don’t expect to get anywhere near my goal, but every penny I’ve been given was a penny more than I expected. 

  

  What is life worth if we don’t have others around to enjoy it with? No price tag is too large when it comes to love and life. Money is variable, and it can always be remade, but life can never be given back. Not to our pets, and not to ourselves. I cannot thank those that donated enough, not just because it helps financially, but because of the emotional hug it gave me.

  I’ve never felt so loved, and this was the perfect reminder for me to focus my energy on other people.

  Sometimes others need our help or our attention when it’s not convenient, like an emergency vet clinic that’s open on a holiday, but these are the times when help is most appreciated. This new year I don’t plan to neglect myself, because doing so would jeopardize others, but I plan to better myself for different reasons. I need to better myself in order to fully show up for other people.

  A simple change in perspective was all I needed. A reflection of how I’ve been living the last year.

  

  I plan to do my part to pay it forward once the dust has settled with my current situation. The thought of bringing the unbelievable joy I feel from each donation is a feeling I want to share with as many people as possible. Sometimes all we need is to know that someone cares, and that someone is listening.

  Going into the new year I leave you with this – ask yourself what would happen if you made small changes to turn your arrows outward.

  In a world that is so convoluted with hatred, my heart is full of abundant love receiving such unexpected generosity. Prayers for recovery are welcomed and appreciated as he continues to heal. To some he’s “just a cat,” but he has saved me from so many heartaches in life, it was time for me to save him.

  Thank you all, from the bottom of my heart. 

  

  | 32 Comments Tagged Cat, Life, New Year

• Bladder Stone Surgery

  Posted at 8:43 PM by Brittany, on December 31, 2017

  **See update on how Little is doing at the bottom of this post**

  A few weeks ago I took my cat in for a routine check up, where I discovered he needed oral surgery that would cost me upwards of $1k. Before booking the appointment I consulted Dr.Google to see if there were any other options for dental care with cats, and what I discovered as the bottom line was that the answer is no, but I also discovered options to make the payment less painful.

  One of the options was to create a GoFundMe account, something I had seen numerous times for a myriad of procedures. I tucked this information into the back of my mind, because I planned to pay the $1k out of pocket and call it a day.

  Then something else happened. 

  

  I’m currently in Arizona, thousands of miles from home, and I received a call from my mom telling me she had to take him in because he was acting bizarre. Come to find out he has multiple bladder stones and one is stuck in his urethra. After bouncing between multiple emergency hospitals the end of the day total was over $5k.

  Some people might say I’m crazy to shell out five thousand dollars for a cat, but when a member of the family needs help – you do whatever you can. He is too young to accept death as his fate, and recovery from this is probably. Euthanizing him to save the money would be the cheap route, but living with the remorse of taking his life because of a price tag would be a lifelong scar I choose not to carry.

  I’m un-tucking the GoFundMe idea, and have created an account. I struggle with the idea of asking strangers for money for a cat they know nothing about, but this cat has saved me from endless trials in my life and it’s my turn to save him. If anyone out there reading this can find it in their heart to donate even $5, every penny counts.

  

  This isn’t how I planned to spend my New Years Eve, but alas sometimes God has other plans. 

  Below you will find the link to my GoFundMe. Thank you to anyone who feels inclined to donate, and for those of you that can’t prayers are welcomed and appreciated.

  https://www.gofundme.com/bladderstonesurgery

  **2/26/2018 UPDATE: Little has recovered amazingly well, but he continues to have check ups due to an odd urination stream. I am so happy he healed well on his tummy. He is still due for oral surgery still within the next couple months. Any additional support is greatly appreciated**

  

  | 42 Comments

• McKinley Explorer Rail Car – Denali to Anchorage

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on December 29, 2017

  Alaska is a big state. Getting from Denali to Anchorage and vice versa is a 233 mile trek, and for some perspective on just how far that is, when I drive from Seattle to Portland it’s “only” 173 miles. Alaska is big. The airport we were to fly home out of was in Anchorage, and in order to get there we spent 8 hours on board the McKinley Explorer Rail Car.

  I felt like I was an extra character in the Polar Express. 

  

  

  Up until this point we were placed on motor coaches in order to get around, and I tell ya what, not being stuck on a bus with the permeating smells of a lavatory was like finding snow on Christmas morning. Not to mention extra leg room, and options to walk around.

