Okay kids, single file line now! Today we led the pack followed by a Holland America ship and the return of the Crown Princess.
Perhaps George Strait should have sang about Creek Front Property:
Another popular choice for the area is a ride on the Aleutian Ballad for the Bering Sea Crab Fisherman's Tour. Interesting option for those who want an up close look at fishing in Alaska or just to brag to friends back home that they rode on the boat featured on The Deadliest Catch TV show. Princess offers an excursion option for this tour at $199.95. The tour company itself offers the tour for a comparable price of $199 even. Minimum age to participate is 5 years old and 5-12 year old children get the cheaper rate of $120 each. The boat is wheelchair and scooter accessible provided they can transit the 31 inch wide gangway to board the vessel.
Not to worry, charm lovers who enjoy visiting all the Caribbean ports to collect the free charms at Diamonds International - they have them in Alaska ports too! Also pictured is the popular city tour known as a Duck tour because it has wheels to make it drive on the street and has the ability to float on the water for a land and sea experience. Booking this option through Princess will cost you $59.95. Booking directly with the company costs $59 even. 12 years and under is marked down to $34.
But wait a minute I can hear you saying, the last post mentioned that Ketchikan was spent with bears! You didn't mention bears in that introduction about tour options! Fear not, faithful readers, for I shall share my tale of swinging between trees to view bears and other wildlife. Our excursion today was the Black Bear Wildlife and Nature Walk offered through Princess' partnership with Discovery Channel network, Animal Planet. It is a bit pricey at $229.95. This tour has a minimum age of 12, only runs from July 26th through September 23rd, and requires being able to maneuver along swinging bridges between platforms built among the trees that can be as high as 15 feet off the ground. This tour is definitely not for those with mobility issues or a fear of heights. Like the whale watching excursion, Princess promises $80 back as an onboard credit (OBC) in the unlikely event that you don't see any bears.
Just in case the sign at the entrance wasn't warning enough, they provide a 3-D representation of what to watch out for on this tour:
This is one of Princess' few small group specific tours that are limited to only 12-16 participants. Each group is led around the sanctuary by a guide and yes, that guide will be carrying bear spray. They lead you first into the bear area of the sanctuary along a paved road where you need to watch out not only for bears walking by but the evidence they leave behind. Then you walk up into the first of the platforms starting the swinging bridge network that weaves itself above the series of paved paths, foliage, and stream where the bears freely roam. While your group may be smaller than the average Princess ship tour (had to work in a Yogi bear reference), several of these small groups (not necessarily fellow Princess passengers) each with their own guide will also be traversing through this network. At times, the guides will coordinate with each other so that one will hold their group back from advancing until the previous group moves on from the next platform. This means your group could at any moment be left standing and waiting on the swinging bridge portion but only for a few brief moments. All areas of the course are sturdy and meant to hold each of these small groups at once so there is no danger in having to stand and wait on the bridge itself.
Paved road on ground level:
There are some steps to get up into the treetop system.
As animals can not be controlled unless they're part of an animatronic jamboree at Disney World, when, where, and how many bears you could see is totally random. Groups will work together letting other groups know when they've had a good bear sighting. We were lucky enough to not only spot several bears but also witness a momma bear fishing in the stream to feed her bear cubs. Those bear cubs also delighted the group by venturing out to play and splash each other in the stream.
Didn't think you'd be finding any pics of bare (bear) ass in this blog did you? Guess this guy didn't appreciate being spotted in the middle of his lunch break.
Heading up the swinging bridge to the next platform. It is a little bit of an incline but not as taxing as a hike on the quads.
The higher up we climbed, the more we could see down between the trees where the bears played in the stream:
Fresh fish for lunch anyone:
Time to feed the children:
Why do I smell wet dog? Kudos if you know what movie musical that reference is from. If you don't, then maybe I'll tell you Tomorrow, Tomorrow...
Can only imagine the kind of scratching post needed for these claws. I think I'll stick to only coming close to the pastry version:
Quick while Mom's not looking - splash fight!
Mom's back with lunch:
However once they were safely off under the foliage to enjoy their lunch, Mom came back out to enjoy a soak of her own:
A good representation of how even the swinging bridges are above the trees while the platforms offer an even higher aerial view:
Platform at the end to go back to level ground:
And for any of our readers who prefer feathered over furry - we had some interlopers who tried to take advantage of the bear's sloppy fish seconds:
In case you've ever wondered whether bears can climb trees, the answer is yes. After we descended at the end of the course and were back on the paved path, our guide spotted a bear relaxing on a branch near the top of a tree. The tree was several trees back from the path and everyone respectfully admired this creature from a safe distance.
Once out of the forest area, we were led along a large open area of wooden decking to view several water birds and fish where the stream empties out into a larger body of water.
Doesn't everyone's tour guide come equipped with a walkie and tube of bear spray for protection?
These three birds sat perched on the railing like Larry Moe and Curly no matter what was going on around them.
Even birds are fans of their own reflections:
In case you really want to challenge your fear of heights - once out from the trees and back on solid ground, we spotted the platform for the zipliners:
This bird preferred a more direct approach to finding food:
Our next stop was to tour a historic sawmill where our guide explained the different types of wood used and the different techniques.
We then were led to the facility's bird rehabilitation area where we saw bald eagles and hawks that had been rescued and treated here.
Wait I'm not ready for my close up!
Well if he's not ready, then neither am I!
Ok, you can take my picture now
Take my picture, see if I care
Hey hey now, don't look at them. Look what I can do!
It's 80's Rocker Mohawk Eagle!
This was one of the few birds that stayed in its caged hutch. He was born with a malformed beak and it prevents him from catching food like he would have to in the wild.
Our last stop was to visit with a totem pole maker who explained his tools of the trade and showed us how each one was used on his latest work in progress. We then had the opportunity to ask questions.
The latest in Disney Merchandise - get your kid their very own Mickey chainsaw!
Examples of his work were on display outside the gift shop:
And of course with any tour, the true last stop is always the gift shop which is where our guide left us to partake in complimentary hot chocolate, lemonade, and cookies. One of Dad's favorite T-shirt souvenirs was found here.
Next up - We walk around town to do some shopping and explore Creek Street on our own.
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