Five years ago we were wandering around Alaska in our RV. As we traveled I was always on the lookout for wildlife and we saw plenty of it.
Along with the many land and sea animals, I enjoyed seeing the birds. The Bald Eagles were my favorite and there were more Bald Eagles than I’ve ever seen anywhere else. We saw them perched in trees, soaring overhead, and even in a nest in front of the Homer Post office. The most unusual sighting was seeing one fly right beside the truck as we drove along the Homer Spit. I was so busy watching him keep up with us that I didn’t get a chance to take his picture!
Bald Eagle on Ninilchik BeachBald Eagle at Chilcoot Lake State Park, Haines, AKBald Eagle at Chilcoot Lake State Park, Haines, AKBald Eagle in the Lynn Canal between Haines and JuneauBald Eagle in tree beside Eldred Rock Lighthouse in the Lynn CanalMama and Baby Eagles in HomerEagle soaring over bluff at Russian Orthadox Church in NinilchikWe spotted this pair of Bald Eagles as we cruised by on a wildlife and glacier cruise from Valdez
Five years ago this week we were on the road to Alaska from Georgia. Once we crossed the border into Canada, I spent every day looking for wildlife. There were many “WOW” wildlife sightings in both Canada and Alaska.
I’ve been thinking about posting some of my favorite wildlife photos from the trip and today I finally got the boost I needed to put it all together. When my friend Ingrid at Live, Laugh RV posted that the theme for her very first Wednesday photo inspiration was wildlife, I immediately started going though the thousands of photos from the trip.
If you would like to participate or see other posts inspired by Ingrid, click on over to Ingrid’s post Wandering Wednesday.
Here are just a few of my favorite wildlife photos from our Canada and Alaska adventure.
Elk near our campsite in Jasper National Park, AlbertaSoon after entering British Columbia we were in Mount Robson Park and saw this grizzly beside the roadBear in British ColumbiaBison herd with calves near Liard River Hotsprings in British ColumbiaMoose in Denali National Park, AlaskaBlack Bear Cub in Valdez, AlaskaStellar Sea Lions on wildlife cruise from Haines to Juneau, AlaskaHumpback Whale on wildlife cruise from Haines to Juneau, AlaskaSea Otters on Columbia Glacier cruise from Valdez, AlaskaPod of Orcas with calf on Columbia Glacier cruise from Valdez, AlaskaEagle at Deep Creek Beach, AlaskaPair of Eagles on Columbia Glacier Cruise from Valdez, AlaskaPuffins on the Columbia Glacier Cruise from Valdez, Alaska
Welcome to the next post in my series highlighting states we have visited throughout the years. I hope you will enjoy coming along for the ride! I will be featuring the states alphabetically and next up is
Alaska
Alaska became the 49th state on January 3, 1959. The capital is Juneau and it is the only state capital that can only be reached by air, boat, or birth. The largest city is Anchorage.
We spent 50 glorious nights in Alaska in the summer of 2013.
I loved meeting so many wonderful Alaskans and hearing their stories. Wildlife, glaciers, boat trips, a flight seeing tour, eagles, halibut fishing, Denali National Park, taking the RV on the Alaska Ferry from Skagway to Haines, and a train ride on the Alaska Railroad are just a few of the amazing things we experienced while we were there. Our favorite place was Haines. The most exciting thing we did was take a flight-seeing tour from Talkeetna to see Mt. McKinley and land on Ruth Glacier. The farthest north we went was Coldfoot, north of the Arctic Circle.
Pullen Creek RV Park, Skagway, Alaska
Waterfalls along the Klondike Highway
Arriving at the Haines ferry dock
Watching for whales in Haines, Alaska
Bald Eagle at Chilcoot Lake State Park, Haines, AK
Haines boat harbor
Deadliest Catch!
Mendenhall Glacier
The free George Black Ferry crosses the Yukon River from Dawson City to Top of the World Highway.
Poker Creek Alaska
The signposts show other towns named after chickens. Who knew there were so many?
The Pedro Dredge in Chicken is a National Historic Site.