  Oh, and did I mention a better view?

  

  View from my seat.

  

  

  When visiting Alaska, a train ride of some sort is a must. I’m glad this was the train we were able to ride, and although 8 hours is a long time to be on any type of transportation, the train provided a handful of options to make the ride more comfortable.

  The train was separated into multiple different sections, but if you wanted to visit another car, or find your way to the caboose for a better view, you were able to walk about freely. I enjoyed being able to walk a bit and stand outside whenever I felt stagnant.

  

  Caboose view.

  

  Each car had a personal guide, providing information of the local surroundings as well as suggestions for prime photo spots. There’s a shop on board should you wish to purchase any last minute souvenirs, and the bathrooms are downstairs below the seating area.

  Yea, this train was two levels. Too legit to quit.

  

  

  The lower level also had a small restaurant, because who doesn’t get hungry in an 8 hour time span? We chose to visit the lower eating area for breakfast, while some chose to visit for lunch. The lower area doesn’t have the dome like windows, but you can still see your surroundings outside.

  

  Upper level dome.

  

  Lower level dining.

  This ride was quite enjoyable, and provided more views of Alaska I would not have seen had I traveled to Anchorage by motor coach. The train took us through back country landscape soaking up the final fall colors. Fall in Alaska happens quick, within one week we watched the leaves turn from red, to yellow, to falling off the trees.

  As with everything else, this train ride was 100% set up by Holland America, and was included in our cruise package. Before arrival in Denali we were given a packet with our travel information regarding everything land based. Badda boom, badda bing.

  Like a science.

  

  8 hours later we arrived in Anchorage, and were shuttled to our hotel, where we would spend one night before departure. Anchorage was like any other big city, but smaller. This was the only location I felt “meh” about. I wouldn’t go out of my way to visit Anchorage, although I ate the second best meal of the trip at Humpy’s. First place still goes to Skagway.

  

  

  There was limited time for exploring the morning we flew home, just enough to walk around a bit, find some legit wall art, and in the words of Dale Cooper I did find myself a damn fine cup of coffee. I lost all my morals at Dark House Coffee and ate myself a vegan/gluten free muffin with my coffee. I paid for it later, but it was worth it.

  #eatlocal 

  

  

  

  And just like that, our trip to Alaska was complete. I cannot recommend an Alaskan cruise enough, and this is coming from someone originally uninterested in the idea of any kind of cruise. Sometimes it’s nice to let others do the work for you. If you’re on the fence about embarking on an adventure like this, in the words of Nike – just do it.

  Q: Where is your next adventure? I’m off to Arizona for two weeks, and we’ll be back to current time blog posts! 

  

  | 19 Comments Tagged Alaska, Cruise, Holland America, Vacation

• Denali National Park

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on December 26, 2017

  There are multiple options for cruise packages these days, and what you choose depends on what the overall goal for your vacation is. Most packages have similar stops along the way, but the land portions are different. Our goal was to visit Denali National Park. In my dad’s words, “if we’re going all the way to Alaska, I want to see Denali.”

  Wise words, from a wise man.

  

  As mentioned in my last post, we spent two nights at the Princess Wilderness Lodge. Our first day/night was spent around the lodge, and our second day was spent driving through Denali National Park. For 8 hours. Should you visit in your own vehicle it’s not likely you’ll get passed a certain check point without a permit, but when you hop aboard the magic school bus it’s full steam ahead.

  But seriously, we rode a legit school bus. 

  

  The space was cramped, the Australian woman behind me was sick, but we were able to get out and use the bathroom/explore every couple hours. There were no complaints because I was in Alaska. For food we were given a snack pack, although I didn’t eat anything inside because #autoimmuneprobs.

  I fueled my stomach with amazing views and even better company. 

  

  

  The weather ranged from sunny and blue, to cloudy and rain, to below freezing and snow. It was even more unpredictable than my home state of Washington. I loved every minute. Except when we got out and it was below freezing. I bought a hat on the cruise ship (and a jacket) that was a Godsend, but I was still frozen.

  My dad and I spent time getting to know each other on this trip, and I was able to teach him how to take a proper selfie. He then became the selfie king, which was good because I never take selfies.

  

  Selfies aside, we saw a wide range of wildlife on this tour. Denali National Park has over 6 million acres of protected land, and I’ve never felt so small in my life. Amazing how easily we could have been swallowed by these mountains with even the slightest amount of careless disrespect.

