Dawn in Ketchikan, Alaska.
View from the ship: Ketchikan, Alaska.
New Eddystone Rock.
We got to set the clocks back one more hour today, making us 4 hours behind EST. That was a good thing because we were up at dawn for an early excursion to Misty Fjords National Monument Wilderness. On a high-speed catamaran we covered 100 miles, traveling through the Revillagigedo Channel to Behm Canal and around New Eddystone Rock (initially mistaken for a sailing vessel by Captain Vancouver), before entering the National Wilderness through Rudyard Bay. As a glacial fjord, it looked very much like New Zealand’s Milford Sound, complete with narrow waterfalls, deep water and dramatic sheer cliffs. Incredibly, we had another majestic day; chilly but with a dazzling blue sky and sparkling, calm water.
Upon returning to downtown Ketchikan, we walked around and saw famously bawdy Creek Street (the creek having no visible salmon today), and shops, ultimately finding Annabelle’s Famous Keg & Chowder House for lunch. Our Halibut sandwich was fresh and delicious; expensive too.
After dinner we positioned ourselves in the ship’s Sky Lounge (top, forward) to look for whales during the sail through Snow Passage. We weren’t disappointed. We saw a number of “blows” and some surfacing in the distance. Upon learning some were expected starboard in a few minutes, we rushed back to our room and were rewarded by seeing a young Humpback whale flip his tale for us. Mama stayed under.
So far, our starboard cabin has had perfect views.
Glass-blowing on the Pacific with the Corning Museum Hot Glass Show.
We slept-in, had breakfast and headed for the beautiful Celebrity Solstice. This ship is really nice and the improvements make it seem like Celebrity executives have actually read my past comment card remarks. The Solstice is a great ship and the attention to detail is wonderful.
After boarding early, we skipped the over-crowded crunch typical of embarkation day and headed for lunch at the Bistro, a specialty café serving crepes, paninis, soups and salads (a bargain at just $5 extra).
It’s unusual that within the month I have visited glass blowing studios in the NC mountains and am now seeing more while on the Pacific with the Corning Museum Hot Glass Show. Located on the top deck of the ship (15), just off the perfectly groomed (real) lawn, the program features three artists who took turns making dramatic pieces and providing educational, personal commentary for the audience. It was interesting and very well done.
We attended programs by guest-Naturalist on steroids, educator and entertainer Brent Nixon. He was fun to watch and incredibly knowledgeable. I particularly loved the program on whales (and can now identify species by different blow patterns). Nixon was a super choice for a ship with an Alaska itinerary and large numbers of kids as well as interested adults; he kept things lively but never ‘dumbed-down’ the educational content.
Dinner of the best-ever fresh Pacific salmon was followed with a great Broadway review.
Best of all, we survived the mother/daughter cage match for who got more hangers, closet & drawer space: it was a draw.
Seattle and its iconic Space Needle.
This trip will not be at my usual pace – it’s a very special mother/daughter trip with my Mom who is an active, enthusiastic, 80+.
We begin our trip, after spending a difficult night in Charlotte, with an early flight to the west coast. Between a few issues in our room, a late dinner with my daughter before she headed back to NYC and a very early wake-up, I don’t think either of us slept more than an hour. But lack of sleep did not get in our way of seeing the sights in Seattle.
The early flight allowed us to arrive early enough to have almost a full day to explore. Since Mom hadn’t been before, we stayed downtown in a hotel selected for its view of the Puget Sound; I had pre-arranged an early check-in. From our room we could actually watch the people milling around on the top of the Space Needle. Once settled, we started with a short, downhill walk to Pike Place and a great Dungeness crab roll and cup of clam chowder at Pike Place Chowder (in Post Alley). We had a bit of a wait to get in – but it was worth it. The good reviews did not mislead us.
On the way, we had purchased tickets for one of the local hop-on trolley buses and when we left the seaside market, that’s just what we did. We toured the entire route taking in the sights including Pioneer Square, the Space Needle, museums and the waterfront.
For dinner we headed back to Post Alley, in the Pike Market area and had dinner at The Pink Door. If you weren’t looking for it, you would have no idea that behind this innocuous, pinkish door is an eclectic spot with retro décor, whimsical flair, a charming outdoor dining patio with views of the Sound, and a different style of entertainment.
And the bonus – near perfect weather.
From the Xchange brochure, showing a good overview of the site.
For an art experience even a non-art lover can enjoy, visit the Energy Xchange located between Spruce Pine and Burnsville.
A North Carolina renewable energy center, the Xchange captures methane gas produced from a landfill and uses it to heat greenhouses, and fire pottery kilns and glass blowing furnaces.
Established as a craft business incubator program, a juried panel selects six young artists for three-year residency programs to help them develop craft and business skills. The artists receive mentor support from the jury members as well as free energy to create their masterpieces. You can see them at work, chat about their experience, visit their gallery (purchases are welcome!), and learn more about methane as energy in the on-site educational center. More official tours are available for a small fee and must be arranged in advance.
Open Monday – Friday 10-4; Saturday 9-noon. www.energyxchnage,org 828.675.5541
