A perfect day in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve is quite simply just perfect! Today we had the good fortunes of warm and sunny weather, abundant wildlife, and the amazing expedition ship known as National Geographic Venture to all combine for a stunning day. Sightings included humpback and killer whales, Steller sea lions, sea otters, brown bears, a black bear, mountain goats, and even a porcupine in Bartlett Cove on an after-dinner hike culminating in a blazing sunset.

Of course, Glacier Bay is known for its ice and glaciers, and Lamplugh, Margerie, and Grand Pacific did not disappoint. Bald eagles, tufted and horned puffins, pelagic cormorants, common murres, black-legged kittiwakes, black oystercatchers, and marbled murrelets were among the myriad of bird species sighted. This national park put on her very best display for our group, and I am positive that each and every one of us felt pride and satisfaction in the fact that our country has set aside magical places like Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve to remind us all of just what is really worth protecting and conserving.

Dear reader, if you have not yet witnessed great American national park, you should certainly give thought to visiting this or any national park, monument, or wild area nearby. We protect what we love, we love what we know, and we know where to best explore. Now get out there and live the natural world, and (y)our world will in turn be all the better for it!