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It's also the only state capital that is inaccessible by car—you'll have to arrive via cruise ship, air, or ferry. Located within a short walk of the cruise ship dock, the Alaska State Capitol Building offers free 30-minute guided tours Tuesday-Friday. The Mt. Roberts Trailhead is the starting point for a variety of hiking and biking trails that wind through the Tongass National Forest, which is the largest national forest in the United States.
Check out the local art scene
If every tour or bus is booked out, Uber and Lyft are pretty accessible in Juneau. Sample local cuisine and delicacies on a guided food tour through Juneau. Juneau Food Tours offers several tour options to savor multiple dishes and beverages!
Time Zone
You can observe adult and baby salmons but also see over 150 local marine species in the various aquariums and touch tanks. Groups are normally made of a maximum of participants at the time, depending on how many ships are in the port on that day. A maximum of 4 passengers can be accommodated in a helicopter at a time. Weight restrictions are applied and there is also a very strict medical form that all participants need to complete before joining the activity.
16 cheap and free things to do on an Alaska cruise to avoid spending hundreds on shore excursions - Royal Caribbean Blog
16 cheap and free things to do on an Alaska cruise to avoid spending hundreds on shore excursions.
Posted: Mon, 14 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Gastineau Peak (hiking + on your own)
There are many excursions in Juneau that include a salmon bake, and one of them is the Taku Lodge salmon bake. One of the most popular ways to see the glacier is usually to take a shuttle to the Mendenhall Glacier or to do a tour that includes Mendenhall Glacier. To learn a bit about Native Alaskan culture, be sure to look for the Chilkoot Theater where you can watch a short film. Nestled between Gastineau Passage and Mount Juneau, the picturesque capital city of Juneau will be a memorable stop on your Alaskan Cruise. You can contemplate quietly while viewing the lovely chapel, which was built in the 1940s. To get to the Shrine, you must rent a car, take a taxi, or book a tour with a company.
Sealaska Heritage Museum
If you’re going to Juneau during peak Alaska cruise season, there’s a chance the line for the tram will be really long going both ways. If you want to go all in, then you can book a private luxury whale watching tour on a yacht. The building has a replica of the Liberty Bell, historic photos, and art and murals honoring the 49th state’s history.
Helicopter Tour over the Icefields
Don’t miss the unique opportunity to fly over a million-year-old glacial icefields! Juneau boasts 928 square miles of ice cap in the form of Juneau Icefield, the fifth largest icefield in North America. The visitor center has a free educational movie, thoughtful and interesting displays, and panorama windows that showcase the Mendenhall Glacier. This Alaskan city is 3,255 square miles total, including 704 square miles of water and 928 square miles of ice cap in North America’s fifth largest ice field. However, Sourdoughs (longtime Alaskans) might use some unusual local slang, including “termination dust” (the first snowfall of the year in the mountains) and the “ALCAN” (Alaska/Canada Highway).
Alaska State Capital
Whether you use your time to see wildlife or stunning glaciers, delve into mining history, or admire Indigenous artwork, you’ll treasure the time you spent in Juneau. A staple of downtown Juneau since mining times, the saloon has been in several locations, including a tent on the ocean’s shore. Today’s Red Dog will give you a peek into the past and what a saloon experience was like for gold rush miners. The Alaska waters of the Inside Passage have excellent opportunities for whale watching.
Amazing experiences coming soon.
A variety of salmon species, halibut, sea bass, and snapper inhabit the coastal waters and the lakes of the region. We paddled the canoe to shore near the Mendenhall Glacier which means that we got closer to the glacier than the vast majority of people do. Most people will go to the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center to get a distant view of the glacier.
For those who want the ultimate day on the sea, spring for a private boat tour, make your itinerary, and relax without the crowds of the typical cruise ship tour. Spots like Eaglecrest Ski Area offer visitors the opportunity to glide among the treetops along five zipline routes. Part of the journey includes making your way across a rushing stream via a suspension bridge, with a little axe throwing to top off a day of fun in nature. It is the perfect excursion for those who enjoy nature and thrill rides. Juneau is one of the best cruise ports for a dog sledding tour in Alaska.
Take the kids on an educational adventure to the Alaska State Museum, where they can learn about Alaska’s fascinating history, cultures, and natural wonders. The museum features interactive exhibits that are great for children, making learning fun and engaging. This indoor ice skating rink offers public skating sessions, skate rentals, and even lessons if you’re looking to improve your skills. It’s a fun way to spend an afternoon or evening, especially for families or couples looking for a chilly adventure. Juneau is home to many other hiking opportunities, including around the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area, Mount Roberts, and downtown Juneau. Those who take a helicopter tour may stop at a summer camp for sled dogs training for the next year's Iditarod Race.
Known for its tree-covered mountains and blue waters, it has much to offer. The cruise port in Juneau places you directly downtown on Egan Drive, making this an extremely walkable port city. Most large cruise ships dock at the South Franklin Street Dock, and it’s not uncommon to have 3 to 4 cruise ships in port on a given day.
I’ve never been a “crab” person – I mostly got these for the experience – but I’ve been daydreaming about these delicious appendages ever since I ate them. After a brief introduction to the history of dog sledding in Alaska, we were introduced to the dogs and allowed to play with them. So when we booked our Alaska cruise, it was a top priority for me to interact with some sled dogs. After all, dog mushing is the official state sport of Alaska, and after my son read a book about the Iditarod, he was raring to meet some pups, too. Explore this area’s fascinating WWII and Cold War history with the help of the town’s map, which outlines an engaging walking tour of the sites.
