National Geographic Sea Bird dropped anchor in Haines, Alaska, today as our guests and staff overflowed with excitement. The day was action packed with adventures, such as hiking Mt. Riley and Battery Point, learning about Klukwan Village and Tlingit native culture, floating down the Chilkat River, bicycling up the Lynn Canal, and even fly fishing. After morning excursions, we got to explore the quaint main street of this coastal Alaskan town. The eccentric “Hammer Museum” was a smash hit among guests and boasts the second largest hammer in the world in its collection. Many people also visited the Haines Brewing Company or the Port Chilkoot Distillery for a refreshment after a long but rewarding day. Thank you to all our local guides as well as Sea Bird staff, crew, and officers for a wonderful day!
5/7/2025
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National Geographic Sea Lion
Inian Islands, Port Althorp
The Inian Islands invoke sheer joy and excitement among the naturalists, which in turn, is transferred to the guests. We set out in Zodiacs, traversing in nearly unprecedented calm conditions through the narrow Mosquito Pass, then around North Inian Island. We observed over a dozen bald eagles and sea lions waiting for the inrushing tide to bring fish to the surface for easy pickings. We also saw a couple of male sea otters peacefully lying on the surface while fluffing up their fur to introduce air for insulation (they don’t have blubber). The weather was classic Alaska…sun grading to rain…then to partly cloudy. In the afternoon, we traveled to Port Althorp for kayaking and hikes. Again, very calm conditions with intermittent sun and rain. The hikes were beautiful, winding across the mud flats and into the thick rainforest painted with several shades of green. Bear trails were observed and used by us as convenient paths to follow. Kayakers slowly paddled across glassy water to enjoy the peace and solitude. The day ended with soft sun.
