Floating high above the treeline

I've recently returned from what my husband and I call "the vacation of a lifetime."

We aren't wealthy people, so many of our vacations include camping - which we both love doing. But this one took us by air to Seattle, by train to Vancouver, by cruise ship to Alaska and then back home by air. And, being one who is so terribly fearful of flying and heights (to the point where I must have pharmaceutical help to get on an airplane), this vacation tested every nerve in my body. But it was well worth it. We saw and we did things we'll likely never see and do, again. Out of hundreds of photos taken, I'll share a few of our highlights. I hope you enjoy them and the journey.

It starts with our flight out of Orlando.

And before you know it, we make our descent into Seattle, and catch our first glimpse of Mount Rainier. Stunning!

We hit the ground running, so to speak. We rented a car and drove up to Mount Rainier, making stops along the way to see waterfalls and views of the mountains.

Our first of many, many waterfalls is one named Christine Falls.

                                     

Being from Florida, its not often that I get to see and play in the snow.

 

I wish I had the words to describe the beauty that surrounds us. Just like the Grand Canyon is filled with vivid colors at sundown, the same is true of Mount Rainier and the Cascade Mountains of which it is a part.

We stayed at Paradise Inn, a lodge at the base of Mount Rainier. And after a yummy hot chocolate with mint schnapps, it was early to bed and early to rise for our day of hiking.

Don't get me wrong, though. My husband and I are not trail-blazers. We love to hike prepared trails, but are not equipped for what others might call true hiking. Although the temperatures were in the 70s, we had to climb a 10-foot wall of snow just to get to the trail. And that was just the beginning. My husband and I were not prepared for hiking in the snow (no cleats), so we went as far as we could before the trek became a tad too treacherous for us, and we turned around, wishing our son and his wife well as they marched on. (I found myself wishing we had made this trip when we were younger.)

At this point, we don't know how deep the snow is, but we do know we are standing among treetops.

From there we hiked some lower trails, seeing waterfall after waterfall, and then we crossed a short suspension bridge to see some of the largest and oldest trees in North America at the Grove of the Patriarchs.

My husband finds a friend at the Grove of the Patriarchs.

It was time to leave Mount Rainier National Park and spend a few days in Seattle, where - the next day - I found myself above the tree-line, again, (or so it felt), taking the 605-foot ride to the top of the Space Needle, high above the city. After a delicious lunch, it was over to Pike Place Market where we saw the infamous fish throwing guys and the equally infamous gum wall.

It's totally disgusting, but we had to see it. (That's probably where I caught my cold.)

 

Early the next morning, we board a train to Vancouver where we then embark on our cruise to Alaska.

The train ride was beautiful, overlooking the coast of Washington into Canada. But getting to the cruise ship was even better. My husband and I had been anticipating this trip for nearly a year. That evening, we enjoyed clear skies and a full moon -- could it be any better?

See the cruise ship following us?

 

We spent a day at sea, and the next morning, we grabbed a much smaller boat that took us into Tracy Arm Fjord, while the ship went on to Juneau. There's no better way to experience glaciers than to get as up close and personal as possible, and this excursion allowed us that opportunity.

After going through a field of icebergs, we end up at Sawyer Glacier.

This picture doesn't do the blue-ness of the glacier justice.

This is one of the many waterfalls we encounter while on the Tracy Arm Fjord excursion.

 

The next port of call was Skagway, where we rented a car, went for an early morning hike through the Old Miner's Cemetery, took a glass blowing class and then took the Klondike Highway as far as we could into the Yukon, until it was time to turn around and get back to the ship.

The glass blowing class is phenomenal and great fun; one of many highlights of the trip.

 

Canada's Yukon Territory is nothing short of spectacular. Everything is larger than life and more beautiful than any photo we had seen online. We traveled to the picturesque Emerald Lake, Carcross Desert and beyond Carcross, before we had to make the U-turn to return to the ship.

Emerald Lake -- simply stunning!

On our drive back, we stop and do what hundreds (if not thousands) before us have done, and we build our own stack of rocks, or inuksuit as some call them (if they are in the likeness of man).

 

The next day, our ship sails all the way into Glacier Bay National Park. Wow!

I thought the trip into Tracy Arm Fjord was spectacular, but this is really beyond. Miles away from our ship stood centuries old glaciers, yet they seemed as though they were close enough to touch. The day spent in Glacier Bay was like nothing we've ever experienced. We saw whales, bears, eagles, sea otters and seals. 

Marjorie Glacier is one of only 12 out of more than 1,000 glaciers still living and thriving today.

On our way out of Glacier Bay, we pass Sea Lion Island.

The next port was Ketchikan, where my nerves would be tested, once again, as we flew a float plane for about 45-minutes to Anan Creek to see bears, eagles and more. We were not disappointed. After about a one-mile hike, we "perched" and watched as the bears came out to catch their prey - the salmon were running, and it was a field day for the bears.

Mere feet away, we watch as the brown bear catches his meal, then scurries off to play in the river. That's when the black bears come out of hiding.

A very protective mamma watches over her cub.

After one of the most exciting days of my life, it's time to head back to the ship.

We arrived back in Vancouver to spend a few days there sightseeing. Again, I found myself high above the treeline (or so it seemed), as we crossed the Capilano River on the Capilano Suspension Bridge and stayed on the 20th floor of our hotel.

This park is quite fascinating, with many more suspension bridges on the other side that take you high into the treetops and a cliff walk that literally takes my breath away.

 

Our stay in Vancouver included a visit to the Museum of Art (and another gum wall -- what's up with that?),  checking out the place of the Olympic Torch, eating a Japadog, seeing a steam-powered grandfather clock, walking the Gaslight district, biking around Stanley Park and more.

For grins, we walk around downtown Vancouver with moustaches. Fun times!

My husband shades himself under a giant leaf at Stanley Park.

I don't know how we do it, but we get lost bike riding in Stanley Park!

I come out of the woods at Stanley Park, after being lost. (We never confessed this to our son and his wife.)

 

After spending a long day at the park, it was time to end my vacation above the treeline and fly back to Florida.

In the early 1980s, my parents had planned a trip to Alaska. My brother was living there and they were supposed to visit him for a few weeks, but my father came down with shingles only days before they were to leave - forcing them to cancel the trip. They never rescheduled it, and I don't know why. This is one of those times when I wish I could get a simple question answered, but that window of opportunity is closed. So, I took my parents with me -- in heart, soul and mind.

My husband and I celebrated our 40th anniversary nearly a year ago, and that's when I gave him this trip - as an anniversary gift. Our son and his wife decided to also take the trip, and I'm so grateful they did.

One of the things I love most about my daughter-in-law is her zest for the outdoors. If my husband and I had taken this trip on our own, we'd have flown into Vancouver, taken the cruise and come home; perfectly satisfied. But because of our daughter-in-law's insightful planning, we jammed so much more into what became a two-week vacation. We hiked, biked, flew, took glass-enclosed elevators and crossed suspension bridges. To me if feels as though we spent our vacation floating high above the treeline, and - even though it might be short-lived - I overcame some fears and I'm ready to fly, again!

As I get closer to retirement age, I'm quickly learning how to live in the moment. I wish I had learned earlier in life. Better late than never, though.

If you're ever afforded the opportunity to travel to Alaska, I strongly urge you to do so. It's majesty, vastness and beauty cannot be truly appreciated through these few photos.

I love you Daddy and Mom. I hope you enjoyed the trip.