The shops and restaurants near Juneau’s cruise terminal serve tourists, not locals. Juneau’s actual downtown area is five minutes away from the port.
Juneau, Alaska was the first port of call on our 7-Day Alaskan Explorer Cruise aboard Holland America's MS Eurodam. The port is filled with shops and restaurants that are only open during the Alaskan cruise season. We didn't spend much time in port. Rather, we booked an excursion that brought us to three notable attractions:
Grand Tour by Land: Glacier Gardens, Hatchery and Mendenhall Glacier
Adult Ticket: $99.95
Child Ticket: $79.95
Direct Booking Available: No
Departure Time: 2:00 p.m.
Duration: 5 hours
Food: Food is not allowed on tour because of bears, however, we packed sandwiches and ate them on the bus. Additionally, drinks and snacks are available at Glacier Gardens.
Our Verdict and Rating:
5 out of 5 - This tour is a fun way to see some of Juneau's natural (and manmade) wonders during an afternoon. We only wish that we had more time to spend at Mendenhall Glacier.
DIPAC's Macaulay Salmon Hatchery
The Macaulay Salmon Hatchery (also known as Douglas Island Pink and Chum, Inc.) is an operational business that breeds salmon in captivity.
The salmon that were born at the hatchery find their way "home" by jumping up a manmade fish ladder.
At the end of the ladder, salmon find themselves in a holding pen until hatchery workers harvest roe and milt. We were amazed at how violently the salmon thrashed about.
Baby salmon are raised at the hatchery. Eventually, these salmon will be released into the wild.
Our daughter enjoyed the touch tanks and aquariums within the hatchery. There is also a gift shop that offers free samples of salmon jerky.
Glacier Gardens
Glacier Gardens encompasses 50-acres of rainforest that stretches into the Tongass National Forest. Visitors are taken on a two-mile guided tour in a golf-cart-like vehicle.
Glacier Gardens specializes in floral displays that are planted in the root system of upside-down trees.
Sitka Spruce and Western Hemlock trees towered above our heads as we drove up the mountain.
Children are required to sit between adults because there are no doors on the tour vehicle.
Glacier Gardens' switchback roads are made in the style of ancient-Roman pontes longi.
We saw Gastineau Channel from the top of Glacier Gardens' property: a 580 foot elevation.
The Glacier Gardens snack bar and gift shop is decorated with beautiful hanging plants and colorful umbrellas suspended from the ceiling.
Mendenhall Glacier
The Mendenhall Glacier is visible from the roadway. There are various paths and lookout points for visitors to explore and take photos from. (If our daughter was older, we may have booked a tour to hike on the glacier itself or view the ice caves beneath it.)
Near the bus depot, red salmon can be seen swimming up Steep Creek as they venture home to mate. This was a nice bookend to seeing salmon begin their trip in Seattle's water.
This was the only part of our tour where we wish we had more time. We didn't feel rushed, but we had to look at our watches and be mindful of when to return to the bus.
The Mendenhall Glacier is a 15-minute drive from the Juneau cruise port terminal, earning its nickname as “the most accessible glacier in the world.”
We hiked along Nugget Falls Trail on the recommendation of our tour guide. Allow 20-30 minutes to get to Nugget Falls and another 20-30 minutes to return to the bus.
You can appreciate how big the cascade is once you arrive at the base of Nugget Falls.
The Mendenhall Glacier was not crowded, despite us visiting during peak tourism season.
Things to Do and See in Juneau, Alaska
Holland America provided us with a Juneau port guide. Here are some highlights:
In Port
Alaska Capitol Building - Possibly the least majestic capitol building in the U.S.
Mount Roberts Tramway - Travel 1,800 feel above Juneau's cruise port terminal.
Juneau-Douglas City Museum - Locally-themed museum opposite the capitol building.
St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church - A historic 19th century church.
Wickersham House - Home to one of Alaska's most influential political leaders.
Evergreen Cemetery - Juneau's main cemetery until the 1970s.
Sealaska Heritage Museum - A heritage museum promoting Alaska's native tribes.
Excursions
Mendenhall Glacier - Located 12 miles from downtown Juneau.
Taku Glacier Lodge - Hunting and fishing lodge built in 1923.
Glacier Gardens - Outdoor nursery and preserve famous for upside-down trees.
Macaulay Salmon Hatchery - Operational hatchery that spawns and releases salmon.
Alaska Gastineau Mill - Once the world's largest gold producing mill.
Stephen's Passage - Prime spot for whale watching.
Tracy Arm Fjords - Wildlife viewing area and access point to Sawyer Glaciers.
