We only had half a day to spend here in Juneau given our pitstop at Endicott Arm in the morning, and it left us wanting a bit more.

View other posts in this series:

• Trip Introduction: Cruising the Last Frontier
• Review: WestJet 737-800MAX Economy Class LAX-YVR
• Superb Service and Surprisingly Good Food: The Hyatt Regency Vancouver
• Vancouver with Kids: Fun in the Great Outdoors
• Family Dining in Vancouver: The Best of What We Ate
• Review: Celebrity Solstice Alaska Cruise – Part 1 – Booking and Room
• Review: Celebrity Solstice Alaska Cruise – Part 2 – Dining
• Review: Celebrity Solstice Alaska Cruise – Part 3 – Onboard Entertainment
• Review: Celebrity Solstice Alaska Cruise – Part 4 – Ship Features
• Disappointing Wi-Fi on Celebrity Solstice
• PSA: Do Not Waste Money on Celebrity Cruises Drink Packages
• Pro Tip: Celebrity Cruises Gives Free Parking at MGM Resorts
• Icy Strait Point: A Simple Alaskan Port Town
• Skagway: A Small But Enjoyable Port
• A Brief Encounter at Dawes Glacier
• Juneau: Full of Outdoors Experiences (this post)
• Ketchikan: Home to Salmon and Lumberjacks
• Review: Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge YVR (Transborder / US Flights)
• Review: Air Canada 737-800MAX Business Class YVR-LAX

The City of Juneau

Immediately off the cruise ship, there was a row of tour companies selling their own excursions. I didn’t compare the price of each tour against what we paid through Celebrity Cruises, but I should note that I did compare the price Celebrity charged against other options online and I didn’t see a markup for most tours (though if you have children, you might find cheaper child prices if you book independently than if you book through Celebrity).

I’d say that generally Juneau has that cute small town feel to it. There are a number of bars, restaurants, and shops. I’ve found that quite a number of Alaskan port towns have jewelry stores that are branded the same as the jewelry store found onboard the cruise ship (Effy). These stores advertise a free gift, but given how few people were in the stores, it makes me think it’s a hard sell if you stop inside, so we didn’t go.

If you’re looking for a drink, the recommendation I’ve received was to go to the Red Dog Saloon and try the drink they call the duck fart. Why is it called that? Apparently if you don’t drink it fast enough, the syrups mix and it will supposedly taste like a duck’s fart. I can’t comment on the validity.

If you want food, I’ve received the following recommendations (admittedly I didn’t get a chance to try any on this trip as some places were closed when we passed by):

• The Devil’s Club — ideal for grilled cheese and has good beer
• Tracy’s Crab Shack — open for crab between 10AM and 9PM, there are a couple locations and is very popular though it depends on how many cruise ships are in port when you stop by
• Pimeni’s — generally has the cheapest eats in town
• Deck Hand Dave’s — good fish tacos
• Chilkat Cove — an excellent, local ice cream store

If you’re shopping for cheap Alaskan-themed t-shirts, the Alaska Shirt Company is the place to go. We stopped in and found their shirts very affordable and of decent quality. It’s a popular stop, but the store seemed fully staffed and there was a minimal wait to pay. Of course, be sure to check prices and styles of souvenirs onboard the ship before you buy anything at port as you might find a better price onboard your cruise ship.

While you’re in town, you’ll likely also be able to see a totem pole here and there.

Glacier Gardens

We booked an excursion through Celebrity Cruises that stopped at both the Gardens and Mendenhall Glacier at a cost of $336 for our party of six (four adults and two children). Our bus driver Reb welcomed us onboard and seemed charming enough, but she ultimately just acted as a bus driver on this trip and didn’t accompany us at any of the stops.

The gardens are beautiful, composed of trees that are flipped upside down and used as planters to support new life. I haven’t seen something like this before, so it was a bit unique. That being said, it was a bit odd that the start of our tour featured a 30-minute wait at the gift shop before we could move on to the next event. We had a tour guide talk no more than 10 minutes before we were faced with a half-hour wait. I understand that all the tour vehicles were taken by other groups but in terms of pacing here at the gardens, I have to say it was a bit of a let-down.

Eventually, we were able to board one of the tour vehicles and get a tour of the rainforest here in Juneau. The vehicle climbed to well over 200 feet high along rocky terrain. There are no windows, making it excellent for getting fantastic views of the area on the way up. You’ll hear about the many (poisonous) berries found in the rainforest–just four berries will kill a child. However, a word of advice if you do come here: do not sit in the last row if you can avoid it. The engine is in the rear and the heat emanating from the engine causes the seat to be a bit uncomfortable.

When you make it up to the top, you’ll get a chance to stretch your legs and admire the beautiful scenery.

When it’s all over, you’ll be returned to the gift shop. I thought the visit was fine and if I overlook the lengthy mandatory wait in the gift shop, it’s a decent place to visit. I don’t think it’s a must-do here in Juneau, so I would prioritize other things (like the next activity). If you’re into nature and don’t want to hike, this activity might be up your alley.

Mendenhall Glacier

We boarded our bus to take us over to our personal highlight of our time here in Juneau: the Mendenhall Glacier. If you’re seated alongside the driver-side of the bus, be on the lookout for a glimpse of the glacier between the trees.

Once there, we had about an hour to explore the area. I wish we had more time here. There are several hikes and walking trails you could take here, but if you’re looking to maximize your time, you’ll have barely enough time to take the trail to Nugget Falls and return within an hour.

There is a visitor center right at the start that provides plenty of details.

You’ll also catch a view of Mendenhall Glacier from the visitor center. If you’re just looking for the glacier or don’t want to wander too far, this is a decent view.

We took the Nugget Falls trail, which took about an hour roundtrip for us including time spent at the destination. The trail itself is quite lovely and you might be lucky spying some wildlife as you move along the path. I did hear a porcupine while on this path, but didn’t get a chance to actually figure out where it was. Porcupines like to climb trees, but I couldn’t figure out where it was sadly. Oh well.

Once we got to our destination, the wooded areas cleared up and the absolutely massive Nugget Falls appeared in front of us. The roaring of the water covered the small beach like a blanket. We spent a good 10-15 minutes here enjoying the surroundings. In particular, the kids enjoyed the area, most evident by Char’s dancing in the photos.

While here at Nugget Falls, you’ll be able to see some of Mendenhall Glacier poking out over some rocks, but if you’re looking for a better view, you’ll want to take a different trail.

If I come back to Juneau, I would absolutely come back and explore more of the trails here by the Mendenhall Glacier. If you have plenty of time when in port, you could consider taking the local bus as it represents a very affordable option, but it wouldn’t work if you’re short on time. Taxis are a bit expensive in Juneau to come to the glacier, but it might be a convenient option that works for you.

Have you visited Juneau? What did you enjoy seeing while you were there?