The von Steinblogs: Family vacation to Alaska

We had an amazing trip to Alaska!

Our sweet Hosea is such a great traveler. It is so fun to see the world through his eyes!

Farmer’s Market in Anchorage – such a sweet time with our friends!

David & Rachel drove us out to see Turnagain Arm & Beluga Point – so gorgeous!

Hiking around Campbell Park & Airstrip – We had to be bear conscious, as bears were out of hibernation, but not all the salmon had come yet. A hungry bear is not your friend. We learned about the different between a bear sighting and a bear encounter. The latter of which is NOT OKAY!

Taxidermy is a booming industry in Alaska! David and Rachel's neighbor had just come back from a black bear hunt. We got to see the bear he killed in his garage. Here is Jed holding a moose rack their neighbor had. These antlers were HEAVY! Moose are massive.

Jed's friend, Stephanie, picked us up in her float plane. From Lake Hood in Anchorage, we flew to Homer, where Stephanie lives.

Inside the float plane...such an amazing experience! Thanks, Steph!

Once we convinced Hosea to keep his headphones on, the motion and sound of the float plane instantly put him to sleep. Sweet baby!

Flannel, trucks, Alaska...this is the life!

Breathtaking view from Stephanie's house in Homer = AMAZING! (please note her hot tub on the left...definitely took advantage of that)

During our nine days in Homer, we had plenty of time for rest, which was so wonderful!

While Hosea napped, we got time to sit in Steph's hammock, enjoy the fresh air and mountainous backdrop, chat, and read. This is what our souls needed!

Just one of our moose encounters...yes, we were that close to this moose. They were everywhere...the stray dogs of Alaska...seriously! The female moose come into Homer to have their calves, so the bears don't eat them. Moose are actually more dangerous (cause more deaths) to humans than bears. WHAT?!

Stephanie (and cousins Alice & Charlie) took us across Kachemak Bay to Halibut Cove, where we had a fabulous dinner at The Saltry Restaurant. This little, secluded community is absolutely amazing!

Unfortunately, we did not catch a halibut this large when we went halibut fishing.

Jed kissing his first catch!

Bethany's first halibut

This is how you fish when you have an active, almost two year old!

Steph's boyfriend, Forrest, works on the halibut fishing boat. Here he is fileting the fish while we head back through Kachemak Bay to Homer.

Hosea getting a little bit of time as the captain of the boat.

Our first humpback whale sighting

A family of otters

Mountains across the bay from Homer

Hiking the Beluga Slough Trail from the Islands and Ocean Visitors Center to Bishops Beach in Homer

You know you're in Alaska when...

An amazing mama moose and calf sighting

All aboard!! Kenai Fjords Tour in Seward, Alaska

Chilly weather, but calm waters for our tour - wildlife everywhere!

We saw a pod of Orca whales right next to our boat = AMAZING!

Cliffs full of seabirds - puffins were the favorite!

Traveled through Aialik Bay to reach Aialik Glacier - this is a calving glacier. We did not see any significant chunks of ice fall into the water, but we could hear it cracking. Our captain had to dodge icebergs to get us a close view. It was spectacular!

After our tour, we spent the night in Seward at The Nauti Otter in this cabin. It was a memorable experience! This place showed us amazing hospitality.