An Adventure Out in the Wild

My junior year of high school came to a close and that meant that summer was finally here. To celebrate how the long hours of constantly studying for school paid off, my family and I decided to take a relaxing trip on a cruise to Alaska.

The cruise ship, Celebrity Infinity, provided tons of fun and excitement, but the weather was the total opposite. One foot on the deck and it was stormy winds, crashing waters, and cascading rains. As I looked out the window I thought, “Is this how it is going to be? I did not sign up for this”, and I wanted to go home.

The weather put many people in an apprehensive mood and some were eagerly waiting for the trip to end. Over the course of a couple days, the weather changed. Grey skies turned into blue, rains depleted, and sunshine emerged out of nowhere. It was such a breathtaking sight and the view became spectacular.

My family and I saw whales, dolphins skimming the waters parallel to the boat, and spectacular glaciers. The glaciers were grand, uniquely shaped, and had a beautiful blue color that emerged through the ice. The mountains towered over the calm waters and had a sprinkle of snow on each peak. This magnificent sight made me realize how incredibly beautiful nature is. I have never taken time to relax and just glance at what is around me. The world and environment that we live in is spectacular and just breathtaking. We should always take care and protect it.

When we finally reached our first destination in Ketchikan, Alaska, there was nothing but sunlight. We were then told that it was unusual for the weather to be sunny, and this only happened every so often. My family and I decided to go on a four hour bike ride that went into the rain forest, down a mountain, and presented beautiful views of Alaska. During this bike adventure through the wild, we met a young traveler named Ben. Bed led the group on the bike ride and he was also temporarily staying in Alaska. He told us that he came to visit this state because he wanted to be somewhere new and he fell in love with it right away. He decided to live in Alaska for a few years and then he would go back to his hometown in Montana. Ben gave shared with us stories of camping in the rain forests and facts about Alaska. He even took us to a creek and explained how the fish would travel up stream and how tribes would survive in these Alaskan lands.

After the unforgettable bike ride, we went on an inclined tram that carried us up a mountain and into a discovery center. At this center, we had the opportunity to see eagles and other captured wild life. On the way down the tram, they had a member from a tribe sing their traditional music and play a handmade drum. It was an incredible feeling to hear different music from the norm and to hear him tell a story of his family’s past.

The journey was finally coming to an end and I was not ready to go home. This trip allowed me to see a different side of the world and it made me appreciate the world around me. I am so lucky and grateful to live in the beautiful United States. Alaska is the twenty-fifth state I have visited and I do not want to stop here. Traveling is one of my favorite hobbies and passions. I hope to continue to travel to different states and countries to see what other scenic and marvelous views our world has to offer.