All the Way to Alaska

I had booked Pacific Club Rooms, giving us access to a private lounge with tea & coffee available and a free breakfast, the following morning, up early and headed up Burrards St. to hire a couple of bikes. Okay, so I have not been on a bike for many a year. Helmets on and off we go, around Canada Place, past the yachts and seaplanes, around Stanley Park, to English Bay, with distant views of Vancouver Island, at this point it had been all flat. But suddenly to get back to the beginning, there was quite a steep hill. We had so much fun.

After checking out of the Pan Pacific, they very kindly take your luggage to your cruise ship. But we had one more stop to make

Fly Over Canada, a state of the art techy, 3D simulator flight, if you only do one attraction in Vancouver it has to be this, only takes about 45 minutes.

Time to embark on our Alaskan Cruise, on board Crystal Symphony, we had a Seabreeze Penhouse Balcony cabin, with an incredible en-suite. I love the size of this ship, just over 800 passengers. Excellent food in all the restaurants, well stocked Library, and decent sized cinema. A full promenade with interesting signage “please walk this way.“ So tempted to be a rebel.

First port of call: Juneau, capital of Alaska, next to the cruise terminal is the Mount Roberts Gondola, you need to time it right, as it can get very busy. At the top there a number of different walks, including one, all the way back down. As the queue was quite long on the return, we ventured into the café, to sample the local cocktails, our table was next to the window, with spectacular views.

Back on the ship we set sail for Skagway, we had pre-booked the Whitepass & Yukon Railroad trip, a 2 minute walk on disembarkation. This Scenic Railroad is a 40 mile roundtrip by steam engine, following the old Klondike Trail, an excursion not to be missed. Skagway has the normal tourist shops for those fridge magnets and T.Shirts. We popped into the Red Onion Saloon to taste “Reindeer Farts” then on to one of the local seafood restaurants for King Crab Legs.

We entered Glacier Bay the next day, the temperature dropped, the scenery was out of this world. Crystal employ Park Rangers who guided and commentated all day about the history and points of interest. We were lucky to see Glacier Carvings, a black bear near the water edge, whales, sea lions and the cutest Sea Otter holding a piece of ice.

Ketchikan was the last port of call. We headed to the Totem Pole Heritage Centre and the Salmon Hatchery. With a lovely walk back along the Ketchikan Creek, through Married Man’s Trail into Creek Street. The Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show is close to the ship and seem very popular. Ketchikan is great for a spot of retail therapy.

Upon arriving back into Vancouver, we jumped into a taxi and headed for Auberge Hotel for a couple of nights. Dropped off the bags and back down to Canada Place with our 48 hour hop on hop off ticket. Covering downtown Vancouver – Stanley Park – stopping at Granville Island for lunch and a look around the market, back on the bus – Yaletown – China Town, quick stop to view Dr. Sun Yat Sem Classical Gardens, on to Gas Town and back.

Next day we jumped on the bus to Capilano Suspension Bridge, the entrance fee $55CAD, warning, if you don’t like heights or wobbly bridges, then this isn’t for you. I loved it, walking through the trees, over the bridges and the new cliff walk.

Heading back to Vancouver for the afternoon. Vancouver Lookout was on the list, followed by a wander around Gas Town, a Japadog for tea, and back on the bus, this time heading to the Aquarium in Stanley Park, and catching the very last bus back into Canada Place.

On our last morning, we headed to Grouse Mountain, they run a free shuttle from Downtown Vancouver every 30 minutes, tickets to ride the gondola were approx. $50CAD pp, we walked around the summit and watched some daredevils zip wiring across the top, took some wonderful photos of Vancouver, before heading back.

Our time had come to an end in Vancouver, we had loved every minute and plan to return soon.