5 Free Things to do in Juneau Alaska with Kids

We’ve visited Alaska’s state capital, Juneau, twice during a cruise ship stop and have always been impressed with its pristine beauty. Many visitors book varied shore excursions. These may include zip lining, whale watching, helicopter rides over ice fields, glacier walking/sightseeing or a ride up the Mt. Roberts Tram. Most of these can get quite expensive. But, it’s also possible to enjoy the city with these free things to do in Juneau with kids.

Juneau is only accessible by boat or plane. Rental cars are available near the cruise port and you can reserve in advance. Visitors can explore many of these attractions on their own.

There are no roads that lead to Juneau so it’s hard to get lost. During our last visit, one of my friends who moved to Juneau picked us up at the cruise port and showed us around her hometown and these are some of our favorite free attractions.

1.  Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area

Juneau’s most popular attraction is the drive-in Mendenhall Glacier. This was the first glacier we ever saw and seeing it again seven years later was still awe-inspiring. Located 13 miles north of the city, it’s easily accessible with plenty of parking. Mendenhall is part of an icefield but its face is 100 feet tall and is 1.5 miles wide.

If there was one place we would have loved to spend a few days in Juneau, this would be the area. There were several hiking trails that ranged from a .3 mile Photo Point Trail which was perfect for kids to a 3.5 mile nature trail loop towards the glacier.

We would have loved to kayak on Mendenhall Lake and have close-up views of the glacier, icebergs, salmon streams, cascading waterfalls and the forests while surrounded by the mountains.

There’s also the wonderful Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center overlooking the glacier and the lake with the icebergs floating. It has a minimal fee to enter ($5 for guests ages 16 and up) but worth it for exhibits and ranger lectures on glaciers.

My kids enjoyed seeing this glacier and is one of their favorite memories of Alaska. Who knows? You may even see black bears here. But, you are almost likely to see bald eagles flying above here.

2. Shrine of St. Therese

Located about 20-30 minutes from the downtown area, the Shrine of St. Therese is one of the most peaceful and beautiful places we visited in Alaska. It’s no wonder this area is continually used for retreats and spiritual refuge with lodges and trails for self-reflections. It is surrounded with scenic views of the water and beyond.

Don’t miss the stone chapel among moss covered rocks and the trees that looks like it belongs in a fairy tale forest. The inside is fairly sparse and simple contributing to the overall ambience of the shrine.

Keep walking towards the back where there are rocks looking out into the water and you may be rewarded with some wildlife sighting. It was a treat for all of us to see some salmon jump out from the water here.

There were plenty of green spaces for kids to run around with trails to explore. But, my kids enjoyed the Merciful Love Labyrinth the most. This was a concentric ring that my kids treated as a maze. The labyrinth is made up of stones from the nearby beach built lovingly by volunteers.

3. Hike the Trails

Juneau is blessed with 250 miles of hiking trails for all skill levels. Unfortunately, we didn’t have enough time to go on these hikes other than the short one by the glacier. The fresh mountain air and beautiful scenery provide perfect backdrops for these hikes.

My friend drove us to a couple of her favorite hikes during the summer months. One was Auke Lake Trail by the University of Alaska Southeast campus.

With lake views and a trail among the woods, this is a prime wildlife spotting area for birds, fish and otters. This guide on Juneau’s Alaska Trails is also a great resource and be sure to check out the popular Perseverance Trail. You can also pick up a trail map from the Juneau Convention and Visitors Bureau.

4. Sandy Beach in Douglas Island

We were surprised to find out that Juneau had a couple of beaches frequented by the locals. We visited Sandy Beach on Douglas Island. The beach had fire pits and picnic pavilions.

It was a great place to see the cruise ships pass by. While we were here, we spotted a few bald eagles flying to their nests high above the trees.  It was a bit cloudy during our visit there but on a bright sunny day, I can see why this would be a popular area for families to enjoy, swim, have picnics or explore tide pools.

5. Downtown Juneau Walking Tour

Most of the tourists, especially the cruise ship passengers in town for the day, descend in the small downtown Juneau area. Go past the many jewelry stores and souvenir shops catering to the tourists. You’ll see a town with a rich history from its gold mining years to its Tlingin Indian origins.

Get a walking tour map from the visitor’s bureau. You can also use this downtown Juneau street tour map to explore this interesting downtown area.

You will come across several interesting historic sites and public art while walking around downtown. These sites include the beautiful St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church which is one of the 500 most notable US building. There is also a replica of the Liberty Bell (by the state capitol), the Alaska State Capitol which offers free guided tours during the summer (May through mid-September).

Don’t miss the Governor’s House with a totem pole about the mosquito’s origins outside its doors. Look for the “Windfall Fisherman” which is a life-sized bronze Alaskan brown bear sculpture.

Cope Park

Located in downtown Juneau and along the Gold Creek banks and surrounded by scenic landscapes, Cope Park is a family-friendly destination. It is a wonderful green space hangout for both locals and visitors. This community park has short hiking trails, covered picnic tables and a multi-purpose playground.

Explore the saloons and bars

Juneau had 30 saloons in 1914 and one of the most frequented was Red Dog Saloon. While this party atmosphere may not be the best place for kids, the saloon actually has stuffed wildlife on the wall and Alaska memorabilia.

These could be interesting for some older kids. Of course, my kids were more entertained by the many large animal plushes and wood carvings outside many of the stores.

Bonus Free Things to do in Juneau

Every first Friday of the month, many galleries, museums around Juneau host and open their doors (usually after sunset) for a celebration of art and culture with free exhibitions and some entertainment. Juneau’s First Fridays means museums like The Alaska State Museum and the Juneau-Douglas City Museum offer free admission.

 *What other free things to do in Juneau would you like to add?

Related Posts:

• Glacier Viewing in Alaska
• Visiting Juneau with Kids

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This is a part of a series called Five Free Family Friday.  I hope this will grow into a collective guide of free family-friendly attractions of places all over the world.  If you’d like to contribute with the free attractions in your home city, I would love your guest posts.