Visits from Georgia

We love it when we are able to share our adventures with family and friends.  The boys always enjoy having friends and family visit, it's like a week long sleep over.PARTY!!!  So when the Corliss Family planned their summer vacation, we all were excited that it included an Alaskan visit.  

We had a lot planned for their 10 day visit.  To start the week off we planned to see Alaska like a true Alaskan, camping.  Alaska is so wide open that you don't always have a town with a hotel.  There are no Holiday Inns or Motel 8s around here, but they do have camp grounds.  Or if you want you can just pull over on the side of the road and camp.  We like bathrooms so we camp at campgrounds. 

Our first stop was Mt. McKinley.  

It was a cloudy day but we were about to view the tallest mountain in North America, Mt. McKinley.  

Gina took this great picture! Awesome shot!!

While traveling through the state there is not always a restaurant when it's time to eat. So the best thing to do is pack a picnic, there is always a picnic table along the way.

That's the Mountain surrounded with clouds.

Awesome fireweed.

We finally arrive at Denali National Park.

Our camper.

Pulling into camp.

Setting up camp and getting dinner on the fire.

Bryson Petting a fox fur at a Ranger Talk.

The boys talking to the ranger.

At the Ranger talk we learned how to pick low bush cranberries.

We visited the dog kennels to learn more about dog mushing.

This puppy is wearing the cone of shame because he keeps eating rocks. I need one of those for my kids, wonder if it would work????

Mushing!

Bryson and Heston get their junior ranger badges from Denali.

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We have been very blessed to be able to visit Alaska for 3 months. We have had lots of clear days to be able to go and see the state, but like our friends will testify sometimes 10 days are just not long enough, especially when it rains 8 of the 10 days.  There are two things you need to always bring when traveling to Alaska, water proof boots and a rain jacket.  

We did not let the rain stop us, we acted like a true Alaskan by getting out, camping, traveling and visiting the great out doors even in the yukky weather.

Here we stopped by to see Sarah Palin's house. (It's behind the fence)

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We took a wildlife cruise where we saw puffins, whales, otters, bald eagles and sea lions. 

Sea Otter

We have learned that the sea otter holds it's very own rock in a pouch under his arm.  When they catch a clam they will use their rock to crack it open and eat whats on the inside. They are soooo cute to see swimming on their backs in the water.

Sea Lions on rocks.

WHALE!!!

We enjoyed our cruise even though it was raining, cold, windy and someone got sick. I just wanted to share my lunch with the fish:-)

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We visited Thunderbird Falls.

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Of course we had to show our friends a glacier, so we hiked up to Exit Glacier. It rained on us, but we saw blue ice

Here we are back at camp, in the rain.  This reminded me of an episode of Sarah Palin's Alaska.  It was the episode where Kate plus eight visited the Palins and they all went camping.  Kate complained and wined about being cold and wet while the Palin's were just used to it and managed to still have a great time camping.  So during our camping (in the rain) we all were good sports and acted like a Sarah and not a Kate. We had only 10 days for our friends to take it all in so we pushed through and had a great time.  We will always remember sitting in the rain playing Scrabble.

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 While our friends were here we had two birthdays to celebrate. Bryson turned 9 and Kristen turned, well I won't say because you should never tell a girls age.  We were glad to have special people around to  celebrate these special days.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

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We visited the salmon run and saw bears.

We visited the ULU factory. 

Guess what, on their very last day in Alaska turned out to be sunny and beautiful.  So we took off to Byron Glacier.  Caleb wanted to stand on a glacier while he was here in Alaska.  His wish came true on his last day in Alaska.  I think this was the kids favorite day.  Playing on a glacier can only happen in Alaska.  

Tunnel of glacier water flowing under the ice.

Trent and Kristen hold a chunk of the glacier.

Deep in the cracks you can see blue ice. 

This was a perfect ending to our week.  We were so glad to see our friends from Georgia.  We had a great time being true Alaskans and braving the weather.  It's an adventure we are were happy to share with our friends the Corliss Family.  Their visit adds to our Alaska adventure and gives us memories that we will always be able to share together.