Juneau Port # 2

In port 7am - 1:30 pm
Also in port:  Coral Princess & Norwegian Pearl

Things to see and do

My comments or those of reviewers in italics

 Mendenhall Glacier
           The U.S. Forest Service maintains a visitor center and walking trails at the glacier. Bears patrol the creek for salmon and are often seen quite close. Not to worry -- rangers are on patrol, as well. Ships offer tours there.  

           
Glacier Express    Look for the bright blue bus, next to the cruise dock, which will take you to the visitor center parking lot. $16 round trip. You can return at your leisure, they pick up and drop off on the hour and half. 
          Public Bus   The public bus $2 per person, is the cheapest option, but it stops about a 1.5-mile walk away.

         The most exciting way to see the glacier is from above, via helicopter. The most popular tours are the basic ones with 30-minute glacier landings and "pilot's choice," which includes two landings. 

          Coastal Helicopters     The ICEFIELD EXCURSION is Coastal Helicopters most popular tour. This tour is approximately 1 hour from the time it lifts off until it returns to the heliport. Your helicopter flight will take you over the spectacular rock formations and icefalls of the Juneau Icefield as it heads toward either the Herbert, Taku, Lemon or Norris Glacier. The tour will be narrated by our knowledgeable pilot/guide. Upon reaching your destination your pilot/guide will shut down the helicopter and escort you on an informative, relaxing walk while describing the area that surrounds you.    $259.00* per seat (includes tax and transport to and from the ship) Persons weighing 250lbs or more must purchase an additional 1/2 seat ($129.50) for safety reasons.
          NCL Tour (see bottom of this page)

Helicopter Flight & Glacier Walk         
           Experience the grandeur and awesome scenery on this expedition by helicopter. Fly by Mendenhall Glacier, exquisite mountains, float over Juneau’s Ice Field (about 25 minutes of actual flight), PLUS a landing on a glacier (about 15 minutes on the glacier). The pilot provide interpretive talk during your walk on glacier surface. Flight is narrated, jackets and glacier boots provided.
           Mighty Great Trips    
$259 per person — Duration 2 hours  Weight of 250 lbs. or more rate =  $388.50 per person  See it here  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRFj7qPo7uE

Mendenhall River Rafting
          Adventure begins on Mendenhall Lake, near the face of the majestic Mendenhall Glacier. Guides share natural history and Native lore of the area while pointing out surrounding scenery and wildlife of the region. Experienced guides provide gear.
          Mighty Great Trips     $130 per person — Duration 4 hours — 2 Passenger Minimum(40 lb. Weight Minimum)  

          See it here  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rF-JuVYbhoE

Juneau's Best
         Narrated bus tour of historical Juneau with experienced guides. Learn history, development, & colorful local lore!  See downtown Juneau, Mendenhall Glacier, University of Alaska/Chapel by the Lake, protected wetlands, and other local sights. Enjoy 40-45 minutes exploring Mendenhall Glacier. (The USFS Visitor Center charges a $3 per person to enter and this fee is not included with the tour price).
         Mighty Great Trips    $30 per person — Duration: 2-1/2 hours — 2 Passenger Minimum

Red Trolley City Tour
           Tour downtown Juneau with MGT’s experienced local guides. This is a hop on-hop off trolley.  Stop and shop the heart of Juneau.  Stop at the State Capitol Building, stop at the City and State Museum.  See all the sites that make Juneau Alaska’s unique capital.
           Mighty Great Trips    $20 per person all day pass

 Mount Roberts Tramway:
            The tram (490 S. Franklin Street) whisks travelers up to a 1,800-foot-high station on Mount Roberts. There are hiking trails, a cafe, a gift shop and a captive, injured bald eagle from the Juneau Raptor Center.  $27 per person, (but you're in Alaska and it's owned by native Indians). See it here  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0y2E717iEBs

 Red Dog Saloon:
          This kitschy wild-western-nostalgia bar (278 S. Franklin) comes complete with sawdust floors, mounted wildlife and swinging doors. There's usually someone at the piano on afternoons when cruise ships are in port. 

