Leaving on Alaska cruise 8/6 from Seattle? Any suggestions on cruisetours in port, i.e. Ketchikan, Juneau?

Answer 1

You don't say how old you are or what you're interested in but regardless, expect rain in Ketchikan and Juneau during August. Our monsoon season is often in full swing at that point (Juneau gets 118 inches per year, most of it during July-October; Ketchikan has similar weather but gets something like 200" rain per year). After all, this IS a rain forest. Don't let the rain stop you...it won't even slow us (locals) down, but you need to have appropriate clothing. An umbrella, unless its transparent, is NOT appropriate.

Flightseeing is pretty popular, where you take a floatplane or helicopter for a bird's eye view of things. There are also rides that take you by helicopter to the ice fields where you get to sit in a dogsled for a mushing - this is pretty pricey ($500-600) though. Both Ketchikan and Juneau have "zip" tours. In Juneau, they take you via a small fast boat to a drop off point on Douglas Island, you then hike up past the Treadwell mine ruins, put on a harness and "zip" downhill on a cable to where you started. There's another zip tour at Eaglecrest, in the mountains (about 10 minutes from town), which I know less about but is sure to be impressive if you like mountain scenery.

You'll get the opportunity to buy a lot of different kinds of activities via the tour hawkers on the cruiseship. If you're looking for a more personalized experience though, wait till you get off ship and talk to the different "tour taxi" drivers until you hit it off with one. They all charge either $55/hr for "tour services" or a $ per mile for taxi service (it's non-negotiable because the prices are set by local ordinance) - fwiw, you're better off pairing off with a few like-minded couples and then hiring them by the hour for your group. If you go this route, some of the places you'll want to see are "False Outer Point", "Shrine of St Therese", one of the hatcheries, and of course, everybody wants to see "Mendenhall Glacier." There are numerous glaciers off the road system, including Hebert and the Lemon Glaciers, but the Mendenhall is very accessible and has forest rangers hanging around who often give little impromptu speeches about the area.

If you're an experienced kayaker, you can take the public bus to Auke Bay for $1.50 each way and rent a kayak at Statter Harbor by the hour....we're in wilderness though, so don't do this without supervision if you don't know what you're doing - there are tours that can be bought on the cruiseship that will take you as part of a group kayaking or floating in a Native "war canoe" on the Mendenhall Lake (where the Mendenhall Glacier is).

One of my favorite free things to do is go to "Sandy Beach" (near Savikko park) and walk the treadwell mine trails in the woods that run parallel to the beach. They're very mellow trails and the ruins are interesting. You'll meet a lot of locals walking their dogs and we're mostly pretty friendly. :) To get there, take the Douglas bus to the end and then walk down the stairs to the beach. On the way back, you *could* climb the stairs, but I'd be inclined to walk past the ice rink to Douglas Highway (its not a highway) and catch the bus on almost any corner. The bus drivers are pretty good about stopping if you flag them and they're in a position where they can safely pull over...actually making it to a bus stop is best, but you'll have to wait half an hour if you see but miss the bus.

Juneau has both a state museum and a city museum...I prefer the city museum which is more history oriented while the state museum is more art oriented. Each costs something like $3 to get in. Also, go to the 7th floor of the SOB (state office building) and buy a coffee (so you can say you did :), and check out the totem pole in front of the Governor's Mansion (two blocks away, and a lovely walk, from the SOB). Finally, if you're sticking to downtown, consider walking the flume from Basin Road to the cemetary.

Also, my favorite place to eat is out at Thane Ore House. Its not cheap (about $25 for all you can eat or order a meal for about $14) but they always have very fresh fish cooked simply but well and the family that runs the place are true Alaskan characters....ask to see their warehouse of interesting things in the back room.

Answer 2

It really depends on what you like. I went whale watching and panning for gold. The train or bus ride up the White Pass was interesting, and I have a friend that went mushing and loved it.. I did a lighthouses, totems and eagles trip that was disappointing. Eagles were beautiful, bur VERY few lighthouses and totems. If you have a chance, go to the Space Needle in Seattle also. GREAT view from the top! If you are visiting Sitka, the Raptor Center is great The glaciers are just awesome, and a helicopter ride onto a glacier is expensive, but something you will never forget. Whatever you decide to do, make sure you get plenty of pictures and have a great time!

Answer 3

I'm a fan of the "good deal", so I like spending the few bucks it costs for the big blue bus (Ptarmagin Ptransport or MGT, I think?) to go to Mendenhall Glacier. The drivers are usually enthusiastic about pointing out the site and recalling history. Some will even scout out salmon in the streams for you to look at when you get there. The visitor center at the glacier has lots of information, as well as rangers who can tell you lots about the area.

Answer 4

Don't miss the salmon bake in the forest in Juneau. We going to the Mendahall Glacier and then to the salmon bake over Alderwood, with chicken and ribs too. All you can eat. Beautiful scenery.

Answer 5

DO NOT take a tour to see the Bald Eagles. I can't remember the ports, but there is one where they offer to take you to see the Bald Eagles in a remote area. Very pricey. The very next port... Bald Eagles were every where... even sitting on the power lines... and you get to see them for FREE