Our time in the Port of Juneau was great! The whole experience was one of the biggest highlights of our cruise!
The cruise passengers get to experience the breathtaking landscapes of the Tongas National Forest as soon as the cruise ship docks. The town in the Port of Juneau is on the east side of the Gastineau Channel.
Meanwhile, Douglas Island is home to a healthy black bear population. The island is to the west but in close view of the township. Admiralty Island, famous for being densely populated with brown bears, is a much larger island still further west and separated by Young Bay.
The only 3 ways to get to the Port of Juneau, our tour chauffeur told us, are by sea, by air, or by the birth canal. Although it is Alaska’s capital city, there is only one road through town, and oddly enough, it doesn’t connect to any other roads. It was a short bus ride to all of the local day tours.
As soon as we disembarked at the port, we walked up and down a couple of streets and window-shopped many of the boutiques as far as you could see. The main categories are souvenir shops and Jewelry stores, and they all cater to cruise ship passengers.
The first thing I realized was the tiny size of downtown Juneau. We took a short walk from the cruise terminal and enjoyed the Red Dog Saloon and its adjacent gift shop, just so you know, when the port is full, the retailers will be too. Don’t be surprised if customers waiting on a beer are lined out the door. I didn’t join the line because there are so many other things to do there.
Jewelry stores line almost every street and that is a popular destination. When business is slow, the merchants stand idly, but that changes instantly when 18,000 tourists flood the main street in the space of about an hour. The cruise lines efficiently load and unload guests in a way that doesn’t overwhelm and clog access to the sights and locations of interest.
We chose to go on a two-part excursion that included both an up-close view of Mendenhall Glacier and a boat ride through and around Auke Bay. We booked our shore excursions before the trip. While most people recommend booking all other cruise excursions outside of the cruise line, the exceptions are the excursions in Alaska.
The shuttle bus picked us up near the port and took us first to see humpback whales, and then picked us up from there and drove to the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center. Our driver was a BYU student, and she was an excellent tour guide. She told stories about Alaska’s capital city and some beloved local black bears, showed us bald eagles, and told of the unique experiences of gold mining from the gold rush era.
Juneau Wildlife Whale Watching
This was an amazing tour! The boat wasn’t anything special. As a matter of fact, it looked pretty worn out. And it might have been, but it got the job done and we saw lots of whales in their natural habitat. As it turns out, commercial tour boats are the best platforms for wildlife viewing. Not only did we see lots of whales breaching and surfacing in preparation to dive deep into the sea, but the expert guides taught from their personal experience.
This unique tour presented the Tongass National Forest from a refreshing perspective. We could see the Mendenhall Valley, small islands, all types of aquatic life, and even snow-covered mountains.
Mendenhall Glacier
When the whale-watching tour concluded, we boarded a bus and headed to the east glacier loop. Our same driver entertained and educated us as she shuttled us to the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area. Upon arrival there, she let us know what time to meet and return to the Juneau Cruise Port- along with a very stern warning to be on time or be left. (Everyone returned on time, by the way.)
This was an unforgettable event. There is a visitor information center and nature center near the busload and unloading area. Those are great resources.
From where we got off the shuttle bus, we took a self-guided walk. We went first to Mendenhall Lake, and then hiked an additional 1.4 miles down a well-maintained trail to Nugget Falls. This is as close as we could get to the glacier, but I am sure if we had unlimited time we could have hiked up and over the mountain and accessed the ice fields. We were both hot and cold on the trail. the closer you get to a glacier, the lower the temperature.
Helicopter Tours
Another of the popular Juneau cruise excursions can show southeast Alaska from a different point of view. A helicopter ride is an exciting way to view popular places like the Perseverance Trail and the top of Mount Roberts. Depending on which of the tour operators you book with, you can land above the Juneau icefield and hike the surface of a Juneau glacier.
Alaska’s Capital City– the Port of Juneau
There are also a couple of outfits that specialize in sled dog experiences. Although not known for dog sledding, you can experience this far-north activity there. Sled dogs are more common in Nome and other places in the state than in Alaska’s capital city.
If you choose, it is easy to walk almost anywhere in town. From the port, South Franklin Street intersects most other streets in Alaska’s capital city. You can visit the Last Chance mining Museum, Alaska State Museum, and the Juneau-Douglas City Museum. They are all perfectly suited to accommodate small groups, as is the Alaska State Museum. A great place to pick up souvenirs is the Alaskan Brewing Company. They focus more on their retail sales than their tasting room.
Maybe the first man-made structure you’ll see from your ship is the Goldbelt Mount Roberts Tramway. Each carriage holds up to 60 passengers through three realms. They are near sea level, through the lush rain forest, and ascending 1,800 feet. The Tram provides a great vantage point overlooking the Gastineau Channel, Douglas Island, and many square miles of the beauty of Alaska.
We can also recommend the Gold Creek Salmon Bake! All manner of fresh seafood- of course, salmon are included. But there is also Alaskan King Crab and other local favorites. All of these are served outdoors, in the rainforest and it is really a unique experience.
Conclusion
The Visitors Bureau has even more ideas for experiences than we can provide in this article. You will discover where to find live music. You can also learn about the botanical garden and marine park, and even the Eaglecrest Ski Area! An Alaska cruise is one of the best ways to experience this part of the United States.
Thank you for Reading about our trip to the Port of Juneau!
Our trip through the Port of Juneau was one of our absolute favorite experiences, ever! If you want to learn more, HERE is the link.
Want to know more about who we are? Click HERE to learn more about us and what we do.
We started our cruise in Seattle, a great place to begin our adventures! For more info about that portion of our trip, click HERE. And if you are packing for an Alaskan Cruise, don’t miss our post on packing and preparing for it.
