Our day had an earlier start than usual. At 1:45 a.m., we were awoken to the news that the aurora borealis had entered our horizon. We were unsure if it was a dream as lines of green illuminated the mountains around us. It was not lost on us that this color also made the Big Dipper shine brighter — a perfect welcome to Alaska.

The ship cruised to Misty Fjords National Monument, offering us our first glimpse of fjords and the temperate rainforest. We were greeted with a blanket of fog that played on our ability to make out the mountains surrounding us. As breakfast drew closer, the fog began to lift, giving way to another layer of mysticism for our morning. The fog gave inspiration for photos and an extra layer to the incredible landscape. We then embarked on kayak tours and Zodiac cruises around Walker Cove. The sun shined brightly in the sky, erased all clouds from view, and left us a placid and quiet cove to explore for the morning.

Our afternoon was spent cruising the Behm Canal as we make our way toward Wrangell for another day of Alaskan excellence. Calm waters and clear skies continued to guide us on the first day of our Alaskan adventure.