Alaska

I just returned from out National Conference which was of course, held on a cruise ship. This year we sailed to Alaska for an intense week of immersion in everything Alaska. I thoroughly enjoyed visiting this beautiful area and will definitely go back for more. We started our cruise from Vancouver and experienced one of the smoothest embarkations I have ever had. The staff was smiling, friendly and efficient.

As I tell my clients, if you are going to Alaska you must have a balcony cabin. (I do practice what I preach, although since I started out in a balcony cabin I won't go back.) Even though I spent most of my inside passage time in seminars and classes, having the view from your balcony is not to be missed. Watching dolphins, whales and eagles fly by was a jaw dropping experience!

Our first port was Ketchikan where we visited the Totem Pole Park, watched salmon swim upstream and toured the town. A town rich in native Alaskan history, it was interesting to learn of the stories told by each totem. You could take a floatplane to Misty Fjords, walk along the infamous Creek Street, watch a lumberjack show or glide above the rainforest on a zipline. A great intro to our 49th state which will celebrate it's 50th anniversary in 2009.

Our next day was viewing Hubbard Glacier. As we started up the fjord toward the largest calving glacier on the North American continent, it was a foggy, eerily quiet ride through icebergs ranging from pristine to dirt covered. The glaciers were shrouded in fog until we got closer and right on queue the fog lifted and the skies brightened just in time for an amazing show. It sounded like great claps of thunder as chunks of the glacier cascaded into the water. It was an absolutely amazing sight. And once again I must emphasize the reason you must have a balcony--both sides were given equal time for great views and pictures. And then it was time to glide back down the fjords through water that was as still as glass.