Juneau - Alaska's Inspirational Capital
(42 Reviews)
100% Recommended
Ted Blank
Woodbury, MN
Tailor-Made Journeys
You understand that extraordinary vacations aren’t simply a function of dollars and cents, and you know that they certainly aren’t just pulled off the shelf.
Journeys of a lifetime are carefully designed with imagination, creativity, atten...
You understand that extraordinary vacations aren’t simply a function of dollars and cents, and you know that they certainly aren’t just pulled off the shelf.
Journeys of a lifetime are carefully designed with imagination, creativity, attention to detail, experience, and insider knowledge.
Are you looking for a travel adviser who possesses the expertise, education, intuition, insider knowledge, and connections to turn your vacation into the trip of a lifetime? I open new doors for discerning travelers like you looking to follow your own path to the world’s extraordinary destinations.
As a specialist in privately guided, tailor-made vacations and luxury cruises, you’ll enjoy highly personalized service and expert recommendations during the planning process. As you travel, you’ll come to appreciate being well looked after from wheels up on departure to wheels down on your return, giving you the freedom and confidence to be your best travel self wherever you go.
Through my extensive worldwide travel experience, an intuitive sense of possibilities, careful attention to detail, and a broad network of carefully vetted supplier partners, you can enjoy vacations that others only dream of to destinations in Europe, Asia, Australia and Oceania, South America, Africa, and beyond.
Please click on the links on this page to email me to schedule a complimentary introductory discovery session where we’ll get better acquainted, discuss your travel dreams, and begin to carefully craft the first of many explorations of this wonderful, fascinating world we share!
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Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau, Alaska
It’s easy to see why Juneau, Alaska’s capital, is a popular destination for cruise ships. The city is a great base for whale watching and exploring Mendenhall Glacier, the most-visited glacier in Alaska.
After spending the winter in the warmer waters of the Pacific Ocean, whales make their way up the coastline of North America to Alaska in the spring, where they’ll feed and teach their young how to hunt. Spotting these majestic creatures splashing in the water or swimming with their offspring is a thrilling experience.
From April to November, you’re virtually assured a whale sighting. During that time, hundreds of humpback whales live in the waters of Alaska’s northern Inside Passage. Orcas, smaller than humpbacks, are also a common sight, along with gray and blue whales. For the best view, pack a pair of binoculars. For the best pictures, bring a camera with a long-range zoom lens.
Mendenhall Glacier is part of the Tongass National Forest, which covers most of southeast Alaska. The glacier is about 12 miles from the cruise ship docks and easily accessible by shuttle bus but it’s a world apart, a place where you can truly experience the wilderness for which Alaska is justifiably famous.
At the visitor center you’ll get a look at this incredible 13-mile-long river of ice, with blue icebergs floating in the water amid the reflection of Alaska’s coastal mountains. Several self-guided trails of varying length and difficulty will bring you into the forest, close to cascading waterfalls and salmon streams. You’ll see firsthand how the glacier has carved out the local landscape.
Depending on the cruise, you can choose from numerous excursions. Some cruise lines may spend more daytime hours in Juneau or offer longer, more varied Mendenhall Glacier itineraries, so you want to look carefully at all of the options.
On a Regent Seven Seas cruise, you can take a helicopter ride over the glacier and walk across the icy terrain with a mountaineering expert, drive a dogsled in the shadow of the glacier, take a guided hike through the forest, paddle a traditional native canoe on Mendenhall Lake, or go rafting down the magnificent Mendenhall River.
Holland America’s Mendenhall excursions include a visit to a salmon hatchery complete with a traditional salmon bake, or a seaplane ride over the lush wilderness where you’ll enjoy breathtaking views followed by a feast at the historic Taku Glacier Lodge, built in 1923.
Princess Cruises’ glacier excursions include hiking, cycling and kayaking tours. The cruise line is also among those that offer excursions for passengers who use wheelchairs. Your guide will point out areas of special interest, like scenic Photo Point Trail, where you’ll get an unobstructed view of the glacier’s face.
Silversea offers a private boat trip, with a naturalist guide, designed for families or groups traveling together. This is an intimate whale watching tour through the glacier-carved waterways of Stephens Passage. Other Silversea excursions include a whale and glacier photo safari on land and sea, led by a photography instructor who will offer tips and techniques along with natural history.
But that’s just the beginning of what Juneau has to offer cruise ship passengers.
The city was settled in 1880, when gold was discovered, and in downtown’s historic district you’ll find buildings dating from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. If you take an aerial tram to Mount Roberts, you’ll be treated to a phenomenal bird’s-eye view of the surrounding icefields. Glacier Gardens, with its famous upside-down trees known as “flower towers,” is a must for horticultural fans.
Other excursions include a salmon fishing trip on a charter boat, panning for gold in the creek that launched the gold rush or taking a foodie walking tour.
The city is also home to galleries that showcase Native Alaskan art and shops selling handmade items that make great souvenirs. Of course, there’s abundant fresh seafood, including salmon, halibut, crab and scallops, all of which you can wash down with a craft beer from one of the Juneau’s breweries.
Alaska's capital port offers numerous options for excursions, and that’s just one reason why it’s vital to have a luxury cruise expert assist you in planning and booking your trip. I know an Alaska cruise is a bucket list destination for many of my clients. I want you to get the most out of your trip at every stop.
When I explain that a cruise stops in Juneau, that’s only the beginning of our discussion. I’ll talk to you about the types of activities you enjoy, how much walking you want to do. If you’ve always dreamed of seeing whales up close, riding a dogsled, fishing for salmon, or walking on a glacier, I’ll make sure you pick the right cruise.