A Day in Port: Juneau
Juneau is one of the most popular cruise ports in Alaska. If you go there on a clear day you will see that it is surrounded by pine trees and snow-capped mountains. It sits on the shore of the mainland. Although this is the capital of Alaska, there are no roads leading into Juneau. It is only accessible by water or by air. According to the World Population Review, it is the second-most populous city in the state, with 32,000 residents. Anchorage takes the number one spot with over 40% of the state’s population, almost 300,000 residents.
A short history of Juneau:
Tlingit Indians were the first settlers to the area that became Juneau. The abundance of wildlife and all that the sea provided for them made it a wonderful place to live. In 1880, a Sitka mining engineer offered a reward to any local chief in Alaska who could lead him to gold-bearing ore.
One of the Chiefs of a Tlingit tribe told him about him a place where there was gold. This engineer sent two men, Joe Juneau and Richard Harris to the mine where they found gold and soon established a flourishing mining camp.
The city was named Juneau in 1881, after gold prospector, Joe Juneau. It was then incorporated in 1900 and designated the capital of Alaska in 1906.
Today, federal, state and local government employs one out of every two Juneau workers. Tourism is the largest private employer. Commercial fishing and mining still play a role in Juneau ‘s economy.
Weather:
When cruising in Alaska you need to be prepared for any weather. It is true what they say, dress in layers. August is typically the warmest month in Juneau and September usually has the most rain.
Below are two sites that post weather conditions:
Things to do while in Juneau – aka excursions:
On some cruises, it is fine to stay on the ship while in port. Not so in Alaska. There is so much to see, especially in Juneau, the capital of Alaska.
You can book excursions through your cruise line, but you can also book directly with the tour provider or through a third party. We have done them all.
Note that some Alaska tours, especially the floatplane and helicopter tours are sometimes canceled because of inclement weather. I would think it is easier to get a refund if booked through the cruise line but since I do not have personal experience with this I may be mistaken. Always read the refund policies when booking excursions.
Below I have included links to companies that provide excursions. I do not have any affiliation with any of them and have not been compensated by them. Before booking please do your own research to make sure you are comfortable with your choices.
Helicopter tour and dog sledding – Very expensive, but those who have taken this excursion say it was an experience of a lifetime. You take a helicopter ride and land on a glacier where professional mushers and the dogs train. The highlight here is meeting the dogs, learning how they are trained, and finally getting to ride on a sled. Four of our adult children did this and they all said it was a strong 5 out of 5 stars!
Helicopter tour and glacier walk – Save up for this excursion, because it is worth every penny. I am afraid of flying and I loved it! The Mendenhall Glacier is absolutely breathtaking. It is slowly retreating so do not put this one off too long.
Macaulay Salmon Hatchery – 2697 Channel Drive. View the hatchery and learn about Pacific salmon and hatchery operations. The reasonable admission fee allows access to the aquariums, educational exhibits, rearing facility, and gift shop. For guests wanting a more in-depth look at an operational hatchery, they also offer two types of presentations throughout the summer season.
Mendenhall Glacier Canoe and Trek Trip. – This is only one of many Mendenhall canoe trips offered in Juneau. If you want to find another option search the Internet for “Mendenhall Canoe Trip Juneau”.
Mount Roberts Tramway– 490 S Franklin Street. Tramcars rise 1,800 feet from downtown Juneau through the rain forest to the Mountain House on top, offering expansive views of Juneau. Open May through September. You can get off at the top and hike the Mount Roberts Trail System before heading back down. There are easy to difficult trails to explore.
Whale watching – Some excursions are for whale watching only while others combine that with a Mendenhall Glacier tour. Our son and his young family took a whale watching tour and they said it could not have been better. That is on our bucket list for our next cruise to Alaska!
Places to eat in Juneau:
Alaska Fish and Chips – 2 Marine Way, Suite 124. Located in the Fishman’s Warf, this popular dining establishment offers indoor and outdoor dining as well as excellent local fish. Their specialty is the Halibut Fish & Chips but you won’t go wrong with any menu item.
Devil’s Club Brewery – 100 N. Franklin St. Okay, technically not a full-service restaurant but a is a great beer bar with very good sandwiches and what they call shareable. We would go there again.
Hanger on the Wharf – 2 Marine Way, Suite 106. This restaurant is also located on Fisherman’s Wharf, right on the water. It is a very casual restaurant that is known for its seafood. Our family of 10 ate here, and I must admit that it was only okay. Maybe a 3.5 out of 5 stars, at least in our experience. It was fun watching the seaplanes land and taxi to the wharf.
Red Dog Salon – 278 S. Franklin Street. This bar and restaurant date back to Juneau’s mining era. The iconic swinging doors still welcome you and as you step in you will be taken back in time with the sawdust floors and the feel of an era long gone.
The Salmon Spot – 210 Admiral Way. If it is salmon you are looking for do not miss this place. They serve locally caught fish that is about as fresh as you can get. It is a small place where you order at the window and eat outside. They are open for business when the windows are open or when ships are in.
Tracy’s King Crab Shack – 432 S Franklin St. They advertise that they have the best legs in town and by all accounts you can believe that. If you love crab legs then this is the restaurant to go to. Their reviews are all outstanding!
Shopping opportunities in Juneau:
There is an abundance of shopping opportunities in Juneau. I suggest you skip the chain stores and look for the shops the locals own. Here are my suggestions, listing in alphabetical order (how else would a retired librarian organize them?;-).
To make sure you are buying genuine Alaska products, look for the Made in Alaska logo. If you see this logo you will know that the product has been handcrafted or manufactured in Alaska, by Alaskans.
Alaska Knifeworks – 2 Marine Way STE 120. Located in the Merchants Wharf on the waterfront in Juneau.
Caribou Crossings – 387 S Franklin St. This is the perfect place to shop for locally made items. Their products are handmade from over 60 local artists they work with.
Glacier Silt Soup: Glacier Smoothie – 127 South Franklin
Located in the new Franklin Food Court. Glacier Silt Soap is only made in Juneau. They are marvelous handcrafted soaps made locally with glacier silt for unbelievably smooth skin.
Tripp’s Mt. Juneau Trading Post – 151 S Franklin St. This store’s mission to support indigenous artists throughout the state of Alaska and of the northwest coast of Canada. You can find all kinds of souvenirs here.
For more information about Juneau:
Travel Juneau – This site was formerly the Juneau Convention & Visitors Bureau. They are a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to the visitor industry.
Juneau Visitor Information – This is a very informative site by Alaska.org.
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