Alaska Bound

I recently came into a small inheritance and decided that it would be fun to take the whole family on a trip to some place we've never been.  The "whole family" consists of my 2 children, ages 23 and 28, my husband and me.  We managed to find a 2 week period over the summer when all 4 of us were available and decided on a location...ALASKA! 

I'm not sure how we chose Alaska, actually.  I'm a tropical kind of girl and my husband only hikes if there's asphalt under his feet.  Everyone told me that we would love Alaska because of it's natural beauty and it's unique reputation of being the last real wilderness left in the United States.

I began planning and researching our trip in February.  I retired in January, so had lots of time to plan.  I had trouble getting started.  There was 3 feet of snow on the ground, it was 10 degrees above zero and I injured myself shoveling snow.  I just couldn't get my computer to go to websites about Alaska.  My fingers kept getting detoured to sites about the Caribbean!

Finally, I settled in.  I found out so much about Alaska and realized that 2 weeks wasn't going to be nearly enough.  I would have to start being more selective about where to go and how long to stay.  I needed input from the other 3 travelers.  I called my teacher son in North Carolina.  He said, "Whatever you want to do is fine".  I called my college student son in southern Ohio and he said, "Whatever you want is fine."  I think my husband said something like, "Where is Alaska"? 

So, I made decisions.  I pared down the activities and got ready to start making reservations.  I called the North Carolina son and he said, "Will there be alcohol on the boat trip?".  I called my college student son and he said, "I don't want to go on a boat".  And, my husband said, "Oh, are we going to Alaska?"

All of the major arrangements are made now.  Last night, I sat my husband and college son down and said we needed to go over the itinerary and make any last minute arrangements.  College son said, "Don't sign me up for anything.  I'm going hiking by myself.  I just need my running shoes; a compass; some water and I'll be fine." When I explained that hiking in Alaska was a little different than hiking in the muncipal parks in town, and under no circumstances was he going hiking by himself in Denali National Park, he agreed to let his brother hike with him.  I called North Carolina son and explained that he would be his brother's hiking "buddy".  He explained to me that he wasn't traveling all the way to Alaska to get lost in the mountains and have to eat his brother to survive."  Also, "Was there going to be any alcohol on the boat trip?"  I believe my husband said he just wanted to see a glacier and did he have to go on a boat to do it?

I love my family.  I miss seeing my boys now that they've left home.  But, if I ever get another inheritance, I'm spending it all on a trip to Hawaii...just for me!