What to See and Do in Juneau

So you've landed in Juneau, Alaska either by driving, flying or by cruise ship and are now wondering what there is to do in the capital city of Alaska.  Well, here are some ideas for you.

Tracey's King Crab Shack

If you arrive in Juneau before the cruise ships or are the first cruise ship to dock at the port, make sure you give Tracey's King Crab Shack a visit before you do anything else. It's famous for their king crab so the line up for this place can get long.  If you are a Crab Shack newbie, like I was, you can order the Combo Special.  This includes 1 very long and delicious king crab leg, 4 mini crab cakes with a dipping sauce, a bun, a tub of king crab bisque and a tub of butter to drown your crab leg in.  I left there very satisfied with that meal.  Tracey's King Crab Shack is a must.

Juneau's T-Shirt Company

Everyone looks for souvenirs in Alaska.  This is one of the best spots to find cheap, good quality souvenirs.  If you go in late September, you will find big sales in all the stores.  However, you will find that Juneau's T-Shirt Company will have the best sales.  I purchased sweatshirts for $10 and t-shirts for $5! Everything else in the store was at least 50-80% off!  It is a huge store but when you have 4 cruise ships at port, it gets small pretty quick.  However, I still think this store has the best to offer you in terms of souvenirs and prices.

Mendenhall Glacier & Nugget Falls

Interactive glacier block you can feel

I chose not to buy a cruise ship excursion for Juneau.  There were several kiosks on the pier waiting for us.  They had really good deals for several different excursions.  I knew I wanted to see Mendenhall Glacier and Nugget Falls so I chose a tour from M&M Tours.  For $45 roundtrip, I was able to ride on a blue bus to the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center.  Our driver gave us a commentary tour all the way there and back.  They left the Center every half hour which was perfect for me.  I spent an hour and a half there and came back.  It's a 20 min ride to the Glacier Center on the bus.

If you are planning on hiking to Nugget Falls while you are there, please note that it is a 2.2 mile hike to the falls from the Visitor's Center.  Make sure you wear proper foot wear and be prepared for the weather.  It rained the whole time I was there and the trails were muddy and full of puddles.

Ice Field Adventures - Helicopter Tour

Being in Juneau gives you the opportunity to fly onto one of the many glaciers surrounding the area.  A helicopter will take you onto the glacier for a little exploration on the ice field.  You might be able to see an ice cave or explore little glacial rivers on the glacier.  It's an amazing experience if you can afford it.  Costs vary anywhere from $299 to $499 USD.  These were offered by my cruise line and also in the kiosks set up on the pier.  Find the one that suits you best.

Heritage Coffee

Heritage Coffee is a great little place in Juneau to grab some hot coffee on a cold rainy day.  They are located on the far end of Mendenhall Mall Rd.  They close by 6pm so make sure you get there early.  They have these great native design coffee cups that are great for your Instagram and the coffee is pretty good too.

Store Closest to Port:
230 S. Franklin Street | 907-463-4600


Smoothie Silt Soap

The Smoothie Silt Soap store is a little harder to locate from port as it's not easily seen from the pier.  It's actually a bit of a walk if you don't mind a little stroll through the streets.  It's a little shack filled with amazing soaps, body lotions and other body products.  They are all hand-made in Alaska and made from the silt left behind from the local glaciers.  Grab yourself a few bars if you can.

If you decide the store is a bit too far to walk or are running out of time and need to be back on the ship sooner than later, you can visit a store called The Bear's Lair.  It's across from Heritage Coffee.  They carry local products like a variety of the Smoothie Soaps and Glacier Mud.  The Bear's Lair stays open year round as it's run by a really nice local.

Mt Roberts Tram

This tram is the easiest tourist attraction to get to.  The base is located at the far end of the pier where the tour buses leave from.  The tram is essentially an enclosed gondola and it costs $35 USD to take you up to the top of Mt Roberts.  The views are great from up there.  You can see all the ships in port and the surrounding areas and waterways on a nice sunny day.  If it's overcast, you take your chances on the view.  They also have trails that you can hike and learn about the area and plant life as you go along. 

Whatever you choose to do, it will be well worth your time.  Juneau has a lot to offer so go out and enjoy an excursion or two or just enjoy walking around with your coffee in hand.