Tuesday, June 11, 2013

I don't know, Alaska

What did Delaware? 
I don't know, Alaska.

State humor.  Always fun.  Especially when you're going to one of those states.  And if you think my annual vacation is to a state i can drive to in 20 minutes, you are clearly wrong.  Because this is a bucket list trip.  And while there's nary a thing wrong with Delaware, it's probably not on anyone's bucket list to visit.

So that leaves Alaska.  I can buy a small car with the amount we are spending on this trip.  Bucket list vacations ain't cheap. This is also our 15 year anniversary thing, so going big is ok.  Bucket list items that I will cross off are as follows:  Alaska.  Pan for gold.  Icebergs from balcony.  Glass top train.  Baby moose.  Fancy pants camera.
 
Yes, that's right.  I've invested in a fancy pants beginner camera. On which I've been practicing for the last month.  Which means taking oodles of pictures of my cats.  My cats are ridiculously photogenic. 

Which means I need your fancy pants camera tips (mine is a Nikon 3100 with a 200 zoomy lens which will hopefully allow me to see baby moose/eagles/seals/elk/caribou/bear/whales). 

Also, I need your Alaska tips if you have any.  Namely for clothing.  And shoes.  And must see things.  Or tips aboard ship (our first time on a Princess ship).

We're going for two weeks.  First on land, then at sea.  Fairbanks-Denali-Talkeetna-Anchorage-Whittier-Hubbard Glacier-Glacier Bay-Skagway-Juneau-Ketchikan-Vancouver.

I'm freakin' out here.  It'll be here before I know it.  Help a girl out, please. 
 
  
 

15 comments:

  1. You know I love bucket list trips! Alaska is a great place to visit...or so I've heard! I've not been so no help with that. I think you camera should be good. Practice on those gorgeous cats of yours!! I am so excited for you. We will both have trips of a lifetime this year!

    hugs,
    Linda

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  2. How wonderful! I don't have a fancy camera, nor have I been to Alaska, but my parents went and they absolutely loved it. Take it all in and then bring it back to share, please! I do remember one tip - bring a sleep mask - the sun is up all night in the summer! My dad got up one night at midnight thinking it was noon and went down to the dining room for lunch! Ann

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  3. Ooh, sounds like a great trip! I've never gone, but I can imagine it's going to be amazing!

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  4. I don't have any fancy pants camera tips... or Alaska tips for that matter. BUT, I'm totally jealous of your trip! It'll be amazing!

    I have gone on Princess cruises and it was fabulous. From what I heard from other passengers... Princess is a step above the others!

    You're going to have fantastic time, I can't wait to read about it and see all the goregous pics you're going to take!

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  5. Oh. My. God. I am so unbelievably super-duper thrilled for you!!! My grandparents went on the ship/train thing in Alaska and they both said it was the best trip they ever took. And they took lots. I am sooooo excited to see all the pics when you guys come back.

    I have no advice for you on the camera. J had a Nikon, but I am lazy and basically used it as a point-and-shoot. I'd love a nice camera, but I'm pretty broke right now, so...

    Clothes advice? Pack light, but lots of warm stuff. I heard it was REALLY cold on the ship. I went on a Carribean cruise with an ex way back when and I packed an extire suitcase of shoes. Of which I wore two pairs. So don't do that.

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  6. Hey good lucky on your cruise, as you know, I just came back from my Mediterranean cruise and before I left I wrote my Top 10 packing Tips that you can check out for inspiration. They aren't so much cruise tips as packing tips but I used all of them. Also, I see your bucket list involves panning for gold and a fancy camera. Those are also aspirations of mine! Good luck on your cruise.

    -Brittany Ruth

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  7. I can't wait to see your pictures. I'm very bad at packing, so I can't really help, though my first tought would be to pack warm clothes as on the sea it's always colder.

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  8. Have a great time!!! Alaska is absolute beautiful and gorgeous in the summer (and winter too if you like that kind of thing :). I finished high school in Palmer and went to college in Fairbanks.

    I wouldn't even know where to begin on tips but the University of Alaska Fairbanks does have a cool museum, there is a musk ox farm on the outskirts of Palmer (with gorgeous views of the Mat-su River??? on the way)

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  9. Haha... Corny jokes are always so fun. :)

    Alaska looks gorgeous. I have always wanted to do an Alaskan cruise! Not so sure about the cruise part anymore what with all the fires and power outages going on.

    toddlindsey.com

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  10. How exciting! I've never been but my parents have been twice, they love it so much! Thanks for stopping by my blog-I'm now following you. :)
    Susan

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  11. Envy, Envy, Envy, Definitely on MY bucket list! Beautiful picture
    Faye

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  12. What a great trip. B and I would like to take a cruise there one day (easy to do from Vancouver!!!). We're planning our honeymoon now (booked just the other week... I think I will do a whole week devoted to it next month... lots to share!) Can't wait to see your pictures!!

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  13. Oh I loved my cruise to Alaska!!! You have to do the float plane over the glaciers - so much fun and you see so much.

    It was freaking cold when I was there, rainy too so be sure to take some rain gear and a fleece jacket (and then, of course, the weather will be beautiful!) I only had a jean jacket and light clothes and I froze. I was there the last week of July.

    I went to Sitka, Juneau and Ketchikan. You want to do the gondola in Juneau, the view is spectacular. I also recommend the guided tour of Ketchikan (if you go there). I never would have seen all the cool places if I'd just wandered on my own. It was my fave city of the three I visited. Have a blast!!!!

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  14. In answer to your question, "What did Delaware?":
    I heard she wore a brand New Jersey.

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  15. Well I hope you had an amazing time. I'm sure you did! Excited to see the pics you share.

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