Denali National Park and Fairbanks

We started out the day by taking the shuttle from the lodge to Denali National Park. We got off at Horseshoe Lake Trail and spent a couple hours wandering the lake. Sruthi and the kids saw a giant moose pass right in front of them!

We also saw lots of adorable little squirrels peeling pine nuts.

The kids had a lot of fun together on the trail singing, “Going on a Bear Hunt” and variations of “Baby Shark”

Then we ate lunch at the grill near the visitor center. Then we wandered over to the visitor center to get our stamps, watch part of a movie about park sled dogs, and check out the exhibits.

After that it was time to head back. Soren sadly threw up on the bus, but after that he felt much better.

We then caught the bus to Fairbanks. The driver was a BYU student from Provo, and he took us to a stop in Naneena where we got some souvenirs and ice cream. The air by that point had turned incredibly smoky from all of the Alaskan wildfires. Fairbanks was pretty smoky too.

In Fairbanks we went to a local theater and watched a film about the art of ice sculpting, after which we got to check out their ice sculptures and watch an artist sculpt some ice.

Then we walked to the antler arch and a Thai restaurant, ate a warm dinner and headed back to the hotel.

On Saturday we ate our last meal on the cruise before disembarking the ship.

Then we took a bus from Whittier to the lodge near Denali State Park. On the way we saw some beautiful glaciers and passed through a very long, claustrophobic tunnel.

Lydia took this shot of Clarissa on the way.

The kids drew to entertain themselves. I took a picture of Soren’s drawing because I knew it would make Nana most especially happy!

When we arrived at the lodge we took a very short walk to the Treehouse, which had amazing views of Denali. It is such a breathtaking mountain!

After that the kids played at various parts in the lodge grounds before dinner.

We watched a presentation from two climbers of Denali and a beautiful slideshow of pictures of the Aurora.

Abe made friends with one of the climbers who lost a leg and still broke records with his climbing accomplishments.

Glacier Bay

On Thursday we spent the day at sea and saw Glacier Bay National Park. While the kids were at kids club Abe and I just sat in the sunshine at the front of the boat and talked for hours and hours. It is so fun to visit with Abe!

Everyone got a kick out of the otters. Sometimes they would just float on their back leisurely. This one appeared to be playing with its food:

Skagway

Skagway was so unexpectedly beautiful. I felt like I was in Yosemite. Everywhere you look the view is incredible, but my poor photography skills could not do it justice. I honestly did not even try to take many pictures because it was too impossibly pretty. Absolutely gorgeous.

We wandered into town and learned about the gold rush before going on a the Dewey Trail hike to a lake.

After the hike Lydia, Mary, Sruthi and I wandered around downtown Skagway. I bought the girls some hats and popcorn. It was very relaxing and peaceful and fun–one of the best highlights of the trip for me!

Ketchikan

Ketchikan was one of my favorite days, even though it was rainy and a little cold. We went to see Totem Pole Park, and then we went to the salmon stream and were awed by the way the salmon battle their way upstream. After we sampled some delicious salmon in a fish store on the way back to the boat.

At sea

We spent the day at sea. The kids had fun at kids club, and there was a fair like activity for the kids in the middle of the day that we all attended. They had face painting, cookie decorating, glitter tattoos, a clay boat-forming contest, and a dance party.

Rainbow Bay with the Tiemanns and Orem Summerfest

In the morning I got up early, did laundry, did Clarissa’s reading lesson with her, did story time with Ammon and Clarissa, helped Ammon with piano, helped Mary with piano, had Lydia practice the harp, and tidied the house.

Then at 10:10 we all piled into the car, washed the car, and picked up some picnic food from Harmon’s before driving to Rainbow Bay for lunch with the Tiemanns. The kids had so much fun all playing together by the reservoir, and we had a wonderful time visiting with Matt and Courtney.

By the end of lunch, though, I was exhausted and came home to nap while Abe took all of the kids to Orem Summerfest. Then he brought home Lydia and Mary so he could march in the parade with Ammon and Clarissa. I gave Lydia a foot massage before the girls got all ready for bed and have been blogging ever since.

Abe, Lydia, Ammon and Clarissa all went on this crazy ride.
Here is what Ammon and Clarissa had to say about it
After the second time, Ammon started to feel sick and he lay down in the shade for 15 minutes after that.

Abe and Mary went on this ride.
fun with treats
Abe and Ammon went on the Aladdin fun house because no one else had close-toed shoes.