This year, seeking respite from the heat and peace and quiet, I decided to take my August vacation. Accompanied by my family and some friends, I went to Alaska on a Silversea cruise, the northernmost and most sparsely populated state in the United States.
To discover Alaska, the best way is by cruise ship, as the land excursions are just as beautiful as the sailing itself. The views, the silence, the landscapes, and the peace and quiet make sailing one of the destination’s greatest attractions.
Of the many routes available, the best is undoubtedly to start in Vancouver and end in Anchorage. This allows you to sail from south to north without having to return through the same place twice. To do this, I decided to take a cruise and chose the best possible cruise line, Silversea.
In my opinion, and I’ve seen a lot of the world, it’s one of the most beautiful cities on the planet. Strategically located on a peninsula, practically the entire city is surrounded by the sea, with lush vegetation and the Rocky Mountains as a backdrop. It’s one of the few places in the world where you can see snow-capped mountains from the beach.
Just outside the city lies Capilano Park, home to the world’s longest suspension bridge. An unforgettable experience immersed in nature.
On the third day of our trip, we boarded the Silver Nova, one of the most modern ships in the Silversea fleet. Sailing on them is synonymous with distinction and elegance, as well as guaranteed quality. The caviar and champagne served during the voyage made the destination shine even brighter. The abundance of common areas per passenger made us feel like we were traveling almost alone and with complete exclusivity. As my friend Isabel said, “On this ship, I only see other people in the elevators”—which, by the way, are made of glass and suspended over the sea!
Alaska is a natural paradise, a truly unique place for nature and photography lovers. The immense sequoia trees take your breath away from the very first moment. The vastness of the greenery, the rugged terrain, and the low, wooden buildings transport you back in time. It’s incredible to see salmon leaping around the boat and from the shore, some of them almost the size of dolphins, and although it might seem more like a Caribbean scene than Alaska, the crystal-clear waters are astonishing.
If I had to highlight two truly special visits, I would definitely choose the Skagway Scenic Railway, the old wooden train that reaches the Canadian border, offering a view of the mountains by the sea worthy of a movie, a unique experience that is itself a cinematic journey, and the second, the Icy Bay area, where glacial tongues reach the sea as if they were great volcanic eruptions; if you are also lucky enough, as was our case, to see large ice calving events, the roar and force of nature will make you tremble.
If I had to give Alaska a title as a destination, I know exactly what it would be: Alaska, The breathtaking silence of nature.
