juneau, alaska
A Day of Adventure, Crab Legs and Majestic Whales
By Jess Peterman. Jess is a US-based travel planner and blogger eager to share her planned itineraries and travel experience to inspire others to try out new experiences. www.theoverresearchedtraveler.com
I visited Juneau on an Alaskan cruise and it ended up being one of my favourite stops of the whole vacation! Not only is the city beautiful but they have so many amazing things you can do there too. From visiting the breathtaking Mendenhall Glacier to seeing Majestic whales, you won’t be disappointed with a visit there. We explored the town, took a little mini hike and got to spend a few hours on the water searching out whales!
Tourist Stops & Mountain Climbs
First up for our day was Tracy's Crab Shack, a total tourist restaurant, but one we had to try to see if it was worth the hype. We decided to do the whole meal experience there that included crab cakes and their famous bisque. The kitschy vibes there and the crab legs were amazing but everything else was just okay. The crab cakes are deep fat fried but what I was disappointed with was how dense and overcooked they were. The bisque was grainy and it was heavy on the celery flavour. It was really disappointing because this was the dish I had been reading about being amazing. If I went back again, all my money would go towards a big bucket of crab legs and skip everything else!
Next up was Goldbelt Tram, a cable car that climbs 1800 feet above sea level. I was excited that the clouds weren't covering those incredible panoramic views of Juneau and the scenery did not disappoint! The tram ride is 8 minutes and is an easy walk from where the ships dock. At the top of the mountain they have a restaurant, a little gift shop and some cool educational signs that tell you about the flora and fauna of the area. In addition to the epic views, we also spotted a couple of bald eagles as well as our cruise ship down below! We even squeezed in a bit of hiking on one of the trails that are up on the mountain. If you are planning on hiking, be aware that the trails can often be a little muddy and slick since there is so much rainfall in the area.
First up for our day was Tracy's Crab Shack, a total tourist restaurant, but one we had to try to see if it was worth the hype. We decided to do the whole meal experience there that included crab cakes and their famous bisque. The kitschy vibes there and the crab legs were amazing but everything else was just okay. The crab cakes are deep fat fried but what I was disappointed with was how dense and overcooked they were. The bisque was grainy and it was heavy on the celery flavour. It was really disappointing because this was the dish I had been reading about being amazing. If I went back again, all my money would go towards a big bucket of crab legs and skip everything else!
Next up was Goldbelt Tram, a cable car that climbs 1800 feet above sea level. I was excited that the clouds weren't covering those incredible panoramic views of Juneau and the scenery did not disappoint! The tram ride is 8 minutes and is an easy walk from where the ships dock. At the top of the mountain they have a restaurant, a little gift shop and some cool educational signs that tell you about the flora and fauna of the area. In addition to the epic views, we also spotted a couple of bald eagles as well as our cruise ship down below! We even squeezed in a bit of hiking on one of the trails that are up on the mountain. If you are planning on hiking, be aware that the trails can often be a little muddy and slick since there is so much rainfall in the area.
As well as the trails around the mountain there's also a trail that leads back down to town. Sadly, we had to save that adventure for our next visit – but that’s just one more reason to come back!
One thing that captivated me in Alaska was the mesmerizing turquoise hue of its milky glacier waters. I have never seen water like that before and it was just beautiful! The ocean is visible from the top of the mountain as well and it was breathtaking seeing the waters with the mountains and the trees!
One thing that captivated me in Alaska was the mesmerizing turquoise hue of its milky glacier waters. I have never seen water like that before and it was just beautiful! The ocean is visible from the top of the mountain as well and it was breathtaking seeing the waters with the mountains and the trees!
A little but of shopping and the Big Finale
After the tram, we wandered through the downtown shops and grabbed a coffee while waiting on our next excursion. I was really surprised by how many jewellery stores there were - it felt like I was shopping in a chilly Caribbean port! There were some great shops too, that had items crafted from local artisans as well as some fun Alaska souvenirs to choose from. We also stopped into a local tap house, Alaskan Brewing Public house where we enjoyed a couple of local beers and their tasty soft pretzel sticks with beer cheese dip. It was a great way to enjoy the town while we waited for our next adventure.
Next up, which would become one of the highlights of our trip: a four-hour whale watching tour. We had booked a small group tour - it was just us and two other guests, cruising through the icy waters in search of whales and other incredible sea life.
After the tram, we wandered through the downtown shops and grabbed a coffee while waiting on our next excursion. I was really surprised by how many jewellery stores there were - it felt like I was shopping in a chilly Caribbean port! There were some great shops too, that had items crafted from local artisans as well as some fun Alaska souvenirs to choose from. We also stopped into a local tap house, Alaskan Brewing Public house where we enjoyed a couple of local beers and their tasty soft pretzel sticks with beer cheese dip. It was a great way to enjoy the town while we waited for our next adventure.
Next up, which would become one of the highlights of our trip: a four-hour whale watching tour. We had booked a small group tour - it was just us and two other guests, cruising through the icy waters in search of whales and other incredible sea life.
On most whale watching tours in Juneau, you are almost guaranteed to see at least one whale and other sea life. On our tour, we spotted quite a few humpback whales, a group of grumpy resident sea lions, and got to view the magnificent Mendenhall Glacier from the water. This tour is great because it’s so small that you don’t have to fight anyone for a great view! It feels like we covered a lot more area than the other boats as well. The best part of the whole excursion though was witnessing a baby whale putting on a show with its tail-slapping antics, giving us the perfect photo op. We stayed there for about half an hour and the whale kept slapping its tail and then rolling over and doing it all again! The boat captain said it must have been a young whale who was mad because its mom went to go feed without him and he was letting her know. We saw the mom coming back as we were leaving to head back into the marina. Overall, this was just an incredible experience that my husband and I loved!
Would we go back to Juneau again?
On the way back to the ship, we couldn't help but be amazed at all the experiences of the day. From starting the day enjoying delicious crab legs to viewing the glacier-fed waters on top of a mountain and encountering whales up close, our adventure in Juneau had exceeded all our expectations. I really enjoyed all that we did on our stop and am really glad we did them. I already want to go back though because there were plenty of other excursions that we wanted to do too, like hiking at Mendenhall Glacier and dog sledding. I went to Alaska thinking, finally we made it and ended our trip thinking, I can’t wait to come back! This is not a one and done city, plan on just getting a taste on your first visit and then plan more Alaskan cruises to take!
So, if you ever find yourself craving a taste of wild beauty and untamed adventure, look no further than Juneau, Alaska. Trust me, it's a journey you won't soon forget.
For more information what to see and do in Juneau. go to www.traveljuneau.com
On the way back to the ship, we couldn't help but be amazed at all the experiences of the day. From starting the day enjoying delicious crab legs to viewing the glacier-fed waters on top of a mountain and encountering whales up close, our adventure in Juneau had exceeded all our expectations. I really enjoyed all that we did on our stop and am really glad we did them. I already want to go back though because there were plenty of other excursions that we wanted to do too, like hiking at Mendenhall Glacier and dog sledding. I went to Alaska thinking, finally we made it and ended our trip thinking, I can’t wait to come back! This is not a one and done city, plan on just getting a taste on your first visit and then plan more Alaskan cruises to take!
So, if you ever find yourself craving a taste of wild beauty and untamed adventure, look no further than Juneau, Alaska. Trust me, it's a journey you won't soon forget.
For more information what to see and do in Juneau. go to www.traveljuneau.com
|
Images copyright of the author
Click on any image to enlarge it. |