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Highlighting Juneau, Alaska:  Attractions, Things To Do & See

7/27/2013

1 Comment

 

Mt. Roberts Tramway

Tram Going Up Mountain
Overview:  
    The Mt. Roberts Tramway will take passengers up and then back down Mt. Roberts.  Tram tickets are usually valid for the entire day and are for unlimited rides.  The ground entrance to the tramway is located near the cruise ship docks and it is easy to find.  The ride up and down takes about 5 minutes each way.  At the top there is a nature center, gift shop, refreshment shop, walking trails, and a rescued bald eagle.  The views going up and down the tram are amazing!  This is a great time to get pictures of your cruise ship as well as Juneau, Alaska.  Also at the top there is wooden decking to allow for observation of the mountainside, ships, and town below.  This was my favorite Juneau attraction and I would enjoy to go back to Juneau and ride this tram to the top again.  
    For information about the 2014 season and what is included with admission please visit the Mt. Robert's Tramway website: 
http://mountrobertstramway.com/ You can also find more information that listed here on my website. 
Don't Forget To Bring These Things:
  • Camera -  The views going up and down on the tram are amazing and the view from the top is also amazing!  When going up or down this is the perfect chance to get a picture of your cruise ship from above.
  • Binoculars -  You may want to zoom in and look at something below.  Don't forget these!
  • Light Coat -   The temperatures at the top can be slightly cooler than on the ground.  You may already be dressed for cold weather, but if you are dressed for warm weather you might want to bring a light coat in case you get cold at the top.
  • Good Walking Shoes -  You may decide to do the walking trails.  The walking trails are very private and have many uneven surfaces to walk on.
Caution:
   Be very careful on the walking trails.  The surfaces are uneven and in some places there are no railings.  If you get hurt you may not be heard or get immediate help.  Travel in a group.  Remember that you will probably encounter wildlife, maybe even a bear. You should probably bring water, take a map,  and use caution!  Check out this page on the tramway's website about hiking information and safety tips.
  Click Here to Visit. 

    If you are worried about mobility or accessibility on the tramway or mountaintop experience call or email the Mt. Robert's Tramway company and ask questions.  Don't buy your ticket and then realize that you won't be able to see anything.  I think for the most part that the mobility for wheelchairs is fine, but you probably want to make sure for yourself. 

    If the weather is not favorable you might not want to do this attraction due to the chance of not seeing anything below.  The tram ride may be expensive to some so you want to make sure you are getting the best value for your money!

Want to get a taste of the tramway now? 
    I enjoyed the ride so much that I filmed the entire ride going down and posted it on You-Tube.
Click Here To View the Video

Carnival Miracle Below
Tram Car
View of River Below
View of Juneau Below
Eagle
Tram Car Going Down

Whale Watching Tours 

Whale
Overview:
     Taking a whale watching tour is great for people who enjoy seeing whales or natural wildlife.  Although there are times when you can see whales from the cruise ship, if you really want to get close to the whales, it may be worth the money for you to go on a whale watching boat that takes you to the whales.  There are two ways for you to purchase a whale watching tour.  The first option is to purchase the tour on your cruise ship.  Booking an excursion or tour from the cruise ship is usually more expensive because the cruise line makes a profit from all sales.  The second option is to book through a tour operator in the city.  This option is usually cheaper than the first, but keep in mind that the ship will probably not wait if you get delayed because of the tour.  
    Many cruise line sponsored excursions and some independent excursions offer a full refund guarantee if not a single whale is spotted.  The chances of this are highly unlikely.  
    There are a variety of excursions and tours that relate to whale watching.  Some tours are longer and some tours are shorter than others.  Research the tour you plan on taking.  Prices for whale watching tours will vary and can be expensive depending on the tour you take.
Don't  Forget To Bring These Things to Your Whale Watching Tour
  • Camera  -  You will probably want to take lots of whale pictures to remember your experience.  Also consider bringing an extra pair of batteries incase your batteries die in your camera. 
  • Binoculars -  You may want to get a close up view of a whale or a bunch of whales! 
Dressing For Your Whale Watching Tour 
    Some whale watching tour boats have inside/outside viewing areas, only inside areas, and only outside areas.  You need to make sure you are dressed for any type of weather condition.  For rainy days you might want to wear a poncho. For cold temperatures you might want to wear a heavy coat and dress using warm clothes.  For warm temperatures you might want to wear a t-shirt and some light clothing.  Research the weather before your day in Juneau to help yourself prepare for temperatures and weather conditions.


