Dawn broke unassumingly, like an eagle pausing briefly on a cerulean blue iceberg, seemingly without a care in the world. We glided past nature’s sculpted ice castles as scotters, murrelets and loons flew furtively over the scalloped surface of the sea. The thunderous calvings of the glacier were underscored by the occasional call of a seal pup, voicing an undecipherable concern. Countless unnamed waterfalls cascaded around us in every direction. Their origins were all unique and unseen, but their destinations all shared as one.
- Daily Expedition Reports
- 14 Jun 2022
Tracy Arm, 6/14/2022, National Geographic Sea Bird
- Aboard the National Geographic Sea Bird
- Alaska
Sean Neilson, Naturalist/Certified Photo Instructor
The summer after Sean graduated from college, he waited tables in Yellowstone to delay entering “the real world”. It was there, in the unending beauty of such a special place, where he realized the natural world was the real world—and it had captured...
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Alaska Escape: Haines, the Inian Islands and Tracy Arm Fjord
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5/25/2025
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National Geographic Sea Lion
Haines, Alaska
Immediately upon National Geographic Sea Lion’s arrival in Haines, the low clouds began to lift, and a bald eagle landed on the pilings next to the ship…a welcome sign of things to come. Our morning activities included hiking to the summit of Mount Riley, walking along the beach at Battery Point, cycling along the coastal roads, and fly fishing for Dolly Varden. The afternoon offered many of the same activities and time to explore town, where many guests decided to visit the recently opened cafe at the top of the dock for local Alaskan flavors. Speaking of Alaskan flavors…we now await the evening’s crab feast with great anticipation!
5/24/2025
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National Geographic Sea Lion
Inian Islands and Fox Creek
We had an amazing day today exploring the Inian Islands and Fox Creek. In the morning, guests left National Geographic Sea Lion to explore the Inian Islands on Zodiacs. This location is known for its currents and the upwelling that happens here. Nutrients rise to the surface, producing a great opportunity to witness the feeding behavior of bald eagles, Steller sea lions, sea otters, gulls, and other marine mammals. After a delicious lunch, guests chose from two exploratory opportunities at Fox Creek. One of the options was a moderate hike with our naturalists interpreting along the way. The second option was an intertidal walk with naturalists, enjoying a bit of tidepool exploration. We concluded this amazing day back onboard listening to the recap, having a wonderful dinner, and planning for another great day tomorrow with our visit to Haines.