  Either the mountains, or a grizzly bear.

  

  

  

  This bear was right next to the road, and I immediately took back all the unkind things I thought about the cramped bus. I was thankful for the large hunk of steel to separate me and the grizzly. He didn’t seem too phased by us anyway. With 6 million acres, seeing a grizzly isn’t all that common, but we lucked out.

  We also saw tons of dall sheep, caribou, and a handful of moose. 

  

  All critters aside, the vast open landscape was what captured my soul. The locals say it’s hit or miss to actually see Mt. Denali due to the changing weather, and for us it was a miss. The clouds covered the spot where Denali should be visible, but there was plenty of beauty to make up for the hiding peak of Denali.

  

  

  Of all the places we visited this was the only spot I would have liked to see in the summer months opposed to the fall. There are trails for hikers all over the park, and I’m not a big snow fan. Looks like I’ll have to go back and cover some land by foot.

  Although, I’m not sure I want to run into a bear. 

  

  Alaska is truly a wonder, and is a place you have to see for yourself to appreciate all the beauty.

  Q: Have you ever seen a bear in its natural habitat? 

  

  | 24 Comments Tagged Alaska, Cruise, Holland America, Vacation

• Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on December 18, 2017

  If you’ve ever traveled with me, you’ll know I’m all about cheap hotels. Anything to save a buck that I can better spend on food or adventure. The way I see it, a hotel is a place to sleep after a day of exploration, and unless I’m planning to spend all my time inside (which I never do) I don’t want to spend much more than $70 a night.

  I actually want a camper van to eliminate hotels entirely for more local trips.

  

  The deal with this cruise however, was that I didn’t have a say in where we went after the sea portion of the trip was complete (we were on the cruise ship for seven days, and on land the remaining four. 11 days total for this Alaskan trip.)

  This was the first time I was glad I did not choose the place we stayed upon arrival in Denali, because hot damn the Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge rocked my socks. 

  But how did we get there? We departed our cruise ship before the sun rose and drove 8 hours from Seward to Denali, where we would spend the next two days of our trip. Our vacation package included the Denali land tour, where we were able to spend a full day driving through Denali National Park.

  More on that later.

  

  Last night on the ship.

  

  This lodge/hotel/cabin/place I slept and ate and enjoyed a musical made me feel like I was 12 again going to camp. The lodges were scattered at the foot hills of GORGEOUS mountains, and felt like a mini college campus. There were lodges for sleep, lodges for eating, lodges for entertainment, and lodges for shopping.

  My favorite part were the giant trees that enclosed each area, tall enough to make following the path almost like a maze. 

  

  

  If that wasn’t enough, there were plenty of options to go for long walks and soak in the fall colors. Did I mention September was the best time to visit and see these colors? My dad and I were able to spend one morning walking around town and submerging ourselves into the woods.

  The walk to the trail area did not disappoint, the views were once again unreal.

  

  

  

  Our first night staying in the lodge we walked down the road to an area that had a dinner show. The show was informational, sharing the story of the first men to summit Mt. Denali (previously known as Mt. Mckinley.) The show was cute, and the area surrounding the theater was cozy.

  Mt. Denali is the highest mountain peak in North America, with a summit elevation of 20,310′. Woof.

  

  

  

  Dining/entertainment area.

  This lodge would be the perfect location to relax and unwind. Plenty of areas to walk and explore, and tranquil enough to spend your time on site. This is the type of location I would spend more than $70 for. It was included in our trip, but if it weren’t I’d gladly shell out the pennies to stay.

  I continued to be amazed by how well planned this trip was. All the connections between land and sea were effortless for us. Literally brain off.

  

  

  The lodge is connected to Princess Cruise ships, which are connected to Holland America, but you don’t have to take a cruise to stay here. They also own nearby railroad systems, but again you don’t have to take a cruise to ride them.

  What a business these cruise companies have created, all owned by Carnival. 

  

  

  

  I would love to come back here one summer and spend a season working. One thing that resonated most with me about Alaska, and a lot of the people I met, is that many people arrive for a few months out of the year to work the summer season.

  This speaks to my nomadic soul so, so loudly. 

