Deaf Cruise Alaska with Land Tour
May 30 - June 9, 2008

Most of us arrived in Vancouver a day prior to the cruise. That gave us the chance to discover the city's down town area. Then it was time to embark on Celebrity's Millennium. After one day of sailing, we arrived in Ketchikan. We visited Totem Bight State Park during a shore excursion. After walking along a short trail through a forest of hemlock, we arrived at a former Indian campsite filled with ancient totem poles. We entered the Ceremonial House and discovered the atmosphere of Alaskan Indian culture.
After arrival in Alaska's capital, Juneau, some of us opted for a tour of the Mendenhall Glacier followed by an all-you-can-eat Alaskan salmon bake. The glacier is 1.5 miles wide and hundreds of feet thick and is fed by the 1,500 square mile Juneau Icefield.
Not just another train ride! It is an unforgettable journey aboard the "Scenic Railway of the World" traveling 20 miles from the tidewater to the Summit of the White Pass - at 2,865 foot elevation! Guests ride in restored and replica coaches as they retrace the original route to the White Pass summit. This narrow gauge railroad is an International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.
Icy Strait Point	We had a chance to discover the Southeast Alaska Rain Forest at Icy Strait Point. The local guide described the many plants and animals that inhabit these rainforests and their importance in maintaining the delicate balance of a healthy temperate rainforest. Here and there we were lucky to spot bald eagles.
After a wonderful time of cruising through Alaska's Inside Passage and passing Hubbard Glacier, we terminated the cruise in Seward and transferred to a bus that took us to Anchorage. After some free time in Anchorage, we continued to the Alaska Native Heritage Center where we learned interesting facts about Native Alaskan life in the past. We stayed in Anchorage over night.
The next day was filled with a lot of excitement. The morning ride on the bus brought us to Talkeetna. The scenery during our drive to Talkeetna was beautiful and got even better during our train ride from Talkeetna to Denali. While we enjoyed the mountain panorama, several black bears greeted us along the way. We stayed in Denali over night.
Our group enjoyed the beauty of Denali National Park during a Natural History Tour. The park has the tallest peak in North America, Mount McKinley. While touring the park we saw grizzly bears, caribou, dall sheep, and moose. The afternoon was reserved for another train ride from Denali to Fairbanks where our Alaska trip ended.

Thank you note from my clients

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