           See it here  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBwDN0nMAKs&feature=related

Alaskan Salmon Bake
          All-you-can-eat buffet includes Wild Alaskan Salmon, Barbecued Ribs, Baked Chicken, salads, side dishes and desserts. Local musicians, roast marshmallows stroll to Salmon Falls and explore the remnants of the Wagner Mine. 
          Mighty Great Trips   $41 per person — 2 Passenger Minimum
          See it here  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CZqQzS6PTE

  
 Zip-Line Buzz:
          Juneau has not one, but two zip-line companies. Alaska Canopy Adventures (877-947-7757) includes a ride on a boat and off-road vehicle before you even get to their rainforest zip-lines. Alaska Zipline Adventures (907-321-0947) offers zip-lines with mountain vistas. They're located at the ski area in Tongass National Forest.
 


Whale Watch:
          Even if you've seen humpbacks from the deck of your ship, getting up-close and personal in a small boat is a major thrill. Some operators guarantee you'll see a least one whale, so you know there are plenty out there.

            Dolphin Tours  Our whale watching tour duration is 3 hours. We leave downtown Juneau from the tram parking area and drive out to Auke Bay. At Auke Bay all passengers will board one of our viewing friendly boats. Binoculars are provided for your added viewing pleasure. Our captains and naturalists will take you on a search for whales in Favorite Channel, Stephens Passage, Lynn Canal or Saginaw Channel. Included in this search are animals such as bald eagles, seals, sea lions, and much more. This is all done in the amazing Alaskan wilderness. The highlight of this tour is the humpback whales. The whales are here in Alaska feeding in the nutrient rich waters. Once a whale is spotted our captain will slow down and allow the passengers out side on the front and back viewing decks for excellent picture opportunities and an up close experience.  This is an introduction into a truly amazing experience. For those of you that have never seen a whale, you will never forget it!
Leaves 9am, Adults $110  Child  $ 90
 
          Mighty Great Trips     $120 per person — Duration 3 hours — 2 Passenger Minimum. Includes transportation, Alaskan snacks & beverage.

Glacier Gardens:
          Have you ever seen an upside-down tree? You will at Glacier Gardens (7600 Glacier Hwy), where the owners turned massive trees on their heads and used the roots as giant flower baskets. The gardens flourish in a rainforest setting. Guided tours are by golf cart.
          Promotional video  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdVwFINkaqk

        
  Juneau's Best Tours.   50 acres of incredible plantings and an exhilarating view await you at Glacier Gardens. Your tour guide will take you up to Thunder Mountain in a golf cart-bus with frequent stops to admire interesting or unique plants and wonderful landscaping within the lush rainforest. Learn about the indigenous plants of the area. At the top, a board walk path leads you to what is absolutely the best view of the Mendenhall Valley. The clever people at Glacier Gardens took an area practically ruined by a landslide and turned it around so that it is one of the most beautiful treasures of Juneau. See their unique upside down trees. You won’t believe it! Visit their gift shop for special treats.
Adults: $24.95  Children:  15.95    ( from 6 to 12)   under 5  Free!

 Alaska State Museum:
          (395 Whittier Street) This museum features exhibits from Eskimo, Aleut, Athabaskan and Northwest Coast Indian tribes. The museum contains a large collection of art and historical artifacts, but it doesn't seem like a storehouse at all because the objects' presentation is based on their meaning, not their value. Come here to put the rest of your visit in context. A clan house in the Alaska Native Gallery contains authentic art in the functional places where it would have been used in a memorial potlatch. The Lincoln Totem Pole is here, carved by an artist who used a picture of the president as his model to represent his clan's first encounter with whites. Superb artifacts from Native cultures from around the state are presented to illustrate the lifestyle of those who made them. The ramp to the second floor wraps around the natural history display, with an eagle nesting tree, and at the top a state history gallery uses significant pieces to tell Alaska's story. The children's area is exceptionally fun, with a ship that the kids can play in. Allow at least 2 hours for the museum; half a day would not be out of line. The shop off the lobby is also well worth a look. Although small, it carries lots of quality Alaska Native art, books, and no junk at all.
          Admission:   Adults $5  children free

