Glacier Bay National Park - Gustavus, Alaska ❄️🛥 🌊 🦭🌳🚲
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- čas přidán 1. 09. 2022
- Glacier Bay National Park. My 8th and final park to get to in Alaska and my 62nd out of 63 within the United States. It's been a long road to say the least.
Now...there's really not much to do here in Glacier Bay.
Basically, all you have to do is sign up for the all day Boat Cruise Tour that's hosted by the Glacier Bay Lodge and the NPS (National Park Service) and that's it.
As long as you get to do this...you've really seen all of Glacier Bay.
I planned a very efficient 48 hour trip to come here. I'll give the details.
One thing...Glacier Bay is not accessible by road. On that note...
FRIDAY - from Juneau I flew with Alaska Airlines to the small town of Gustavus, AK...which is the "Gateway to Glacier Bay".
The flight to Gustavus was 20 minutes from Juneau.
The flight from Gustavus back to Juneau was only 15.
I flew in a Boeing 737, not any type of small regional carrier plane.
The flight roundtrip cost $200.
I stayed in an AB&B Cabin in Gustavus where my Host picked me up at the airport and drove me to the cabin, 2 miles down the road.
SATURDAY - the all day Boat Cruise Tour.
My AB&B Host then drove me 8 miles from the cabin to Glacier Bay Lodge and what's known as Bartlett Cove and Pier.
Boarding time was 6:50am for a 7:15am departure.
Yes, that's early...but that's the only time they initiate cruises...and only 1 excursion per day.
The return back to Bartlett Cove was 3:30 pm.
The price for the 8 hour cruise was $243.
But...to best experience Glacier Bay, you just gotta do this tour because, Glacier Bay is explored out on the waters. It's not a land park.
It's about seeing the sights, nature and glaciers "boating into inlets, coves and hideaway harbors" according to Wikipedia.
SUNDAY - my flight wasn't until 5pm(ish) so I was able to take a bicycle and ride around and explore Gustavus. My cordial AB&B Host lent me the bicycle to use during my stay. This was a nice way to add something extra with my remaining time before departing back to Juneau.
On this Note, I Highly Recommend:
- Blue Bucket B&B.
6 Shooting Star Lane
Gustavus, AK 99826
Robynn is the Host and she was out of this world friendly and accommodative! It was $199 for each night of my 2 night stay...and this price included taxes and fees.
Onto the Boat Cruise Tour...
I'm not going to blame the weather being all foggy and ruining the entire trip. I think my real issue was the whole itinerary along the way.
The plan consisted of trekking through all of Glacier Bay to eventually arrive at either 1 of 2 glaciers. Not both. Only 1. And it's the Boat Captain's decision depending on weather conditions which you go to.
- There's Marjorie Glacier - the symbolic image and "poster child" of Glacier Bay.
- Or, there's Johns Hopkins Glacier, which according to the Park Ranger who joined the cruise for the day, said Johns Hopkins has more of a striking setting compared to Marjorie Glacier...but Marjorie Glacier is the more renowned.
My tour ended up at Marjorie Glacier.
There were a lot of ice chunks in the waters when we arrived. And I was also frustrated how the boat never got close to the glacier. The engines were turned off while we were far away and next thing I'm really having to zoom in on my camera to get the best perspectives.
That was weird because along my summer journey throughout Alaska and having taken many Glacial Cruises...other vessels got on top of the glaciers for their passengers, like ones I took out of Whittier, Valdez and Homer.
Here, we were just so far away.
After 10 minutes, the fog took over and Marjorie Glacier wasn't even visible.
My biggest issue came with getting to and from Marjorie Glacier.
Be prepared. It took 3.5 hours in each direction to make it.
And on these 3.5 hours, there wasn't much to see along the way, including barely viewing wildlife, unless you include random otters and sea lions.
No whales and no bears on the shores.
To sum up the 3.5 hours in both directions,...passengers were taking naps. All this $$$, all this time, all this hard work and to take naps?