Whale Tail
Wildlife on Buoy
Buildings on Shoreline

Alaska State Capitol Tour

Inside State Capitol
Overview:
    Are you looking for something fun, free, and educational to do while your cruise ship is docked in Juneau?  A tour that I took and recommend to anyone interested is the Alaska State Capitol tour. According to the Alaska State Legislature's website free guided tours are offered May 14-September 18 on all week days (different hours on certain days).  Tours typically last about 30 minutes in duration, so this tour can fit into a tight port of call day activity schedule. 


More Information About This Tour:
To learn more about this tour you will have to click this link and leave my website:
http://w3.legis.state.ak.us/misc/capitol.php 
To view the Capitol Tour Brochure you will have to click this link and leave my website:
http://w3.legis.state.ak.us/docs/pdf/capitol_tour.pdf
Words of Caution: 
    The Alaska State Capitol does not have a dome like many other state capitols.  The building looks like a regular building and can blend in.  Before leaving home you might want to get an address, phone number, and a map of how to get to the capitol building.  If you are going to walk to the capitol make sure you prepare your walking path and if you are going to get transported to the capitol make sure you choose a reliable company, driver, and source of transportation.

Large Desk With Microphones
Hallway
Front of Meeting Area

Mendenhall Glacier/Nugget Falls

Mendenhall Glacier
Overview:
    This is a great attraction for people who enjoy nature, scenery, and glaciers.  There are two main ways that you can get to this attraction. The first way is that you can book an excursion onboard the cruise ship.  The second way to book this attraction is to book a tour off the ship in Juneau.  If you walk off the ship and into the town you should see places where you can get tickets to ride the shuttle bus.  The cost of the shuttle may vary by tour operator.    The shuttle will drop people off at the visitor's center which is about 1.5 miles away from the glacier. Make sure you learn how often your shuttle runs and what time the last shuttle departs for you to get back on the ship on time.  The drive time to and from the glacier will vary, but if traffic is light the ride should only last about 15-20 minutes. 
I got some of this information from the USDA Forest Service website.  Here is their website link:
http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/tongass/about-forest/offices/?cid=stelprdb5401451 
Don't Forget To Bring These Things:
  • Camera  -  You will probably want to take many pictures of the glacier and the surrounding area.  These pictures could make a good desktop background image or a good screensaver. 
  • Light Coat/Warm Clothing -  You are going to be near a glacier!  The temperature will most likely be cooler than the other areas of the city.  Dress prepared!
  • Good Walking Shoes  -  Be prepared to walk a long distance!
  • Binoculars - You never know when you will see wildlife or something worth zooming in on!
Caution:
    Research transportation options for this attraction.  Make sure you choose a reliable shuttle company.   If the weather is going to be bad you might want consider avoiding this attraction.

Nugget Falls
Mendenhall Glacier
***  Notes:    I have tried to provide up to date information on this page about the attractions, but the information is subject to change or be incorrect.  I am not responsible for any incorrect information or actions you take based off this information. You should independently verify information before making decisions. 
    All attractions on this blog post were posted voluntarily and are not paid advertisements.  
    I am not responsible for the links to other websites provided on this page.  Click links at your own risk.
    If you discover that this information has changed or needs updating please write to me via the Contact Us page! 
Links For Further Information Research (External Non-Website Links):
Mt. Robert's Tramway Website:  
http://mountrobertstramway.com/
Mendenhall Glacier:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/tongass/about-forest/offices/?cid=stelprdb5401451 
Alaska State Capitol Tour:  http://w3.legis.state.ak.us/misc/capitol.php 
Juneau Tourism Website Link:   http://www.traveljuneau.com/ 
Whale Watching Tours:   Since there many operators please look up your tour operator's website for any information about whale watching attractions.
1 Comment
Julie link
4/23/2019 05:26:52 pm

Beautiful waterfalls!

Reply



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