My Journey To The Last Frontier via Radiance of the Seas & DIY Land Tours-Pics Galore

[lovelife]

Seward continued........

 

We decided to book a 20-minute round trip shuttle to Exit Glacier for $10 each. The hike to the glacier was by no means easy or flat as described, but we mature folks managed to handle it and even saw a very elderly couple slowly navigating the trail.

 

 

Exit Glacier Visitor's Center

 

 

 

The Trail

 

 

 

The View

 

 

 

Made It

 

 

 

Up Close

 

 

 

It was exhilarating and fun. The return shuttle dropped us off at the train station in plenty of time for our next adventure.

 

I love Seward.

[Tweedy]

I see you are in for quite an adventure on your upcoming north and southbound cruises. I hope you have a wonderful time.

 

I love your city!

 

 

Thanks!!

[Desert Cruizers]

Beautiful Photos, Thank You.

[cruiserking]

Hello Love Life,

 

Thanks for posting such gorgeous pictures of your Alaskan Adventures. Radiance is really a beautiful ship definitely want to cruise her soon, looking forward to more.

 

Jonathan

[Cat54]

Great pictures! We are doing southbound on the Radiance next June. Planning a DIY for 6 days before the cruise.:)

[newdestination]

Very nice review and photos!

[Iluvcruising2]

Awesome review with really great pictures!

 

May I know what camera you use?

 

Thanks!

[lovelife]

Awesome review with really great pictures!

 

May I know what camera you use?

 

Thanks!

 

Thanks all for your kind comments.

 

Most photos were taken with a Nikon D40. A few with my little Canon Power Shot.

[lovelife]

Now we begin our journey north from Seward.

 

Coastal Classic Train - Anchorage to Seward (deserves its own separate category)

 

 

Here She Is

 

 

 

This was the best money spent during our two-week adventure. Gold Star service, in my opinion, was worth the extra dollars for the confirmed seat in the private upper-level dome car, complimentary coffee, soda, and tea for the entire four-hour ride, private lower-level dining room, and private outdoor viewing deck. We also had access to all other cars.

 

 

Woo Woo - And We're Off

 

 

 

Inside the Dome Car

 

 

 

 

 

From Our Car Looking Forward

 

 

 

Private Viewing Deck

 

[lovelife]

Coastal Classic Train Ride continued.........

 

I didn't think the scenery could possibly get better than what I had already seen, but boy was I mistaken. Unbelievable! Magnificent! Stunning! Astonishing! (sorry, the thought of it just carries me away.) In addition, a moose and several eagles were spotted along the way.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[lovelife]

Coastal Classic Train Ride continued........

 

 

 

 

The Other End of Train

 

 

 

 

 

Mud Flats

 

 

 

Dinner on board was delicious (but Alaska pricey) and service was great. There were only about three other people dining.

 

 

As we neared Anchorage the sun went down

 

 

 

On my bucket list was a long train ride with dinner on board. Mark one off!

 

I love this train ride.

[BecciBoo]

Grandeur and immensity are two words that come to mind. I remember a terrific review on here titled "Your camera isn't good enough" by CC member "morebeaches". Although your images are breathtaking!

We once asked some Brits in Yellowstone the difference between the Rockies and the mountains in Europe and they replied..."The immensity of it!" Even though their mountains are very high, they are very close together as opposed to the mountains of North America with the great open space between them.

[lovelife]

Anchorage

 

Cool evening and nice warm day.

 

Upon our 10:15 p.m. arrival in Anchorage a Comfort Inn Ship Creek shuttle was there waiting to take us the couple blocks to the hotel.

 

 

Comfort Inn Ship Creek

 

 

 

View from Our Room - Close to the Tracks

 

 

 

The hotel is unremarkable. It sufficed as a place to lay our heads for a few hours, and I was sleeping like a baby until the 5:15 a.m. train toot. What a wakeup call. After the nice, hot complimentary breakfast on the patio the following morning we walked along Ship Creek out back where many fishermen/women were trying their luck along the banks.