I gladly stood on the top deck and froze myself than to ever think of going to sleep.
Lunch is included with the cruise. Either a ham or turkey cold cut sandwich with chips. There is unlimited free water, hot coffee, tea and hot chocolate.
Special drinks like sodas cost extra.
In the end, the Boat Cruise was a disappointment especially with the glacier barely being visible from a distance and with so much surrounding fog for the entire day.
Some last extra notes...
- I had dinner at the Glacier Bay Lodge afterwards. Just make a reservation in the morning of your departure.
- Take a photo of the famous "Whale Skull".
- Stop by the Tlingit Hut to learn history about the area.
- Hike the Forest Loop Trail beside the Lodge.
- The Park Visitor Center is situated on the 2nd floor of the Lodge.
- There's a Gift Shop to buy souvenirs.
Glacier Bay was just okay. It was a fine park to visit, just not so memorable.
#glacierbay #gustavus #parks - Zábava
Thanks for this video! I lived in Gustavus about 15 years ago. I miss it sooo much! Loved seeing it again from your video. 💜
Crystal thank you 🙏 so much for your kind words! Yeah, loved Gustavus…what a charming town in the heart of nature!
Glad you were able to reconnect by watching a little. I appreciate it ☺️
Great video. My family used to own and live in that house you stayed in. I have many memories there. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for the reply! The lady who currently owns the home, Robynn, is one of the friendliest people I have ever met! She was so cordial and accommodating. The house is in good hands.
Do you still live in Gustavus? What a terrific town…I look back on my visit very fondly 😊.
Thanks for watching and sharing your comment!
You bet! I’m glad it’s in good hands! I grew up there as a child but live in the Midwest now. I still try to make it back there once a year. I’m happy you enjoyed gustavus!
Big thanks for the video. Going there next summer so any tips are highly appreciated. Good luck with #63 NP
Thank you so much for the like and comment!! I appreciate it 👍.
Welp, if you go by cruise ship…you’ll have plenty of time to see either Marjorie Glacier (the face of Glacier Bay) or John’s Hopkins Glacier, or both.
If you go on your own, book an 8 hour day trip tour with Glacier Bay Lodge, I believe for around $250ish. Either way, the park can only be explored by boat out on the waters.
And…just hope for good weather, lol 😂.
Any questions, don’t hesitate to ask!
And thanks, hope to get #63 in 2023! 🙌
What was the greatest NP you went to? This is my first video I have watched of you
I’d say Utah’s “Mighty 5” pretty much have it all. You have Zion’s hikes, Bryce’s Hoodoos, Arches, Canyonlands - similar to the Grand Canyon and massive walls of Capitol Reef.
Are you a parks enthusiast?
Thanks for watching! When I return from my travels soon, I hope to take some CZcams classes or courses on improving my vids. They’re extremely amateurish at the moment, but I hope to be much better in the future.
Thanks again for the comment!
@@SethAugust oh no problem! From the UK and still haven't gone to all of our parks - would like to go to the largest one (the Cairngorms) though. I would love to holiday in Utah though - even more than Alaska maybe. I hear they have the largest homes out of any state in the country!
Never heard of the Cairngorms. I really must do a lot more international traveling.
Alaska has 8 National Parks…with tons of beautiful glaciers set all around the state.
Utah though, certainly has the red rock colors.
And I didn’t know Utah had the largest homes in the country. Welp, there’s definitively a lot of space to build houses.
Have you spent much time exploring in the USA?
@@SethAugust No, have never been but am still lost for choice between Utah and Alaska as the first state to visit. Watching more videos I probably won't like the 110 degree climate in Utah lol
Wow…that’s tough choices between Utah and Alaska.
Yeah the summer temperatures in Utah can get extremely uncomfortable whereas Alaska can be perfect.
I guess, maybe, if you find the best travel deals.
Hello again what is this
This was Marjorie Glacier at Glacier National Park in Alaska. I visited there for a few days and took a boat cruise in the great outdoors. Hope you liked the sceneries!