Go Dog Sledding on a Glacier:

           Combine two incredible experiences -- "flight-seeing" above the immense Juneau Icefield and dog-sledding over it once you land on top. Both dogs and mushers hang out for the summer at camps set up on the glacier.
           Juneau's Best Tours    Join us as we fly over the lush rainforest, deep blue crevasses and glacier carved peaks as your pilots give you a spectacular flight seeing tour to our Dogsled camp on the Mendenhall Glacier. Here the professional mushers and Alaskan sled dogs will have you driving the team or relaxing in the sled as you take in the awe inspiring scenery. Your time at the dog camp will include instructions on dog sledding, stories about the famous Iditarod race as well as 20-25 minutes of dog sledding. You will have time to talk with the musher’s or take pictures with the dogs before your helicopter takes you back to our base and civilization.  Don’t miss out on this truly Alaskan Experience.  Duration: This tour is approximately 1 ½ hours in length which includes about 30 minutes of flight time and 55-60 minutes at the dog camp.  Please allow an additional 45 minutes for transportation to and from the dock, a safety briefing, and outfitting of glacier boots will be provided by the helicopter company.  Due to security, no carry-on bags will be allowed on the helicopters. A secure location will be provided at the office for storing personal items.  We'll have you driving the team or relaxing in the sled as you take in the scenery!   $479.00 US P/Seat  


Juneau Steamboat:
          Hop on an old-time steamboat, and ride around Gastineau Channel. Highlights are the cozy, steam-powered boat.  (This is not a New Orleans style boat.  It is a open boat with a canvas cover supported by poles and equipped with a steam engine.) 
          Come join me on a leisurely cruise down Gastineau Channel. I'll point out the sights and  tell you about the early history of Juneau. You'll get to experience this beautiful area at water level. Keep an eye peeled you'll see gulls, quite possibly eagles, and just maybe some of the marine mammals that inhabit the area.
         Juneau Steamboat Co Tickets are available at the Mount Roberts Tram or by calling us at (907) 723-0372.


Sea Kayaking
           Learn safety & paddling technique prior to accompanying experienced guides on an exploration of wetlands & wildlife habitat.  Actual paddle time may vary from 1 – 2 hours. Time to explore wetlands and watch for wildlife an enjoy the scenic views. No prior experience needed! Includes roundtrip transportation, rain gear, snack & beverage.
          Mighty Great Trips   $97 per person — Duration 3-1/2 hours — 2 Passenger Minimum   

Stream Gold Panning
            Experience the thrill of finding gold just like the prospectors of old! Experienced prospectors explain gold history of area, help you pan for gold along a stream just as Klondike stampeders did!
           Mighty Great Trips    $60 per person — Duration 2 hours — 2 Passenger Minimum

Alaska-Gastineau Mill and Gold Mine Tour
           A half-day tour visits the ruins of a hard rock gold operation that operated from 1915 to 1921, then goes 360 feet into one tunnel for a mining demonstration. Guests also get to pan for gold from the mine's tailings. The tour is the work of people who came to Juneau to reopen the A. J. mine (of which this was a part) and stayed to turn it into a tourist attraction when that project failed; their fascination is infectious. The mine site is south of town.  The tour is quite in-depth; those without interest in mining history or mechanical matters may get bored. Dress warmly.
            This tour is normall offered by Princess Cruises, but may be available by contacting the mine directly by Phone 907/463-3900   People who have taken this tour report it is very interesting, but be sure to use a restroom before you go, they only have out houses on site which are rated as "very smelly."   Prices $59 adults, $30 children 

