Our Alaskan itinerary:

• Seattle, Washington- CLICK>>:Seeing Seattle
• Day At Sea
• Juneau, Alaska- CLICK>>Wanderlust Wrapped: All 50 States!
• Skagway, Alaska- CLICK>>>All Aboard to Adventure: Skagway’s Scenic Summit
• Haines, Alaska
• Hubbard Glacier, Alaska (no port)
• Sitka, Alaska
• Icy Strait Point, Alaska
• Ketchikan (Ward ), Alaska ***Canceled
• Victoria, British Columbia
• Seattle, Washington

Waking up in Haines and heading to the top deck for breakfast was a morning shock. We stepped outside to the view of our grand ship surrounded on all sides by vast snow-capped mountains. Our day in Haines was a relaxing one. I was finally on the mend, having more energy and a larger appetite. Chris and I hadn’t booked an excursion, but we had a few things in mind when we leisurely stepped off the boat. Again, our weather was impeccable. Our first stop was the American Bald Eagle Foundation. They had a great museum, gift shop, and Bald Eagle Rescue. The non-profit helps protect and conserve bald eagle habitat.

We then headed into the quaint downtown area along the waterfront for lunch. The Bamboo Room Restaurant has been family-owned and operated for over 70 years and the charm and view was impeccable. My fish and chips were one of the foodie highlights of the trip.

We then did a little separate exploration after lunch. Chris was very interested in The Hammer Museum and I wanted to explore the waterfront.

Chris described the Hammer Museum as being rich in history. He noted that the owner had a deep personal connection to the tools and enjoyed sharing that story. The museum featured numerous specialty hammers designed for a wide variety of tasks. Although Chris, a carpenter by trade, observed there were very few carpentry hammers, he found an extensive collection of jewelry, railroad, lineworker, and wailer hammers, among others. The owner was able to articulate detailed information about each one.

While Chris enjoyed the Hammer Museum, I took my camera down to the harbor to geek out in my own way, capturing some special colors and nautical landscapes in Haines.

Our evenings on the boat typically involved a relaxed sit-down dinner, followed by a nightly tea ritual somewhere on the ship. In Haines, we enjoyed our tea outdoors, taking in the beautiful view of the mountains while savoring the comforting warmth of our drinks.