American Constellation in Alaska: Petersburg

Children from Petersburg came aboard the ship to perform traditional Norwegian folk dances
(Photo: Gerry Barker)

By GERRY BARKER
North Palm Beach Life

After a day of scenic cruising, we arrive at Petersburg on Day 8, a town on Mitkof Island known as "Little Norway." That evening, we'll get a demonstration of their Norwegian heritage when a group of children come aboard to perform traditional Norweagian folk dances.

There's a lot on our agenda today. In the morning, we'll board a floatplane and see LeConte Glacier from the air during the "LeConte Glacier Flightseeing Experience." There are six of us, plus the pilot, and I got to take the co-pilot's seat for the one-hour flight. Flying between the Fjord's granite walls was amazing.

In the afternoon taking the "LeConte Glacier Jet Boat Adventure" for a close look at the southernmost tidewater glacier in the Northern Hemisphere. We'll enter a narrow Fjord and pass large chunks of ice that have broken off from the glacier. Along the way we'll see sea lions, whales, seals and maybe even a mountain goat or two. The scenery, including the myriad waterfalls comng off the cliffs,  is stunning. To top it off, I was fortunate enough to capture an iceberg calving on video (below).

​Between the jet boat and the floatplane, it's a day we'll remember for a long time.

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LeConte Glacier Slideshow
Photos: Gerry Barker

Le Conte Glacier Video
Credit: Gerry Barker

Floatplane Slideshow
Photos: Gerry Barker

Floatplane Video
Credit: Gerry Barker