A note from Glen: Earlier this year management here at 11 News approached me about this trip to Alaska.

At the end of the meeting I said, “Let me get this straight. You want to pay me to go along with viewers on a vacation?”

Naturally I told them if they’re going to twist my arm, I would find a way to make it happen. Don’t tell them, but it turned out to be a pretty great week of ‘work.’

July 20 through 22 you can catch the segments live on 11 News at 10 p.m. or watch them here on 11 News online.

We hope you enjoy watching our Alaskan Adventure. Special thanks to Photojournalist Todd Gilbert for his great camera work and being a fun traveling companion.

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KKCO) - The anticipation has been building for months when finally the time comes to embark on the trip of a lifetime.

We’re off to the majestic mountains of Alaska, but first have a few stops to make along the way.

It all starts in the Pacific Northwest, spending our first night in Seattle. We visit with our fellow travelers, who are busy taking in the great sights of this bay town and thinking ahead to what’s coming our way. Among them, Chuck and Barb Harvey, who are taking a tour of all 50 states in this great nation. They’re close to reaching their goal, but Barb has a few states to go before she catches up with Chuck.

But first she’ll be catching up with a former student. As a retired teacher, she says this will be a special reunion.

And speaking of catching up with old friends, we found some former 11 Newsers in Seattle. Chris Miller and Elise Webb with us a little more than two years ago.

Since leaving Grand Junction where the two met, they have tied the knot and Chris is now working as a sports anchor in Seattle.

After a little time catching up we carried on and later, clapped eyes on the place the entire world was watching just months ago, the site of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

The mountains are green now instead of white but what really stuck out to Kay Rushing of Clifton was just how fast Vancouver seems to have moved on from hosting the world.

But what really got our hearts pounding was the sound of our ship’s horn as we cast off aboard the Voldendam from Holland America.
It would be our home for the next three day. Talk about million dollar views! Nancy Evans of Grand Junction said setting sail was truly something to behold in and of itself. There were unbelievable sights in every direction as we spent the first night at sea cruising the cost of British Columbia.

Stay tuned for part two as we cruise the inside passage and make a stop in Juneau.