Santa Claus House, North Pole, Alaska
Downtown Talkeetna. We ate at the West Rib Pub for dinner last night
We went really close to Mt. McKinley
Loving every minute of our time on Ruth glacier
Home of author Mary Lovel in Sherman, Alaska
The Alaska Railroad runs right behind our campsite
Such an amazing sight to see their tail
Stellar Sea Lions on day trip to Juneau
Calving on Aialik Glacier one
A pair of Orcas on Columbia Glacier tour from Valdez
There were Puffins in the water
Sea Otters on Columbia Glacier tour from Valdez
Wandering Dawgs at the Arctic Circle
A good look at the Alaska pipeline as it goes underground
Four of these fish are ours!
Mount Redoubt sunset in Ninilchik, Alaska
Anchor Point is the most westerly highway point on a continuous road system in North America
Our first moose sighting was this cow by a pond
Lukor liked it on top of his house
Polychrome Overlook, Denali National Park, Alaska
Caribou grazing in Denali National Park
Do you see the profile of a face on the right side of the rock?
Chunk of ice from the Columbia Glacier
Fireweed behind our campsite made the beautiful view even better
Mama bear looking for more fish near Valdez
Every day was memorable, every day was special, every day we saw something spectacular. Was it worth driving over 14,000 there and back? Absolutely!
To read previous posts about the states featured in this series just click on the state name: Alabama
Our favorite places to camp are the campgrounds with a view. There’s nothing like waking up with a view outside the RV or sitting outside in the evening enjoying the scenery around us. We’ve enjoyed campgrounds with views of spectacular mountains, glaciers, forests, and all kinds of water.
For us, the best camping is beside a river, mountain stream, lake, or any body of water for that matter.
We enjoy watching the different water craft go by.
Moon rising at Ortona COE in Labelle, FL
We watched boats going through the lock at Ortona
Barge on the Mississippi River at Tom Sawyer RV Park in West Memphis, Arkansas
Coal barge going down the Mississippi River from our campsite at Tom Sawyer RV Park
Sometimes we see wildlife.
White Pelicans behind Sunset Isle RV Park in Cedar Key, FL
Egret on the deck behind our campsite at Sunset Isle RV Park in Cedar Key, FL
Pair of Bald Eagles across the canal at Ortona
Blondie loves it when she gets a chance to go swimming.
Blondie swimming behind our campsite at Petersburg COE
Blondie swimming in Lake Ontario at Golden Hill State Park, NY
We love watching the sun rise and set over the water.
Sunrise over the Mississippi River at Tom Sawyer RV Park
Sunrise over Lake Barkley, Kentucky from Canal COE
Sunset at Petersburg COE on J. Strom Thurmond Lake, Appling, GA
Sunset over J. Percy Priest Lake from Seven Points Campground
Although we left Tok, Alaska almost a month ago, our memories of Alaska will never leave us. Here, in no particular order, are a few photos of some of our favorite places and adventures.
Our favorite place was Oceanside RV Park in Haines, Alaska where we could sit and watch for whales, watch eagles fly by, and watch the ferries and cruise ships sail by.
Cocktail hour whale watching with Ted and RuthyBald Eagle at Chilcoot Lake State Park, Haines, AKDeadliest Catch!
The most exciting and most memorable experience of the entire trip was the South Face McKinley flight-seeing tour and landing on Ruth Glacier with Talkeetna Air Taxi.
We went really close to Mt. McKinleyLoving every minute of our time on Ruth glacier
We loved all of the boat trips we took.
Whale Pectoral Fin on day trip to JuneauStellar Sea Lions on day trip to JuneauSeeing ice calving on Aialik Glacier on the Kenai Fjords trip from SewardA pair of Orcas on Columbia Glacier tour from ValdezSea Otters on Columbia Glacier tour from Valdez
Driving to the Coldfoot, sixty miles north of the Artic Circle was a drive to remember.
Wandering Dawgs at the Arctic Circle
Catching Halibut and watching the sunset in Ninilchik, Alaska.
Four of these fish are ours!Mount Redoubt Sunset
Denali National Park.
Moose beside the road on the way out of the parkLukor liked it on top of his houseBeautiful green valley at Polychrome OverlookAnother group of Caribou up on a ridge
Driving the Top of the World Highway, panning for gold, going for a train ride on the Alaska Railroad, watching for wildlife on the side of the road, seeing the Fireweed blooming everywhere, seeing glaciers off in the distance and up close are all highlights of the trip we will never forget.
Every day was memorable, every day was special, every day we saw something spectacular.
