Cruise Port Essentials: Exploring Juneau

Best time to visit

The peak tourist season in Juneau is from May to September. This is when the weather is better and more attractions are open. July and August are the best months for wildlife-viewing, especially for bears. For fewer crowds, September and October are good options, but the weather is typically rainier.

Weather

Be prepared for rainy conditions. Juneau is known for its rainy weather (230 days a year). Bring a light waterproof jacket and wear sturdy, comfortable shoes. Layers are always a good idea, and it can’t hurt to put a hat and gloves into your travel bag.

Transportation

If you take a cruise-sponsored excursion, transportation will be provided. Taxis tend to be expensive, but Uber and Lyfts are available at reasonable rates. Bus service is also available, and it’s a very affordable way to travel. Note that Capital Transit does not go all the way to Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center, just to the Mendenhall Valley. Car rentals can be pricey, but they are a great option. Some car rental excursions come with a prearranged tour, or you can bring and follow a milepost guide to Alaska. Shuttles and ferries are also available, as well as pedicabs, and Tuk-Tuks. Juneau is very walkable, and a lot of the city’s landmarks are within a 15-minute walk from downtown. The Goldbelt Tram is a wonderful way to enjoy a scenic adventure above Juneau—or try one of the seaplane or helicopter tours offered.

Local cuisine

Juneau offers a variety of delicious local dishes and is known for its fresh seafood, including salmon, halibut, local scallops, prawns, and crab.

Here are a few recommendations:

• The Salmon Spot: One of our favorite spots for delicious salmon cakes, salmon burgers, and the best chowder around.

The Salmon Spot

• Deckhand Dave’s Fish Tacos: It’s famous for the Alaskan fish tacos, but you don’t want to miss their fish and chips, and of course the fresh salmon or halibut.

• Tracy’s King Crab Shack: You can’t miss this bright red restaurant known for its Alaskan King crab legs, Dungeness, and snow crab. It’s a grab-and-go with outdoor seating, and it’s been featured in various magazines and TV shows.

• SALT: SALT is an upscale restaurant specializing in butcher-cut steaks and fresh seafood. You’ll find an extensive wine list, craft drinks, and 20 types of scotch.

• The Crepe Alaskan Escape: A food truck with outdoor seating, featuring sweet and savory crepes, wraps, sandwiches, smoothies, and espresso. This is a must-stop for us when we are in Juneau.

Juneau has some great pubs and bars where you can feel like a local, have a drink, and relax.

Here are a few popular spots:

• Red Dog Saloon: No trip to Juneau is complete without a trip to the Red Dog Saloon. Once you go through the swinging doors, you step into an old-time mining town saloon. Have a famous Duck Fart shot and listen to some fun piano music. You can have lunch, dinner, drinks, and lots of fun here.

Red Dog Saloon

• Devil’s Club Brewing Company: Locally brewed craft beer and a rotating menu featuring pub food.

• The Narrow’s Bar: A favorite with locals and visitors. It serves expertly crafted cocktails that are reasonably priced in a friendly and inviting atmosphere.

• The Lucky Lady Pub: A local Irish pub with a dive bar feel. It’s a great place to have a drink, play pool, or meet some friendly locals.

• The Griz Bar: An open-air bar with a good selection of drinks, featuring Alaskan-made beer, cider, and liquor.

Shopping

Juneau has a wide variety of shops, including clothing, souvenirs, jewelry, and local arts and crafts.

Here are some great shops to check out:

• Alaska Shirt Company: Alaskan themed t-shirts, jewelry, and souvenirs.

• Glacier Silt Soap: Handmade soap, made locally with glacier silt. It’s a unique soap that is made only in Juneau.

Glacier Silt Soap

• Tripp’s Mt. Juneau Trading Post: This store is a Native, family-owned store that supports Indigenous Alaskan artists. You can find one-of-a-kind artwork, totem poles, jewelry, and more.

• Caribou Crossing: A cute boutique featuring Alaskan-made gifts, home goods, and souvenirs.

• Jewels by Kris: Beautiful Alaskan-inspired jewelry designs.

• Celebrity Jewelers: The largest locally owned jewelry store. You can find diamonds, gemstones, watches, gold and silver necklaces, rings, pendants, and more.

Wildlife

Juneau has a wide array of wildlife. It’s absolutely incredible to see these beautiful animals in their natural habitat. Some wildlife you might encounter include:

• Bald eagles: These beautiful birds are easily spotted in and around Juneau. You may see them perched in trees, tending to nests, or flying majestically overhead. Mendenhall Glacier is a great place to ensure a sighting.

• Black bears: Many times, you can see bears fishing for salmon in local streams. Keep a look out for any creeks and streams that you might pass in your travels.