 

 

Ship Creek

 

 

 

Late morning we checked out and took the hotel shuttle to the airport to pick up our rental car (yay, a nice clean Enterprise car in good working order).

 

 

Northward we ventured, so glad to have the ability to go and stop as we pleased with our luggage at hand.

[lovelife]

On the road north, the first detour was to Eagle River.

 

Tiny town but it had a Wal-Mart!

 

 

 

Further along, the valley was striking.

 

 

Me Taking Pix of Me Taking Pix

 

 

 

We drove to the visitor's center at the end of Eagle River Road where we stretched our legs and enjoyed the vista for a while.

 

 

 

 

 

Back on the road, we headed north for Talkeetna.

 

 

Along the Way

 

[lovelife]

Onward North

 

Just before Talkeetna we anxiously pulled over to the south Mt. McKinley lookout hoping we would be among the 30% who actually get to see her. My breath was literally taken away by the sight of it and I had to give a little prayer of thanks for the opportunity to gaze upon this glorious panorama.

 

 

 

 

 

 

20 photos and a lot of gawking and we're on our way.

 

I love natural beauty.

[BecciBoo]

wow!

 

He was right! Nothing can top the human eye, but you do come close!

[ucfalli]

Amazing photos.. can't wait to see more

[dalitos]

Your pictures are gorgeous, and loving the review.

Hope we'll be doing an AK cruise some day.

[lovelife]

wow!

 

He was right! Nothing can top the human eye, but you do come close!

 

Thanks for the compliment and thanks to everyone for their kind comments. I just get so excited attempting to share the beauty of Alaska. You really have to see it for yourself.

[Keith1010]

This review/report is very well done.

 

Keith

[lovelife]

This review/report is very well done.

 

Keith

 

Thanks bunches.

[jimbri]

Beautiful photography - thank you.

[lovelife]

Talkeetna

 

Very warm and beautiful both days.

 

We had leisurely driven the 115 miles north, stopping as we wished with no schedules to keep. By early evening we arrived in Talkeetna, a tiny, quirky town with character aplenty and purported to be the inspiration for the town in the TV series, "Northern Exposure."

 

 

 

We had reservations at Talkeetna Cabins, located half a block off Main Street. No frills here but so cute with a double and a single bed upstairs. I'm more into accommodations on the luxurious side but I must say I loved this little cabin. A building out back housed a pay laundry and we washed a couple loads.

 

 

Our Little Cabin (well, half of it)

 

 

 

 

Main Street is but one block long but very interesting. Dogs meandered the street, seemingly just another of the eclectic residents, and folks stopped and petted them. Dinner at the famous Roadhouse that evening was exceptional. Inside you sit at long tables with strangers but we managed to snatch one of the small tables out on the front deck where we could people watch.

 

 

 

 

My awesome BBQ sandwich with the most incredible bread and great salad

 

 

 

DH's reindeer & beef meat pie - he didn't care for the meat but I tasted the crust and it was the best I've ever had

 

[lovelife]

Talkeetna continued.........

 

After dinner all the shops were closed. We walked to the river at the end of Main Street and then returned to our little cabin and had a good night's sleep.

 

We in fact slept a little too late and couldn't find a seat anywhere at the Roadhouse the next morning as planned. A few doors down we found the Wildflower Cafe and gave it a try. The best breakfast of the entire trip!

 

 

 

DH had a slice of apple pie at the Roadhouse later on and was in pie heaven.

 

We then hit the hippy coffee shop.

 

 

 

 

Main Street Talkeetna - I Think I'll Park Here

 

 

 

With the shops open we could by more "stuff" before heading out of town -- yay.

 

This town is just too cool and I wanted to stay for a week (or if it wasn't so cold - forever)! Talkeetna is a must stop for anyone traveling the Parks Highway. I'm a Peacenik from way back and really dug this town, man.

 

I love Talkeetna.

[lovelife]

Beautiful photography - thank you.

 

Thanks. More to come.