  

  I’d happily slang some coffee as a barista in the dining lodge with these views. I can still see the yellow trees. Sometimes I get caught up in the societal schema that dictates what the meaning of success is. I quit my corporate job because I wanted more flexibility to travel, and my idea of success is the experiences I have under my belt – not the size of my paycheck.

  This means I’d be happy to work a seasonal job fit for someone ten years my junior, because the experiences it would provide outweigh the professional world I left. The only schema we should fall prey to are the ones we set for ourselves. I’ll be back here someday, hopefully sooner rather than later.

  Q: Would you rather come in the summer and have sunshine and blue skies, or in the fall with overcast and fall colors? Fall for me, no competition.

  

  | 35 Comments Tagged Alaska, Cruise, Explore, Hike, Holland America

• Glacier Bay National Park

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on December 14, 2017

  I’ve been to a handful of National Parks in my existence, but never had I been to one only accessible by boat or plane. Glacier Bay National Park is a highlighted experience through the inside passage of Alaska with many of its visitors arriving by boat.

  

  

  We obviously arrived by boat, and this full day of adventure was experienced from the comfort of our cruise ship. The ship sailed into this passage in the morning, and spent a large chunk of the day slowly moving throughout the park.

  A prime example of how life is often best when we slow down and enjoy the journey.

  

  The history of this park stems back to the late 1700’s, where Captain George Vancouver first created a rough map of the bay. Next up was John Muir, a more familiar name to me, arriving by canoe to study the glaciers. Muir eventually changed America’s perspective of Alaska from a cold daunting place to one of enchanting beauty.

  I’d say his description was on point, the beauty was enough to give a Disney princess a run for her money. 

  

  

  Muir arrived in Alaska attempting to prove that his beloved Yosemite Valley was indeed formed by ice many years prior. Today the park is home to a variety of plants and wildlife, with 11 sea reaching glaciers. The remote vastness of this land is one you must see for yourself to truly experience.

  While we stayed on the cruise ship, this park has the option to disembark and explore by foot as well. 

  

  

  

  For our trip, a park ranger came aboard our ship (without our ship even stopping) to provide us with narrated history as we sailed along. The big ticket item of this adventure was spending an hour sitting in front of Margerie Glacier.

  The large walls of the surrounding mountains provided such a quiet environment that we could hear the ice calving off of Margerie from miles away.

  

  

  This was probably the coldest day of the trip, and if you plan to visit in September like I did be sure to bring a warm jacket! You can view the park inside, but it’s not the same as standing on the bow of the ship and soaking it all in.

  

  

  I did retreat indoors occasionally, spending some time sitting in my favorite area of the ship watching the cold world outside pass me by. I’d quickly make my way back outside once I was thawed to see the vibrant blue colors of the glacial meltwater.

  

  My favorite area. Daily classical concerts.

  

  

  The color of the water is such a deep arctic blue a photograph cannot convey the image quite like the memory burned into my brain. Pieces of floating ice bob like apples in a bucket of water on a sunny fall afternoon. Otters swim round and you wonder how anything could live in water so cold.

  

  Many years ago people also lived at the bases of these glaciers. My poor blood circulation would surely kill me if I had to live on ice. Thankful for the indoor reprieve whenever I pleased, this sailing through Glacier Bay is one I’ll not soon forget. Perhaps someday I’ll return by plane in the warmer months and conquer a hike or two!

  Q: Would you rather visit in the heat or cold? 

  

  | 28 Comments Tagged Alaska, Cruise, Holland America, National Park, Vacation

• Skagway, Alaska

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on December 11, 2017

  Despite Skagway being the smallest and most desolate of all the ports we stopped at (in my opinion) it was hands down my favorite. Nestled at the base of endless mountains, this tiny town had the most history. Don’t expect to stop here and spend your day wandering the town, you’ll see most all of the central hub in about an hour.

  

  

  

  Getting to land was a bit of an adventure, there were already two ships in port and our ship must have drawn the shortest stick because there wasn’t a spot left for us to port. Instead we got to ride in dinghy boats to the small boat harbor.

  All aboard! 

  

  One of the many things I loved about the cruise ship, is that they offered multiple seminars of information regarding each port.

  Skagway’s history stems back to the Gold Rush era, where in the late 1800’s a set of railroad tracks were built as a means of reaching the gold fields. The tracks are still standing, and are known as The While Pass and Yukon Route. These days, curious minds can ride a train and follow along the route listening to guided tours, which I admit looks and sounds EPIC, but we chose a different option.