Last Chance Mining Museum and Historic Park
           On the site on forested Gold Creek where gold was first discovered in Juneau, the museum preserves old mining buildings and some of their original equipment, including an immense 1912 air compressor and a layered glass map of the tunnels. This was once a nerve center for one of the world's biggest hard-rock mines. The highlight is its energetic and learned guide, Renee Hughes, who lives above the compressor with her husband, Gary Gillette. Both are leaders of the Gastineau Channel Historical Society. Ask Renee about the cave-in of the Treadwell Mine to hear her riveting storytelling. The entrance to the site -- which contains relics and buildings spread over several acres -- is a bridge across the creek, which leads to a steep trail up to the buildings.

           If you want to do this tour, you will need to Phone 907/586-5338 to make transportation arrangements.  The mine is approximately 2.5 miles from downtown.   Prices Admission $4 

Juneau-Douglas City Museum
          This fun little museum displays artifacts and photographs from the city's pioneer and mining history and Tlingit culture, with special exhibits that change annually. It's quite well done and holds real interest. There are gorgeous stained-glass windows, a large topographical model of the Juneau area, and a 600-year-old fish trap found in a local river. A 26-minute video on Juneau's gold mining history shows each half-hour. The hands-on history area will interest children, allowing them to dress up in period costume. The tiny bookshop is stocked with handy information for your visit to Juneau, including the historic hike guide booklet, free historic walking-tour map, and maps of the Evergreen Cemetery and the old Treadwell Mine. The plaza in front is where the 49-star U.S. flag was first raised in 1959 -- they didn't make many of those, as Hawaii was admitted as the 50th within a year, but you'll still find one flying here.
          At the corner of 4th and Main Sts      Phone 907/586-3572     Web site www.juneau.org/parksrec/museum   Prices Admission $4 adults, free for ages 18 and under.

 
    Fly and Dine:
           Enjoy some of the best-tasting grilled salmon you'll ever eat at Taku Lodge . The floatplane trip to the historic lodge is deservedly popular, so booking onboard in advance is highly recommended.

 Shopping:
           Among the usual souvenir shops, there are a few standouts. Check out Jade (321 S. Franklin) for all manner of jade animals and jewelry. The jade is mined in Alaska, about 120 miles east of Juneau. Caribou Crossings (497 S. Franklin) sells quality, made-in-Alaska arts and crafts. Alaska Fur Gallery (359 S. Franklin) wins the "tacky" award with its fur-covered jockstraps. If you need a colorful, flower-decked umbrella, pick yours up at Glacier Gardens.

Lunching 
           Local fish, especially salmon and halibut, is the dish of choice in Juneau. Despite being the state capital, it's casual everywhere at lunch.
                Twisted Fish Co. (907-463-5033; 550 S. Franklin; from 11 a.m. daily) prepares fresh Alaskan fish and shellfish any and every way you can imagine. Try the fish tacos. It's near the tram and has water views.
               Hangar on the Wharf (907-586-5018; #2 Marine Way; open from 11 a.m. every day) boasts SE Alaska's largest selection of microbrews. Indoor/outdoor seating is available on the wharf.
               Tracy's King Crab Shack (907-723-1811; 300 S. Franklin behind the library and next to the ships; opens daily at 10:30 a.m.) serves up king crab legs and crab cakes outdoors at no frills tables. It is, after all, called a shack.
              Zen Restaurant (907-586-5075; 51 Eagan in the Goldbelt Hotel; open daily for breakfast until 3 p.m.) serves its fish with an Asian twist – stir-fried, curried, with ginger, etc.

Staying in Touch Several cyber cafes have come and gone, but you can still bring your own computer to Silverbow Bakery (120 Second St.) for coffee, pastries and free Wi-Fi.


NCL SHORE TOURS
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