Alaska

To celebrate Aaron’s birthday, we decided to tick off another destination from my bucket list. It’s a win-win situation: Aaron’s birthday and my bucket list! Alaska has always been a dream destination for me. My parents have taken cruises there multiple times, and the sheer beauty of the land is simply breathtaking.

We spent a day in Vancouver to fully celebrate Aaron’s special day. Then, we boarded the Royal Caribbean Serenade of the Seas for the next seven days. Our itinerary took us along the Inside Passage, stopping at Skagway, Haines, Juneau, and Icy Strait Point.

Juneau, the state capital, may have only 30,000 residents, but it’s incredibly remote. This town, created by the gold rush, is filled with outdoor activities. We decided to take a bus to get closer to the Mendenhall Glacier. After a walk to the glacier, we indulged in some delicious Alaskan crab to satisfy our hard-earned appetite.

Skagway, another gold rush town, is much smaller compared to the other stops on the Inside Passage. Here, you can immerse yourself in the 1800s through its well-preserved historic relics. Aaron and I took the train through the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, which was a scenic and authentic way to experience the local sights.