  We decided to be our own tour guides, and we rented a car. 

  

  We chose this option for a few reasons: it was cheaper than riding in a bus with a bunch of other people, it was cheaper than a train, it allowed complete flexibility to stop when and where we wanted, and it provided a better view from all angles. We stopped by the local ranger station for a map, learned about some hot stop spots, and were our own tour guides.

  Err, my dad played tour guide and I got to drive. I only scared him a handful of times. 

  

  

  Pitchfork Falls. 

  The last time I went for a drive that literally captivated every ounce of my soul was in Ireland. I never thought I’d find another route that came within even a decameter (and all these years I never thought I’d use any of the chemistry I learned) of The Ring of Kerry.

  I struggle to put into words just how enamored I was by the drive, but I’ll try.

  Starting in Alaska, the route slowly climbs upward. We started in overcast with comfortable temps, and almost without warning reached intense fog and temps near freezing. This route takes you into Canada, if you want to go that far, which we did, so be sure to bring your passport. Eventually you’ll come across a plot of land that I can’t describe other than looking like an alien moonscape. 

  

  

  

  Small pockets of lakes surrounded by sunken land and large boulders. I’d never seen anything like it. Visibility was a struggle at times, but thankfully my copilot wore a bright blue jacket.

  

  Where’s Wilson?

  Just as I was worrying whether my hands would ever thaw from the cold, we drove into some sun. In fact, it went from overcast, to snow, to rain, to sun, and then to S U N. The changes of weather were bizarre, and unlike anything I’d ever experienced in such a short period of time.

  At this point, we’d crossed into Canada.

  

  

  This is when the landscape really started to show off.

  

  

  

  

  We decided our turn around would be Emerald Lake, about 74 miles from where we started. We stopped at a small Canadian coffee shop for some local brew, oogled the lake, and turned around to head back. Depending what angle you stand to view the lake, the colors (or colours, it was in Canada after all) are a beautiful green/blue.

  

  

  If you want to see what real fall colors look like, go to Alaska in September and drive the White Pass/Yukon Route. You can thanks me later. Because we rented a car, we were able to also drive around and see Dyea, which was just a hop skip and jump away from Skagway. This area was once a booming town during the Gold Rush, but now it’s mostly deserted.

  History is cool. 

  For dinner we nourished at Skagway Brewing Company, where my dad claims the best beer of the entire trip was served. I claimed it was the best salmon I was served (I’m very particular because #foodintolerances) and I had zero complaints.

  Disclaimer: I don’t eat much fish normally, but in Alaska I got enough Omega 3’s from salmon to last me the year.

  

  What.A.Day. I spend a lot of my free time day dreaming about past vacations, and this day is at the forefront of my brain space. ❤

  Q: Would you rather rent a car and do it yourself, or ride on a bus and let someone narrate for you?

  

  | 43 Comments Tagged Alaska, Explore, Holland America, Vacation

• Juneau, Alaska

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on December 7, 2017

  Stop number two on the epic Alaskan cruise was the capital city of Juneau! 9/10 times when writing the word capital I have to Google the difference between capitAl and capitOl. A for city, O for building – got it. Until I have to Google again.

  

  

  We had nearly a full day to spend in Juneau, unlike the shorter half day in Ketchikan. This worked well because Juneau is a bit bigger, and we were able to explore more. The weather was overcast, but comfortable most of the day. I admit a good majority of the things we did in Alaska were hot ticket tourist items, but in Juneau we had a nice balance of tourist and local adventures.

  

  First up was a trip on The Blue Bus headed towards Medenhall Glacier. With a nice easy trail allowing for some exploring on foot. For the super adventurous (aka those that want to spend $$$$) there is an option to take a helicopter ride to the glacier and walk around.

  Us peasant folk were happy to save some pennies and view the glacier from a distance.

  

  

  

  

  Small red speck in the center of the water, heading towards the waterfall. Krazy Kayak.

  We spent enough time here to see a porcupine and a brave kayaker. Back on the bus, and back towards town. Next up – a trip up the Mount Roberts Tramway for a better view of the city. I’ll admit I was sold on this view after creepin #Juneau on Insta. I mean, once you see the view you’ll understand. This is a must when visiting Juneau, and it’s right in the heart of the town.

