Slowly making our way into the harbor of Petersburg, we saw many birds flying around us, familiar one such as bald eagles and great blue heron and some that are new to us this week such as the Bonaparte gull and mew gull. The tide was low, exposing the shore and the many homes on stilts doting the coastline were sitting high and dry. A true Southeast Alaskan day, we had low cloud coverage and intermitted rain showers, making the town feel even more charming. Hikes across the waterway through the muskeg introduced us to this unique bog ecosystem and including the smallest carnivores’ plant, the sundew. Others explored the perimeter of town on a fantastic led bike ride, before joining a zodiac for a cruise through the fishing port exploring the heart of Petersburg; after all, it is “the town that fish built.”
6/14/2025
Read
National Geographic Quest
Southeast Alaska
On the last full day of our voyage, we woke in Endicott Arm near the Dawes Glacier. We spent the morning enjoying Zodiac tours to the face of Dawes Glacier and watched multiple calving events. We were also able to spot several harbor seals, waterfalls, and a couple harbor porpoises on the way. After lunch we had the opportunity to participate in a polar plunge. Forty people decided to brave the frigid water for a short swim. Those of us not eager to jump into glacier water were able to watch from the bow. After the polar plunge, we warmed up on board as we started transiting towards Juneau. On the way, we stopped at a beautiful waterfall to once again admire the amazing natural beauty of Alaska. During our farewell recap, we were treated to a quick visit by a humpback whale. We ended our day with a slideshow made up of our favorite photos and memories of an amazing week on board National Geographic Quest .