Welcome from North Dakota! I am currently on a cruise ship between Ketchican, AK and Victoria, BC. I have been in Alaska for the last 4 days and can only say that every place we have been is truly amazing, your state has left an impression on me that will never go away. From watching whales and dolphins, to experiencing a tour on a "ship" that was on the Deadliest Catch and watching Bald Eagles by the hundreds and seeing and handling all the different crabs there are, to the pristine glaciers by way of helicopter with the rich blue colors. If you have a bucket list like I did, make sure and move Alaska up on the list, you do not want to miss it. Again, welcome from a relatively new member myself, the people on the forum are much like the folks I met in Alaska, FANTASTIC! They say to visit Alaska only when you are older, as those that visit when they are young tend to stay a lifetime! One stop was to see Wyatt Earp's pistol at the Red Dog Saloon, apparently everyone had to check their firearms in when they got to town, and he didn't return to pick it up!