A huge draw is the Mendenhall Glacier for the Visitor’s Center and the view of the glacier from there.
Our first trip was in 2003. The photo on the left came from my scrapbook and was taken in June of 2003. The photo on the right was taken in August of 2021 from almost the exact same spot. Notice how much the glacier has receded in those 18 years. You will also notice that the glacier is much bluer in the recent photo. Part of that is just photo quality, but google told me that you see the blue in areas that are deeper within the ice, where the glaciers calve or break apart.
What are some other great things to do in Alaska?
If the skies are clear, it is fun to ride the Mount Roberts Tramway which is now called the Goldbelt Tram
You CAN ride the tram when it is cloudy. There are walking trails and things to see at the top of Mt.Roberts, but you won’t get those great aerial photos.
In 2016, we opted to book a whale watching tour with Moore Charters. Grantly Moore is the owner of the company, and he was great to work with. He responded to my emails and questions quickly, and booking the tour was a breeze. Our group of six chartered the trip. Our captain was not Mr. Moore but this young man who works for him during tourist season. I did a recent Google search and this company is still in Juneau.
Our captain was not Mr. Moore but a young man who works for him during tourist season.
A driver picked us up from the cruise ship and transported us to a harbor 20 minutes away. Impressive landscaping welcomed us, and there are restrooms located at the entrance to the parking area.
Motor coaches from the ships also bring cruisers to this harbor for whale watching, but they have to park at the top of a hill outside the entrance, and the tourists have to walk to the harbor. Our van was able to park much closer.
Immediately, we took off on search of whales. Our captain was on the radio with others,
and as soon as someone spotted whale activity, the radios would buzz with activity.
I was impressed with the way they all work together so that everyone can see whales.
Once a whale is spotted, the boats must keep a respectful distance.
However, if one surfaces closer to the boat than the designated distance, the boat can stay still and enjoy the close views.
We also watched the antics of sea lions on the buoys.
After whale watching, our transport driver picked us back up to return to the ship. He pointed out eagles and answered several of our questions about Juneau along the way.
In August 2021, we booked a tour through Shore Excursions Group that included a stop at Mendenhall Glacier where I took the photo that you saw earlier in the post, and included a short city tour and drop off back at our dock. Alaska was experience an increase in Covid cases, so masks were required for the enclosed portions of the tour. It was drizzly and chilly enough that the mask felt really good even outside.
June of 2022, I was traveling with a friend who used a scooter, so we chose to explore the port area with a pedi-cab tour of the downtown and port area. I had gotten off the ship earlier in the day and arranged for the pedi cab to pick us up from the end of our ship’s gangway at a designated time.
In May of 2o24, I sought to see what a person might do if they had no plans at all for the day.
There are kiosks right off the pier for booking last-minute tours, and it is a short walk (although uphill) to the Juneau state capital. I took a self-guided tour there by scanning QR codes outside of each room and listening to the audio guides. They also offer a guided tour if you get there at the right time.
If you could only pick one excursion for a day in Juneau, I would probably recommend the Mendenhall Glacier. I don’t recommend taking the public bus there. It does not drop off very close, and you have to adhere to their pick up times which can be hard to schedule. Often, during peak tourist season, they will limit the number of visitors during the day, so it is probably best to book through the ship or through a trusted vendor, but Juneau is worth visiting over and over if you get the chance.