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Destination:
Juneau, Alaska
Juneau surely isn’t at the top of anyone’s search list when it
comes to investigating Alaska. Nature usually takes first place…whales,
bears, glaciers. Yet Juneau is unique in a couple of very interesting
ways. This capital of the 49th state (and yes, Juneau is the
capital of Alaska, not Anchorage) is the only state capital that
you cannot access from most of the rest of the state by highway;
you need to fly, ferry or cruise into Juneau. And Juneau is also
the smallest, by population, capital of any of the 50 states.
Only 31,193 people live in Juneau, smaller in population than
Anchorage by about 150,000 people. However, if you take an Alaska
cruise, you will most likely end up in Juneau, and it’s a great
place to spend the day.
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Cruise
ships anchor at the port of Juneau which is very close to the center
of town. Hop off your ship, and you’re face-to-face with the Mt.
Roberts Tram, which ascends 1800 ft up the face of Mt. Roberts
to a rest stop and hiking trail. This is spectacular on a clear
day, but don’t bother if it’s cloudy. The two favorite touring
opportunities in Juneau are a visit to Mendenhall Glacier and whale
watching. |
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Mendenhall
Glacier is at the tip of the Juneau ice fields, but if you’re
traveling northbound on a cruise ship, it’s the first glacier
you’ll see, and you can walk right up to it. Cruise lines and
outside vendors sell a variety of tours to Mendenhall. If you
want to ride a helicopter and walk or ride a dog sled on a
glacier, this is definitely the place to do it! If glacier
walking does not coincide with your pocketbook or comfort zone,
you can walk almost to the glacier’s edge by taking a cruise
bus tour or the local in-town shuttle. MGT or other shuttles
for $6 each way are a bargain and very easily located at the
cruise
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dock.
They will transport you to the park center where you’ll enjoy
an experience you won’t be able to get elsewhere. Sometimes
the paths to the glacier are icy or muddy, so wear your old
shoes, layer your clothes and go out as far as you can. It’s
a great way to spend the morning!
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I
live in Los Angeles, so I’ve been whale watching off the coast
several times, and I’ve watched the whales swim through the channel
near Maui. Should someone like me skip the whale watching in Alaska?
Absolutely not! I don’t care where else you’ve seen whales; if
you’re lucky, you’ll never see them like you’ll see them in Alaska.
Forget about seeing them from a cruise ship, unless you’re on one
of the very small ships. You’ll need to schedule a whale watching
tour. All of the cruise lines offer whale watching expeditions
from Juneau, but I’d recommend arranging this on your own through
one of the private vendors. They use smaller boats and seem to
get closer to the whales. Captain Larry and Hal & Marv are
tour companies I’ve either used or heard great things about.
If you wander through town, be sure to visit the Alaskan Hotel,
which has been restored to its 1913-era glory. And whether you
need food or just want to wet your whistle, be sure to visit the
Red Dog Saloon. Both are downtown.
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