August 24, 2008: Seward to Anchorage, Alaska

Our last day in Alaska! :( We spent some time in Seward, at Kenai Fjords National Park's Exit Glacier (info). Then we took the drive north to Anchorage, and flew home late in the evening....

Salmon trying to spawn back into the Bear Creek Fish research station

LOTS of Salmon here!
More salmon

EXIT GLACIER:

Sockeye Salmon near Tern Lake outlet

Downtown Anchorage

Red-Necked Grebe at Westchester Lagoon - Anchorage

Assorted pipers at Westchester Lagoon (mostly Dowitchers)
Distance sign on 6th Street in Downtown Anchorage

TODAY'S ROUTE:
LOCATIONS MENTIONED TODAY (INTERACTIVE)

August 23, 2008: Seward, Alaska (Kenai Fjords Glacier Tour)

We spent most of today on the Kenai Fjord's "Captain's Choice" 9 hour tour of Resurrection Bay, nearby Glaciers, and the Chiswell Islands. (Link) This was great! We saw some incredible scenery, and nice birds, too. A storm was brewing so it got a little rough near the end but the crew was good at minimizing the effect of the waves - the crew and guides on board were great, and we really would reccomend this tour to someone visiting the Seward area!

We had a GREAT meal at Ray's Waterfront right near the harbor! The Thai Scallops were amazing! (Location)

Views of the Seward Harbor before we left in the AM (above three)

The mountains around Resurrection Bay

Above two: More mountain scenery around the bay

Photos below are of Holgate Glacier:

We did see a small part of the glacier calve when we were there

The area surrounding the glacier was also scenic

A Horned Puffin on the rocks of one of the islands in the bay

Above and Below: Red-Necked Phalaropes

Common Murres on the Chiswell Islands

Thick-Billed Murre (Chiswell Islands)

Black-Legged Kittiwake nest (Chiswells)

Humpback Whale

Harbor Seal

A view back towards shore from more open waters

Black-Legged Kittiwake

Another tour boat in Resurrection Bay

Pelagic Cormorant

Flying Horned Puffin (I wish I got a better shot)

Harbor Seals

The shore of Resurrection Bay

A smaller glacier in Resurrection Bay (above and below)

A distant view of Seward from the boat Our boat was the "Alaska Sunrise"

Seward Small Boat Harbor

A view of the mountains about 5 miles out of Seward

Another Glaucous Winged Gull hunting along Bear Creek

A spawning salmon on Bear Creek

This is the general area of the Kenai Fjords Boat Tour (Seward, to the Chiswell Islands)