The first morning on board National Geographic Venture greeted us with glassy, reflective waters and an illuminated skyline as the sun peeked between the fog. A pod of killer whales helped kickstart an incredibly exciting day, which was followed by bubble-netting humpback whales in Morris Reef. We kayaked and hiked in Sitkoh Bay, where we had a wonderful encounter with a young brown bear that kept a safe distance on shore as we passed along a trail filled with banana slugs.