It is no secret that the Inian Islands are one of the many treasures of Southeast Alaska. The Inians, a protected wilderness area with a highly productive marine environment due to upwelling that brings nutrient-rich waters to the surface, is teeming with wildlife at every turn. Whales, otters, sea lions, and seabirds all feed in these waters, and we were so fortunate to witness these creatures in their habitat during our morning Zodiac tours. We saw otters and their pups happily munching on sea critters, humpback whales around the ship, and Steller sea lions hauled out and feeding on fish in the water.
In the afternoon, we headed south into Idaho Inlet for onshore activities, including forest edge walks, bushwhacking adventures, and treks through the forest. We found evidence of bears and deer, and our long bushwhack explored the muskeg. Our afternoon closed with a pre-cocktail hour polar plunge at the beach, recap, and a kid’s pizza night in the lounge.
