Alaska=Fun!!!

Skip and I recently took a trip to Anchorage, Alaska to visit my grandparents. The one week we stayed was full of fun, but not even close to being long enough. Alaska is a beautiful place, I was in awe everywhere we went (maybe with the exception of downtown!) Around here we might see a deer or coyote walking along the road...in Alaska we saw several moose out and about. I can't even describe how amazing this vacation was, and we can't wait to go back!

Grandpa and Betty Sue loading up the 4-wheelers and getting the camper ready for our weekend camping trip to Sutton.
Their cat, Hemi, makes himself comfortable. This cat is so sweet and loving!
Here I am getting my quick instruction before taking off for our first ride.
Betty Sue taking it easy!
Sharing a great moment with grandpa! I really enjoyed the time we had together!

Muddy 4-Wheeling!

On Saturday morning we took off on our first ride. We went through just about everything you can imagine...mud, rivers of mud, rivers, grass and gravel. It was an awesome ride!

Here Skip and Grandpa cross the river. I waited patiently on the sidelines.
All the mud clogged up the radiators, so we stopped at this lake to clean up a bit. There were some people gliding peacefully in their canoe...until we came along and interrupted their quiet.

Waterfall Ride

After some lunch we set out for a second ride up to a waterfall. It was a VERY difficult ride, but I trusted my family to keep me safe!

This was about halfway up the trail where we stopped for a breather. If it wasn't so cloudy, I'm sure we could have seen on forever...
The infamous waterfall! We were just about to the top of the mountain so I'm not sure where all the water was coming from (most of the snow melt was gone.) The water was mighty cold!
Me and grandpa heading back from the waterfall.
Another scenic moment :)

Summer in Alaska

This is what the sky looked like when we got back from our second ride of the day. It was just after 10PM!! The sun doesn't set during part of the summer, and while we were there the sun never set. It was so weird waking up during the night and having no idea if it was 2AM or 8AM!

Musk Ox Farm

We visited this musk ox farm, and these babies were the closest we got to any of them.

Yummy Chocolate!

We stopped by the Alaskan Wildberry Chocolate Factory for some sweet treats! Each of these bricks of chocolate weighs 10 pounds. You can buy them for $49 (then pay $100 to pack it home in your suitcase!)

Alaskan Wildlife Conservation Center

Thank goodness for fences!!

Up close and personal with this friendly moose.

This eagle had been found out in the forest and had been shot in the left wing. It's wing was amputated, so he'll live the rest of his life in this cage.

Skip really liked this photograph of a musk ox with it's baby, so I bought it for him for his birthday. As I was in line to make my purchase, a guy behind me said, "Thanks for buying that picture." I asked if he was the photographer, and he said that he was. He photographs the animals in the conservation center to sell in the gift shop. Every penny that he makes goes to helping the animals at the center.

Whittier Bay

Whittier Bay is a very small village that is popular among fisherman, ferries and cruise ships.

Pictures cannot do this place justice!

The only road out of Whittier!

Audra Anne

On our way out of Whittier, we stopped to visit the Audra Anne, a 110' yacht. My grandpa had worked on the engines a few years back, and I was lucky enough to spend a weekend on it when it was docked in Bellingham, WA.

Portage Glacier

On our way back from Whittier Bay, we stopped at the Portage Glacier Visitor's Center. The glacier is cradled in the valley of the mountains. About 40 years ago, the glacier reached all the way to where I was standing.
Skip's holding a piece of the iceberg that made it to shore.
Another cold iceberg!

Skip's Birthday Dinner

To celebrate Skip's birthday and our time in Alaska, my grandparents took us to the Double Musky Inn for dinner. The restaurant is tucked up in the woods near the ski slopes and is very popular among the locals. The food was delicious, and Skip managed to finish all of his 16 ounce pepper steak! I think the best part of the meal was the dessert, and since everyone at the table ordered something different, we tried it all!!

Skip's feeling a little full after dinner!

Time to Say Good-bye

The morning that we left, Hemi was helping me pack our things. I just think he wanted to come home with us, but I don't think my grandparents would agree!