• Humpback and orca whales: Whale-watching season is a very exciting time in Juneau. From May through September, these whales can be found swimming in local waters.

• Sea lions: These adorable animals love to hang out on rocky outcroppings and near the docks.

• Mountain goats: These amazing goats defy gravity and can be found on steep mountains and cliffs in the area.

Things to do in Juneau

Juneau offers a variety of exciting excursions that allow you to explore its natural beauty. Here are some top recommendations. (Not all cruises will have all of these activities available. If you take an independent excursion, know that your ship may not wait for you to return if you are delayed for any reason. Make sure to check your specific cruise for details.)

• Mendenhall Glacier Park: Mendenhall Glacier is one of Alaska’s most visited destinations. It’s 1.5 miles wide, 1,800 feet deep, and it is not only beautiful, but also remarkably accessible. The Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center offers beautiful views of the glacier and lake, and you can get a stunning view and photos from the Photo Point Trail lookout platform. You can hike, kayak, canoe, raft, or even take a helicopter ride to the glacier. It’s easy to explore the park on your own, but there are also a multitude of guided tours to choose from. Some tours include a trip to the glacier and whale-watching. I’ve taken this type of tour, and it’s a great way to see two of Juneau’s most exciting attractions.

Mendenhall Glacier

• Whale-watching tours: You can choose from many different whale-watching tours in Juneau. The boat captains are experienced whale-watchers, and they bring you up close and personal with these magnificent creatures. From the first sighting of a whale’s waterspout to the last flip of its remarkable tail, it is an incredible experience. Many times, you will also see orca whales, seals, sea lions, porpoises, bald eagles, mountain goats, and possibly even a black bear on a nearby shore.

Napping seals

• Gold-panning and salmon bake: You’ll travel to Gold Creek and Last Chance Basin for some gold-panning family fun. When we visited, we were shown the proper way to pan, and my kids were so excited to find flakes of gold in their pans. Everyone had hopes of finding that big nugget, but no one was disappointed in the treasure we left with. After panning, we were guests at the best salmon bake you’ll ever attend. My family is not a big fish family, and we were thrilled with the feast. Fresh Alaskan salmon cooked outdoors in Alaska is a real treat.

Gold-panning at Gold Creek

• Brews and views: A tour that takes you to Juneau’s local breweries, along with some iconic sightseeing in and around Juneau. Most tours will take you to Auke Bay, to a brewery with breathtaking views and small-batch brews. There are usually stops at Mendenhall Glacier and the famous whale sculpture, partnered with the brewery visit.

• Segway coastal scenic rainforest tour: Explore the Tongass National Forest on a Segway. You’ll be able to take stunning photographs of Mendenhall Glacier, waterfalls, wildlife, and secluded beaches.

• Bear viewing: Nearby Admiralty Island is known as the “Fortress of the Bears,” and it has almost 2,000 brown bear residents. It’s accessible by seaplane and guarantees you’ll see a bear at the Pack Creek Bear Viewing Area.

For those looking for a little more adventure:

• Dog-sledding on a glacier: This is one of the most amazing and memorable things I’ve ever done. You’re taken by helicopter to a remote glacier, where Iditarod participants and pups in training are located. You have plenty of time to meet all the pups, and then you board a sled with enthusiastic sled dogs ready to take you on a remote adventure. Your instructor first takes you for a thrilling ride and shows you how to mush, and then everyone takes turns mushing. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience. After mushing, you get to go to Puppyville, where you meet all the future sled dogs and get lots of sweet puppy kisses.

• Zip-lining on Douglas Island: Kawanti Adventures takes you to the top of the trees as you soar from treehouse platform to platform, over stunning views of the ocean and rainforest. After a fun session of zip-lining, you can test your Alaskan axe-throwing skills. This is a great family excursion for anyone looking for some adventure.

• Helicopter glacier trek: You’re taken by helicopter to the Juneau Icefield. Here, you are taken on a guided trek. The views from the sky are stunning, and the glacier trek will be an unforgettable memory. Some tours include climbing down into ice caves and/or pack-rafting.

As you can see, Juneau has something to offer for everyone. This is just a sampling of the many activities and adventures that Juneau has to offer. You can have a wonderful day just strolling through the city and eating at a local restaurant, soaring over glaciers in a helicopter, dog-mushing or hiking on a glacier, hiking through a rainforest, panning for gold, or watching magnificent whales dance in the ocean. Juneau is one of my favorite places because it has so much to offer—the scenery is stunning, there is abundant wildlife, and it’s full of adventure. You can truly have a multitude of once-in-a-lifetime experiences here.

Fore more inspiration and insider recommendations, visit our Juneau page.