The Tip of the Iceberg

Unlike most of my family and friends who love going to the beach in the summer, I like to escape the heat and go to the mountains. This often means time in the Austrian Alps with a backdrop similar to “The Sound of Music”. I love the crisp, clean air of the mountains, and their reflections in a beautiful lake.

Kaprun Stausee

This year we decided to do something different. Instead of going to Europe, we stayed in the US. The kids wanted to go on a cruise, and I love mountains, so what better place to go than Alaska! What a beautiful state it is. Known for it’s wildlife, fjords and glaciers, it was the perfect location for me to experience. We set sail from Seattle, but first we went to Vancouver for the kids to visit western Canada for a few days.

Vancouver Skyline

Then we headed to Seattle, roots of Starbucks Coffee, birthplace of Grunge music, and home to Microsoft and Amazon.com. This is where we embarked our cruise ship off to the 49th state.

Seattle Space Needle

Being on a cruise is certainly one way to get pampered. It’s all-inclusive with the exception of beverages and excursions, you can have room, turn down, concierge and butler service, depending on your cabin (usually a suite), and  you never have to pack or unpack to visit a different city. Kids and teens are entertained during the day, so adults can feel like they have a separate vacation for part of the day. I was never a big fan of cruising, but I really enjoyed it this time around.

Sawyer Glacier

After the cruise, we headed south to Portland, OR. We traveled east to witness a double waterfall that I have only seen in photos, and was eager to see up close. It was spectacular, and worth the trip. I have a soft spot for waterfalls, and want to see as many as possible in my lifetime. Multnomah Falls did not disappoint me.

Multnomah Falls