  No excuses to miss this one. 

  

  

  

  

  The funny thing about this tram trip, is that you spend $34 and can ride the tram as many times as you want. We didn’t even utilize a full round trip ticket, because instead of riding the tram back down we hiked back down. Shout out to my dad for being such a trooper, this was HIS idea despite the fact he has a bum knee.

  He wasn’t so jazzed about this idea after we ended up walking over 11 miles for the day. 

  

  Funny story: we got momentarily lost on this trail and I used my spider senses to get us “un-lost.” By this I mean I called the visitors center to ensure we turned right at the fork instead of going straight. Praise Jesus for cell phones. This was the moment we went from tourist to local. Kinda. It took us a bit longer than expected to get back to town, but we made it mostly unscathed.

  The view of the above mountain was more enjoyable once we were back in view of the cruise ship, no longer lost.  

  

  This was a long day, but oh so enjoyable. We saw 11 miles worth of Juneau that I’d confidently say most of our shipmates did not see. Something I will reiterate multiple times in these Alaska posts is that September is an ideal time to visit. The temperatures are lower, but the fall colors are U N R E A L.

  You’ll see this more in my last few posts.

  

  Q: Would you ride the tram multiple times to view the city, or would you hike the trail to the view point? Next time I’ll be hiking both up and down. Grab a map, and find a trail!

  

  | 31 Comments Tagged Alaska, Cruise, Explore, Hiking, Holland America, Vacation

• Ketchikan, Alaska

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on December 4, 2017

  After spending a couple days at sea (departing from Vancouver, B.C.) our first destination was in “Alaska’s first city” of Ketchikan. When I hear the word Ketchikan I’m immediately transported back to my elementary years of binge watching Pokemon before school – gotta catch em’ all. Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

  

  The jewelry business in Alaskan cities is prominent, although I didn’t quite understand it. I suppose everyone has their “thing,” but I sure didn’t travel to Alaska to buy diamonds or to stay close to the cruise ship. This might come as a shock, but Alaska is also known for their salmon. I know, I thought all salmon lived in giant warehouses too.

  **Sarcasm**

  The weather was overcast upon arrival, but quickly transitioned to sunny and warm. Perfect conditions to explore. This was the only day of our trip I was able to wear a tshirt. I actually didn’t even bring a jacket with me, because #minimalist. Actually this was a huge mistake, and I was thankful the cruise ship had jackets. 

  

  When I travel I like to get a feel for the city by foot, so we walked around a bit before disembarking on our adventures for the day. We walked along Married Man’s trail, saw the salmon ladder, and into a small area of Ketchikan called Creek Street, also known as the red light district.

  It’s here where some of the oldest buildings reside perched on pilings forming a boardwalk. During prohibition Creek Street was the place to go for smuggled whiskey and prostitutes. “It’s where more men – than fish – went upstream to spawn!!”

  The western feel of the buildings reminded me of Disneyland, I was immediately in heaven. 

  

  

  

  Disney fans, does that not remind you of Frontierland? I mean common. 

  After stretching our legs we were ready for our chosen excursions. When planning a cruise you have the option to book day trips, also known as excursions, ahead of time. We opted for a different approach to our adventures, and didn’t plan a damn thing prior to leaving for our trip.

  For starters, we had no agenda other than “see Alaska.”

  There are so many options it can be overwhelming to choose. Most importantly, and this wasn’t discovered until we were on the trip – there is a chance you’ll miss your appointment times due to unplanned late arrivals into each port. To eliminate the stress of “having to be somewhere at a certain time,” and to have a clear view of all the options – we chose each cities adventures upon arrival.

  

  You’ll wind up paying a bit more if you do it this way, but spending a few more bucks for peace of mind was fine by us. Err, fine by my dad because he paid for everything. Bless his soul. One of our Ketchikan adventures consisted of a drive outside of the city into the rural wilderness with the goal of seeing a bear.

  Spoiler alert: we saw a bear.

  

  Kinda hard to see, bottom right-ish. Black bear.

  I don’t remember the company we went through, but our host was local and a wealth of Alaskan/Klickitat knowledge. I liked our host because he encouraged us to drink out of one of the local streams. My goal of “learn more about each other” with my dad provided him a look into my adventurous spirit. Or as he will tell you, “Brittany’s attempt at contracting giardia.”

