Gifford Alaska Trip Part 2

The next morning, our cruise ship slowly and quietly sailed through the fjords as icebergs floated below us. We were surrounded by towering cliffs covered in pine trees and sprinkled with waterfalls and glaciers. It was stunning! The water was emerald green from the melting glaciers. It was a site to see! Later that day we spent in Juneau, Alaska. We took a bus to a salmon hatchery and saw where they raise salmon. Then we went on to the Mendenhall Glacier Park. We walked the trail to the glacier and waterfall. The glacier was huge! We had fun posing for pictures and watching the boys throw rocks in the lake. We then headed to our final destination of Glacier Garden. This was a fun treat. It was a garden that has been manicured and tamed in the thick Alaskan forest. It was neat to hear the story behind it and to take a ride through the trees. We were dropped off in town for some more fun shopping. Giffords, especially Gifford girls, love to shop =) It was fun to mosey in and out of the cute shops with my mom and sisters. 

Iceberg floating by the ship

Next we visited Skagway, Alaska. It was a chilly day! We boarded a train to the White Pass & Yukon Route. The leaves were beginning to change colors. The track wove in and around the tall mountains. The view was beautiful. Ryan was in charge of celebrating Josh this day, so on the whole train ride up we were entertained by riddles about Josh that we had to decipher. It was so fun to pick our brains. After our train ride we went back to the ship for a quick lunch and then braved the cold again for some more….shopping! Skagway was a charming town with colorful buildings and rich history. 

Our last stop was Victoria, British Columbia. We arrived at port just at sunset so we didn't get to see much of the cute town. But, from what I did see, I want to go back! We took a bus to Butchart Gardens. From what we could see under the lights of the dark night, the flowers and manicured gardens were gorgeous! I can only imagine how much more stunning they would be in the light of day. The  best part about this night was the fun game we played. Robby had us playing a fun movie and tv show guessing game that had us all reminiscing the times we spent in front of the tv growing up together! We all got ice cream cones and headed back to the ship.

Formal Night for dinner

Playing games on the ship

Heading to the airport

Seattle, Washington

Sydney, Australia

This trip was amazing! Yes, the scenery was gorgeous and the adventures were fun. But, the best part of the trip was being with my parents, siblings, and their spouses. We were all unplugged from our phones and work and church responsibilities and we just relaxed and ate and talked and had fun together. I loved our devotionals, game playing, eating, and reminiscing. I loved the bonding that happened and the memories we made. It is a trip I will always cherish.