GLACIER BAY NATIONAL PARK, Alaska — Visiting zoos and aquariums can make that connection to wild animals, but immersing oneself in their natural habitats in the vast and pristine wilderness is even better.
That's what we discovered when spending five days camping and boating in Alaska's Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. We were awestruck by the immense beauty of the snow-capped mountains every day, rain or shine, hazy or overcast. And in this icy landscape, we saw countless species of marine mammals and wild animals. Some are elusive and hard to spot, while others became a mainstay.
Humpback whales took center stage as the "giants" on the trip. We had many sightings, its enormous size emerging from the water. Orcas and porpoises also patrol the waterway, and we saw a few of the cetaceans on a misty morning, swimming gracefully on the water's surface.