  I couldn’t come to Alaska and not drink some of the water.

  

  For our other Ketchikan experience we went suuuuppperrr tourist – The Great Alaska Lumberjack Show. I had secret motives of finding my future husband, because apparently Alaska has way more men than women. My loyal readers know I’m working on manifesting my future lumberjack husband.

  What can I say, my husband will have the ability to build me a tiny house while wearing red flannel and getting wood chips stuck in his beard. 

  

  The show was entertaining, but the boys were much too young and way too beardless.

  For sustenance we nourished our souls with local salmon (I don’t think I’ve ever eaten so much salmon then on this trip) while soaking up the sun. According to the locals, Ketchikan accumulates significantly more rain than Seattle. We just happened to be there on the one sunny and hot day of the year. No complaints.

  With bellies full of fresh Alaskan fish, and souls full of wonderful adventure we made our way back to the ship for a night of rest before our next adventure. 

  

  

  Q: Would you rather: whale watch, see bears in their natural habitat, or watch grown men compete in unique sports? The lumberjack show was a legit competition, and some of these guys got college scholarships for lumberjack sports. WHO KNEW!?

  

  | 34 Comments Tagged Alaska, Cruise, Explore, Holland America, Vacation

• Cruising Through the Last Frontier

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on December 1, 2017

  If you follow me on Instagram, you’ll know I went to Alaska *cough ahem* three months ago. If you don’t follow me on Instagram you should, because when I start drowning in real life and neglect this space I’m still active on there. I thought about skipping these recap posts and jumping back into real life, but when I write these travel recaps I get to relive the experiences.

  So let’s just get to it, shall we?

  

  The purpose of this trip to Alaska was to spend some quality time with my dad. As I age, I realize how important strong relationships are. Since I don’t see my dad that often, I wanted to have some one on one time with him so that we could get to know each other better. I thought perhaps I could fly to Arizona and we’d spend a weekend together, and then he suggested an Alaskan cruise.

  I didn’t dare push my idea further, that would have just been rude. 

  

  

  Neither of us had been on a cruise before, so we were fresh meat x2. What they say is true when it comes to cruise ships – endless food, endless entertainment, and just like at the BK lounge, you can have most everything your way. My dad ended up booking through Costco and we traveled with Holland America. I highly recommend Holland America – they were fantastic.

  My party days are behind me, and although it would make for great television to get drunk with my dad, we both preferred being in bed by 8pm.

  

  There are many options for cruise ships these days, but if I had to go on another one I would probably stick with Holland America. They say (and by they I mean the well seasoned cruise travelers) once you pick your cruise company you stick with them. There were a lot of older people on this ship, the kind that are retired and need somewhere to spend their RMD’s, so if this isn’t your cup of tea check out one of the other companies.

  I also appreciated the lack of small children. It was a nice and quiet trip. 

  

  

  Everything was planned for us. Down to a science. It was almost uncomfortable having so little control. But then I remembered all I had to think about was what I wanted for breakfast each day and the discomfort was gone. I was in awe of how well this trip was planned. I now understand the allure of cruises, you can literally shut the problem solving portion of your brain off.

  Breath. Eat. Sleep. Explore. Repeat.

  

  Alaska was unbelievable. Each city we visited will get a separate post, but the landscape is nearly indescribable. It was like my home state of Washington, but on steroids. The pace of life was so much slower and calmer, there are less people, and more mountains. The prices you pay for living in darkness half the year I suppose.

  I could totally do it. 

  

  The most enjoyable moments on the ship were the many miles walked around the outer deck. Similar to a track, four laps on the deck was equal to a mile. There’s a gym on board too, but for a scenic walk my dad and I often opted for the outdoor laps. The landscape of Alaska while sailing through the inner passages were breathtaking.

  

  

  Alaska is a must see for any travel lovers out there, and while I usually opt for a “plan it yourself” kind of vacation, I cannot deny the ease of going on a cruise. 10/10. The proceeding posts will break down each city in more detail, but this precursor was to briefly highlight the ship itself.

  Oh, and my favorite added touch?

  

  Each night a new creature on my bed. I refuse to admit how much I squealed whenever I saw what they made. Skills on skills on skills.

  Q: Have you ever been on a cruise?

  

  | 50 Comments Tagged Alaska, Cruise, Explore, Travel

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• Contact: blissfulbritt@yahoo.com

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