Juneau is Alaska’s capital city and is a very popular port on Alaska cruises. We were lucky enough that an old friend moved to Juneau and was available to show us around. It was wonderful to see the local sites and get an insight into how they live in this remote city.
Our first attraction to visit was Mendenhall Glacier which was about 15 miles from downtown Juneau. It was still as beautiful as we remembered it when we visited 7 years ago.
The blue and white colors of the glacier were a sight to behold. It flowed out into a lake where we saw many kayakers enjoying the ride and chunks of ice floating around. There were plenty of lookouts and picture spots.
There was a visitor’s center on top of the hill set on a cliff with a gift shop, exhibits and restrooms. The glass windows also had wonderful views of the glacier and its surroundings. There were meandering pathways and little areas to admire the glacier. We spotted a waterfall cascading on the cliffs as we left the glacier. This was a very busy spot especially at the height of the summer when multiple ships were docked in town and this was one of the first tour bus stops.
We also went to Shrine of St. Therese’s which was about a 20 miles of pleasant drive from the downtown area and passing through some harbors. My friend took us here since it was one of her favorite places to go to study and relax. This secluded and peaceful area had a little chapel set amidst the trees with grey stone exterior and a statue of St. Therese outside. The chapel was open for visitation on specific hours.
There were outlying cabins and a building used for retreat houses. There were some clean restrooms available on the premises. It was surrounded by amazing views of the mountains and the outlying islands.
On a little trail leading to the back of the chapel was a stone structure with a large cross. It was a perfect area of serenity as we looked out into the water. While we were there admiring the view, we saw a few salmon jump out of the water which was a highlight for the kids. My friend was saying that she has also seen seals playing around this area before.
There was a small meadow on each side of the path to the chapel for the kids to enjoy. Closer to the retreat houses was a rock arrangement on the ground known as the Merciful Love Labyrinth. It was made of cobblestones from the surrounding beach area enhanced with flowers and plants. There was plenty of parking in the dirt lot.
We also went to the local beach at Douglas Island. Who knew?! It was separated from the downtown area by a bridge. There was a big gazebo available for group gatherings. It wasn’t exactly a typical Southern California beach since it was facing the channel and the mountains with a little waterfall cascading down. Nonetheless, it was still beautiful. The sand area was pretty expansive and there were big logs used for bonfires. It was actually a good area to watch the big cruise ships pass by.
We saw Wal-mart shuttles from the port area for some who needed some quick necessities. We were told they have a Costco too. We stopped by a Fred Meier store which was pretty big. The downtown area is easy to walk around and navigate with plenty of souvenir and jewelry shops. There were also numerous pubs and restaurants for eating and hanging out.
Common shore excursions for Juneau:
Mt. Roberts Tram Ride – As your ship pulls into Juneau, you can see the red tram moving up and down the mountain. We rode this during our first trip to Juneau. You embark on a nearby building where the ships dock in downtown Juneau.
The panoramic view of Juneau was pretty spectacular but you almost need play it by ear to see if it’s a clear day and forego reserving in advance. We didn’t go up the 2nd time around because it was foggy and raining most of the afternoon. Kids will surely enjoy the slow ascent to the mountains on the tram.
There were hiking trails on the mountaintop and some exhibits, a theater showing the Alaskan Native Indian culture a restaurant and gift shop. There used to be a bald eagle inside a cage for viewing. Children 5 and under are free.
Another alternative to the tours and especially to those in port for a long time is to rent a car and drive around. Juneau is the only US capital not accessible by car so you really can’t get lost driving around. The roads were easy to navigate and be on the lookout for eagles flying around during the drive.
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I wish Juneau would have looked like that the day we visited! It was cold, rainy and foggy- one of the reasons my husband and I decided that we shoud have skipped the cruise and flown straight to Alaska. We would have had more time- especially if the weather wasn’t great one day- maybe it would clear up the next. :) Oh well, live and learn, huh? The glacier is beautiful!
We actually got pretty lucky weather-wise on this last cruise. I hope you get to visit Alaska again soon.
Thanks for stopping by Carol! Mendenhall Glacier was breathtaking. I’ve always loved how blue it is. Our favorite cruise destination has always been Alaska and would love to visit again. It’s such a beautiful place.